Housing & Community Justice Law & Policy Seminar

3 units

Drop deadline: 11:59 p.m. on the day after the first class meeting. This seminar will examine inequality in housing and community development law and policy in major metropolitan areas such as St. Louis and the attendant implications for health, employment, education, crime, the economy, and the environment. The pandemic exacerbated the national housing crisis, prompting a massive eviction epidemic that still lingers; significant imbalances in the housing market; urban vacancy sprawls; rising homelessness; and increasing housing discrimination against women, people of color, individuals with disabilities, low-income individuals, and older populations. The pandemic laid bare inadequacies of present law and public policy to address housing and community development challenges and inequities. Students will be expected to investigate causations; explore the needs of public, private, and nonprofit stakeholders; and propose innovative law and policy interventions to reimagine housing and community development options and property rights. [This course has several learning objectives. First, students will become familiar with a range of current housing and community development challenges and develop an understanding of causations and barriers to housing equity, including bias and discrimination. Second, students will explore, compare, and contrast the needs of public, private, and non-governmental stakeholders, including issues of income, race, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, ability, and age. Third, students will develop their skills in research, analysis, and writing, including close and critical reading. Fourth, students will enhance their awareness of both the promise and the limits of existing law and policy. Finally, students will explore progressive advocacy avenues and propose innovative law and policy interventions to reimagine housing and community development options and property rights for today's world. More details about writing requirements appear below.] Seminar grades will be based on two papers (75%), plus attendance and participation, including presentations (25%). The first paper will focus on identifying and diagnosing problems in the format of a proposed editorial; the second on exploring best practices and innovative solutions. Feedback will be provided on the earlier papers to help students improve their writing on the latter papers. Students are graded on the standard numeric grading scale. There are no prerequisites for this course. Class attendance is required. Students are permitted a maximum of two missed classes. [This course contains 4 hours of BCCCR instruction.]