The Banished Bottom of the Housing Market
2 days ago
- #urban-development
- #homelessness
- #affordable-housing
- The YMCA and other organizations provided single-room occupancy (SRO) units as affordable housing for low-income individuals, peaking at over 100,000 rooms in 1940.
- SROs were a vital part of the urban housing ecosystem, offering flexibility and independence, especially for young people and marginalized groups.
- Progressive Era reformers stigmatized SROs, associating them with moral decay, and used zoning laws and building codes to eliminate them.
- Urban renewal projects and economic shifts in the mid-20th century led to the mass demolition of SROs, displacing millions without adequate replacement housing.
- The destruction of SROs directly contributed to the homelessness crisis, as they were the last affordable option for many low-income individuals.
- Modern proposals suggest converting vacant office spaces into affordable co-living units, but legal and zoning barriers often prevent such initiatives.
- The lack of SROs has left a gap in the housing market, particularly for single adults, exacerbating homelessness and housing instability.