Author and real estate scholar Gregg Colburn has devoted his career to studying housing policy, housing markets, housing affordability and homelessness. His research on homelessness in the United States, conducted with data scientist and journalist Clayton Page Aldern, has uncovered a startling truth -- homelessness is not a result of mental illness, addiction or other factors personal to the homeless individual. Rather, homelessness arises and persists due to real estate market conditions existing in our metropolitan areas, and differing market conditions explain why some areas see much higher rates of homelessness than others. Gregg and Clayton compiled their research and findings in a new book entitled Homelessness is a Housing Problem. The book has become influential on the source of homelessness. In May, 2023 Gregg spoke about his research and findings in well attended discussion at the Bainbridge Public Library, sponsored by Housing Resource Bainbridge (HRB). His talk was so well-received that HRB is again hosting Gregg in a community conversation about homelessness and housing policy that will take place at 7:30pm on November 16, 2023 at the Stan Pocock Rowing Center, located at 281 Brien Drive SE, Bainbridge Island, WA 98110. HRB Executive Director Phedra Elliott will introduce Gregg and frame the problem. This is an invaluable opportunity to separate the myths of homelessness from the reality of the situation as a means of creating policies that will actually address the situation.
The event is free and open to the public.
Eagle Harbor Book Co. has copies of Homelessness is a Housing Problem for sale at our storefront and through our website. We will also have copies available for sale and signing at the November 16, 2023 event.
About Gregg Colburn: Gregg is an assistant professor of real estate in the University of Washington’s College of Built Environments. In his research, Gregg studies housing policy, housing markets, housing affordability, and homelessness. Gregg is the co-author of Homelessness is a Housing Problem (University of California Press, 2022) together with data scientist and journalist Clayton Page Aldern. Gregg is also actively engaged with policymakers, nonprofit organizations, and housing developers on matters related to housing and homelessness in the Puget Sound region. Gregg entered academia after spending the first seventeen years of his professional life in the private sector. He received his Ph.D. from the University of Minnesota’s Humphrey School of Public Affairs. Gregg’s additional academic training includes an M.S.W. from the University of Minnesota, an M.B.A. from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management, and a B.A. in Economics and Management from Albion College. Gregg enjoys teaching courses in economics and finance at both the graduate and undergraduate level. Gregg is a resident of Bainbridge Island.
About Clayton Page Aldern: Clayton is an advisor, data scientist, and journalist with expertise in homelessness policy, climate change, machine learning, and neuroscience. A Rhodes Scholar and Reynolds Journalism Institute Fellow, he holds a master’s in neuroscience and a master’s in public policy—with a focus on climate change and security—from the University of Oxford. His journalism has been published by The Atlantic, The Economist, Scientific American, Logic, and many others. From 2017 to 2019, he led the data analysis and program evaluation team for the homelessness programs at Pierce County, Washington.
