UMass Law UMass Law: Owens Speaks at a Statewide Housing Policy Symposium at the University of Maine School of Law

Professor Owens speaks at a statewide housing policy symposium hosted by the University of Maine School of Law to address Maine’s growing affordable housing crisis.

UMass Law Professor Owens was recently invited to speak at “A Place to Call Home,” a statewide housing policy symposium hosted by the University of Maine School of Law on April 4, 2025. The event brought together legal scholars, advocates, and policymakers from across the country to address Maine’s growing affordable housing crisis. Organized by Maine Law’s three student-run journals, the symposium marked a rare and collaborative academic effort focused on policy innovation and legal scholarship.

Professor Owens participated in a panel titled “Equity & Privacy in Novel Housing Policy Issues,” where she presented her forthcoming article, “An Argument for Housing Reparations". The article explores the legal landscape surrounding reparatory housing policies and their potential constitutional pathways forward. Her work contributes to a larger dialogue on equal protection and justice-oriented housing reform, particularly in light of shifting federal jurisprudence.

Being asked to contribute to a symposium of this nature is a meaningful recognition of Professor Owens’ expertise at the intersection of constitutional law, property, and social equity. The event not only showcased research, but also gave scholars like Professor Owens a chance to help shape the future of housing policy in Maine and beyond.