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PD&R Edge is a timely online magazine with articles on PD&R and HUD partners' research, a message from PD&R senior leadership, and a wide range of information on housing and community development issues, policies, and case studies.

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Published three times a year, Cityscape is PD&R's journal of policy development and research.


The latest from IPAD



  • September 2024

    Pursuing Sustainable and Equitable Development at the United Nations

    Every year, the United Nations (UN) hosts the High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) on Sustainable Development at its New York City headquarters. The 2024 iteration of HLPF was held from 8 to 17 July 2024 and included representatives from across the U.S. government, including HUD. Read more about HUD’s participation in the 2024 HLPF on PD&R Edge.



  • August 2024

    Delegation from Japan Visits New Orleans

    HUD’s Japanese counterpart, the Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, sent a delegation of 14 senior officials to New Orleans in August 2024 to learn more about disaster mitigation. The visit focused on best practices and recovery from Hurricane Katrina. The IPAD team coordinated and joined the visit.

    Delegation from Japan Visits New Orleans.

  • August 2024

    State Department Leadership Program Brings International Visitors to HUD

    On August 28, 2024, a group of approximately two dozen professionals from countries across North and South America, Europe, Asia, and Africa visited HUD Headquarters for a series of briefings about the Department’s disaster response and resilience programs. The guests were participants in the International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP), the Department of State’s premier professional exchange program. The IPAD team coordinated the visit and joined the briefings.



  • August 2024

    Global Similarities: A Message from Senior Leadership.

    Peter Kahn, HUD’s Associate Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Office of Policy Development, writes about representing the Office of Policy Development and Research (PD&R) in two recent international engagements. Read more on PD&R Edge.



  • July 2024

    Spotlight: The Reviving of Small Towns in England

    In early May 2024, a delegation from HUD traveled to the United Kingdom to meet with the government’s Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC). During the visit, the delegation traveled to Darlington, a town in County Durham in northern England, to learn more about the government's efforts to restore the town's physical and economic vitality. Read more on PD&R Edge.

    Spotlight: The Reviving of Small Towns in England.

  • July 2024

    Delegation from São Paulo, Brazil Visits HUD

    A delegation from the State of São Paulo, Brazil visited HUD Headquarters on 3 July 2024 for a briefing from PD&R staff and to discuss a potential future research partnership with HUD. Topics of discussion included HUD and other U.S. government programs and policies to support low-income renters and homebuyers, including loan vehicles, Housing Choice Vouchers, and Section 8 Project-Based Rental Assistance. Additionally, meeting attendees discussed disaster recovery and resilience efforts at both the federal and state/local levels in the United States and Brazil. Attendees from PD&R included DAS Kurt Usowski, ADAS Peter Kahn, IPAD Director Cindy Campbell, and IPAD program analysts Aaron Weaver and Caitlin Quinn.

    Delegation from São Paulo, Brazil Visits HUD.

  • July 2024

    Delegation from Mongolia Visits HUD

    On 8 July 2024, a delegation from Mongolia’s Ministry of Construction and Urban Development visited HUD Headquarters to learn about HUD’s affordable housing programs, national housing finance and mortgage systems, sustainable and green building practices, and other topics. Following a morning of briefings from HUD leadership and staff, the delegation spent the afternoon visiting affordable housing sites in the Truxton Circle and NoMa neighborhoods of Washington, DC. IPAD staff coordinated the delegation’s itinerary and accompanied the guests on the site visits.

    Delegation from Mongolia Visits HUD.

  • July 2023

    Global Cities and Affordable Housing: Buenos Aires

    Buenos Aires, Argentina's vibrant and bustling capital, is the country's largest city: a melting pot of cultures and a hub of economic activity. As with many global cities, affordable housing is a pressing challenge for Buenos Aires. The longstanding housing struggles facing the city's renters worsened following a significant devaluation of the peso in December 2023, leading to increased inflation and decreased purchasing power. In that month alone, prices in Argentina rose by 25.5 percent, exacerbating the effects of the ongoing economic crisis. Read more on PD&R Edge.

    Global Cities and Affordable Housing: Buenos Aires.

  • July 2024

    HUD Honors 2024 Secretary's Award for Public-Philanthropic Partnerships Winners

    The award ceremony for the 2024 Secretary's Award for Public-Philanthropic Partnerships was held on 11 July 2024. The awards were presented to the six winning philanthropic organizations by the Acting Secretary at a ceremony at HUD Headquarters followed by a luncheon and roundtable with the PD&R team. HUD administers this award annually in partnership with the Council on Foundations. Read more about the winning partnerships on HUD USER.

    HUD Honors 2024 Secretary's Award for Public-Philanthropic Partnerships Winners.

  • July 2024

    HUD and Ginnie Mae Leaders Participate in Latin America Housing Finance Roundtable

    Between 24 and 26 July 2024, top leaders from HUD and Ginnie Mae—including Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary (PDAS) for Policy Development and Research Solomon Greene—joined international colleagues for a series of housing-focused events in Mexico City. PDAS Greene delivered closing remarks at the Ginnie-Mae hosted Latin American and Caribbean Housing Finance Roundtable; met with Secretary Román Meyer Falcón, the leader of Mexico’s Secretariat of Agrarian, Land, and Urban Development (HUD’s counterpart agency); and spoke on a panel about alternative and inclusive housing solutions at the Third Regional Housing Forum hosted by the Inter-American Development Bank.

    HUD and Ginnie Mae Leaders Participate in Latin America Housing Finance Roundtable.

  • June 2024

    HUD Participates in Pan African City Exposition

    From June 26 to 29, 2024, the U.S. Africa Collaborative—in partnership with the University of Maryland and Bowie State University—hosted the second Pan African City Exposition at Bowie State University in Bowie, Maryland. The exposition convened academics, government officials, civil servants, and private-sector practitioners to discuss housing security and human settlements in the context of challenges such as global housing insecurities and climate change. HUD representatives attending the event included Deputy Assistant Secretary for Research, Evaluation, and Monitoring Dr. Calvin Johnson; Cindy Campbell, Director of the International and Philanthropic Affairs Division (IPAD); and Meron Habte, also from IPAD. Read more on PD&R Edge.

    HUD Participates in Pan African City Exposition.

  • April 2024

    United States – Germany City-to-City Exchange Visits St. Louis

    HUD is continuing its city-to-city exchange with Germany through its ongoing partnership with its German counterpart, the Federal Ministry for Housing, Urban Development, and Building, and Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit, Germany's primary development agency. In April 2024, as part of a team from HUD's International and Philanthropic Affairs Division, I attended the city-to-city gathering in St. Louis. The other participants included German government officials and urban planners from the U.S. cities of Atlanta, Seattle, and St. Louis and the German cities of Berlin, Munich, and Frankfurt. At the meeting, each city presented updates on their Living Labs projects, although this meeting focused on projects from our host city. The St. Louis projects involve the city's Near North Riverfront, which includes the Carr Square and Old North St. Louis communities. The area also includes the former site of the Pruitt-Igoe public housing project, which was demolished in the 1970s. Read more on PD&R Edge

    Group of people touring the Preservation Square public housing project.

  • April 2024

    HUD's Historically Significant Partnership With Korea

    On April 1, 2024, HUD hosted a delegation from Korea's Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport (MOLIT). MOLIT Vice Minister Hyun Hwan Jin met with HUD Assistant Secretary Julia Gordon and Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary Solomon Greene, along with Government National Mortgage Association (GNMA) Vice President John Getchis. The participants discussed research topics for the agencies' most recent Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) and the state of housing in Korea and the United States. Following the bilateral meeting, the delegation visited the Navy Yard neighborhood of Washington, D.C., and toured the Arthur Capper Senior Apartments. Read more on PD&R Edge

    The Korean delegation and HUD staff tour the Arthur Capper Senior Apartments in Washington, D.C.

  • March 2024

    OECD Workshop on Homelessness: Preventing Homelessness and Securing Long-Term Housing Solutions

    This past January, as a series of winter storms swept across the United States, volunteers participating in the 2024 Point-in-Time Count (PIT) fanned out through their communities to enumerate the sheltered and unsheltered population. Longtime participants in the PIT are no strangers to the sight of people huddling in their car, sitting at an all-night diner, nestled on a park bench, or tucked into the recessed doorway of a stone portico, just beyond the reach of the biting wind. Nor are they unfamiliar with the nagging question, "How could this happen?" As with so many seemingly intractable issues, the answer to this question is complicated.

    In their efforts to end homelessness, researchers have long sought to identify effective policies and programs that can be replicated and scaled. Recent trends in homelessness add urgency to these efforts. According to HUD estimates released on December 15, 2023, the number of people identified as homeless during the 2023 PIT was 12 percent higher than in the previous year. Read more on PD&R Edge

    The Château de la Muette.

  • March 2024

    Global Cities and Affordable Housing: Athens

    Athens, the capital of Greece, is a vibrant and historic city dating back thousands of years. Although visitors will notice the influence of the Ottoman Empire on the city's food, music, and culture, Athens' art and architecture are unmistakably Greek. The city is home to the Parthenon, a temple in the Acropolis that was built in the 5th century BCE and dedicated to the Greek goddess Athena Parthenos (Athena the Virgin). Athens also was home to the 2004 Olympic Games.

    Athens' hot summers and cool winters allow for year-round outdoor activity and make the city an attractive place to live and work. The city's soaring property values and numerous old, uninhabitable properties have made increasing the supply of affordable housing a priority for the government and city residents.

    Inflation, the Golden Visa program, and an influx of short-term rentals have all contributed to the city's shortage of affordable housing. The country also reportedly has hundreds of thousands of solid but old and vacant properties, many of which are in Athens. The government plans to make these properties available for renovation grants and programs, including through public-private partnerships. Read more on PD&R Edge

    Aerial view of Athens, Greece.

