America’s housing crisis is not only about affordability—it is also about a lack of diverse housing options for people at different income levels and stages of life. In this episode, Rob Harter speaks with Amy Tomasso, Director of Policy Innovation at Ivory Innovations, about the “missing middle” between detached single-family homes and large apartment buildings. Amy explains how duplexes, triplexes, cottage courts, accessory dwelling units, and other smaller housing types could create more attainable options for first-time homebuyers, growing families, and older adults hoping to downsize.
Amy also shares how Ivory Innovations combines research, education, entrepreneurship, public policy, and hands-on affordable housing development to move promising ideas into practice. The conversation explores zoning reform, construction technology, innovative financing, cross-sector partnerships, and the important role nonprofit leaders and community foundations can play in developing local housing strategies.
Key Topics Include:
- Why the housing crisis affects community wellbeing, economic development, food security, and financial stability
- What “missing middle” housing is and why many communities stopped building it
- How zoning reform, smaller lots, streamlined approvals, and developer support can expand housing options
- How Ivory Innovations tests new construction technologies and housing solutions through its Fieldworks program
- Why successful housing policy reforms need committed champions from government, business, nonprofits, or the community
- What nonprofit organizations can learn from the public and private sectors—and what those sectors can learn from nonprofits
- How students and emerging leaders can enter the housing field through Hack-A-House and other educational opportunities
Mentioned in This Episode:
- Ivory Innovations
- The Little Book of Low-Cost, High-Impact Housing Solutions
- The Ivory Prize for Housing Affordability
- Ivory Innovations Fieldworks
- Hack-A-House
- Missing Middle Housing
- UCLA Housing Voice Podcast
- Fixer-Upper: How to Repair America’s Broken Housing Systems by Jenny Schuetz
- Escaping the Housing Trap by Charles Marohn Jr. and Daniel Herriges
- Missing Middle Housing: Thinking Big and Building Small to Respond to Today’s Housing Crisis by Daniel Parolek
This Episode is Sponsored By:
Links to Resources:
- Interested in Leadership and Life Coaching? Visit Rob’s website: RobHarter.com
- Find us on YouTube: Nonprofit Leadership Podcast YouTube Channel
- Suggestions for the show? Email us at nonprofitleadershippodcast@gmail.com
- Request a sample coaching session: Email Rob at rob@robharter.com
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