In Defense of Housing

Praxis

1. As illustrated by New York’s history of housing movements, the state of the modern housing system in any given city is heavily influenced by countless forces including immigration, urbanization, redlining, and displacement. Conduct research on the history of housing in your city. Who were the original inhabitants of the land? What groups have been historically excluded from the housing system? Are there any influential pieces of legislation that have shaped housing in your city?

2. Review the chart that details the transformative remedies and potential directions to further the transformation of housing. Some of these might not yet be realistic for individual citizens to engage in, but take some time to research the authors’ recommendations and find a corresponding campaign, piece of legislation, organization, or event that corresponds to the recommendation. 

3. Throughout history, the home has served as a crucial place for freedom fighters to cultivate activism, strategize, and come together in community. Many of these individual homes have been preserved and transformed into museums as a way to honor the legacy of these social movements and their leaders. For example, the National Park Service has compiled a list of sites that comprise the houses of the Underground Railroad. Additionally, the Oakland house that served as the home of the Black Panther Party in the ‘60s and ‘70s has recently been transformed into a mural and museum in honor of the women of the Party. Take some time to research and visit a local historic house in your area. Learn about and reflect on the significance of the location and how the house helped further the movement.  

4. Although they warn that it should never take precedence over public housing, one of the authors’ transformative remedies is to “let a thousand housing alternatives bloom.” Research alternative housing programs in your area, and see if there are ways you can support them.

5. One of the central understandings of In Defense of Housing is that housing movements are ever-evolving, intersectional, and most importantly, still crucial. Find a housing justice movement organization near you and see if there are ways to participate in direct action to resist things like gentrification, unfair evictions, exclusionary zoning laws, or other local issues. If you are already involved in a justice-focused community organization, consider how you might integrate issues of housing justice into your group’s actions, or how you might collaborate with a housing justice group in your area.