  • March 2024

    HUD Delegation to Canada's National Housing Conference

    IPAD's Mia Bailey coordinated HUD's participation in Canada's National Housing Conference. The conference was held 18-19 March 2024 in Ottawa, and the theme was Unlocking Solutions Together. General Deputy Assistant Secretary for Public and Indian Housing (PIH) Dominique Blom served as the only international speaker and provided a keynote address on the second day of the conference, highlighting innovative efforts HUD is taking to address the housing crisis in the U.S. The full HUD delegation included GDAS Blom, Trey Reffett (Deputy Secretary's Office), and Mia Bailey (IPAD). In addition to participating in the conference, the group met with the U.S. Ambassador to Canada, David L. Cohen, to discuss HUD's engagement with housing counterparts in Canada. The meeting with Ambassador Cohen was followed by a meeting with several Canadian leaders to discuss shared challenges and best practices in addressing affordable housing and homelessness.

    HUD Delegation to Canada's National Housing Conference.

  • February 2024

    The Future Is Modular: HUD and MOD X's Offsite Construction Workshop and Tours

    In early February, the National Institute of Building Sciences and MOD X organized a 2-day tour of offsite housing construction facilities and projects in Boston, Maryland, and Virginia. The tour welcomed visitors from the United Kingdom, Ireland, Sweden, and Japan as well as federal agency partners. The tour concluded with a workshop at the HUD Headquarters in Washington, DC.

    Meron Habte and Sarah Lee from HUD's International and Philanthropic Affairs Division joined the delegation on the tour's second day, which included two field visits to Blueprint Building Innovation in Baltimore, Maryland, and Van Metre Homes in the Northern Virginia suburbs of Washington, DC. Read more on PD&R Edge

    Inside the offsite construction facility for Blueprint Building Innovation in Baltimore, Maryland.

  • February 2024

    A Walk Through Historic London

    I recently went on vacation to two of my favorite cities in the world: London and Paris. Both cities offer great museums (I'm a huge art fan) and plenty of sightseeing. My favorite thing to do, however, is simply to walk through the city streets, where stunning architecture is visible everywhere you turn. While in London, I visited the King's Cross Coal Drops Yard. Located adjacent to the King's Cross tube station and the St. Pancras International rail station, this area had been long neglected before this revitalization initiative.

    This project is one of the city's largest redevelopment projects; the full transformation took approximately 20 years and, from my standpoint, was quite successful. King's Cross has been a vibrant transportation hub since 1820, when Regent's Canal was completed. At the time, the canal system was the primary method for transporting products from northern England to London. The area is now an idyllic setting, with green space facing the canal. Although the weather was extremely cold during my January visit, the urban setting was lovely, with plenty of open space for residents and visitors to enjoy. Read more on PD&R Edge/a>

    King's Cross Coal Drops Yard (foreground) and the Gasholders apartments (background).

  • January 2024

    Fostering Global Housing Solutions: HUD Los Angeles Hosts Tokyo Delegation

    On January 10, 2024, the HUD Los Angeles Field Office welcomed a distinguished delegation from Tokyo's Metropolitan Housing Management Division, a significant step towards fostering international collaborations in housing policy development. The focus of the visit centered on two critical areas – the revitalization of apartment complexes, including public housing for low-income individuals, and housing support for those requiring special consideration. The delegation, led by Yuka Anami (Deputy Director, Development Section, Tobu Housing Construction Office), engaged in a comprehensive exploration of advanced overseas cases.

    Morning discussions with Meena Bavan (Public and Indian Housing [PIH] Director), Bill Rhodes (PIH Division Director), Ester Dela (Program Manager, Office of Community Planning and Development), Danette Martin (Field Policy and Management Program Analyst), PIH staff members (Natacha Mattox, Liseth Aguilera, Albert Alford, Timothy Still, Alexnadra Loor, and Nida Watkins), and Andrew Ten (Regional Public Affairs Officer), provided valuable insights into low-income housing policies in Los Angeles and the nuanced process of redeveloping apartment complexes.

    In the afternoon, the delegation embarked on a field visit to the Jordan Downs Redevelopment and Pueblo del Sol projects, where they immersed themselves in case studies of successful apartment revitalization projects for low-income individuals. The exchange facilitated an open dialogue, allowing for the sharing of best practices and lessons learned.

    This collaborative effort reflects a commitment to addressing global housing challenges, emphasizing the importance of socio-economic diversity within apartment complexes and the development of welfare service facilities. As we continue to learn from one another, we envision a future where international partnerships lead to innovative solutions and improved housing conditions for communities worldwide. (By Andrew Ten, Regional Public Affairs Officer, HUD Pacific Region)

    Fostering Global Housing Solutions: HUD Los Angeles Hosts Tokyo Delegation.

  • December 2023

    COP28: HUD Attends Annual Climate Conference

    The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) is the United Nations entity, consisting of 198 member nations, that focuses on the world's response to the threat of climate change. The most significant recent UNFCCC achievement is the 2015 Paris Agreement, in which member nations pledged to keep the world's annual average temperature rise at or below 1.5 degrees Celsius, which would stabilize major effects of climate change. UNFCCC hosts a large annual gathering called the Conference of Parties (COP). HUD started attending the annual COP conferences in 2021 with the historic announcement of HUD's first-ever Climate Action Plan. Unfortunately, HUD was unable to attend the 2022 COP. Read more on PD&R Edge.

    COP28: HUD Attends Annual Climate Conference.

  • November 2023

    International Affairs at HUD

    Every domestic agency in the federal government has an international affairs office, including HUD. The International and Philanthropic Affairs Division (IPAD) traces its origins to 1969, when Dale Barnes joined HUD as its deputy director for international affairs. Barnes, like IPAD's current director Cynthia Campbell, served in the U.S. Navy; after leaving the Navy in 1960, he joined the Atomic Energy Commission before coming to work for HUD. We were able to find one reference to the founding of IPAD in a May 1971 article in HUD Challenge magazine. The article suggests that many aspects of the office's mission have remained the same since 1971. Read more on PD&R Edge.

    International Affairs at HUD.

  • November 2023

    HUD Participates in the Asia-Pacific Forum

    The eighth Asia-Pacific Urban Forum was held in Suwon, Korea, from October 22 to 25, 2023. The forum is held every 4 to 5 years and is organized by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) and Suwon City in strategic partnership with the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport of the Republic of Korea. The forum brings together diverse stakeholders to reflect on the colliding crises facing cities in Asia and the Pacific region and to synthesize innovative approaches and actions to support sustainable urban development in the context of the New Urban Agenda and the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). HUD representatives were part of the U.S. State Department team that negotiated the New Urban Agenda in 2016. Our agency focuses on Sustainable Development Goal 11: to make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable. Read more on PD&R Edge.

    HUD Participates in the Asia-Pacific Forum.

  • November 2023

    Spotlight: Canada's Housing Accelerator Fund

    Over the past couple decades, the development of new housing units in both the United States and Canada has failed to keep pace with demand, leading to rising housing costs. Like the United States, Canada is grappling with how best to manage its housing shortage and affordability crisis. According to a September 2023 report from the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, the country needs 3.5 million new housing units by 2030 to restore affordability. In March 2023, the Canadian government launched a Housing Accelerator Fund to help address these issues. The $4 billion fund serves as an incentive for local governments, offering them funds to cover the upfront costs needed to boost the nation's housing supply by 100,000 units. Read more on PD&R Edge.

    Spotlight: Canada's Housing Accelerator Fund.

  • September 2023

    Japanese delegation visits Seattle

    From September 26-28, 2023, a delegation from Japan's Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport, and Tourism and Urban Renaissance Agency visited HUD sites in Seattle. Region X Administrator Margaret Salazar, IPAD Director Cindy Campbell, and DAS for Research, Evaluation, and Monitoring Dr. Calvin Johnson accompanied the group as they visited sites including public housing authority projects and the Yesler Terrace Choice Neighborhood. The group concluded their Seattle visit with a discussion with the University of Washington's Smart Cities team.

    Japanese delegation visits Seattle.

  • September 2023

    U.S.-Germany City-to-City Program Convenes in Germany

    From September 10-16, 2023, participants in the German Marshall Fund's (GMF's) Breaking Barriers to Affordable Housing city-to-city exchange initiative convened in Germany. Delegates from HUD, six U.S. and German cities, the German federal government, and partner research institutions convened in Frankfurt (10-12 September) for workshops and site visits, Jena (12-14 September) for the official meeting of the German Federal Congress on National Urban Development Policy, and Berlin (14-16 September) for additional site visits and workshops. Cindy Campbell and Caitlin Quinn participated on behalf of HUD. The delegates will continue to meet virtually in the coming months, and they plan to meet in person in the United States in spring 2024.

    U.S.-Germany City-to-City Program Convenes in Germany.

  • July 2023

    San Francisco Philanthropic Roundtable

    On July 26, 2023, HUD hosted a roundtable with philanthropic leaders in San Francisco, California. HUD's Region IX Administrator Jason Pu, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Policy Development and Research Solomon Greene, IPAD Director Cindy Campbell, and California Department of Housing and Community Development Director Gustavo Velasquez were among the participants. The roundtable was an opportunity for leaders from HUD, state and local government, and the philanthropic sector to discuss strategies to increase affordable housing and create equitable communities in the San Francisco Bay Area and across the country.

    San Francisco Philanthropic Roundtable.

  • July 2023

    United Nations High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development

    A delegation from HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research (PD&R), led by PD&R's Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary (PDAS) Solomon Greene and IPAD Director Cindy Campbell, participated in this year's United Nations High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development. The Forum was held in New York City from July 10-19, 2023. The U.S. delegation included leadership and staff from across the federal government, including the State Department, the U.S. Agency for International Development, and the Millennium Challenge Corporation. The Forum featured a series of plenary discussions and side events about effective and inclusive recovery measures to address the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and to explore actionable policy guidance for the full implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. PDAS Greene delivered remarks during the Official Meeting on SDG 11 (which aims to make cities inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable) and spoke as a panelist on two side events, including the official U.S.-sponsored side event on localizing SDG 11, an event that HUD organized in partnership with the University of Chicago.

