The pandemic highlighted unresolved issues around affordable housing in metropolitan areas such as Philadelphia and communities across the country. A lack of affordable, low-income and workforce housing has been a challenge for decades but has now reached a crisis point in just about every major city, and Philadelphia — which has the highest poverty rate among the largest cities across the country — is no different. Solutions and policies to address the problem remain complex and controversial. While the challenge to address this crisis can seem daunting, efforts are underway to find long-term, sustainable solutions.
Please join us for a conversation to learn more about affordable housing issues and efforts across the country to seek solutions. This conversation has been organized by the Pennoni Honors College and the Office of University and Community Partnerships.
Dr. Ayana Allen-Handy
Associate Professor, Urban Education, Drexel University School of Education
Principal Investigator, National Science Foundation Civic Innovation Challenge Grant for "Placekeeping: A Co-designed Model for Intergenerational Co-housing and Coalition Building in a University-Adjacent Community"
PANELISTS
John Kromer
Former Director of Housing, City of Philadelphia
Lecturer, Fels Institute of Government, University of Pennsylvania
Author of books on urban reinvestment
Ryan Spak
Principal and Founder, The Spak Group
Project Rehab Manager, Planning and Economic Development, University City District
Tya Winn
Executive Director, Community Design Collaborative
Former Director of Project Planning & Design, Habitat for Humanity Philadelphia
James Wright
Director of Strategic Partnerships and Major Gifts, People's Emergency Center