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April 18, 2025
Harvard University's Joint Center for Housing Studies
Friday, April 18, 2025, 1:00 to 5:30 p.m.
The Evolving Landscape of Social Housing in New England
In response to persistent and worsening housing affordability, the idea of "social housing" has been gaining momentum across the US. While the details differ, most proposals and initiatives would permanently keep housing off the private market; expand the public sector's role in financing, developing, and/or managing projects; emphasize broad inclusion by race, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status; and give residents more control over their homes and communities.
While the movement represents a push for new ways to supply affordable homes, it inevitably will draw on existing institutions as well as current legal, policy, and financial frameworks. This is particularly true in New England, which has a well-established affordable housing ecosystem that includes high-performing public housing authorities, thriving community land trusts, a rich network of community development corporations, and innovative state housing agencies.
Practitioners, policymakers, advocates, and researchers will describe both existing models of social housing in New England and new efforts to design, fund, build, and manage accessible, diverse, and sustainable housing. Speakers will discuss the strengths and limitations of different approaches and explore the interplay between architecture, policy, finance, construction, and community development.
Speakers
- Kenzie Bok, Boston Housing Authority
- Rachel Bratt, Tufts University (emerita)
- Mike Connolly, Massachusetts House of Representatives
- Margaret Donnelly Moran, Cambridge Housing Authority
- Peter Fousek, Connecticut Tenants Union
- Deborah Goddard, Rhode Island Department of Housing
- Tanya Hanel, East Boston CDC
- Chris Herbert, Joint Center for Housing Studies
- Chrystal Kornegay, MassHousing
- Dana McKinney White, Harvard Graduate School of Design
- Michael Monte, Champlain Housing Trust
- Mary O'Hara, ROC USA
- Susanne Schindler, Joint Center for Housing Studies
- Craig Saddlemire, Raise-Op Housing Cooperative (Lewiston, ME)
- Rachel Weber, Harvard Graduate School of Design
REGISTER TO ATTEND Social Housing IN PERSON
The Social Housing event will also be livestreamed; advance registration is not required.