    United Nations High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development.

  • July 2023

    Japan Housing Ministry Delegation Visit

    On July 13, 2023, IPAD facilitated a meeting at HUD Headquarters between staff from HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research and officials from Japan's Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport, and Tourism (MLIT). The MLIT delegation was led by Takahiro Konami, who leads MLIT's Water and Disaster Management Bureau. The meeting focused on urban resilience, specifically on water-related risk reduction in urban areas.

  • July 2023

    G7 Sustainable Urban Development Ministers' Meeting

    HUD Secretary Marcia L. Fudge led a delegation from HUD to Takamatsu, Japan for the second annual G7 Sustainable Urban Development Ministers' Meeting, held from July 7-9, 2023. The meeting featured sessions on the topics of carbon-neutral and resilient cities, inclusive cities, and digitalization, as well as off-site excursions, bilateral meetings, and a special session on Ukraine. Both Secretary Fudge and Dr. Calvin Johnson, HUD's Deputy Assistant Secretary for Research, Evaluation, and Monitoring, addressed the group of ministers and delegates. The HUD delegation also included IPAD Director Cindy Campbell and Garrett McDaniel from the Office of the Secretary. Read more about HUD's participation in the Ministers' Meeting, and the full text of the Secretary's remarks, here. Read IPAD Director Cindy Campbell's article about the G7 Ministers' Meeting on HUD User here.

    G7 Sustainable Urban Development Ministers' Meeting.

  • July 2023

    HUD Renews Memorandum of Cooperation with Japan

    On the sidelines of the G7 Sustainable Urban Development Ministers' Meeting in Takamatsu, Japan, HUD Secretary Marcia L. Fudge and senior Japanese officials signed an updated Memorandum of Cooperation (MOC) setting forth the intent of HUD and its two Japanese counterpart agencies to work collaboratively to support research on affordable housing and urban development policies and programs. The MOC was signed for Japan by Minister Tetsuo Saito, who leads Japan's Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport, and Tourism (MLIT), and President Masahiro Nakajima, who leads Japan's Urban Renaissance Agency (UR). The previous MOC between HUD, MLIT, and UR dates back to 2017 and encompassed topics such as inclusive housing and urban development strategies for older adults in Japan and the United States and effective partnership between the public sector, private sector, and nonprofit organizations in achieving successful aging in place. The updated MOC continues the exchange on aging in place, while expanding to include new topics such as carbon neutrality and climate resilience (including flood risk reduction and green infrastructure), the use of digital technology in housing and urban development, and inclusive approaches to integrating public space in urban development.

    HUD Renews Memorandum of Cooperation with Japan.

  • June 2023

    Japan State Minister Visit to HUD

    On June 28, 2023, IPAD staff facilitated a visit to HUD Headquarters by a high-level delegation from Japan led by State Minister for Disaster Management Tsuyoshi Hoshino. The delegation met with HUD Deputy Secretary Adrianne Todman and other HUD leaders and staff to discuss aspects of HUD's work related to disaster management, recovery, and resilience. HUD attendees included Marion McFadden, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Community Planning and Development (CPD); Todd Richardson, General Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Office of Policy Development and Research (PD&R); Brian McCabe, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Policy Development in PD&R; Tennille Parker, Director of the Office of Disaster Recovery in CPD; Trey Reffett, Senior Advisor for Disaster Recovery; and IPAD's Caitlin Quinn.

    Japan State Minister Visit to HUD.

  • June 2023

    Secretary's Philanthropic Roundtable

    Approximately 40 senior leaders from 26 philanthropic organizations attended the 2023 Secretary's Philanthropic Roundtable, held at HUD Headquarters on June 22, 2023. The event was planned by IPAD's Mia Bailey and focused on the theme Working Together to Secure Housing for All. The roundtable kicked off with welcoming remarks from Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary Solomon Greene, after which HUD Secretary Marcia L. Fudge addressed participants, providing an update about the Biden-Harris Administration's agenda for HUD in addressing issues such as homelessness, the national housing supply shortage, challenges surrounding equity, barriers to homeownership, and climate resilience. The roundtable with the Secretary was followed by a series of breakout discussions focused on specific housing topics, each led by a senior HUD official.

    Secretary's Philanthropic Roundtable.

  • June 2023

    Secretary's Award for Public-Philanthropic Partnerships Winners Announced

    On June 14, 2023, HUD and the Council on Foundations (COF) announced the winners of the annual Secretary's Award for Public-Philanthropic Partnerships at COF's Leading Locally conference in Denver, Colorado. Nine foundations were chosen for this year's award, which recognizes excellence in partnerships that have both transformed the relationship between the public and philanthropic sectors and led to measurable benefits in housing and community development, including increased economic opportunity, health, safety, education, workforce development, disaster resilience, inclusivity and cultural opportunities, and/or housing access for low- and moderate-income families. The winners were honored at an award ceremony by Solomon Greene, HUD's Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Policy Development and Research, and Kathleen Enright, COF's President and CEO. Read more about this year's winners and their projects here.

    Secretary's Award for Public-Philanthropic Partnerships Winners Announced.

  • June 2023

    International Social Housing Festival

    From June 7-9, 2023, HUD Deputy Secretary Adrianne Todman led a delegation from HUD to the 2023 International Social Housing Festival in Barcelona, Spain. In addition to the Deputy Secretary, the delegation also included HUD Deputy Chief of Staff Victoria Brown; Chief Operations Officer Eugenia Metrakas; Deputy Assistant Secretary for Policy Development Dr. Brian McCabe; and IPAD's Meron Habte. At the festival, Deputy Secretary Todman delivered the opening speech for a panel focused on the Americas, and Dr. McCabe led a side session focused on rental assistance. In addition, the Deputy Secretary held bilateral meetings with officials from Spain's Ministry of Transportation, Mobility, and Urban Planning and Ireland's Ministry of Housing. Read more about HUD's participation in the housing festival here.

    International Social Housing Festival.

  • June 2023

    United Nations Habitat Assembly

    HUD's Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary (PDAS) for Policy Development and Research Solomon Greene led the U.S. delegation to the United Nations (UN) Habitat Assembly in Nairobi, Kenya from June 5-9, 2023. The U.S. delegation included officials from HUD (including PDAS Greene and IPAD Director Cindy Campbell), the U.S. Department of State, and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), as well as local government representatives, businesspeople, community leaders, and urban planners. The UN Habitat Assembly, which convenes every four years, is the highest decision-making body of the UN focused on sustainable urbanization and human settlements. At the 2023 Assembly, the U.S. delegation negotiated draft resolutions on housing, urbanization, and climate, and for the first time, co-sponsored an international resolution on housing, re-committing all UN member states to strive to provide adequate housing for all. As part of HUD's leadership at the Assembly, PDAS Greene delivered the official U.S. national statement (which can be accessed in full at this link), and HUD hosted a panel discussion in partnership with the University of Chicago on the topic of localizing sustainable development and urban regeneration models via HUD's Choice Neighborhoods program. Read more about HUD's participation at the UN Habitat Assembly here. Watch a short video featuring PDAS Greene on U.S. Embassy Nairobi's Twitter account here.

    United Nations Habitat Assembly.

  • May 2023

    Japan Housing Finance Agency Delegation to HUD

    On May 31, 2023, a delegation from Japan's Housing Finance Agency visited HUD to learn about the Federal Housing Administration's (FHA's) reverse mortgage program for seniors, HECM (Home Equity Conversion Mortgages). IPAD's Katie Marinari and Caitlin Quinn facilitated the meeting, which was led by Deputy Assistant Secretary (DAS) for the Office of Housing Counseling David Berenbaum, DAS for Economic Affairs Dr. Kurt Usowski, and FHA Chief of Staff Nate Shultz. Topics of discussion included specifics of the HECM program and how HUD's Office of Housing Counseling ensures seniors can take advantage of reverse mortgages while maintaining financial stability.

  • May 2023

    Canada Delegation Visit

    On May 22, 2023, Secretary Marcia L. Fudge hosted her Canadian counterpart, Minister of Housing and Diversity and Inclusion Ahmed Hussen, for a bilateral meeting at HUD Headquarters. Topics of discussion included HUD's efforts to address housing affordability, the housing supply shortage, and homelessness, as well as Canadian programs to address challenges such as chronic veteran homelessness. IPAD's Mia Bailey coordinated the meeting and was among the HUD staff in attendance.

  • April 2023

    Cities Summit of the Americas

    HUD representatives including IPAD's Cindy Campbell and Mia Bailey and Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary (PDAS) for Policy Development and Research Solomon Greene worked with colleagues from the State Department to coordinate HUD's participation in this year's Cities Summit of the Americas. The Summit, which was held in Denver, Colorado from April 26-28, 2023, convened subnational and national leaders from across the Western Hemisphere together with diverse representatives from civil society, business, academia, youth organizations, cultural and arts groups, and indigenous and underrepresented communities. HUD hosted a roundtable at the Summit that focused on addressing homelessness at the local level, as well as a panel about HUD programs. In addition to PDAS Greene and IPAD representatives, the HUD delegation to the Summit included Marion McFadden, PDAS for Community Planning and Development (CPD); Beth Lynk, Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs; Claudia Monterrosa, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Grants in CPD; and Dr. Kimberly McClain, Assistant Secretary for Congressional and Intergovernmental Relations. Read more about the Cities Summit of the Americas here.

    Cities Summit of the Americas.

