Seeing the Crisis Up Close
Over the course of my career, I’ve had the opportunity to work with companies of all sizes—some scaling rapidly, others navigating change. But one issue I keep seeing, regardless of industry or region, is the growing strain caused by a lack of affordable housing. It’s not just a social issue anymore. It’s a workforce issue. It’s a supply chain issue. And frankly, it’s an economic stability issue.
I live and work in Atlanta, where the signs of the housing crunch are impossible to ignore. Families with steady jobs are being priced out of neighborhoods they’ve lived in for years. Teachers, healthcare workers, and service professionals are commuting farther and farther to find housing they can afford. Companies are struggling to attract talent, not because there aren’t qualified workers, but because those workers can’t find a place to live nearby.
It’s clear to me that we’re in the middle of a housing crisis—and that it’s going to take more than public policy to fix it. We need private capital to step in, and step up.
Private Capital Isn’t the Problem—It’s Part of the Solution
There’s been a lot of talk in recent years about how private investors and real estate developers are making housing less affordable. And in some cases, there’s truth to that. But it’s only one side of the story. What I see more often is that institutional capital has the ability to solve these problems in ways the public sector can’t do alone.
Private investment brings something critical to the table: speed and scale. Cities and nonprofits often have to navigate bureaucracy and limited budgets. But private capital, when deployed responsibly, can move quickly to build new housing, revitalize neighborhoods, and fund innovative approaches like modular construction or adaptive reuse.
This isn’t about choosing profits over people. It’s about aligning both. When you create housing that working families can actually afford, you’re not just doing good—you’re doing smart business. You’re investing in long-term stability, tenant retention, and community value. Those are outcomes everyone can get behind.
Build-to-Rent and Workforce Housing Are No Longer Niche
One area I’ve taken a personal interest in is build-to-rent housing, especially communities designed for workforce families. This model allows developers to create high-quality rental homes that meet the needs of people who earn too much to qualify for subsidized housing, but too little to comfortably afford homeownership in today’s market.
For years, this segment was underserved. But that’s changing. Build-to-rent developments are popping up across the Sun Belt and other high-growth regions, offering thoughtfully designed homes in areas where demand is outpacing supply. These aren’t just investments—they’re practical, scalable answers to a real problem.
I’ve also seen the impact of workforce housing on local economies. When people can live closer to where they work, commute times go down, productivity goes up, and small businesses benefit. Employers, too, have a stronger labor pool. Everyone wins.
Creating Housing With Purpose
One of the most meaningful projects I’ve been involved in was helping to create training and employment opportunities for veterans reentering the workforce. That experience taught me that housing and opportunity go hand in hand. You can’t expect someone to rebuild their life if they don’t have a safe, stable place to live.
That philosophy informs how I look at real estate investment today. I believe that every project should answer one simple question: is this adding value to the community? If it’s not, it’s just another transaction. But if it is—if it’s giving someone a dignified place to call home, or helping a city retain essential workers—then it becomes something much more than a financial return. It becomes part of a long-term solution.
A Call to Action for Responsible Investors
There’s no one-size-fits-all approach to solving the housing shortage. Zoning reform, subsidies, public-private partnerships—they all have a role to play. But if you’re a private investor, this is your moment. You can be part of the generation that rethinks how we approach housing in America.
David Rocker has spent his career helping organizations scale smartly and sustainably. That same mindset applies here. Affordable and workforce housing isn’t just a cause. It’s a smart investment when done right. The demand is there. The social need is urgent. And the capital is available—it just needs the right focus and leadership.
The housing shortage didn’t happen overnight, and it won’t be solved overnight. But we can start building smarter, faster, and with more purpose. And if we do, we’ll not only help families thrive—we’ll help the economy grow stronger from the ground up.