A Quad Cities native has written a book on the housing crisis in the U.S., and will offer his views and possible solutions.
Brendan O’Brien will discuss his book “Homesick: Why Housing is Unaffordable and How We Can Change It” during two discussions and book signing events. They will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 30, at the Davenport Public Library – Fairmount Branch, 3000 N. Fairmount St., Davenport; and at 10:30 a.m. Monday, Oct. 2, at the Rock Island Downtown Library, 401 19th St. Admission to both events is free.
In his book “Homesick,” Mr. O’Brien said that unaffordable housing, both historically and presently, is one of the main ways economic and racial inequity is manifested. This is true in Davenport and across the country.
The author, a Quad Cities native who now lives in Flagstaff, Arizona, told the QCBJ he wants to discuss the problems with unaffordable housing and solutions to the problem. He also wants to use the events to help local agencies and people trying to solve housing issues in the region.
Mr. O’Brien spent three seasons working for federal public land management agencies in California, Montana and New Mexico. He observed the influx of short-term rentals and non-primary homes alongside rising rents and prices.
Studying this link became the basis of his master’s thesis from Northern Arizona University as well as the article, “When Boom Towns Become Ghost Towns in the New West.”
“Homesick” is available at the Artsy Bookworm Bookstore, 1319 30th S., Rock Island.
