Dr. Gregg Colburn’s new book, “Homelessness is a Housing Problem,” aims to understand why some U.S. cities struggle more than others with high rates of homelessness. By examining the commonly believed causes of homelessness – drug addiction, mental health, poverty, weather, benefits/services, and low income mobility – Colburn’s research explains how these causes fail to account for differences in homelessness rates from city to city and within a single region. His work ultimately points to housing market conditions, such as rent prices and the availability of affordable housing, as providing a strong explanation for this cross-city variation, as well as a path forward for policy change.
A panel of experts will discuss Professor Colburn’s research after his presentation to delve into how we can dispel conventional beliefs and build support for solving homelessness.