Events

This year, the US housing market is shrouded in uncertainty, with little indication that record-high levels of unaffordability will ease anytime soon. Join us for the release of our 2025 State of the Nation's Housing report at the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston.

Many places—including Singapore, Hong Kong, mainland China, and the 19th century US—have funded infrastructure investments by selling or leasing land to private investors. Lingxuan Sean Wu will discuss his research, which examines these efforts and uses the history to develop a model of land finance and investment-led growth.

In response to persistent and worsening housing affordability challenges, the idea of “social housing” has been gaining momentum across the US. In this half-day event, practitioners, policymakers, advocates, and researchers will discuss both existing models of social housing in New England and new efforts to create affordable, high-quality homes.

Don Layton, former CEO of Freddie Mac, will join JCHS Managing Director Chris Herbert for an overview of Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae, followed by a discussion on what the re-privatization of these government-sponsored enterprises could mean for the nation’s housing finance system.

At least 40 million American households—including half of all renters—spend more on housing than they can afford. Join Marcia Fudge, former secretary of Housing and Urban Development, as she talks with Howard Koh, chair of Harvard Chan School’s Initiative on Health and Homelessness, about the forces driving the housing crisis and ways to make housing more affordable. 

Peter Barber is the founder of Peter Barber Architects, an award-winning practice based in London known for its radical approach to social housing and urban planning. Barber will highlight some of the firm’s social housing projects and will review the political and ideological context in which these and other projects were conceived.

In recent years, the cost of residential property insurance has risen dramatically, driven by losses from environmental hazards. Steven Koller, a Postdoctoral Fellow in Climate and Housing at the Center, will explain how climate change is affecting both private and public entities that provide property insurance. Carlos Martín will join to discuss some of the challenges and opportunities facing residents, real estate investors, insurers, regulators, and policymakers.

What is the divergence between US housing policy and environmental policy, and how has it contributed to disparities in exposure to climate impacts? Carlos Martín, Director of the Center’s Remodeling Futures Program, will discuss the intersection between climate and housing policy, and areas for potential synergies. 

The US remodeling market soared above $600 billion in the wake of the pandemic, and despite recent softening remains 50 percent above pre-pandemic levels. Join us for the release of our biennial report, Improving America's Housing 2025.

How did America cease to be the land of opportunity? Yoni Appelbaum will discuss his new book which explores the people and ideas that caused Americans to lose their mobility and the decline in economic and social opportunity that has resulted.