Hi John, ☃

It’s Mariah, Marketing and Communications Associate at YIMBY Action. Today, I want to share why I joined the YIMBY movement, which is possibly the most important movement of our time given the national housing shortage we’re currently facing.

I moved to Boston when I was three years old. Boston was more than just a special place to live for me. I was diagnosed with Leukemia in 2001 and spent three months in the Boston Children’s Hospital, and an additional 5 years receiving chemotherapy from the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. Boston is the city that helped me beat cancer.

In 2015, I ventured out to Washington, D.C. for college hoping for a temporary adventure before returning home to start my adult life. Now, less than 10 years later I’ve found myself unexpectedly priced out of my home. If I could afford to come home, I’d have access to a walkable community full of the kinds of schools, hospitals, and entertainment I’d need to feel comfortable starting a family. Unfortunately, I didn’t account for Boston’s reluctance to meet residents’ needs for affordable homes.

According to a new report, racial and class segregation was at the heart of a decision to pass restrictive zoning laws in the Greater Boston Area in the 1970s. This downzoning from 50 years ago is continuing to cause the shortage of accessible homes needed to house residents. Legalizing accessory dwelling units, upzoning to allow for more multi-family homes, and eliminating parking minimums are just a few policies Boston could adopt that have helped get more affordable homes built across the country. Boston is home to some of the best U.S. healthcare, education, sports teams, and so much more. How can we expect it to remain one of the greatest cities in America when only the wealthy can afford to live there?

I know I’m not the only one struggling to return to the place that raised them due to astronomical housing costs. If enough community members advocate for the kinds of neighborhoods that will make our cities great— walkable, affordable, sustainable, accessible neighborhoods— our leaders will do the right thing. Together, we can push leaders around the nation to build a future of inclusion and abundant housing for residents both new and old who want to experience the joys of their community. Donate today to help fuel the pro-housing movement.

With hope and solidarity,

Mariah