NLIHC’s Opportunity Starts at Home (OSAH) campaign and the American Institute of Architects (AIA) have released the fourth episode in their five-part podcast series. The new episode, “Preserving Affordability – The Role of Architects in Saving Existing Housing Stock,” delves into the crucial role architects play in the preservation of housing affordability with an exploration of Naturally Occurring Affordable Housing (NOAH). NOAH refers to existing rental housing that is affordable without subsidy because of low market values. NOAH housing typically comprises older properties, and a lack of subsidies makes these homes especially vulnerable to economic shocks and disrepair. The new episode shares insight on how architects can act as scope and grant writers, helping to secure funding and develop plans for the preservation and improvement of affordable housing.
Hosted by Julie Walker, the episode features architects Emily Roush-Elliott and Christian Solorio, who discuss successes and challenges in preserving affordable housing and share their strategies to maintain and enhance existing affordable housing stock. The guests also discuss how current federal affordable housing policies and funding streams could better support the preservation of NOAH.
Listen to the episode here.
About the Series
The new podcast series, developed with AIA’s Right-to-Housing Working Group, highlights the multi-sector impacts of affordable housing. Hosted by Chantelle Wilkinson and Julie Walker, it features architects discussing human-centered design, federal policies addressing housing inequities, and innovative approaches to equity and sustainability. The series emphasizes the critical role of architects in advancing housing advocacy for a just and equitable future. New episodes will be released weekly on Soundcloud, Apple, and Spotify.
Learn more about the series here.