Ten Steps to Affordable Housing. The New Circuit of Credit

Book Overview: Ten Pathways to Affordable Housing

Subtitle: Breaking the Circle of Blame in Housing Policy
Author: Roger Lewis

Core Thesis

The book argues that the affordable housing crisis stems from systemic design flaws, not market failure. Through 10 evidence-based pathways, it demonstrates how communities can reclaim housing from financialization and transform it into equitable infrastructure.

Key Themes & Pathways

1. Regulatory Reform Revolution
   • Problem: Zoning laws, NIMBYism ("Not In My Backyard"), and bureaucratic barriers block affordable development (HUD, 1991).
   • Solution: State-led overrides of exclusionary local policies (e.g., California's RHNA quotas).
2. Decommodification Models
   • Community Land Trusts (CLTs): Remove land from speculation.
   • Public Credit Systems: Replicate North Dakota's state bank to fund housing without predatory debt.
3. Climate-Policy Integration
   • Problem: "Green" regulations inflate costs without addressing housing shortages (Chapman University, 2024).
   • Solution: Pair density bonuses with sustainability mandates (e.g., transit-oriented development).
4. University-Community Partnerships
   • Case Study: Universities as anchors for equitable development, countering displacement (American Bar Association, 2024).
5. Financial Reengineering
   • Replace interest-based financing with community-controlled credit, slashing the 77% interest burden (Creutz, 2010).
6. Pattern Language Design
   • Apply Christopher Alexander's architectural principles for human-centered, livable communities.
7. Blockchain Governance
   • Transparent, resident-led decision-making for democratic development.
8. Carbon-Neutral Affordable Housing
   • Integrate renewable energy (solar, biogas) to cut costs via carbon credits.
9. Inclusionary Zoning 2.0
   • Mandate affordable units in market-rate projects while avoiding supply reduction (CQ Researcher, 2018).
10. Disaster-Resilient Communities
    • Post-crisis rebuilding models that prioritize equity (e.g., rejecting New Orleans-style "disaster capitalism").