Accelerator | 12-Week Course

 Escaping the Housing Trap

 

Housing is everything—and our housing market is broken. Fixing it requires a new approach focused on local action and long-term resilience.

This course looks at how zoning laws and financial policies have driven the housing crisis—and how to reverse the damage. You’ll explore the tension between housing as shelter and as investment, and what it means for affordability today.

Participants will:

  • Explore local reforms that expand housing options and reduce costs

  • Learn how small-scale development builds stronger, more adaptable neighborhoods

  • Discover funding models that prioritize lasting stability

You’ll leave equipped with Strong Towns principles and tools to help your community move from crisis to solutions—starting at the local level.

 
 

Stay up to date with email updates on upcoming Accelerator sessions.

We use your postal code to send you the occasional email letting you know about Strong Towns events in your region or city.

 

"The Accelerator is your chance to plan and build a better housing market on a local scale. I’m excited to be a co-instructor for these sessions and invite you to join me for these 12 weeks"

- Edward Erfurt

 

Explore Sessions

    • Exploring the dual nature of housing: shelter and investment

    • The economic implications of viewing housing as an investment

    • The societal impacts of rising housing prices Goals:

    • Understand the conflicting roles of housing in the economy and society

    • Discuss strategies to balance housing as a fundamental need and a financial asset

    • The historical development of housing policies

    • The suburban experiment and its long-term effects

    • The creation of regulatory and financial traps in housing

    • The evolution of zoning laws and their impact on housing availability

    • Case studies of restrictive zoning practices

    • Strategies for reforming zoning to encourage more housing development 

    • The role of finance in the housing market

    • Mortgage markets and their influence on housing prices

    • The impact of financial instruments on housing stability 

    • The cultural significance of homeownership in America

    • The effects of housing policies on different communities

    • Strategies for fostering community resilience and inclusivity 

    • Practical steps for local leaders to address housing challenges

    • Encouraging incremental development and small-scale developers

    • Policies and initiatives to create diverse and affordable housing options

 
 

Meet Your Instructors

Charles Marohn

Charles Marohn is a licensed civil engineer and land use planner with over 25 years of experience working with towns across North America. He is the founder and president of Strong Towns and the author of several books on community growth and resilience.

Edward Erfurt

Edward Erfurt is a licensed architect and the Director of Community Action at Strong Towns. He brings over 20 years of experience in urban design and public-sector planning, helping communities implement practical, place-based strategies for growth.

Carlee Alm-LaBar

Carlee Alm-LaBar is a public servant and nonprofit leader with years of experience in civic engagement and local government. She is the Chief of Staff at Strong Towns and formerly served in leadership roles in Lafayette, Louisiana, advancing community-focused planning and development.

Norm Van Eeden Petersman

Norm Van Eeden Petersman is a community organizer and advocate with a background in local government, public communications, and pastoral leadership. He is the Director of Movement Building at Strong Towns and a founding leader of DelPOP, a land use and housing reform group in British Columbia.