Скачать или смотреть Empty Homes, Crowded Cities • Guest: Olivia Nielsen

In an age where headlines swing between empty rural houses and urban homelessness, the notion of a global housing shortage masks a deeper problem. This talk reframes the crisis as a global housing mismatch, a disconnect between where homes are, who they serve, and what they cost. Drawing on global examples, this session will reveal how uneven housing distribution, misaligned pricing, and location mismatches, rather than sheer scarcity, are driving the crisis.

We explore:
• How migration and demography stratify housing markets: Rural depopulation leaves homes unused, while urban demand overwhelms infrastructure and affordability.
• Why building more is not always enough: Large-scale housing programs often miss the mark if homes are poorly located or economically inaccessible.
• What are some solutions to this global mismatch: How can cities unlock urban land for affordable housing?

Olivia Nielsen is a Principal at Miyamoto International where she focuses on market-driven housing solutions for all. From Haiti to Papua New Guinea, she has developed and worked on critical housing programs in over 45 countries. Olivia has over a decade of experience in housing finance, housing public-private partnerships, post-disaster reconstruction and resilient construction. Through her work she hopes to make housing markets work for all.