ASTA | Homelessness, Downtowns, Dead Malls | May 14

In this edition of Ask Strong Towns Anything, Strong Towns Chief Technical Advisor Edward Erfurt and Director of Movement Building Norm Van Eeden Petersman tackle your questions on homelessness, struggling downtowns, and the future of development—with help from our incredible Strong Towns members.

From the real-world challenges of tiny home development and the politics of public restrooms, to how to frame homelessness solutions in a way that fosters community prosperity, this conversation dives deep into what it means to build resilient, just, and productive places.

💬 Some of the powerful themes that emerged:

• The complex moral and financial calculus behind addressing homelessness.

• Lessons from Medicine Hat and the “fix the bits” approach—like toilets and trash bins—as practical harm reduction.

• Member-led insights on rooming houses, tiny homes, and alternative housing models like dorm-style or boarding houses.

• The tension between dead malls and downtown revival—and why letting go of suburban-style infrastructure can sometimes be the best option.

• Why value per acre remains one of the strongest tools in our toolbox—and how it reveals hidden strengths in your downtown.

• The fiscal traps of tax caps and the Growth Ponzi Scheme, especially in places like Oregon and Texas.

• Challenges around inspections, assessor transparency, and regulatory bottlenecks that inhibit local progress.

🧠 These monthly AMA-style sessions remind us of how much wisdom, creativity, and lived experience our Strong Towns members bring to the table. You’re not just part of a movement—you’re shaping it.

📣 Become a Strong Towns member today and help us build a nation of prosperous, resilient places from the bottom up.
Join here → https://www.strongtowns.org/membership

🔗 More resources mentioned in this episode:

• Supreme Court ruling on homelessness

• Value per acre how-to

• Medicine Hat and public restrooms

• Library staff and unhoused patrons in Toronto

• Understand Homelessness Training Hub

• Dear Winnipeg: Toilets and civic priorities

• The Strong Towns Decoder Tool

▶️ Find this and more recordings at our Strong Towns Library channel