The Housing Solutions Lab is now accepting applications from local housing policy officials and stakeholders in cities of 50,000 – 500,000 residents to participate in the 2023 Peer Cities Network. Over an eight-month period, participants will work with housing experts and a national community of practitioners to pursue equitable, evidence-based housing policies.
This year’s cohort will focus on advancing a specific housing policy project or initiative designed to address longstanding housing challenges and disparities in their communities, relating to:
- Local land use and zoning reform (e.g. inclusionary housing, eliminating single-family zoning, etc.)
- Eviction prevention
- Rental and security deposit assistance
- Increasing access to homeownership
- Efforts to increase access to low-poverty, opportunity-rich neighborhoods, or
- Efforts to address vacant, abandoned, and deteriorated housing
“The Lab’s resources have helped me to articulate to other people in our city government about how to make strategic decisions, and given me resources that help me explain why we might make a certain decision. It also helped me to remain optimistic to check in with this group where people have the same challenges, and are having successes.”
-Sarah Flax, interim community development director for the City of Evanston, Illinois
We encourage any U.S. city meeting the population criteria (50,000 – 500,000 residents) to apply. The Network will support city leaders in building essential knowledge, skills, and capacity to advance their project while working collaboratively with other small and midsize cities throughout the country. Participants will have access to timely and practical data and policy resources and technical assistance from housing experts, as well as support and ideas from an ongoing national community of current and former Peer Cities Network participants.
Applications are due by Wednesday, March 29, 2023 and you can read more about the application and selection process, the benefits of joining, and the regular activities of Network members here. Please email jess.wunsch@nyu.edu with questions.
