Turn on the Lights Podcast Housing, homelessness, and health - with Rosanne Haggerty
Sep 12, 2025
Rosanne Haggerty, President and CEO of Community Solutions and a MacArthur Genius Awardee, dives into the housing crisis in America, emphasizing that stable housing is essential for health and well-being. She explains how systemic issues like healthcare gaps fuel homelessness. Haggerty showcases the 'Built for Zero' initiative, which transforms community responses through data-driven collaboration. Listeners will discover innovative strategies being implemented in cities to make homelessness rare and brief, highlighting the power of coordinated efforts.
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Nationwide Housing Shortage Harms Communities
- The U.S. faces a major housing shortage of roughly 7.1 million units, which drives instability across sectors.
- Rosanne Haggerty says this shortage prevents essential workers from living near jobs and strains community services.
Global Roots Of Housing Instability
- Homelessness is not uniquely American; many wealthy countries face similar housing barriers.
- Haggerty links the problem to zoning, financialization, and treating housing as a commodity instead of a basic need.
Shelter Work Sparked A Lifelong Focus
- Rosanne recalled volunteering at a NYC shelter where young people insisted they couldn't progress without housing.
- That experience convinced her housing must come first before education, jobs, or reunification.