No Place to Live

No Place to Live is a clear-eyed, journalistic look at how America's housing shortage took shape, why so many cities have become unaffordable, and what can realistically be done to change course. Drawing on the forces that shape housing markets, Nathaniel Crowe explains how decades of underbuilding, restrictive local rules, rising land and construction costs, and shifting demand created a system where stable homes are increasingly out of reach for renters and buyers alike. The result is felt everywhere: longer commutes, strained budgets, delayed life plans, and communities where essential workers can no longer afford to live near the jobs they support. This book helps readers understand the crisis without jargon or false promises. It connects the lived experience of scarcity to the policies and market pressures behind it, then points toward practical reforms that can expand access to housing and make cities more livable. Essential for anyone seeking a grounded, informed path through one of the most urgent issues facing American communities.