Housing and Community Development

Of the many challenges facing today's urban areas, providing adequate, affordable housing and fostering healthy and equitable community and economic development are among the most complicated and acute. Sprawled development, gentrification and displacement, urban disinvestment, and the legacy of racialized policies and planning practices have contributed to greater segregation, fewer wealth building opportunities, frayed social relationships, and decreased community engagement in many places. UEP students can pursue interests in housing and community development through courses, field projects, thesis topics, and internships with community partners. These offer opportunities to learn about the interplay of social, economic, and political factors and their relationships to land-use, urban design, transportation policy, environmental justice, and community health.

Related Programs

• M.A./M.S. UEP
• Master of Public Policy
• M.S. Sustainability
• Combined B.A./M.A.
• Management of Community Organizations Certificate

Featured Classes

Featured Faculty

• Rachel Bratt (Professor Emerita)
• Rosalind Greenstein
• Laurie Goldman
• Rebecca Shakespeare
• Shomon Shamsuddin
• Kristin Skrabut

Featured Alumni

• Rachel Garshick Kleit
• Christine Madore
• Kristine Stratton
• Ralph Willmer

Field Project & Thesis Examples

• Leading the Way or Not: Racial Diversity of Leadership in Community Development Organizations
• On the Ground: 40B Developments Before and After
• Analyzing Risk of Displacement and Affordable Housing Opportunities in Southwest Boston
• Affordable Housing Creation Through Regulation of the Private Market: Inclusionary Zoning and Linkage Programs (Cecilia Nardi)
• The Housing Market in Egypt After the Revolution: Opportunities and Challenges for Foreign Direct Investment (Mark Attia)
• Community and Economic Development Strategies for Revitalization of Former Mill Towns in Massachusetts (Christine Madore)