For many, new buildings can symbolize displacement and gentrification, or the idea that construction comes at the cost of pushing out current residents in favor of richer, whiter residents. But Vox policy reporter Jerusalem Demsas explains how new construction in the U.S. can help fight displacement. A growing body of research indicates what happens when neighborhoods add new units of housing: market-rate units decrease displacement and rents in neighborhoods, while adding strictly affordable units decreases gentrification. And while people may not love the look of new architecture, these buildings look similar for a reason: it’s the cheapest way to build, at a time when the nation needs more housing.