Priced Out is a data-journalism project about the American housing unaffordability crisis. This effort aims to encourage users (especially legislators) to take action through an engaging, narrative web experience that breaks down macroeconomic trends, the systemic causes, and their consequences.

How might I bridge the gap between economic data and personal stories to drive equitable policy change?

The largest problems of our day are so complicated and systemic that they're hard for us to grasp. This creates a paralysis of complexity leading to the belief that radical improvement is not possible or worse: not worth fighting for. The housing unaffordability crisis is one of those problems. My final outcome must accessibly communicate the gravity/urgency of this issue and actionable steps the user can take to push for change.

After the initial stage of foundational desk research, I narrowed my scope by contacting experts on those most brutally impacted by the unaffordability crisis: the unhoused. I spoke at length with the director of a local homeless shelter and an assistant director for the City of Boston's street homelessness initiatives. Each of these experts has 30+ years of experience working with unhoused citizens. These conversations focused on the causes of homelessness, causes of housing unaffordability, and stories of those impacted.

By empathizing with our most vulnerable neighbors we build a stronger understanding of how to create a system that equitably serves all.

With consolidated information on macro housing trends, local experiences, and the causes of both, important questions still remained. How should this information be communicated to the public? How could this be translated into a cohesive narrative? How can I emphasize action?

Priced Out consolidates my research into three sections: understanding, empathizing, and acting.

The first provides context and urgency to the issue at hand through visualizations of important statistics. The second communicates the personal stories of four archetypes representative of American citizens. The final section prompts the user to take action or learn more through a two detailed webpages. The four main forces of unaffordability are present in all three stages.

Through moderated in-person sessions, Priced Out was usability tested four times with low-fidelity wireframes and three times in high-fidelity prototype. Users were led through the full product journey, starting with the pamphlet and ending with the advocacy kit.

Created the Priced Out pamphlet and prototyped the mobile website including the advocacy kit. These three elements form an actionable awareness loop allowing the user to receive the pamphlet, visit the website, print the pamphlet, and begin the cycle again for someone new.

I will develop and launch Priced Out by the end of 2025. Test the prototype below.