BSLW 2000 The State of Affordable Housing in the States

Course offered for Sophomores only.. How does housing affect the lives of Americans? Where you live determines your access to schools, quality of healthcare, fresh food, clean air, parks and recreation, affordable credit, and even how long you are likely to live. This course explores concepts of housing policy and planning at the national, state, and local levels. It examines programs and policies used to subsidize housing for millions of Americans and help them gain access to a decent place to live. Topics will be considered from multiple perspectives including housing finance, design, community planning, inequality, operations management, and sustainability. We will explore the historical and economic context of U.S. housing and discuss the barriers that low-income families face that affects their access to decent housing. The course will be divided into three sections: history, policies, and today's issues. Students will explore some of the most recently developed programs and how they fit into effective community revitalization. These programs will be evaluated in class discussions and group presentations.