Meeting the Moment Innovations in Housing Supply to Address Inequality in Cities

Housing inadequacy affects up to 2.8 billion people worldwide. Public, collective, and private housing supply innovations are at the center of addressing the decades-long and ever-growing housing crisis and rising inequalities. The lack of access to housing has countless effects on the economic and social well-being of our communities. Centering housing supply innovation has far-reaching impacts in achieving other development goals and addressing inequality gaps in cities.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's (HUD) Affordable Housing and Research Technology Division focuses on research regarding building codes, standards, technologies, and housing and community planning. Through these studies, HUD aims to highlight innovative and affordable housing designs and technologies that can increase housing supply, lower construction costs, enhance energy efficiency and resilience, and reduce housing expenses for both owners and renters.

Increasing the supply of affordable housing is a priority for the U.S. HUD's efforts to address the housing supply gap include releasing the Housing Supply Action Plan, launching the housing supply initiative called Our Way Home, and developing the Increasing the Supply of New Affordable Housing Toolkit. These initiatives aim to support local innovation in addressing housing supply challenges and provide guidance to practitioners on increasing affordable housing using HUD funding.

Additionally, HUD has announced actions to increase the availability and affordability of manufactured homes. HUD also organizes the annual Innovative Housing Showcase to raise awareness of innovative housing designs and technologies that can contribute to addressing housing challenges in the US.

This panel will explore how governments, the private sector, and communities are coming together to develop innovative housing supply solutions.

American Institute of Architects will share their housing platform to address affordable and equitable housing supply to meet demand in the U.S. They will share best practices in partnership at both the national and local level that help expand housing supply while enhancing the collective urban environment.

Habitat for Humanity International will discuss its Home Equals Campaign dedicated to achieving policy change, at all levels, to ensure that people living in informal settlements have equitable access to adequate housing. Habitat will share examples of policy solutions from across the globe that address key barriers to adequate housing, including empowered participation of community members, reliable and basic services, climate resilient homes, and secure land rights.

Korea’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport will share its priorities, policies, programs, and best practices in housing supply innovation.

The Lincoln Institute of Land Policy will discuss the role of land in the housing delivery chain, the effects of land policy on housing outcomes, and the importance of enabling and preserving manufactured housing as the largest sources of unsubsidized affordable housing in the U.S. Recent land and housing policy experimentation at the local and state level provides fertile ground for research to understand the impact of various approaches designed to increase housing supply, particularly of moderately priced homes.

National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials (NARHO) will discuss how public housing agencies in the United States deliver affordable housing to the market. They will explore the stagnant efficiency gains impacting housing development and its impact on the cost of affordable housing, as well as how zoning conditions, land use, and building codes influence livability of affordable homes in the U.S. today.

By spotlighting these advancements, this panel seeks to inspire stakeholders and drive collective action toward addressing the complex challenges of housing inadequacy.