Report: Partnerships Key to Affordable Housing

WASHINGTON, DC-In its recently released report, “Four Windows: A Metropolitan Perspective on Affordable Housing Policy in America,” the National Housing Conference has outlined a few essential necessities for providing a sufficient stable of affordable housing through public policy for those who need it. “At a time when federal housing initiatives and funding seem to be moving toward specific focuses like homeownership, versus rental housing, this new report emphasizes the importance of balancing all aspects of affordable housing policy and activities,” NHC president and CEO Conrad Egan explains.One of the essential requirements for facilitating affordable housing is the creation of partnerships among agencies and between public and private entities, to assure that policies agendas are on the same page and to fuel actual housing development. Another important ingredient when it comes to policymaking is acknowledging the connection between housing and the economy, and responding accordingly. It is also essential, the report concluded, to address the property preservation issue, as a significant percentage of the pool of such residential units is under constant threat of being lost due to lack of rehabilitation. Finally, the report participants found that funding is, perhaps, the most important key to providing living options to low-income individuals and families.