Worried about housing shortages and soaring prices? Your community’s zoning laws could be part of the problem

More than one-third of U.S. households pay more than 30% of their income for housing.

Jessica Trounstine, Professor of Political Science, Vanderbilt University • conversation
April 17, 2024 ~9 min

Domestic violence survivors seek homeless services from a system that often leaves them homeless

Programs and policies to help domestic abuse survivors find safe housing work only if they’re implemented and supported with resources.

Lauren Cattaneo, Associate Professor of Clinical Psychology, George Mason University • conversation
April 11, 2024 ~10 min


Four environmental red flags to watch out for when buying your new home

Buying a new house can be overwhelming – here’s how to make sure you’re not left with one that guzzles energy.

Alejandro Moreno-Rangel, Lecturer in Building Performance Evaluation and net Zero Design, University of Strathclyde • conversation
Oct. 19, 2023 ~8 min

Shelters can help homeless people by providing quiet and privacy, not just a bunk and a meal

As US cities struggle to reduce homelessness, two scholars explain how planners can reform shelter design to be more humane and to prioritize mental health and well-being.

Heather Ross, Clinical Associate Professor in Nursing and Clinical Associate Professor, School for the Future of Innovation in Society, Arizona State University • conversation
Sept. 13, 2023 ~10 min

Why homes often feel warmer than the thermostat suggests – and what to do about it

Thermostats don’t tell the whole truth about heat, particularly in older homes.

Jonathan Bean, Associate Professor of Architecture, Sustainable Built Environments and Marketing, University of Arizona • conversation
Aug. 2, 2023 ~10 min

Empty office spaces can be converted to residential buildings – but it won't be affordable

With many employers switching to remote work, two engineering experts explain the feasibility of converting office buildings to residential spaces.

Leah Mo, Assistant Professor of Civil, Construction and Environmental Engineering, Iowa State University • conversation
July 14, 2023 ~9 min

How small wealthy suburbs contribute to regional housing problems

Small suburbs have a track record of blocking new housing. Two urban policy experts explain why that’s a problem and what metro areas could do about it.

Nicholas J. Marantz, Associate Professor of Urban Planning and Public Policy, University of California, Irvine • conversation
July 10, 2023 ~11 min

Right-to-charge laws bring the promise of EVs to apartments, condos and rentals

Illinois passed the latest law requiring new apartment buildings to be wired for EV chargers. Now apartment communities are figuring out the best ways to make shared charging work for everyone.

Eleftheria Kontou, Assistant Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign • conversation
June 27, 2023 ~8 min


When homes flood, who retreats and to where? We mapped thousands of FEMA buyouts and found distance and race play a role

Two disaster response experts mapped who gets FEMA buyouts and where they go.

Zheye (Jay) Wang, Senior Spatial Research Analyst, Kinder Institute for Urban Research, Rice University • conversation
June 15, 2023 ~9 min

When homes flood, who retreats and to where? We mapped thousands of buyouts and found the average move is only 7 miles, and race plays a role

Two disaster response experts mapped who gets FEMA buyouts and where they go. It turns out, they don’t go far.

Zheye (Jay) Wang, Senior Spatial Research Analyst, Kinder Institute for Urban Research, Rice University • conversation
June 15, 2023 ~9 min

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