Suggested terms
LIRA
The State of the Nation’s Housing 2025
Accessory Dwelling Units

Previous Meyer Fellows

2025

José Carlos Fernández Salas

PhD candidate in Urban History
Harvard University

José's research examines the housing and land tenure practices developed by Indigenous migrants, Afro-Peruvians, and Japanese communities in Peru from the late 19th to mid-20th century, and how they might offer lessons for innovative housing policies across the Global South. 

Matthew Jacob

PhD candidate in Public Policy
Harvard University

Matthew's work uses data from post-2008 foreclosure assistance programs to quantify the long-term economic consequences of foreclosure across generations and develop evidence-based policy recomendations to support vulnerable households facing housing instability. 

Michelle Xiyue Li

PhD candidate in Public Policy
Harvard University

Michelle's research examines how converting abandoned rail corridors into multi-use trails influences housing values, residential development, and neighborhood demographics.

2024

Begoña Peiro

Doctor of Design candidate
Harvard Graduate School of Design

Begoña's research "focused on government-driven planned relocation initiatives being adopted as a last resort climate-adaptation strategy for informal settlements in Uruguay. Housing is a critical component of planned relocation processes, both in relation to the problems faced (housing exposure and sensitivity to climate-related risks) and to the solution (housing solutions at the site of relocation)."

2023

Lingxuan Wu

PhD in Economics
Harvard University

Understanding Land Finance and Real Estate Booms During Economic Development

2022
2021
2020

Lauren Russell

PhD in Public Policy
Harvard Kennedy School

Using a major change in Massachusetts laws governing the release of information about criminal records to examine the causal effect of a criminal record on an individual’s ability to move to neighborhoods with high social mobility measures, low crime rates, and better schools.

2019

Adam Travis

PhD in Sociology and Social Policy
Harvard University

Exploring how different coastal real estate markets are responding to global climate change, with a particular focus on the relationship between flood hazards and home prices.

2018
2017

Justin Stern

PhD in Urban Planning and Design
Harvard Graduate School of Design

How global outsourcing in the call center industry is affecting urban form and development in Manila and Bangalore

2016
2015

Jingyi Zhang

Doctor of Design
Harvard Graduate School of Design

Mixed Land Use Planning in China

2014
2013
2012
2011
2010

Shelagh McCartney

Doctor of Design
Harvard Graduate School of Design

Research Project: Growth Patterns and Emergent Housing Policies in Sao Paolo and Manila

2009
2008
2007
2006
2005
2004
2003
2002
2001
2000
1998

Our Mission

The Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies strives to improve equitable access to decent, affordable homes in thriving communities. We conduct rigorous research to advance policy and practice, and we bring together diverse stakeholders to spark new ideas for addressing housing challenges. Through teaching and fellowships, we mentor and inspire the next generation of housing leaders.

About Us
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