How Mary K. Simkhovitch shaped the affordable housing movement
From Beyond Four Walls: Conversations on Affordable Housing by National Housing Conference
April 27, 2026 · 58 min · Season 3 · Episode 5
About this episode
This episode features historian Betty Boyd Caroli discussing the impact of Mary K. Simkhovitch on the affordable housing movement.
In this week's episode, we're joined by acclaimed historian and author Betty Boyd Caroli, a Fulbright scholar whose career has spanned topics from immigration to the lives of America's First Ladies. Her latest book, "A Slumless America: Mary K. Simkhovitch and the Dream of Affordable Housing," shines a light on a visionary reformer whose name isn't widely known—Mary Kingsbury Simkhovitch. Founder of the National Housing Conference, Simkhovitch was a pioneering force in the fight for safe, decent, and affordable housing. At a time when American cities were facing rapid growth and stark inequality, she worked tirelessly to build stronger communities and push for lasting change—impact that still resonates today. Caroli joins NHC's President and CEO David Dworkin to discuss the life and legacy of Mary K. Simkhovitch and what her work can teach us about today's housing challenges.
People in this episode
Host: David Dworkin
Guest: Betty Boyd Caroli
Topics covered
- affordable housing
- historical figures
- community reform
- housing inequality
- urban development
Keywords
- Mary K. Simkhovitch
- affordable housing
- Betty Boyd Caroli
- National Housing Conference
- community reform
- housing inequality
- urban development
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: National Housing Conference
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- Exploring gentrification and homeownership with CFA's Sharon Cornelissen · February 17, 2026 · 57 min
- Ending Homelessness: Successful Strategies for Sustainable Results · February 2, 2026 · 44 min
- From campus to policy: tackling the student housing crisis · January 20, 2026 · 40 min
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