  • April 2023

    PD&R Hosts Roundtable on Energy Efficiency with Colombian Housing Ministry

    On April 27, 2023, HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research (PD&R)—including IPAD's Caitlin Quinn—hosted a virtual roundtable that brought together HUD researchers and members of the Colombian Ministry of Housing, City, and Territory, HUD's counterpart ministry in Colombia. Dr. Calvin Johnson, PD&R's Deputy Assistant Secretary for Research, Evaluation, and Monitoring, and Dr. Regina Gray, Director of PD&R's Affordable Housing Research and Technology Division, briefed attendees about HUD programs and policies that address energy efficiency for low-income households. The roundtable followed from the February 2023 visit by the Colombian housing minister to HUD Headquarters for a bilateral meeting with HUD's Deputy Secretary.

  • April 2023

    HUD and Germany Launch Joint Research Project on Homelessness

    From April 23-25, 2023, representatives from the German Federal Ministry for Housing, Urban Development, and Building (BMWSB) and the German international development agency (GIZ) visited Washington, D.C. to formally launch a joint HUD-German research project on homelessness. The research project is an outgrowth of the agreement—formally known as a Declaration of Intent (DOI)—signed by HUD and BMWSB in 2011 and renewed in 2019 that formalizes our agencies' commitment to fostering transatlantic learning on a variety of urban planning and development topics in support of a shared agenda for an integrated sustainable urban development framework. During their visit to Washington, the German delegation discussed the current state of homelessness research with leadership and staff from HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research, met with senior leadership from the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness, and visited a HUD-funded permanent supportive housing project for veterans in Northwest D.C.

    HUD and Germany Launch Joint Research Project on Homelessness.

  • April 2023

    OECD Regional Development Policy Committee Week in Paris

    From April 22-25, 2023, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Economic Affairs Dr. Kurt Usowski and IPAD's Aaron Weaver attended the semiannual meeting of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development's (OECD's) Regional Development Policy Committee (RDPC) in Paris, France. Over the course of the weeklong meeting, the HUD representatives attended sessions of the Expert Group on Multilevel Governance, the Working Party on Urban Policy, the Working Party on Rural Policy, and the full RDPC. In addition, Dr. Usowski, who serves as an official U.S. Delegate to the RDPC in his role as Vice Chair of the OECD's Working Party on Urban Policy, held meetings with delegates from Japan, Sweden, Norway, Slovenia, and Czechia; with the OECD secretariat to discuss ongoing work on homelessness; and with the U.S. Ambassador to the OECD to discuss the impact of the OECD's work on HUD policy.

    OECD Regional Development Policy Committee Week in Paris.

  • April 2023

    U.S.-Germany City-to-City Exchange Program Workshop in Atlanta

    From April 18-21, 2023, participants in the German Marshall Fund's (GMF)'s Breaking Barriers to Affordable Housing initiative met in person in Atlanta for a series of site visits, city-led learning labs, and dialogues about sustainable urban development. The three-day meeting convened representatives from the GMF, HUD (including Cindy Campbell and Caitlin Quinn from IPAD), and the German federal government, as well as housing practitioners from six American and German cities: Atlanta, Berlin, Frankfurt, Munich, St. Louis, and Seattle. The project, which is funded by HUD and the German government, creates structured opportunities for city representatives to exchange ideas and best practices about topics including federal-local coordination, the politics of housing development, and the regulatory landscape in both the United States and Germany. The participants will continue to convene virtually in the coming months and will next meet in person in Germany in September 2023.

    U.S.-Germany City-to-City Exchange Program Workshop in Atlanta.

  • April 2023

    Dominican Republic Delegation Visit

    On April 3, 2023, HUD Secretary Marcia L. Fudge met with Minister Carlos Bonilla, the Minister of Housing and Buildings of the Dominican Republic, at HUD Headquarters in Washington. Topics of conversation included the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) and the Housing Choice Voucher program, as well as other HUD policies and programs to assist renters, build affordable housing, and help communities prepare for and recover from natural disasters. Following the meeting with the Secretary, staff from HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research (PD&R) presented an in-depth briefing on LIHTC, Housing Choice Vouchers, and related programs for Minister Bonilla and his delegation.

    Dominican Republic Delegation Visit.

  • March 2023

    United Kingdom Delegation Visit

    From March 27-31, 2023, a delegation from the United Kingdom visited the United States to learn about community revitalization and place-based economic development. The delegation included ministry officials from the U.K.'s Department of Levelling Up, Housing, and Communities (HUD's counterpart in the U.K.) as well as academics and civil society representatives. The trip included stops in Boston, Chicago, and Washington, D.C., where the delegation met with city officials and civil society representatives and visited HUD-funded sites.

    United Kingdom Delegation Visit.

  • March 2023

    Japan Vice Minister Meeting with HUD Deputy Secretary

    On March 24, 2023, IPAD's Cindy Campbell and Katie Marinari facilitated a bilateral meeting between HUD Deputy Secretary Adrianne Todman and Minister Satoru Mizushima, Japan's Vice Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport, and Tourism. The Deputy Secretary and Vice Minister discussed the upcoming G7 Sustainable Urban Development Ministers' Meeting, scheduled for July 7-9 in Takamatsu, Japan. They also discussed the renewal of the Memorandum of Cooperation between HUD and its Japanese counterpart agencies.

  • January 2023

    Korea Minister Meeting with the Secretary

    On January 6, 2022, IPAD's Cindy Campbell and Katie Marinari facilitated a bilateral meeting between HUD Secretary Marcia L. Fudge and Minister Won Hee-ryong, who leads Korea's Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport (MOLIT). The meeting was an opportunity for HUD to show continued support for our long-standing partnership with our Korean counterpart agency and our commitment to renewing the Memorandum of Understanding between HUD and MOLIT.

  • February 2023

    Colombian Delegation Visit

    On February 27, 2023, HUD Deputy Secretary Adrianne Todman conducted a bilateral meeting with a delegation from Colombia led by Catalina Velasco, Colombia's Minister of Housing, City, and Territory. Topics of discussion at the meeting included rental assistance programs and homelessness policies in the United States, as well as disaster recovery and resilience strategies in the United States and Colombia. In addition to the Deputy Secretary and the Minister, the meeting participants included representatives from HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research (PD&R) and the State Department, as well as HUD's Senior Advisor for Climate and the Colombian Ambassador to the United States.

    Read more about one of the signature programs of Colombia's Ministry of Housing, City, and Territory, "Mi Casa Ya" (My House Now), in PD&R Edge at this link.

    Colombian Delegation Visit.

  • February 2023

    Japanese Delegation Visit

    From February 6-10, 2023, IPAD facilitated the hosting of a delegation of 11 senior officials from HUD's Japanese counterpart: the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transportation, and Tourism. The delegation was part of our continuing U.S.-Japan Aging in Place Research Project. During the weeklong visit, the delegation visited numerous Aging in Place facilities and housing projects, as well as climate resilience/mitigation projects in New York City (NY), Hoboken (NJ), and Miami (FL).

    Read more about the delegation's visit in PD&R Edge at this link.

    Japanese Delegation Visit.

  • February 2023

    European Commission Delegation Visit

    On February 10, 2023, HUD Deputy Secretary Adrianne Todman participated in a bilateral meeting with a visiting delegation from the European Commission, the executive body of the European Union. The delegation was led by European Commission Vice President Dubravka Šuica, whose portfolio covers democracy and demography across all member states of the European Union. Topics of conversation at the meeting included programs to expand broadband access in rural areas, strategies to address demographic change in rural areas and shrinking cities, and HUD's emphasis on evidence-based policy.

    European Commission Delegation Visit.

  • February 2023

    HUD Seeks International Input for Cityscape

    HUD seeks international submissions for publication in Cityscape, the scholarly journal of HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research. The journal, which publishes three issues annually, is aimed at policymakers, academics, and practitioners and features articles that contribute to the body of knowledge on housing and community development. If you are interested in submitting an article, please contact Aaron Weaver at Bradley.A.Weaver@hud.gov. Read more about submitting to Cityscape here.

  • January 2023

    Korean Delegation Visit

    On January 6, 2023, HUD Secretary Marcia L. Fudge participated in bilateral talks with a visiting delegation from Korea that included the Korean Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Won Hee-ryong; Korean Ambassador to the United States Taeyong Cho; and National Assembly Member SeungHee Hwangbo, among other officials. Read more here.

    Korean Delegation Visit.

  • January 2023

    HUD Co-Hosts Philanthropic Roundtable on Homelessness in Los Angeles

    On January 18, HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research co-hosted a Philanthropic Roundtable on Homelessness in Los Angeles, alongside philanthropic partners and other HUD offices. The roundtable, which was attended by HUD Region IX Regional Administrator Jason Pu, Los Angeles Field Office Director Laurie Udit, and a variety of community stakeholders, spotlighted work to end homelessness and expand stakeholder collaboration in the Los Angeles region. “Participation from our stakeholders in this forum provided additional energy and a guiding force that drives in the right direction to address homelessness and the need for quality, affordable housing for all,” said Regional Administrator Pu in his remarks to attendees. For their collaboration on the roundtable, HUD thanks its philanthropic partners the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation, United Way of Greater Los Angeles, Funders Together to End Homelessness Los Angeles, and Southern California Grantmakers.


    HUD Co-Hosts Philanthropic Roundtable on Homelessness in Los Angeles.

  • December 2022

    Regional Development Policy Committee Week at the OECD

    The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) hosted its semiannual Regional Development Policy Committee (RDPC) Week in Paris from November 28 to December 2, 2022. Kurt Usowski, deputy assistant secretary for economic affairs in the Office of Policy Development and Research, and staff from HUD's International and Philanthropic Affairs Division (IPAD) were in attendance. Read more here.

    Regional Development Policy Committee Week at the OECD.

