Today our discussion comes from our most recent annual conference: Why is Housing so Unaffordable? Causes and Solutions. For the next twelve weeks, our discussions will revolve around the topic of housing and house prices with three subtopics. The first will be root causes, followed by an evaluation of current policy responses, and finishes with alternatives to current policy and thinking around affordability.

We were lucky enough to speak with Brendan Cheney. Brendan is the Director of Policy and Communications at the New York Housing Conference. The New York Housing Conference is a policy and advocacy non-profit dedicated to advancing state, local, and federal housing policies.

Our affordable housing crisis will require comprehensive solutions, which will require reliable data. With good data, we can formulate the best possible policy, understand what areas need the most relief, and empower those shut out of the market due to unaffordability.

With organizations like the New York Housing Conference, policymakers can prevent gentrification, and buyers have help navigating the market. We’re glad to have our guest on at such a pivotal moment in the housing crisis.

Brendan earned his bachelor’s degree in economics and political science from the University of Massachusetts Amherst, and his master’s in public administration from Syracuse. He has extensive experience as a policy analyst and consultant. Mr. Cheney was also a staff writer for Politico, writing about housing policy and homelessness, often using data to communicate trends and complex ideas. As Director of Policy and Operations, he oversees all advocacy and policy efforts on behalf of the conference.

Together, we talked about the priorities of Governor Kathy Hochul, got into the weeds of federal and state housing policy, and explained the concept of “affordability depth.” It was quite the conversation.

We hope you enjoy this talk, and make sure to check back on our page every week for a brand-new episode!

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Smart Talk PodcastBy Henry George School of Social ScienceNov 10, 2022