SPECIAL FOCUS >>RETHINKING FEDERAL HOUSING POLICY
State, Local Governments Fill Gap Left by Feds
BY ANDRE F. SHASHATY
AFFORDABLE HOUSING FINANCE • MARCH 2008
In recent years, the federal government has fallen far behind state and
local governments in addressing many public policy
concerns, especially the need to deal with runaway
housing costs.
Recognizing that trend, the Center for Housing
Policy, the research affiliate of the National Housing
Conference (NHC), has launched a major effort to
disseminate information on successful state and local
housing initiatives.
State and local governments are “stepping into a
void” left by federal inaction but would benefit from
sharing information about what they are doing, said
Jeffrey M. Lubell, executive director.
Under Lubell, who took the helm in 2006, the center has gone
beyond its traditional practice of documenting affordable housing needs
to start disseminating information on solutions to housing problems.
In 2007, it came out with an analysis of the roles state and local governments
can play to expand availability of rental and ownership homes
for working families.
In January 2008, it launched a new online guide to state and local
housing policy at www.housingpolicy.org. Lubell said it is a major platform
for reaching state and local governments and helping them put together
comprehensive housing strategies. The center will follow up with outreach,
technical assistance, and conferences to further that goal.
Lubell succeeded Robert J. Reid, who served as head of the center
since 1993. The center has three main strategic goals: to expand awareness
of the nation’s housing challenges, develop programs to meet
housing needs, and document connections between housing and other
issues, such as education, health, and environment.
|
