The housing and communities that people live in can influence nearly every aspect of their lives; from where they work to how they get there, the quality of the schools in their area, and even their longevity. Today, we take a deep dive into how zoning, land use policies, and efforts like NIMBYism affect affordability, equality in education, and economic mobility in our communities. Joining us to discuss this topic is Yonah Freemark, a Principal Research Associate at the Metropolitan Housing and Communities Policy Center at the Urban Institute. Yonah is the Research Director of the Land Use Lab at Urban where his research focuses on the intersection of land use, affordable housing, transportation, and governance. Tuning in, you’ll learn how the Urban Institute works toward using public policy to create a brighter future for all, what it looks like to close the Black-white wealth gap in America, the need to shift our focus from policy to the needs of the individual, the importance of allowing people access to the communities they want to live in and redirecting investments into the communities that need them most, and much more! You won’t want to miss this thought-provoking conversation.

Key Points From This Episode:

• How Yonah became interested in #policy, #housing, transportation, land use and the way people live.
• Public policy for a better future: insight into the work that the #Urban Institute does.
• The impact of the Great Recession on closing the Black-White #wealth gap in the US.
• Ways to address racial #inequality as a result of exclusionary #landuse policies.
• What it means to improve #equity for people across race and gender boundaries.
• NIMBYism and the role of the federal government in leveling the playing field for affordable housing development in local communities.
• The impact that county governments with a regional outlook can have on land use policy.
• Correlations between zoning policies and access to opportunity.
• A look at the Moving to Opportunity for Fair Housing (MTO) initiative in Chicago, the story of the impact of #YIMBY activism in New Haven’s West Rock community, and other impactful initiatives.
• Perspectives on solving unjust public policies and why there’s no one-size-fits-all solution.
• The power of individual actions and citizen initiatives.
• Key takeaways from this discussion and actionable advice for anyone listening.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Yonah Freemark

Metropolitan Housing and Communities Policy Center

Urban Institute

Land Use Lab at Urban (LULU)

Yonah Freemark on X

Yonah Freemark on LinkedIn

Vincencia Adusei on LinkedIn

Vincencia Adusei on Twitter

VASE Construction

Jimmy Miller on LinkedIn

Censere Consulting

Peter Wood on LinkedIn

YIMBY Nation Email

YIMBY Nation

Bringing about positive public policy change requires knowledge, insight, and above all, commitment. Our guest today, Michele "Dr. Tiny" Williams, has had a varied career that spans the military, real estate, and public policy. While conducting research for her recent Ph.D. in Public Policy, she examined the relationship between health and housing, the results of which had a huge impact on the latter half of her career.  After realizing the substantial role that geography played in health outcomes, Michele recognized that your zip code shouldn’t determine your lifespan. Her experience during a bike adventure that involved helping communities fix their homes further catalyzed Michele to become involved in housing and public policy. Since then, she has made it her mission to transform public housing and address the systemic inefficiencies that are putting countless people in a position where they face homelessness or risk making dire compromises. She is the chief visionary behind COBA US, a non-profit organization that seeks to establish policy development, with a focus on tiny house communities and affordable rentals. Michele is also the Executive Director of The Fuller Center of Housing in Delaware.  In our conversation today, Michele delves into the many elements of her work, including the extensive policy work she’s done over the past few years, the benefits and drawbacks of tiny homes, and how to listen to the needs of the communities you work with before taking action. To learn more about Michele and how these organizations are challenging the status quo, be sure to tune in to this inspiring conversation!

Key Points From This Episode:

• Michele’s varied career in the military, entrepreneurship, and real estate.
• How Michele earned her Ph.D. in public policy and her interest in health and housing.
• The non-profit, COBA US, and how it was founded as a result of a bike adventure.
• Michele’s connection to Habitat for Humanity.
• Some of the problems that can arise from partnering with government entities.
• COBA US’s relationship with government officials and why they don’t do any lobbying.
• How COBA US engages with their communities and corporations.
• The extensive policy work that Michele has been occupied with over the past three years.
• The current reach of COBA US and how they are looking to expand.
• An overview of the tiny house movement.
• The drawbacks and benefits of owning a tiny home.
• Michele’s book recommendations for anyone interested in Tiny Homes, a history of housing in America, and more.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Dirt to Keys website - Soon to launch

Michele A. Williams on LinkedIn

Michele A. Williams Email

The Tiny House Alliance USA

COBA US Info Sheet

The Habitat for Humanity

YIMBY Delaware

Vincencia Adusei on LinkedIn

Vincencia Adusei on Twitter

VASE Construction

Jimmy Miller on LinkedIn

Censere Consulting

Peter Wood on LinkedIn

YIMBY Nation Email 

YIMBY Nation

Most of us assume that the case for reparations to address the inhumane legacy of slavery is primarily about financial compensation. But that’s not necessarily the case. In part two of our conversation with Valerie White, we take a closer look at systemic inequities in the US and the potential for reparations to begin to repair them. We discuss the role that slavery and segregation played in creating the massive racial wealth gap and how it continues to define modern America. Next, Valerie unpacks what reparations might look like beyond financial compensation, and why systemic change is needed in all sectors of government, from education to housing. She also confronts the polarized state of US politics and the hostility that some groups have toward equity and change. Despite the enduring injustices of the status quo and the glacial pace of systemic change, Valerie still finds reasons for hope in the small victories she comes across in her advocacy work. To hear more of Valerie’s insights, and the remainder of our conversation on disrupting systemic inequities, be sure to tune in today.

Key Points From This Episode:

• An overview of the racial wealth gap in the US.
• Historical factors that have contributed to systemic inequality.
• Reparation efforts and examples of initiatives that have decreased the racial wealth gap.
• Why the term ‘reparations’ covers more than just financial reparations.
• The systemic repairs that need to take place in the US.
• Valerie’s limited expectations for systemic change.
• How Valerie finds hope when systemic change is so incremental.
• Political polarization in the US and how different groups view equity.
• A breakdown of the holistic and intentional approach that LISC NY takes in uplifting communities.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Valerie White on LinkedIn

Valerie Email

LISC NY

LISC on LinkedIn

LISC NY on LinkedIn

LISC on Facebook

LISC NY on Facebook

The U.S. Racial Wealth Gap, 1860–2020

The Color of Money

Ford Foundation

Vincencia Adusei on LinkedIn

Vincencia Adusei on Twitter

VASE Construction

Jimmy Miller on LinkedIn

Censere Consulting

Peter Wood on LinkedIn

YIMBY Nation Email 

YIMBY Nation