Reimagining Youth Housing with Jennifer Borrero, Global Thought Leader for Youth Housing

0 Plays7 days ago

In this episode of the Smart Cities Council Podcast, Fanni Melles, PhD, speaks with Jennifer Borrero, Global Thought Leader for Youth Housing, about the intersection of youth, equity, and smart urban development.

Jennifer Borrero is an award-winning, first-generation Latina entrepreneur and the founder of the Youth Housing Coalition. As a United Nations Global Goals Ambassador and TEDx speaker, Jennifer's work spans housing advocacy, development, and education. From launching a public health clinic in Nicaragua to directing affordable housing projects in the U.S., she brings a systems-thinking lens to the lived realities of young people facing housing insecurity.

Together, Jennifer and Fanni explore how youth housing is not just a policy issue but a tool for inclusive, just, and future-focused citymaking. With deep insight and practical experience, Jennifer calls for a new generation of developers, advocates, and decision-makers to co-create the built environment—and shares how her nonprofit is helping make that happen.

Tune in for a powerful conversation on community empowerment, land trusts, smart cities, and why your neighbour might just be the start of revolution.

Key Takeaways

1:10 – Meet Jennifer Borrero: Advocate, Developer, Educator
2:10 – What Is Youth Housing? Beyond Shelter to Decision-Making
3:40 – Why Young People Are Often Excluded from Urban Influence
5:10 – Gen Z in Politics and the Shift Toward Youth Power
7:00 – Rethinking Housing: Renting, Owning, and Flexibility
8:40 – What Does a Smart City Mean to Jennifer?
9:30 – Youth Housing as a Tool for Inclusive Urban Futures
10:30 – Jennifer’s Journey from Skid Row to Youth Housing Coalition
12:00 – Tiny Homes for Farmworkers: A Case Study in Rural California
13:50 – The Complex Challenges of U.S. Housing Development
15:40 – Why the System Feels Inaccessible to Young People
16:30 – Solutions: Pipelines, Partnerships, and Local Talent
17:50 – Land Trusts, Local Developers, and Reclaiming the Dream
18:40 – Why Local Residents Must Shape Local Development
20:10 – Do Young People Want to Get Involved? Yes—Here’s Why
21:20 – Housing as a Universal Issue and Call to Action
22:00 – Start Here: Community Councils and Neighbourhood Planning
23:30 – Closing Thoughts: Can You Name 3 Neighbours?

Learn More About Jennifer Borrero

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Closing Comments:

Thank you for tuning in to this episode of the Smart Cities Council Podcast! If you enjoyed the insights into the future of smart cities, there’s plenty more whe

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