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Best Practices in Suburban Housing Affordability: Understanding, Motivating, and Policy Options

Suburban communities across the United States have different housing strengths and weaknesses; however, they have all experienced a steady rise in median housing prices. Lower housing affordability has a host of negative consequences including increased homelessness, poor health outcomes, unaddressed racial housing inequality, and lower disposable incomes.

Although research and resources often focus on urban and rural areas, an increasing number of suburban areas face housing affordability pressure from rapidly expanding major urban cores. Similar housing pressures face regional metropolitan areas (anchored by smaller cities such as Boise, ID and Spokane, WA), which serve as economic, cultural, social, or health-care hubs for surrounding rural communities.

Applied Research Fellows from Michigan State University developed a position paper on affordable housing, focusing on first and second ring suburban cities and smaller, growing urban centers. This paper will serve as the foundation for determining future opportunities for Extension, such as the development of programming or curricula to help metropolitan leaders establish effective housing policy.

Applied Research Fellows from Michigan State University developed a position paper on affordable housing, focusing on first and second ring suburban cities and smaller, growing urban centers. This paper will serve as the foundation for determining future opportunities for Extension, such as the development of programming or curricula (potentially train-the-trainer) to help metropolitan leaders establish effective housing policy.

Products & Resources

Paper

Carpenter, Craig Wesley, and Tyler Augst. 2021. “Best Practices in Suburban Housing Affordability: Understanding, Motivating, and Policy Options.” Western Center for Metropolitan Extension and Research. Available at https://s3.wp.wsu.edu/uploads/sites/2164/2021/11/Best_Practices_In_Suburban_Housing_Affordability_WCMER_9.2021.pdf

Web Resources

Project Website (external): https://www.canr.msu.edu/redlining/

Presentations

2022 National Urban Extension Conference, Camden, NJ

Events & Programs

Community discussions around housing: Explaining common key terms (Michigan State University Extension article)

(Upcoming) Michigan State University Housing, Planning, and Zoning Housing Programs

Fellows / Authors

Applied Research Fellow: Tyler Augst, M.S.

Tyler Augst is a Government & Community Vitality Educator for Southwest Michigan with Michigan State University Extension and Michigan Sea Grant focusing on land use, zoning, planning, and community development. Prior to MSU Extension Tyler spent time working on increasing civic and democratic participation in a variety of K-12, post-secondary settings, including a year serving as an AmeriCorps VISTA with the Eastern Upper Peninsula Intermediate School District and working with 4-H. Tyler holds B.A. degrees in Anthropology and Sociology from Michigan State University and a M.S. degree in Rural Sociology from Pennsylvania State University.
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Applied Research Fellow: Craig Carpenter, Ph.D.

Dr. Craig Carpenter completed his bachelor’s degree from Kalamazoo College and has a Ph.D. in Agricultural, Food, and Resource Economics from Michigan State University. His major field was economic development with a focus in applied econometrics. Dr. Carpenter holds a joint appointment as an Extension Specialist in the Community, Food, and Environment Institute at Michigan State University Extension, and as an Assistant Professor and Extension Specialist in the Department of Agricultural Economics at Texas A&M University and Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service. He specializes in community and regional economic development. Dr. Carpenter’s research expertise includes the interaction of race, ethnicity, entrepreneurship, and economic growth. Dr. Carpenter’s primary goal is to help communities and businesses organize, understand research and local economic data, make informed decisions, and take action about community and economic development issues. Pursuantly, he develops research-based educational and data materials on local/regional community, economic, and business development issues, while publishing this research in academic journals. His programs underscore regional economic coordination, cooperation, and action, resulting from understanding their regional and historical context based on publicly available data.
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Dave Ivan Michigan Profile Pic

Applied Research Fellow: Dave Ivan, Ph.D

Dave Ivan provides oversight to a team of more than 65 MSU Extension members who specialize in natural resources management, financial literacy, entrepreneurship and more. Ivan has over 15 years of progressive leadership experiences with MSU Extension. In addition to serving as GMI interim director, he also served as a regional director and Clinton County Extension director. Ivan has provided innovative Extension programming in economic development and is frequently sought as a guest speaker on community revitalization. He holds a bachelor’s and a doctorate from MSU as well as an MBA from Penn State University.
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