Breaking Down Barriers to Affordable Housing
On June 6, 2024, the Housing Our Future Task Force convened for their first meeting, marking a critical step in addressing the nation’s pressing housing affordability crisis. Under the leadership of Mayor Sylvester Turner, this task force brings together local government officials and experts to illuminate the challenges faced by communities and explore solutions from the county government perspective.
A Nationwide Initiative
The National Association of Counties (NACo) has also launched a Housing Task Force to foster housing affordability nationwide. Co-chaired by Hon. Kevin Boyce and Hon. Sherry Maupin, this task force comprises county officials from across the country. They aim to develop a detailed analysis of the challenges, providing a landscape report, case studies, and a blog post series that details their findings.
Collaborative Approaches
The NACo Housing Task Force is focused on identifying county-led policy, practice, and partnership solutions to advance housing affordability. They explore federal-to-county collaboration opportunities, ensuring a bipartisan approach to address this complex issue. The task force emphasizes that housing policy is not a partisan issue but one that affects residents of all backgrounds and regions.
Task Force Members
The NACo Housing Task Force is comprised of diverse county officials, including commissioners, judges, supervisors, and directors from various counties across the United States. They represent counties from Idaho, California, Michigan, Texas, and many more. This diverse representation allows the task force to tackle issues from multiple angles and share successful strategies from different regions.
Upcoming Events and Resources
The NACo Housing Task Force hosts webinars and meetings to discuss critical aspects of housing affordability. Some of these sessions include analysis of local regulations and fees, financing and lending strategies, and community engagement and partnerships. These events provide a platform for county officials to share knowledge and solutions, enhancing their collective effort to make housing more affordable for their communities.
Final Report and Recommendations
In May 2023, the NACo Housing Task Force conducted their final in-person meeting in Dallas County, Texas. This meeting concluded the research and analysis phase, culminating in a recommendation guide for local leaders. This guide serves as a toolkit for counties to advance housing affordability, offering practical solutions and strategies tailored to their unique needs.
Local Action and Momentum
In addition to national initiatives, local governments are taking action. The City of Englewood, Colorado, held their Affordable Housing Task Force Meeting on April 4, 2024. This meeting tackled specific local challenges, exploring incentives for developers and discussing guiding principles for the city. Such local dialogues and collaborations hold promise in combating the housing affordability crisis at the grassroots level.
