On July 9, the National League of Cities hosted local officials from the NLC Housing Task Force for a panel discussion on NLC’s new report, “Homeward Bound: The Road to Affordable Housing.” The event was recorded and can be viewed on the NLC site.
On July 9, National League of Cities (NLC) hosted local officials from the NLC Housing Task Force for a panel discussion about NLC’s new report, “Homeward Bound: The Road to Affordable Housing.” The session included Task Force Chair Muriel Bowser, mayor of Washington, D.C., NLC President Karen Freeman-Wilson, mayor of Gary, Indiana, Teresa Mosqueda, Councilmember, City of Seattle, Washington, and NLC CEO and Executive Director Clarence Anthony. The event was recorded and can be viewed on the NLC site.
The report urges local and federal officials to adopt a federal/local platform for housing stability for all, as stable housing is a prerequisite for economic mobility, job security, and health and well-being. The task force developed five recommendations for national action and five recommendations for local action.
The five recommendations for national action are:
1. enact emergency funding to immediately stabilize and stem the loss of public and affordable housing across the country;
2. follow emergency intervention with passage of a long-term, stand-alone federal housing bill that authorizes ten years of new funding for pilot programs that advance housing for all;
3. support innovation and modernization of land-use and planning at the local and regional level;
4. fix inequities in housing development and the housing finance system; and
5. support scalable innovation and financing for cities, towns and villages.
The five recommendations for local action are:
1. establish local programs by combining funding and financing streams to support housing goals;
2. modernize local land use policies, including zoning and permitting, to rebalance housing supply and demand;
3. identify and engage broadly with local stakeholders and coordinate across municipal boundaries to develop a plan to provide housing opportunities for all;
4. support the needs of distinct sub-populations including the homeless, seniors and persons with conviction histories; and
5. prioritize equitable outcomes in housing decision as it is an essential component for success.
This summer, NLC is promoting the report and its findings among local leaders and on Capitol Hill. If you have questions, contact Michael Wallace, NLC Legislative Director for Community and Economic Development, at wallace@nlc.org, 202-626-3025.