The Courage to Change:

Policy & Profit

Policy and profit run the housing system. And too often, both are ruled by fear.

 

Policymakers are afraid to be the first to rewrite outdated zoning laws. They’re afraid of the political backlash from people who fight to keep neighborhoods exclusive. They’re afraid that bold change will cost them votes.

 

Developers are afraid too. Afraid of slimmer profit margins. Afraid of building smaller, smarter, more inclusive homes that won’t fetch “market prestige.” Afraid that innovation means risk — and risk means loss.

 

But here’s the truth: fear doesn’t just stall progress — it entrenches barriers. Every time policymakers dodge responsibility to protect their seat, or developers inflate costs to protect their margins, ordinary people pay the price. And that price is the chance to put down roots, to own a home, to build a future.

 

Courage looks different on both sides. For policymakers, courage means writing rules that serve people, not just systems. It means having the backbone to say: exclusionary zoning, minimum square footage requirements, and “not in my backyard” attitudes don’t belong in the future.

 

For developers, courage means proving you can build profitably without gouging. It means rejecting the idea that housing is only valuable when it’s big, flashy, and designed to squeeze maximum dollars out of buyers. It means building homes that reflect real lives, not investor spreadsheets.

 

The system doesn’t need more fear. It needs more courage. Until policymakers and developers find that courage, the barriers stay firmly in place.