Housing Equity
The 2023 campaign
Every single day, people walk through spaces—classrooms, offices, grocery store aisles—that influence them in both small and extraordinary ways. Of all the spaces that a person experiences, “home” is undoubtedly the most powerful. The home serves as a sanctuary for those who live there, providing the comfort, stability, privacy, and security that is crucial to one’s physical and emotional well-being.
Over the past few years, the term “Housing Crisis” has dominated the headlines—but what does that mean? From the notable decrease in construction following the Great Recession to the supply and labor shortages caused by the 2020 pandemic, the United States has a shortage of between 1.5 million and 6 million homes. This shortage has pushed would-be homebuyers into the rental market, resulting in rising rental costs that have left many struggling to find and maintain housing. For the 2023 Shine the Light Program, SMBW is exploring the housing crisis,
Our Research
Our research into housing and discussions with the experts working on finding solutions to the ongoing housing crisis, from homelessness to policy to affordable housing and development.
The Webinar
For SMBW's 2023 Shine the Light program, we sat down with local housing and development experts in both the for-profit and non-profit spheres to discuss how the housing crisis has unfolded in Richmond.
Meet the Panelists
Jovan Burton
Executive Director
Partnership for Housing Affordability
Antonio Edgerton
Director of Shelter Programs
HomeAgain
Sarah Hale
Executive Director,
Urban Hope
Bernard Harkless
Principal
Lynx Ventures
Mandy Herbert
Executive Director
HomeAgain
The Scholarship
SMBW is committed to the education of emerging design talent. Over the past 30 years, the firm has focused on connecting with the academic community to mentor, collaborate, and support student work through internships and externships, open studios, critiques, mentoring, teaching, and scholarship opportunities. With this annual scholarship, we hope to inspire and support the next generation of creative leaders and expand access to design educations.
For the 2023 Scholarship, we’re asking design students to answer: How can design and architectural principles be leveraged to create housing solutions that address the pressing issues of equity, affordability, and accessibility in our communities?
Interested in applying? Download the scholarship information sheet here and the application here. Send all questions and applications to ebutterworth@smbw.com.
