Several markets in the country, including California, aresuffering a severe housing affordability crisis. In response,industry leaders have stepped forward to look for solutions to theproblem, from social impact investors to architects. Now, theRichard S. Ziman Center for Real Estate atUCLA is launching an affordable housing program,which will serve to educate and train more professionals in thecomplex affordable housing niche.

“We are in a severe crisis of housing availability and housingaffordability in many parts of the nation and notably in coastalCalifornia,” Stuart A. Gabriel, Arden Realtychair, professor of finance and director of the Richard S. ZimanCenter for Real Estate at UCLA, tells GlobeSt.com. “If you go upand down the coast of California, you find very expensive land,very limited housing development, very high regulatory constrainton housing production and plunging levels of affordability withsevere constraints on workforce, including teachers, firefighters,doctors, nurses and so on. There are consequential issues to thisproblem. The lack of affordable housing is associated with the exitof jobs, lack of arrival of jobs and ultimately it will threateneconomic growth.”