Lower lifetime earnings, a greater likelihood of renting, and higher rates of disability are combining to put intense financial pressure on older women, and especially on older Black women, writes @samarascheckler.bsky.social in a new blog. www.jchs.harvard.edu/blog/living-...

Come for the overview of state pro-housing policy, stay for the wonky research design challenges. If measurement error and endogeneity are some of your favorite words, this webinar is for you! (Said with deep affection.)

This Friday, April 3: Since 2020, more than half of US states have new laws to spur smaller, lower-cost homes. But are these pro-housing policies working? @jennyschuetz.bsky.social joins us to unpack and discuss strategies for generating more reliable analyses. www.jchs.harvard.edu/calendar/mea...

"Stopping big money from constructing rental homes goes a step further; it reflects a peculiar type of American populism that combines a right-wing fetish for suburbia’s homeowner society with a left-wing distrust of investment capital." www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2026/0...

"Hidden" costs could be alternatively framed as price uncertainty of non-mortgage homeownership costs. In recent years, many homeowners across the US have faced stable mortgage payments, but insurance costs that've risen well above expectations (and CPI-U). www.businessinsider.com/homeowners-s...

How important has immigration been for recent state population growth? My new @harvard-jchs.bsky.social blog post has an interactive state map exploring this question: www.jchs.harvard.edu/blog/populat.... The patterns imply that the recent & projected declines will be felt unevenly. #MapMonday

1/3 How can our homes and neighborhoods bring generations together—reducing isolation, improving affordability, and strengthening everyday support? Next Friday, April 10, 2026, join us for a half-day hybrid event (1-5pm ET) @gsd.harvard.edu. www.jchs.harvard.edu/calendar/liv...

Population growth slowed last year, and experts blame the crackdown on immigration and the high cost of living. The decline will be felt across the country, but especially in places like Boston and Massachusetts, says our @riordanfrost.bsky.social. @wgbh.org www.wgbh.org/news/local/2...

Join us today @ 12:15 pm ET

Immigration fell sharply in 2025, dragging down US population growth. Census projects that immigration will be even lower in 2026, which would likely result in historically low growth. I explore how this might affect states in a new @harvard-jchs.bsky.social blog www.jchs.harvard.edu/blog/populat...

US population growth is slowing and could hit historic lows as immigration drops and natural increase flatlines. States that rely on immigration may soon face outright population loss, writes @riordanfrost.bsky.social. jchs.harvard.edu/blog/population-growth-down-sharply-and-projected-fall-further

With high interest rates and prices, houses are less affordable than almost any time in recent memory. "The promise of the Sun Belt has often been more affordability... but as that wanes, that could discourage people," says @riordanfrost.bsky.social. www.theatlantic.com/family/2026/...

Housing advocates worry HUD's proposed rule would increase housing instability, reinforce stereotypes that assistance recipients refuse to work and potentially deter people in need from seeking help. streetlightnews.org/hud-work-req...

Since the 1960s, more than 26,000 miles of abandoned rail lines have been converted into multi-use trails. In a new paper (and event this Friday) Meyer Fellow Michelle Xiyue Li examines the impacts of rail trails on housing markets and neighborhood demographics. www.jchs.harvard.edu/blog/tracks-...

The addition of 1000 new immigrants in a metro area reduces elderly mortality, because they include foreign-born healthcare workers amid a critical nationwide shortage, and older adults tend to do better aging in a familiar environment, near family and friends. news.harvard.edu/gazette/stor...

To make homeownership possible again for young households, we must encourage the construction not only of apartments but of affordable single-family homes, writes our senior fellow and historian Alexander von Hoffman in a @bostonglobe.com op-ed. www.bostonglobe.com/2026/03/21/o...

Next Friday, March 27 @ 12:15 pm ET: Our Meyer Fellow Xiyue (Michelle) Li will discuss her research examining the impacts of rail trails on housing markets and neighborhood demographics, both nationally and in the Boston area. mailchi.mp/harvard/next...

