Housing the Nation brings together a diverse variety of professionals to create a unique and valuable guide to making vital progress on the affordable housing crisis, including proposing and evaluating innovative solutions that can move the debate forward and make real progress on an issue so central to a vibrant economy and equitable society. —Chuck Schumer, U.S. Senator "A single book can hardly hope to solve the housing crisis, but this collection of instructional essays and photos from architects, economists, and scholars presents the case for well-informed activism." — New York Times"The best essays in Housing the Nation draw attention to aspects of our housing system that are ripe for change, highlighting potential actions for architects." — Places JournalHousing the Nation is an exceptionally important book at this moment when the crisis in affordable housing appears to be overwhelming and insoluble.Effectively organized and presented, a carefully curated selection of essays examines the complex root causes of the crisis as well as current barriers to funding and building affordable housing. Identifying the complex set of interconnected roles and resources, this collection provides a solid foundation for crafting effective solutions. Housing the Nation will become an essential resource for all stakeholders committed to addressing this critical issue. —Amanda M. Burden, principal, Bloomberg Associates; former New York City planning commissioner 2002–2013; FAICPAll those interested in the deep economic, political, legal, and racial roots of today’s housing crisis should read this book.—Darren Walker, president, Ford FoundationOur housing problem is a crisis of policy, a crisis of design, a crisis of money, and a crisis of ethics—maybe a crisis of ethics most of all—and Housing the Nation is the best overview we have of how it came to be, and what we can do about it. At once a polemic, a backgrounder, and a portfolio, it is both hopeful and realistic.—Paul Goldberger, author, Why Architecture Matters An essential read, in a time of rising income inequality and homelessness, Housing the Nation describes the United States’ affordable housing issues, and provides beautiful examples of equitable solutions. Ranging from inspirational calls for action to deep dives into issues and solutions, Housing the Nation integrates many voices into a comprehensive whole.—Jonathan F. P. Rose, president, Jonathan Rose Companies; author, The Well-Tempered City“Housing The Nation will force anyone who cares deeply about relieving suffering and correcting historic injustices to pick a side in the fight to provide high quality, safe, affordable housing for those who have been left behind and left out. The focus on delivering practical solutions authored by people who have spent decades in the trenches of our nation’s housing crisis makes this collection of essays a must-read.” —Kirk Goodrich, president Monadnock Development, co-host “The Housing Problem” podcast and past chairman of the New York State Association for Affordable Housing (NYSAFAH)“In a single volume, Gorlin and Newhouse document and analyze one of the most profound challenges of our time: safely and affordably housing every single person in this country. Through the lens of some of our greatest minds on the topic, this book transcends genre, combining voices and weaving together the case to make home and community places of pride, power, and belonging for all. Taken together, these voices and visuals showcase how affordable homes can be functional, resilient, equitable, and—an extraordinary can’t-miss text for our times.” —Shaun Donovan, CEO and president, Enterprise Community Partners; former secretary of housing and urban development