  • December 2022

    Biden-Harris Administration National Security Policy: How It Relates to HUD.

    On October 12, 2022, the White House released the Biden-Harris administration's National Security Strategy. The fact sheet states the following: President Biden's National Security Strategy outlines how the United States will advance our vital interests and pursue a free, open, prosperous, and secure world. Read more here.

    Biden-Harris Administration National Security Policy: How It Relates to HUD.

  • October 2022

    HUD Participates in First-Ever G7 Ministerial for Urban Development.

    On September 13, 2022, Secretary Fudge attended the first-ever G7 Ministerial for Urban Development in Potsdam, Germany. Klara Geywitz, the German Federal Minister for Housing, Urban Development and Building and host of the meeting, led the creation of the new G7 Urban Development Track. Read more here.

    HUD Participates in First-Ever G7 Ministerial for Urban Development.

  • October 2022

    Equitable Urban Development with Affordable Housing at the Core: Featuring lessons learned from the Woodlawn neighborhood of Chicago

    Equitable Urban Development with Affordable Housing at the Core: Featuring lessons learned from the Woodlawn neighborhood of Chicago

    Please join us for a World Cities Day Virtual Panel Discussion with U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development leaders on
    Equitable Urban Development with Affordable Housing at the Core:
    Featuring lessons learned from the Woodlawn neighborhood of Chicago
    Monday, October 31, 2022
    10:00 - 11:00 AM CST / 11:00 - 12:00 PM EST

    Webinar Registration - Zoom


  • August 2022

    2022 Secretary Awards Mia Bailey

    Secretary's Award for Innovation – Group Award – Congratulations to Mia Bailey from the International and Philanthropic Affairs Division!

    Mia Bailey, from the International and Philanthropic Affairs Division, at the 2022 Secretary's Awards ceremony.


  • July 2022

    HUD Participates in the 11th World Urban Forum

    The United States participated in the recent World Urban Forum held in Katowice, Poland, from June 26 to 30, 2022. More than 17,000 participants representing 155 countries attended the event in person or virtually. HUD sent a small delegation that included Calvin Johnson, deputy assistant secretary for the Office of Research, Evaluation and Monitoring; Cindy Campbell, director of the Office of International and Philanthropic Affairs; and Katie Marinari from the Office of International and Philanthropic Affairs. We attended the conference alongside our colleagues from the U.S. State Department and the U.S. Agency for International Development. Read more here.



  • May 2022

    Israeli Delegation Visit

    HUD hosted a senior delegation from our agency counterparts in Israel from 16-19 May 2022. The Israeli delegation included participants from the Israel Planning Administration, including the Director General, Chief Planners and Architects from Tel Aviv, Rishon LeZion, Jerusalem, Herzliya and Nahariya. The delegation included several staff from the Ministry of Construction and Housing including the Chief Architect, Deputy Director-General of Urban Planning Division, Chief Architect of the Jerusalem District and the Head of Foreign Affairs. Also, the Israel Urban Renewal Authority was represented by the Director of Urban Planning. The group visited public housing projects in Jersey City and New York City, post-Sandy recovery projects in Hoboken and public housing projects in Washington, DC. Read more here.

    Israeli Delegation Visit


  • May 2022

    U.K. Delegation Visit

    HUD hosted Secretary of State Rt Hon Michael Gove for Leveling Up, Housing and Communities in New York and New Jersey from 31 May to 2 June 2022. His visit included various HUD affiliated sites run by the New York Housing Authority (NYCHA), City of Newark, and City of Hoboken. Secretary of State Gove was accompanied by Assistant Deputy Secretary Michele Perez, Region Administrator Alicka Ampry-Samuel and IPAD's Cindy Campbell.

    U.K. Delegation Visit


  • April 2022

    Europe's 2nd Forum of Mayors

    The United Nations Economic Commission for Europe's 2nd Forum of Mayors was held on 4-5 April 2022. Our US efforts are coordinated through the State Department's US Mission to the UNECE, based in Geneva, Switzerland. There are 56 nations that are member states to the UNECE, including the United States. The Forum focused on several topics including: sustainable urban transport, shared mobility and safer roads, (2) vibrant public spaces, green cities and nature-based solutions, (3) resilient, healthy and climate-neutral buildings and affordable and adequate housing, and (4) sustainable urban planning, the 15-minute city and smart urban development solutions. The International and Philanthropic Affairs Division worked closely with State Department's US Mission in Geneva to find a US Mayor to present a best practice from the United States for the session on sustainable urban transport, shared mobility and safer roads. Boston's Mayor Wu presented an overview of a mass transit plan to offer free bus fare for a bus route within the city of Boston. She shared the session with mayor's from Yerevan, Armenia, Tbilisi, Georgia, Utrecht, Netherlands, Trondheim, Norway, Gaziantep, Turkey, Freetown, Sierra Leone, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and San Marino. Her presentation can be found here.

    Europe's 2nd Forum of Mayors


  • April 2022

    Lisbon's Walkability

    Recently, during my first international vacation since the pandemic began, I visited Lisbon, the capital city of Portugal. I was struck not only by the city's architectural beauty but also its walkability. I found wide avenues with dedicated bike lanes and broad sidewalks for pedestrians. The historic city center along the waterfront was closed to automobiles, allowing for safe and enjoyable strolling. Read more here.



  • March 2022

    German Marshall Fund

    The German Marshall Fund which was founded by Guido Goldman in 1972 through a gift from Germany as a tribute to the Marshall Plan has been working with HUD since the early 2010's through various initiatives including Dialogues for Change (D4C). D4C is supported by HUD and the German Federal Ministry of Interior as it promotes transatlantic collaboration on issues that range from urban planning, sustainable urban development, and ageing.

    As part of the D4C collaboration initiative, on 2 March 2022, Professor Dr. Matthias von Schwanenflügel, Director General, Division of Demographic Change, Aging Populations and Social Welfare, Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth gave a presentation on various programs in Germany that address aging. The event which was organized by the German Marshall Fund also included a presentation on aging from Deputy Assistant Secretary for Research, Evaluation, And Monitoring (ODAS/REM) Dr. Calvin C. Johnson.

    German Marshall Fund


  • February 2022

    Allocation of competences in policy sectors key to migrant integration

    A first step to implement effective migrant integration policies is to know who does what in policy sectors key to integration. Responding to this need, this paper offers policy makers a tool to understand the organisation of public action in key sectors for integration - Employment, Education, Housing, and Health/Welfare – in a sample of 10 OECD countries: Austria, Canada, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, New Zealand, Spain, Sweden and the Netherlands. Read more here.



  • February 2022

    Multi-level governance for migrant integration

    Comprehensive and coordinated action across levels of government responsible for different policy domains (labour, education, housing and welfare/health) as well as across local actors is crucial to migrant integration. To respond to this need for co-ordination, different policy instruments are mobilised by countries. Read more here.



  • February 2022

    Local Skills Week

    IPAD staff attended the OECD's Local Skills Week from 15-17 February 2022. In addition to releasing the JPMorgan Chase-funded report listed above, sessions included panels on Rethinking human capital; Local skills and jobs for local decisions; and open jobs data. Read more here.



  • February 2022

    FHEO Presentation for Israel Knesset Member

    On 17 February 2022, the Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity gave Knesset Member Yorai Lahav Hertzanu a virtual presentation on the Fair Housing Act. The exchange provided MK Yorai Lahav Hertzanu with an overview of the Act and how the Department of Justice and HUD enforce the Act. Mr. Hertzanu was particularly interested in learning about the Fair Housing Act as him and his team are currently promoting a similar bill in the Israeli Knesset and wanted to learn more about our approach.

    FHEO Presentation for Israel Knesset Member


  • February 2022

    The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)

    The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), based in Paris, was originally created following World War II to administer U.S. and Canadian reconstruction aid for Europe provided under the Marshall Plan. OECD was founded in its current form in 1960 with a new mission: to improve the economic and social well-being of people worldwide through research that informs policy. Read more here.

    The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)


  • February 2022

    The UK's Homelessness Reduction Act

    In late 2021, to focus on rebuilding after the COVID-19 pandemic and implementing the British levelling up policy, the United Kingdom (UK) Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government was rebranded as the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC).

    One aspect of the UK government's levelling up initiative is addressing homelessness and rough sleeping, defined as sleeping outdoors or in a place not designed for sleeping, such as a car or a vacant building. DLUHC, England was able to brief HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research in December 2021 on some of its recent efforts to mitigate homelessness and rough sleeping in England. Read more here.

    The UK's Homelessness Reduction Act


  • January 2022

    Measuring effective taxation of housing

    This paper measures the effective taxation of housing investments in 40 OECD member and partner countries. The paper derives both Marginal Effective Tax Rates (METRs) and Average Effective Tax Rates (AETRs), which incorporate the stream of income and taxes over the life of the housing investment. Read more here.



  • January 2022

    National Security Council's Interagency Policy Committee for Partnerships' Navigating Legal and Policy Challenges Panel

    IPAD facilitated the participation of HUD on the National Security Council's Interagency Policy Committee for Partnerships' Navigating Legal and Policy Challenges Panel on 12 January 2022. The panel discussion was a follow up to the National Security Advisor's report to the President on Modernizing and Expanding Partnership Engagement. The panelists discussed issues such as authorities, ethics, endorsements, gifts, due diligence, intellectual property and more. The expert panelists included: Valerie Wenderoth, U.S. Department of State; Gayle Girod, U.S. Agency for International Development; Todd Rubin, Administrative Conference of the United States; and Tiffanie Smith Johnson, U.S. Department for Housing and Urban Development.

