In Conversation: South Florida's Affordable Housing Crisis

Philip Lewin is an Associate Professor in the Sociology Department. His current research focuses on housing insecurity in South Florida. He recently completed an Emergency Housing Study and Policy Response Analysis for the City of Lake Worth Beach, which examined the scope, causes, and consequences of housing distress across the city; analyzed the impacts of recent state legislation on local housing conditions; and provided policy recommendations to improve housing affordability and security. His previous work examined the political ramifications of environmental exploitation, economic distress, and cultural marginalization in Central Appalachia. 

In this episode, Dean Horswell and Professor Lewin discuss key findings from Lewin’s recent study of housing conditions in Palm Beach County, focusing on the City of Lake Worth Beach. Their conversation covers the causes of rising housing costs, the challenges faced by local residents, and the effectiveness of local, state, and federal policies in addressing the crisis.