Olympia has joined a national peer learning program to find solutions to its current housing problem.
New York University Furman Center’s Housing Solutions Lab and other technical assistance providers will hold an eight-month-long initiative to support local housing officials “they seek to address urgent housing policy challenges in Olympia.”
The city’s senior officials and various housing agency staff will join colleagues from Cheyenne, Wyoming; Jackson, Tennessee; Rapid City, South Dakota; and Stokie, Illinois, to discuss financing construction and preservation of affordable housing, exploring anti-displacement strategies, and advancing components of comprehensive housing planning, such as data collection and community engagement.
According to the city’s press release, Housing Solutions Lab focuses on serving small and midsize cities with populations under 500,000.
“Our Housing Solutions Lab peer cities networks provide incredibly valuable insights into the ways that small and midsize cities are tackling housing instability and other local housing concerns,” said Housing Solutions Lab Executive Director Martha Galvez.
Olympia stated that network participants will have access to experts in policy and data analysis, policy evaluations, technical assistance, peer support, and help disseminating policy strategies and outcomes.
“The Housing Solutions Lab… works with cities across the country to design, monitor, and evaluate promising local housing policies,” explained the city. “The Lab helps cities advance evidence-based local housing policies that promote racial equity; increase access to opportunity; and support resident health and well-being.”
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Southsoundguy
Great, now the government is bringing in geniuses from NYU to tell us how to fix our backwards ways.
Friday, June 2, 2023 Report this
Yeti1981
Development costs in the city can be in the hundred thousand dollar range. Do we really need "experts" from NYU to tell us what is wrong with our housing policy? Anti-growth policies have created an exclusive market for liberal elites that prices those who truly need housing out. We need to build more housing, period. Also, we need to realize that housing solutions aren't the silver bullet to fixing homelessness. Housing will be a huge help in weeding out the many issues that exist among those living on the streets. So, yes, build more housing. But don't think that you're finished with thew problem as the housing gets built.
Monday, June 5, 2023 Report this