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One of the reasons that we have an acute homelessness crisis in the United States is that we have lost (and no longer provide) certain kinds of housing that used to shelter our poorest and most vulnerable populations. Single Room Occupancy (SRO's) were once a critical source of housing for those living on the edge. People could rent single rooms by the week, with shared baths and kitchens, all at a very affordable rate. Often times, these "flophouses", as they came to be known, were the last line between someone having a roof over their head or living on the street (see Paul Groth's essential book, Living Downtown ). Over the last 30-40 years, most of these have been destroyed through urban renewal and redevelopment, essentially eliminating one of the most vital sources of deeply affordable housing in cities. We have also moved away from housing designs that provided flexibility that also provided small and affordable housing for people on the margins...