Ten Steps to Affordable Housing. The New Circuit of Credit

Book Overview: Ten Pathways to Affordable Housing

Subtitle: Breaking the Circle of Blame in Housing Policy

Author: Roger Lewis

Core Thesis

The book argues that the affordable housing crisis stems from systemic design flaws, not market failure. Through 10 evidence-based pathways, it demonstrates how communities can reclaim housing from financialization and transform it into equitable infrastructure.

Key Themes & Pathways

Regulatory Reform RevolutionProblem: Zoning laws, NIMBYism ("Not In My Backyard"), and bureaucratic barriers block affordable development (HUD, 1991).Solution: State-led overrides of exclusionary local policies (e.g., California's RHNA quotas).Decommodification ModelsCommunity Land Trusts (CLTs): Remove land from speculation.Public Credit Systems: Replicate North Dakota's state bank to fund housing without predatory debt.Climate-Policy IntegrationProblem: "Green" regulations inflate costs without addressing housing shortages (Chapman University, 2024).Solution: Pair density bonuses with sustainability mandates (e.g., transit-oriented development).University-Community PartnershipsCase Study: Universities as anchors for equitable development, countering displacement (American Bar Association, 2024).Financial ReengineeringReplace interest-based financing with community-controlled credit, slashing the 77% interest burden (Creutz, 2010).Pattern Language DesignApply Christopher Alexander's architectural principles for human-centered, livable communities.Blockchain GovernanceTransparent, resident-led decision-making for democratic development.Carbon-Neutral Affordable HousingIntegrate renewable energy (solar, biogas) to cut costs via carbon credits.Inclusionary Zoning 2.0Mandate affordable units in market-rate projects while avoiding supply reduction (CQ Researcher, 2018).Disaster-Resilient CommunitiesPost-crisis rebuilding models that prioritize equity (e.g., rejecting New Orleans-style "disaster capitalism").