    National Security Council's Interagency Policy Committee for Partnerships' Navigating Legal and Policy Challenges Panel


  • January 2022

    HUG/Wilson Center Joint Research Project

    On 6 January 2022, Katie Marinari met with the Wilson Center, HUG, and the US researchers from American University and Pennsylvania University for the Phase-I check-in on the joint research project. During Phase-I, each researcher prepared a country profile outlining mechanisms for affordable housing production. HUG provided an overview of Korea, Katie focused on the US, American University researched the UK, and Pennsylvania University focused on Germany. At the Phase-I check in, each participant presented their country profile and HUG provided feedback on which financial models they would like to further explore during Phase-II. The proposals for Phase-II are still in the process of being defined.

    HUG/Wilson Center Joint Research Project


  • January 2022

    US-EU Exchange: Advancing the Transatlantic Economic Recovery With Building Renovation and Clean Energy Solutions

    The US-EU Webinar Series officially ended in February 2022 with the publication of US and EU guidebooks on regulatory provisions for building efficiency. A microsite summarizing key findings from the series, the aforementioned reports, and the results of a stakeholder survey can be found here.

    US-EU Exchange: Advancing the Transatlantic Economic Recovery With Building Renovation and Clean Energy Solutions


  • January 2022

    German Delegation Visit to HUD

    The International and Philanthropic Affairs Division of the Office of Policy Development and Research hosted a delegation from Germany in November 2021 to discuss the next steps in our long partnership. Under a Memorandum of Cooperation signed in December 2019, representatives from HUD and their counterparts in Germany's Federal Ministry of the Interior, Building, and Community discuss strategies for integrated policies and principles for urban development and revitalization in the two countries. Read more here.

    German Delegation Visit to HUD


  • December 2021

    Mortgage finance across OECD countries

    The landscapes of housing loan markets vary considerably across OECD countries, reflecting differences in preferences and policy settings. This paper first draws a topography of disparities in mortgage structure, documenting considerable variation across OECD countries in key features such as in use of fixed vs variable interest rates and typical maturities. Read more here.



  • December 2021

    Inter-American Commission on Human Rights Hearing

    Richard S. Cho, Senior Advisor for Housing and Services, attended a hearing on 16 December 2021 at the request of the State Department US Mission the to the Organization of American States to represent the U.S. government at a public hearing requested by the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR). The primary topic of the hearing, per the request from the civil society petitioners, was addressed in the request letter: The general objective of the hearing is to establish and make visible the legal nature of housing as a human right, which follows that it must be guaranteed to each person without discrimination. The hearing would also demonstrate how, in failing to provide adequate shelter and housing to individuals, unhoused persons are experiencing violations to numerous fundamental human rights, e.g., the rights to personal security, health, property, and the right to be free from torture and other ill-treatment. These violations are the result of USG policies that create criminal penalties for life sustaining activities and are designed to displace and remove unhoused persons from public visibility.

    Inter-American Commission on Human Rights Hearing


  • December 2021

    US-Israel Research Exchange

    US-Israel Research Exchange meeting was held on 2 December 2021. This meeting is part of a continuing partnership with our ministerial counterparts at the Ministry of Construction and Housing. HUD will engage on a research partnership on innovative construction techniques with Israel. Dr. Regina Gray, Director, Affordable Housing Research and Technology Division, Office of Research, Evaluation, and Monitoring along with Cindy Campbell, Director of International & Philanthropic Affairs, Office of Policy Development & Research led the conversation.

    US-Israel Research Exchange


  • December 2021

    U.S. – Japan Aging in Place Virtual Forum

    The US-Japan Aging in Place Forum was held on 2 December 2021. This forum is part of a continuing partnership researching best practices in Aging in Place. The virtual forum was held in lieu of the ability to host a delegation from HUD's ministerial counterpart, Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Tourism. The US provided the following briefs:

    • FHEO Overview of US Fair Housing Laws, Erik L. Steinecker, Acting Director, Fair Housing Assistance Program, HUD
    • HUD's Housing Discrimination Studies, Elizabeth Rudd, Social Science Analyst, Program Evaluation Division, Office of Policy Development & Research, HUD
    • HOME Brief on renovation funding opportunities to rehab older homes, Arthur Jemison, PDAS, Secretary for Community Planning and Development
    • Calvin Johnson, DAS for Research, Evaluation, And Monitoring, Office of Policy Development & Research, HUD and Cindy Campbell, Director of International & Philanthropic Affairs, Office of Policy Development & Research, provided next steps in the ongoing collaboration.

    U.S. – Japan Aging in Place Virtual Forum


  • December 2021

    Migration, housing and regional disparities: A gravity model of inter-regional migration with an application to selected OECD countries

    Inter-regional migration – the movements of the population from one region to another within the same country – can be an important mechanism of spatial economic adjustment, affecting regional demographic and growth patterns. This paper examines the economic and housing-related factors that affect the decision of people to migrate to another region within the same country, drawing empirical evidence from country-specific gravity models of inter-regional migration for 14 OECD countries. Read more here.



  • December 2021

    Innovation and Data Use in Cities

    This report is a first-of-its-kind work to provide evidence on how cities' investments in innovation and data use can pay off in powerful ways for residents. It offers analysis on the different ways local governments build capacity at the strategic and technical level, from organisational structure and strategy, to resource allocation and outcome evaluation. Read more here.



  • December 2021

    Estimating regional house price levels

    While indices tracing the evolutions of regional house prices are increasingly available, this is less the case for similar data on house price levels. And where data on house price levels exist, they are not necessarily consistent with the patterns observed from house price indices. Read more here.



  • November 2021

    Making Property Tax Reform Happen in China

    This report looks at crucial elements of reforms to growth-friendly recurrent taxes on immovable property. Tax design practices in place in OECD and partner countries are compared and analysed through the lenses of economic theory and empirical analysis. Read more here.



  • November 2021

    Urbanisation and demography in North and West Africa, 1950-2020

    This brief presents a factual and retrospective analysis of the relationships between urbanisation and demography in North Africa and West Africa. It shows that the process of demographic transition is now fully underway in this region. North of the Sahara the new demographic equilibrium features a birth rate higher than expected, according to theoretical model predictions, resulting in continuous population growth. Read more here.



  • November 2021

    Building resilience

    Following the COVID-19 shock to economies and societies, many countries are renewing infrastructure investment as a stimulus measure. Such investments present an opportunity for governments to address short-term infrastructure challenges through maintenance spending while building resilient and sustainable infrastructure for the future. Read more here.



  • November 2021

    Korea's 8th International Forum on Housing & Urban Finance

    On 24 November 2021, Ben Winter, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Policy Development participated in Korea's 8th International Forum on Housing & Urban Finance (IFHUF). IFHUF is hosted by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MOLIT) to bring together renowned experts and scholars from around the world to discuss the direction and role of housing and urban finance. DAS Winter presented during a session on Support Measure of Inclusive Housing in Response to a Changing Housing Market focusing on the policies to increase the supply of affordable housing.

    Korea's 8th International Forum on Housing & Urban Finance


  • November 2021

    Urban Policy Review of Colombia

    DAS Kurt Usowski and Richard Duckworth presented lessons learned from the U.S. on adaptation of the governance system for national urban policy and integrating policies for urban development, in an international policy dialogue as part of OECD's Urban Policy Review of Colombia 29 and 30 November. The event follows comments submitted by DAS Usowski and PD&R staff on the OECD report in October 2021.

    Urban Policy Review of Colombia


  • November 2021

    OECD Working Party on Urban Policy

    DAS Kurt Usowski attended the virtual OECD Working Party on Urban Policy (WPURB) held on 23 November 2021. This working party falls under the Regional Development Policy Committee (RDPC), which is a unique practitioner-based forum that provides direction for the work of the OECD Urban Development program, oversees country assessments (peer reviews), and facilitates collaboration among senior officials seeking to address challenges facing cities and metropolitan areas across OECD countries. This committee overseas a number of reviews including reviews of how OECD countries engage in national urban policy, affordable housing issues and other urban development related topics. Additional staff from IPAD also attended the meeting. HUD's participation is in coordination with the State Department's US Mission at the OECD. In addition to attending the WPURB meeting, DAS Kurt Usowski, Director Cindy Campbell, and IPAD staff also participated in the 3rd OECD Pilot Meeting on Multi-level Governance (16 November), Working Party on Rural Policy (17 November), Working Party on Territorial Indicators (18 November), and the 45th Session of the Regional Development Policy Committee (24-25 November). In addition to submitting comments on draft reports, DAS Usowski highlighted the US' current work and future commitments surrounding climate change and COP 26, the Sustainable Development Goals, the American Rescue Plan, and the Build Back Better agenda.

    OECD Working Party on Urban Policy


  • November 2021

    German Delegation Visit

    German Delegation Visit: HUD hosted a delegation from the German Ministry of the Interior, Building and Community and the German Development Agency (GIZ) – both HUD counterparts from 18-23 November 2021. The delegation was here to discuss the next steps in the German Marshall Fund/BMI/GIZ/US partnership, Dialogues for Change. The initiative is a transatlantic network of city official participants who are exploring cross-cutting themes critical to the successful implementation of urban development projects. The Dialogues for Change program ended in 2018, the delegation visit was here to plan for the next iteration of the program which should start in early 2022. The delegation met with senior leadership from PD&R and the German Marshall Fund. IPAD hosted the delegation and provided numerous informational site visits throughout the DC metro area.

    German Delegation Visit


  • November 2021

    HUD Delegation to COP26

    At November's highly anticipated United Nations Council of the Parties conference (COP26), a delegation from HUD joined world leaders, ambassadors, experts, scientists, activists, and the media in Glasgow, Scotland, for the annual meeting focused on preventing dangerous changes to the environment. Read more here.