Up-front costs (security deposits, fees, etc.) can be a significant strain on renters but a growing number of state and municipal governments have passed legislation intended to reduce up-front costs and regulate when they can be charged. @aherm.bsky.social www.jchs.harvard.edu/blog/curbing...

Our @airbrycki.bsky.social testified that regulations on rental prices are associated with a drop in rental supply, rent control has little effect on new construction, and ending rent control in MA didn’t have a significant impact on building trends. www.wgbh.org/news/local/2...

Yeah but does your research center celebrate new reports with cereal parties? Yeah, didn’t think so. #notsponsored @airbrycki.bsky.social @sophiawedeen.bsky.social photo by @stevekoller.bsky.social

With extended lifespans and declining birth rates, concerns among older adults are on the rise. Most older adults would prefer to stay in their own homes but aging in place is not simple says Professor Ann Forsyth @gsd.harvard.edu. news.harvard.edu/gazette/stor...

Next Tuesday, March 24, a @hsph.harvard.edu webinar explores how Indigenous-led, culturally grounded approaches have produced powerful outcomes for American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian people experiencing homelessness. www.linkedin.com/events/fromd...

As national rents stabilize, some metros are seeing big swings. Austin is one beneficiary of a boom in development over the past few years: in 2024, 608,000 multifamily units were built, the highest annual volume since 1986, driving rents down. @riquier.bsky.social www.usatoday.com/story/money/...

“From 2001 to 2024, renter incomes rose by 9 percent in real terms while rents rose by 30 percent.” Via: @harvard-jchs.bsky.social

LISTEN: There is nowhere near enough housing in the US for low-income older adults and those who qualify for subsidies often cannot find housing, especially with supports/services. Our @jenmolinsky.bsky.social joins the @stanfordlongevity.bsky.social podcast. longevity.stanford.edu/century-lives/

Demand for rental housing is driven primarily by US citizens, but in 2024 immigrants headed 9.6 million renter households—21 percent of all U.S. renters—contributing to economic growth, paying taxes, and strengthening the communities where they live and work. stateline.org/2026/03/16/i...

Renters are being squeezed long before they ever move in. Up-front rental costs (broker fees, deposits, first/last month rent, etc.) can easily reach thousands of dollars and, in high-cost markets like New York, can climb to nearly $13,000. @aherm.bsky.social www.jchs.harvard.edu/blog/deposit...

It’s become a familiar tune: For the fourth year in a row, a record-breaking number of renters can’t afford their housing costs. streetlightnews.org/cost-burden-...

"If renters are spending more on their housing, and they're also seeing the cost of other goods go up, it's just squeezing a lot more households,” @airbrycki.bsky.social said. www.fox13memphis.com/news/record-...

Tuned into this webinar, and this part showing the change in people's spending power was particularly striking, especially for lower-income renters whose residual incomes have reached record lows "post-COVID." There's nearly nothing left for people to cover any other costs.

Live now: @nytimes.com reporter @rondakaysen.bsky.social moderates a conversation with Denver Mayor Mike Johnston, La Shelle Dozier @clpha.bsky.social, Sue Ansel, and our director Chris Herbert about the state of rental housing in the US. www.jchs.harvard.edu/americas-ren...

Since 2019, lowest-income renters have seen a staggering 60% drop in their residual income; in 2024, the median renter household earning under $30,000 had just $210 left over each month after paying rent and utilities. www.jchs.harvard.edu/americas-ren...

A helpful explainer on the ROAD to Housing Act, which just passed the Senate.

Live now: our @airbrycki.bsky.social kicks off our event with a presentation of the major findings in this year's America's Rental Housing report. Still time to join us; panel starts in 10 mins: www.jchs.harvard.edu/americas-ren...

