Historical Roots of the Housing Crisis

The housing crisis in the United States is deeply rooted in a long history of government policies and social dynamics. Author Jim Burling emphasizes that the origins of zoning laws date back to racial segregation practices, where local governments explicitly prohibited homeowners from selling properties to Black families. Notably, the case of George McMetchen in Baltimore highlights this troubling history, where racial ordinances were enforced to maintain all-white neighborhoods. This foundational story of exclusion not only shaped the architecture of housing in America but also laid the groundwork for present-day regulatory practices that continue to restrict housing availability.