In the face of persistent discriminatory practices exacerbating the affordable housing crisis in the United States, a model of innovation and community empowerment stands just under three miles from the MIT campus: Camfield Estates.
“We are immensely proud to uphold MIT’s enduring partnership with Camfield Estates,” states Catherine D’Ignazio, an associate professor specializing in urban science and planning. “Camfield has consistently served as a hub for creative initiatives aimed at uplifting its community.”
D’Ignazio co-directs a research initiative addressing housing issues within the MIT Initiative for Combatting Systemic Racism (ICSR), a program supported by the Institute for Data, Systems, and Society (IDSS). This research team investigates the uneven effects of data, artificial intelligence, and algorithmic systems on housing in the U.S., while also exploring how these technologies can help mitigate racial disparities. Collaborating closely with the Camfield Tenant Association, the team gathers essential insights and data, creating a platform for MIT researchers to tackle real-world challenges and impact the local community positively.
Originally branded as “Camfield Gardens,” this 102-unit housing development in Roxbury, Massachusetts, was a trailblazer in the 1990s, engaging in the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) revitalization program for declining public housing nationwide. This initiative laid the groundwork for a collaboration with MIT that commenced in the early 2000s.
“The HUD program provided the necessary funding and impetus to demolish the existing structures and rebuild from the ground up,” explains Nolen Scruggs, a master’s student in the MIT Department of Urban Studies and Planning (DUSP) who has collaborated with Camfield for several years through ICSR’s housing vertical team. “This collaboration allowed residents to purchase the property from the city for just $1, granting them full ownership.”
Because of their historical partnership, Camfield Estates reached out to MIT in 2022 to initiate a new stage of collaboration. Scruggs dedicated time to assembling a diverse team of students from Harvard University, Wentworth Institute of Technology, and MIT to focus on a housing design project aimed at addressing the redevelopment needs highlighted by the Camfield Tenants Association.
“Understanding the historical context is crucial to our work in the ICSR housing vertical,” notes Peko Hosoi, a professor of mechanical engineering and mathematics who co-leads this vertical with D’Ignazio. “The current challenges in housing did not arise overnight; they stem from a complex history involving redlining, predatory lending practices, and varied infrastructure investments that shape current realities.”
“While quantitative methods can effectively address large-scale trends, our team values qualitative and participatory approaches to gain a deeper understanding of community needs and the types of solutions that can emerge from within the community,” D’Ignazio expands. “This collaboration with Camfield Estates is vital, particularly through Nolen’s leadership.”
Innovative Housing Solutions
Before his journey at MIT, Scruggs, a passionate New Yorker, addressed housing concerns through an internship with House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries. During this time, he engaged with residents to uncover the affordability hurdles facing lower- and middle-income families.
“This experience was instrumental in paving my path toward Camfield,” reflects Scruggs as he recalls initiating participatory action research among Camfield seniors, capturing their housing concerns.
The primary challenge that Scruggs and his team tackle at Camfield revolves around two interconnected issues: creating more housing opportunities for new residents while empowering current residents on their path to homeownership.
“This aligns with the broader objectives of our ICSR group concerning housing affordability,” he explains. “At Camfield, we explore the mobility of residents with Section 8 vouchers, the constraints they face, and the barriers imposed by large tech systems or individual landlord preferences.”
Scruggs adds, “Those confronting discrimination while searching for a home, securing financing, or navigating potentially hostile arrangements encounter daunting challenges.” He emphasizes the need for solutions, such as hiring caseworkers to guide residents through complex processes — a concept generated during a collaboration with the FHLBank Affordable Housing Development Competition.
As part of the competition, Scruggs’s team aimed to equip Camfield tenants with a clear understanding of their housing options, allowing them to make informed choices. “Often, redevelopment plans don’t guarantee that existing tenants will have the opportunity to return,” he laments, highlighting their proactive design efforts aimed at minimizing disruption to residents’ lifestyles.
Tentative recommendations discussed with tenant association president Paulette Ford include the redevelopment of the community center into a high-rise unit to expand available housing.
“They’re really exploring their options creatively,” notes Hosoi, underlining that Ford, along with her mother, has always envisioned Camfield as a ‘hand-up’ for residents until they can secure their own homes in the local area.”
Scruggs’s other initiative with Camfield involves collaborating with MIT undergraduate Amelie Nagle as part of the Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program, aimed at developing programs that teach design and coding skills to children in the Camfield community, building on the foundation of the Tech Lab established during MIT and Camfield’s initial collaboration.
“Nolen demonstrates a genuine commitment to fostering community-led knowledge production,” praises D’Ignazio. “Collaborating with him showcases how he effectively applies his urban planning expertise—encompassing GIS, mapping, urban design, photography, and more—in respectful ways that elevate community innovation.”
“We are optimistic that this process will yield high-quality architectural and planning proposals, propelling Camfield towards realizing their aspirational vision,” she concludes.
Photo credit & article inspired by: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
