“David J. Erickson’s newly released book, The Housing
Policy Revolution: Networks and Neighborhoods (The
Urban Institute Press, 2009), is simply the best and most important book on the history of modern federal housing and community development policy. That he has relatively little competition does not diminish Erickson’s achievement. The book is a chronicle of both politics and practice, scholarly and entertaining, historical and forward-thinking, bold and nuanced.”
—Buzz Roberts, Local Initiatives Support Corporation, in the Novogradic Journal of Tax Credit Housing
"Which books or web sites do you recommend for people interested in community development finance?
I’d recommend the book, The Housing Policy Revolution: Networks and Neighborhoods by David Erickson."
—from the ProInspire interview with Keiva Dennis, National Housing Trust Community Development Fund
“David Erickson helps us understand the dynamic network that constitutes the institution that produces affordable, primarily rental, housing in the United States. He details how this powerful and effective ‘social-service complex,’ bringing together public and private, state and local, business and nonprofit, left and right, has grown and succeeded because of, indeed in spite of, the trauma of federal budget cuts of the 1980s. Erickson extends the vision to education, health care, and community development and argues that an ever-changing network of specialist producers who are connected with both the capital markets and community residents, can, with an appropriate level of financial support from the federal government, bring back and sustain our nation’s poorest neighborhoods—those being devastated by the current financial crisis—and can do it with efficiency and compassion.”
—Ellen Seidman, Senior Fellow, New America Foundation, and Executive Vice President for National Policy and Partnership Development, ShoreBank Corporation
“David Erickson’s book provides a fascinating analysis of the rise of networks in the provision of affordable housing in America—how we moved from federal government provision of low-income housing to a rich tapestry of public, private, and nonprofit suppliers. Erickson documents the rise of networks and new institutions. He combines politics, history, and policy research in a rich analysis of the little-known revolution in housing policy during the past three decades.”
—John M. Quigley, I. Donald Terner Distinguished Professor, University of California, Berkeley
“The deep economic crisis gripping our nation has only intensified the need to find a more rational, productive relationship between Washington, states and localities, and the nonprofit and private sectors. David Erickson engagingly portrays all of these actors uniting over the past four decades to address America’s affordable housing needs and becoming poised to respond to our evolving challenges. In demonstrating how this decentralized network combines political and policy savvy, flexible collaboration, and understanding of private markets to meet community needs and achieve societal goals, Erickson serves up a valuable playbook for advancing a smarter, 21st century federalism.”
—Alan Berube, Research Director, The Brookings Institution Metropolitan Policy Program
“Today’s housing crisis requires and enables policymakers to redefine the role of government in housing policy. This redefinition, David Erickson argues, is ongoing and reflects decades of trial and error. Erickson makes a compelling case that community-based networks are the foundation for a new generation of housing policy that calls for and benefits from a holistic approach to community development. Turning the clock back is not a plausible option.”
—Nicolas P. Retsinas, Director, Joint Center for Housing Studies, Harvard University
“The Housing Policy Revolution recounts the remarkable and uniquely American history of the community development movement. With its roots in the community activism of the 1960s, ordinary people united around a common purpose—to reclaim their homes and their neighborhoods, to build a better life for themselves and their children. David Erickson illuminates the politics, the competing themes, and the choices made over four decades of housing policy and community investment programs. He shows us how these local initiatives reside in a dynamic tension between a desire for grassroots democracy but the need for federal resources to reach this ideal. By brokering this tension, community developers rebuilt neighborhoods, stimulated capital flows, and added critical services like child care, health care, and education in places left behind in an evolving economy. But Erickson urges us to the next stage in this movement—a more intentional, self-aware network that can pull the best from these competing themes. Erickson gives us a pathway for the evolution of housing policy, community building, and economic opportunity for our most vulnerable people and places.”
—Nancy O. Andrews, President and Chief Executive Officer, Low Income Investment Fund
“How housing and community development policy shifted from a top-down, command and control model that emphasized direct relationships between developers and HUD to a decentralized model in which mission-driven nonprofits play a large role is a largely untold story. David Erickson successfully identifies the key legislative, regulatory, and political currents that shaped what has become today’s housing and community development operating model. The case studies illuminate successes and stumbles, while the narrative fills in some important gaps in our collective narrative of housing and community development policy.”
—Barry Zigas, Director of Housing Policy, Consumer Federation of America