    HUD Delegation to COP26


  • October 2021

    SOHUD Korea Embassy Meeting

    On 25 October 2021 Secretary Fudge, Chief of Staff Jenn Jones, Ben Winter, Cindy Campbell, and Katie Marinari met with the Korean Ambassador to the US, Soo-Hyuck Lee. The Secretary and Ambassador both provided their continued support of the US-Korea Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). In January 2022, MOLIT's Vice-Minister will visit HUD for the signing of the renewed MOU, followed by the 1st US – Korea Cooperation Conference where both MOLIT and HUD will provide an overview of their affordable housing and urban regeneration policies.

    SOHUD Korea Embassy Meeting


  • October 2021

    Annual Disaster Funders Call

    On 28 October 2021, IPAD and CPD hosted HUD's annual Disaster Funders Call. This year's call featured welcome remarks from Ben Winter and PDAS Arthur Jemsion. Tennille Parker provided updates on CDBG-DR/MIT and Savin Ven Johnson and Joey Baietti discussed steady state resilience using HUD's annual programs. The call also featured updates from the Center for Disaster Philanthropy's President & CEO, Patricia McIlreavy.

    Annual Disaster Funders Call


  • October 2021

    Young Adult Listening Session

    Mia Bailey worked with colleagues Maria-Lana Queen (PIH) and Nili Soli (SNAPS) to organize and host HUD's first Young Adult Listening Session on 26 October 2021. The event served as part of HUD's larger equity efforts to include the voices of lived experiences into the fabric of HUD's programs and policies. The group of young adults ranged in ages from 18-26 years old, representing various parts of the U.S. Other PD&R colleagues including Meron Habte and Pam Blumenthal, along with Mikaela Gerwin and Imani Edwards (Office of the Secretary) attended. Deputy Assistant Secretary for Special Needs, Jemine Bryon, provided welcoming and closing remarks. Findings from the session were shared with various HUD program offices raised by young adults during the discussion.

    Young Adult Listening Session


  • October 2021

    UNECE Ministerial Meeting on Urban Development

    On 6 October 2021, the UNECE launched the Ministerial Meeting on Urban Development, Housing and Land Management and the 82nd session of the Committee on Housing, Urban Development and Land Management. Remarks were given by Deputy Assistant Secretary Ben Winter on behalf of the United States. During the three-day meeting country representatives from across the UNECE region were able to share their country's progress on SDG- 11 and plans for post COVID-19 recovery.

    The UNECE also used this opportunity to present and launch the study "#Housing2030: Effective policies for affordable housing in the UNECE region" and present a Regional Action Plan with various initiatives that UNECE members could enact by 2030.

    UNECE Ministerial Meeting on Urban Development


  • September 2021

    UN Cities Alliance – Jamaica Community of Practice

    On 15 September 2021, Katie Marinari, alongside US Embassy staff in Jamaica joined the UN Cities Alliance – Jamaica Community of Practice. The Community of Practice is a working group led by UN Cities Alliance and Jamaica's Ministry of Housing, Urban Renewal, Environment, and Climate Change (MHURECC) and includes representatives from both the US and Brazil in assisting MHURECC in its development of policy frameworks for urban regeneration. A follow up meeting was also held on 29 September.

    UN Cities Alliance – Jamaica Community of Practice


  • September 2021

    UN 2021 Scroll of Honour

    The Scroll of Honour awards recognize outstanding initiatives in sustainable urbanization. Announced on 17 September 2021, this year's recipients include organizations in Egypt, Kenya, China, Estonia, and Chile developing affordable housing, piloting shared streets, organizing cleanup days, and working to eliminate urban slums. The Egyptian NGO New Urban Communities Authority (NUCA) is of particular note, having “provided 660,000 units in 21 cities” over the past 40 years. It's projects include hospitals, schools, playgrounds, and green spaces.

    UN 2021 Scroll of Honour


  • September 2021

    Deputy Secretary Todman at the Association of Black Foundation Executives Retreat

    Mia Bailey collaborated with staff from HUD's Deputy Secretary Office and the Office of Public Affairs to prepare Deputy Secretary Todman to provide opening remarks for a session at ABFE's Retreat. The session titled, Building Black Wealth from the Ground Up, was held on 22 September 2021 and focused on how philanthropy and donors are investing in Black business accelerators and property acquisition to drive financial stability amongst Blacks. A panel that included staff from the Colorado Trust, W.K. Kellogg Foundation, Kendeda Fund and the Atlanta Wealth Building Initiative followed the Deputy Secretary's remarks.

    Deputy Secretary Todman at the Association of Black Foundation Executives Retreat


  • September 2021

    Deputy Secretary Todman at Hispanics in Philanthropy Conference

    IPAD's Mia Bailey and staff from HUD's Deputy Secretary Office and the Office of Public Affairs worked with leaders from Hispanics in Philanthropy (HIP) to prepare Deputy Secretary Todman to join a Fireside Chat at HIP's annual conference. The session, titled Working Towards a Just Recovery, was held on 13 September 2021, and focused on ways in which philanthropy and government can work collectively in promoting an equitable recovery after pandemics and natural disasters. Deputy Secretary Todman shared the platform with Lourdes M. Castro Ramírez, Secretary of the California Business, Consumer Services and Housing.

    Deputy Secretary Todman at Hispanics in Philanthropy Conference


  • September 2021

    UK Troubled Families Program Brief

    On 29 September 2021, our UK Ministerial counterparts presented their Troubled Families program. The Troubled Families Program (TFP) is a program in England administered by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG). The program conducts targeted interventions for families experiencing multiple problems, including crime, anti-social behavior, truancy, unemployment, mental health problems and domestic abuse. This briefing examines the TFP since 2012, details MHCLG evaluations of the program, and describes recent commentary and potential future directions for the program. This presentation was preceded by our presentation on 22 September 2021 on Choice Neighborhoods.

    UK Troubled Families Program Brief


  • September 2021

    United States-European Union Webinar Series

    In partnership with the Department of Energy, European Union, and Germany's Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety, HUD participated in a webinar entitled “Advancing transatlantic economic recovery with building renovation and clean energy solutions, Conversations with the European Commission Directorate General for Energy the US Department of Energy the US Department of Housing and Urban Development.”

    On 17 June 2021. The first in a series of four webinars to discuss advancing climate change mitigation, Regina Gray, Director of HUD's Affordable Housing Research and Technology Division provided an overview of HUD's energy efficiency programs, and Director Cindy Campbell gave closing remarks.

    The second webinar in the series was held on 23 September 2021 and titled, "How to achieve energy-efficient and affordable housing." Theodore Toone, Director for Housing Efficiency at the White House Council on Environmental Quality was the keynote speaker for the United States. IPAD staff coordinated Mr. Toone's participation as well as his contribution to an article on the series.

    The third webinar occurred on 20 October 2021 and covered the process of financing energy efficiency in buildings. A glossary of energy efficiency and building policies in the EU and US has been created for the series and can be found here.

    The fourth webinar in the series was held on 2 December 2021 and discussed job creation and workforce development for building energy efficiency renovations. A recording of the webinar can be found here. The fifth and final webinar is scheduled for 11 January 2022.

    United States-European Union Webinar Series


  • August 2021

    Israel Research Exchange

    On 18 August 2021, IPAD's Cindy Campbell and Katie Marinari facilitated a follow-up meeting to the US/Israel research exchange on building technologies to discuss cooperation in research activities and to examine possible routes in which we can operate. The meeting included Israel's Ministry of Housing and Construction and the National Building Research Institute at Technion, as well as IPAD and PDR's Affordable Housing Research and Technology Division.

    Israel Research Exchange


  • August 2021

    Australia AHURI Exchange

    On 16 August 2021, IPAD's Cindy Campbell and Katie Marinari facilitated an exchange between the Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute (AHURI) and PD&R's Research Utilization Division. As an exemplary model in the research world, AHURI provided a brief on their methods of disseminating research.

    Australia AHURI Exchange


  • August 2021

    HUD's Puerto Rico and USVI Philanthropic Roundtable

    On 25 August 2021, IPAD's Cindy Campbell and Katie Marinari facilitated HUD's Puerto Rico and USVI Philanthropic Roundtable hosted by PD&R. Leadership from PD&R, FPM, and CPD led the conversation with closing remarks from Deputy Secretary Todman. The roundtable brought together the state CDBG-DR grantees from Puerto Rico and the U.S, Virgin Islands (USVI) and senior representatives from philanthropic organizations. The roundtable provided an opportunity to gain insight and advice on foundations' engagements and assessments of the recovery thus far, as well as to identify current challenges and future prospects.

    HUD's Puerto Rico and USVI Philanthropic Roundtable


  • July 2021

    Israel Research Exchange – Incentives for Neighborhood Revitalization

    On 13 July 2021, Cindy Campbell and Katie Marinari facilitated the sixth research exchange meeting between PD&R and our Israeli Counterparts. The sixth meeting was on the topic of incentives for neighborhood revitalization. Erich Yost, Senior Management Analyst - Opportunity Zones and Acting Branch Chief for Place-Based Initiatives, led the brief on Opportunity Zones on behalf of HUD.

    Israel Research Exchange – Incentives for Neighborhood Revitalization


  • July 2021

    Ecuador Meeting

    On 28 July 2021, Cindy Campbell and Mia Bailey hosted a virtual briefing for leaders from Ecuador's Ministry of Housing and Urban Development. The brief was held in response to Ecuador's request to learn more about HUD's data collection and dissemination efforts. Members of IPAD were joined by Kurt G. Usowski, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Economic Affairs, George Carter III, Director- Housing and Demographic Analysis Division, Diana Villavicencio, Regional Economist- Economic and Market Analysis Division, and Emily Molfino, Survey Statistician- Housing and Demographic Analysis Division. Diana, George and Kurt presented on HUD data sources, surveys, and housing finance data. The session was primarily held in Spanish with Diana serving as a translator.

