I’ve been trying to talk to folks in my community about ways to tackle our growing homelessness problem. Whenever I bring up the idea of upzoning to allow for more housing, I get this blank look. It’s like they’re not even considering it as an option. Instead, they always steer the conversation towards real estate transfer taxes. It’s frustrating because I think increasing housing density could really help, but no one seems willing to discuss it. Has anyone else run into this? How do you get people to seriously consider upzoning as a potential solution to homelessness?
In my experience, people often react defensively when you bring up increasing housing density. They worry about their property values dropping or their neighborhood changing too much. What’s worked for me is framing it in terms of economic benefits for the community. I talk about how more housing can attract young professionals and families, which boosts local businesses and tax revenue. I also emphasize how it can help their own kids or grandkids afford to live nearby in the future. It’s not a silver bullet, but presenting it as an investment in the community’s future rather than just a solution for homelessness tends to get people more receptive to the idea.
people can be weird about that stuff. i’ve found showing examples of nice higher-density housing helps. like pics of cool apartment buildings or townhouses. gets them thinking beyond just giant towers. also talking about how it could help their kids afford to live nearby someday. gotta make it relatable ya know?