Starting in 1 hour (4pm ET): Denver Mayor Mike Johnston, NYT reporter @rondakaysen.bsky.social, La Shelle Dozier @clpha.bsky.social, and Sue Ansel join @airbrycki.bsky.social and our director Chris Herbert to discuss our new America's Rental Housing 2026 report. www.jchs.harvard.edu/americas-ren...

The Senate just passed a sweeping bipartisan housing bill that would make it easier to build and finance new housing while bolstering federal assistance programs, but the bill still faces major hurdles. www.nytimes.com/live/2026/03...

CHECK YOUR STATE: In almost every US state, renters are spending a higher share of their income on housing: from 2001–2024, median US rent rose 30%, while median renter income grew just 9%. www.jchs.harvard.edu/renters-are-...

@airbrycki.bsky.social's 6 takeaways about our new rental report: 1️⃣ Demand has slowed 2️⃣ Rental market has softened 3️⃣ Multifamily construction cooling 4️⃣ Rent distribution has shifted up 5️⃣ Affordability still a challenge 6️⃣ Policy solutions gaining momentum www.jchs.harvard.edu/blog/six-tak...

Almost all US candidates and elected officials have been homeowners, at least until recently. That underrepresentation shapes policy and influences how politicians talk about housing, often focusing more on homebuying/mortgages and less on the crisis facing renters. newrepublic.com/article/2076...

🏠 Record-high rent burdens 🏗️ Multifamily construction cooling 🪙 Federal safety net shrinking 🏚️ Aging rentals needing repairs New report out TODAY. Join us @ 4pm ET. www.jchs.harvard.edu/americas-ren... @rondakaysen.bsky.social @clpha.bsky.social

Homeless veterans could be forced into involuntary or institutional care under a new initiative by the Trump administration to expand the power of Veterans Affairs lawyers to initiate legal guardianships. Critics say the move raises civil liberties concerns. www.nytimes.com/2026/03/11/u...

Americans with weaker credit histories, usually from missed payments or high amounts of debt, now pay significantly more for home insurance, regardless of where they live. @nytimes.com @hclairebrown.bsky.social @rjnskl.bsky.social www.nytimes.com/interactive/...

America’s renters face rising costs, aging homes, risks from climate hazards, and a shrinking safety net. Join us tomorrow, March 12 @ 4pm ET, for the release of America’s Rental Housing 2026. Register at: www.jchs.harvard.edu/calendar/ame... @rondakaysen.bsky.social @clpha.bsky.social

Over the past two decades, rent growth has substantially outpaced income gains for renters. From 2001–2024, median US rent rose 30%, while median renter income grew just 9%—worsening affordability challenges. New report out this Thursday, March 12. www.jchs.harvard.edu/calendar/ame...

Housing is the largest building sector in the US but may impose the greatest constraints on design and innovation. But facing severe housing supply shortages and affordability challenges, cities and states are examining which rules they want to continue to impose. www.nytimes.com/2026/03/04/b...

A moving tribute by Preston Scott Cohen, Gerald M. McCue Professor in Architecture at @gsd.harvard.edu, honoring Gerry McCue, visionary architect, educator, and former dean. We’re especially grateful for his stewardship as co-director of our center (1996–98). www.gsd.harvard.edu/2026/03/reme...

Renters w/ housing cost burdens reached another record high in 2024, with nearly 1/2 of renter households spending more than a 1/3 of their income on housing. Sign up for @harvard-jchs.bsky.social virtual release of America's Rental Housing 2026 report: www.jchs.harvard.edu/calendar/ame...

Today @ 12:15 pm ET - still time to register and join us!

Americans are on track to spend a record $522 billion on home renovations in 2026, according to our latest LIRA, in part because high mortgage rates are forcing homeowners to stay put and because the aging housing stock requires maintenance and systems updates. www.nytimes.com/2026/03/05/r...

Wrapping up an extraordinary @harvard-jchs.bsky.social Dunlop Lecture @gsd.harvard.edu by Kenzie Bok with comments by Bernardo Zacka. As she noted “if we want to think about housing policy, we have to have a theory of housing justice”