    Ecuador Meeting


  • July 2021

    State Department USCRP Annual Meeting

    On 7 July 2021, Katie Marinari attended the State Department's US-Caribbean Resilience Partnership Annual interagency meeting on behalf of HUD. During the meeting, the interagency organized into Technical Working Groups. HUD alongside the FCC, DOE, Trade, and Army Corps of Engineers are on the Developing Resilient Infrastructure technical working group (TWG). Katie is the co-chair of the TWG, alongside a Caribbean partner nation yet to be determined. Before the end of the year, the TWG will host their first official meeting to explore opportunities for the USCRP to coordinate informational exchanges and best practices between nations.

    State Department USCRP Annual Meeting


  • July 2021

    HUD at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation's Annual Conference

    On 27-28 July 2021, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation, in partnership with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the Federal Emergency Management Agency hosted their 10th Annual Building Resilience Through Private-Public Partnerships Conference. Katie Marinari facilitated HUD's participation in the conference including a keynote address from Deputy Secretary, Adrianne Todman, and a panel session, Creating an Investment Approach for Thriving instead of Surviving, that featured Kevin Bush, Deputy Assistance Secretary for Grant Programs.

    HUD at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation's Annual Conference


  • July 2021

    Secretary Meeting with Mexico Counterpart

    Secretary Fudge and her Mexican counterpart, Secretary Roman Meyer Falcón (Secretary of Agrarian, Land and Urban Development - SEDATU) met on 8 July 2021. Both secretaries used the meeting as an opportunity to identify similarities between the U.S. and Mexico housing issues/policies, explore potential areas of cooperation, and joint actions on housing and urban development targeted for border states.

    Secretary Meeting with Mexico Counterpart


  • June 2021

    Choice Neighborhoods Brief with Jamaica's Minister of Housing, Urban Renewal, Environment, and Climate Change

    On 30 June 2021, IPAD facilitated a brief on HUD's Choice Neighborhoods Program for Jamaica's Minister of Housing, Urban Renewal, Environment, and Climate Change (MHURECC), Pearnel Charles, Jr. Luci Ann Blackburn, Director of Choice Neighborhoods provided the brief for Minister Charles, along with his colleagues at MHURECC and the Housing Agency of Jamaica, Ltd.

    Choice Neighborhoods Brief


  • June 2021

    German Delegation

    General Deputy Assistant Secretary Todd Richardson met with German MP Klaus Mindrup, Minister Counselor Detlev Brauns, and Dr. Judith Neumann, First Secretary for Climate, Environmental and Urban Affairs on 28 June 2021. MP Mindrup sought information on post-COVID recovery and climate adaptation programs in the U.S. Also in attendance were Associate Deputy Assistant Secretary Mark Shroder, and IPAD staff.

    German Delegation


  • June 2021

    Civil Society Roundtable on U.S. CERD Report Submission

    On 17 June 2021, Acting Assistant Secretary for Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity, Jeanine Worden, represented HUD at the Department of State's Bureau of International Organization Affairs' virtual roundtable with representatives of the U.S. Government and other civil society organizations working in the UN on issues of racial equity and justice. This roundtable discussed the U.S. submissions of its tenth, eleventh, and twelfth periodic reports on the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (ICERD). Participating USG officials gave brief remarks on the recent submission of the CERD reports, shared some of the progress the Biden-Harris Administration has made on issues highlighted in the report, and answered questions. The roundtable was the beginning of ongoing collaboration and consultation with civil society in advance of the U.S. delegation's oral presentation of the submitted reports to the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, anticipated in 2022.

    Civil Society Roundtable on U.S. CERD Report Submission


  • June 2021

    UN Cities Alliance – Housing and Integrated Development in Jamaica

    Through the Embassy Science Fellows program, Katie Marinari participated in a Housing Laboratory (LAV) meeting hosted by Jamaica's Housing Ministry (MHURECC) and the UN Cities Alliance. The LAV hosted on 16 June 2021 was an opportunity for representatives from the US, Jamaica, Brazil, Columbia, and South Africa to share their experience regarding housing and integrated development and to explore how through collaboration, nations can engage to find alternative approaches to building more sustainable and inclusive cities.

    UN Cities Alliance – Housing and Integrated Development in Jamaica


  • June 2021

    Japan Embassy Meeting with Secretary Fudge

    Secretary Fudge met Japan's Ambassador to the United States, Ambassador Tomita, on 3 June to discuss the current Aging in Place Research project. DAS Winter, DAS Johnson, Cindy Campbell and Chief of Staff Jenn Jones also attended the meeting.

    Japan Embassy Meeting with Secretary Fudge


  • June 2021

    Lincoln Institute of Land Policy – Legacy Cities Symposium

    Deputy Assistant Secretary Kurt Usowski participated in a roundtable discussion on legacy cities hosted by the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy on 24 June 2021. Participants included representatives from the UK, EU, Germany, France, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), Brookings Institution, and Cleveland State University. Discussion included the varying definition of “legacy cities” or “left behind places”, the nature of demographic changes, and emerging policy responses.

    Lincoln Institute of Land Policy – Legacy Cities Symposium


  • June 2021

    Melville Charitable Trust – Domestic Policy Council Roundtable

    On 10 June 2021 the Domestic Policy Council, HUD, and the Melville Charitable Trust (MCT) co-hosted a roundtable with philanthropic leaders to discuss the rollout of rental assistance and eviction programs and identify urgent needs. Philanthropies noted issues around capacity, clarifying what funds can be used for and capital constraints for smaller providers implementing HUD's reimbursement-based programs. HUD and MCT are currently exploring a possible partnership to address some of these issues.

    Melville Charitable Trust – Domestic Policy Council Roundtable


  • June 2021

    Secretary Philanthropic Roundtable

    Secretary Fudge met with a cross section of philanthropic partners on 15 June 2021 to discuss HUD engagement. The Secretary met with over 50 senior representatives from 26 philanthropic organizations. The purpose of the meeting was to lay the groundwork for a good working relationship with philanthropy, by sharing the Biden administration's agenda for HUD, focusing on homelessness, equity, and climate resilience, while highlighting major new initiatives on the horizon like the FY2022 Budget, the American Rescue Package (ARP), and the American Jobs Package (AJP).

    Secretary Philanthropic Roundtable


  • June 2021

    Secretary's Award for Public-Philanthropic Partnerships

    In coordination with the Council on Foundations, HUD announced the 2021 winners of the Secretary's Award for Public-Philanthropic Partnerships on June 17, 2021. The six awardees are:

    • Advent Health Foundation for its rehabilitation of a supportive housing center at-risk of closing avoiding resident displacement, and adding 11 units to the center
    • Buhl Foundation whose place-based initiative led to the creation of the Northview Heights Community Safety Partnership with the goal of, “transitioning from ‘re-active policing' to ‘pro-active public safety',” through sustained dialogue and collaborative effort.
    • CareSource Foundation for the Health Beginnings at Home pilot program which uses targeted housing stabilization services and rental assistance to improve maternal and infant health outcomes.
    • Citi Foundation for its City Accelerator program providing a combination of technical assistance and flexible financing, offering policymakers a platform to test new approaches and drive equitable, scalable, and sustainable change.
    • New Church Residences Foundation whose expansive partnership efforts led to the creation of 80 units of permanent supportive housing with an on-site employment engagement initiative.
    • San Diego Foundation for its rapid implementation of a COVID-19 Community Response Fund providing nonprofit organizations with, “rolling rapid response grants,” to address the needs of those disproportionately impacted by the pandemic.

    Secretary's Award for Public-Philanthropic Partnerships


  • June 2021

    Secretary Fudge meeting with Canadian Counterpart

    Secretary Fudge met virtually with the Honorable Ahmed Hussen, Canada's Minister of Families, Children and Social Development, on 30 June 2021. Minister Hussen is also responsible for the Canada Mortgage Housing Corporation (CMHC). This was an opportunity for the both to learn about each other's efforts in addressing affordable housing issues and homelessness, especially through the lens of equity.

    Secretary Fudge meeting with Canadian Counterpart


  • May 2021

    US – Israel Research Exchange on Building Technology

    On 13 May 2021, IPAD facilitated the fifth research exchange meeting between PD&R and our Israeli Counterparts. The fifth meeting was on the topic of building technologies including new construction techniques & climate-sensitive construction technologies. PD&R's Affordable Housing Research and Technology Division led the HUD brief.

    US – Israel Research Exchange on Building Technology


  • May 2021

    OECD 29th Meeting of the Working Party on Urban Policy and 44th Meeting of the Regional Development Policy Committee

    From 3-6 May 2021, Deputy Assistant Secretary and OECD Delegate Kurt Usowski, Director Cindy Campbell, and IPAD staff attended the 29th and 44th meetings of the Working Party on Urban Policy and Regional Development Policy Committee respectively. Discussions included the role of national urban policies in advancing COVID-19 recovery and resilience, transitioning to a low-carbon economy in cities, promoting inclusive growth, and driving public sector innovation and data use in cities.

    OECD 29th Meeting of the Working Party on Urban Policy and 44th Meeting of the Regional Development Policy Committee


  • April 2021

    Japan Briefing on Urban Renaissance Agency

    On 27 April 2021, IPAD facilitated a briefing by HUD's Japanese counterparts on their innovative approach to creating, building, and maintaining an affordable housing stock through their Urban Renaissance Agency (UR) – a private corporation, fully funded by the Japanese government. HUD participation included leadership & staff from the Office of the Secretary, the Office of Policy, Programs, and Legislative Initiatives, PIH, CPD, Housing, and PD&R.

    Japan Briefing on Urban Renaissance Agency


  • April 2021

    US-Israel Research Exchange on Principles for Housing Mix

    On 22 April 2021, IPAD facilitated the fourth research exchange meeting between PD&R and our Israeli Counterparts. The fourth meeting was on the topic of principles for housing mix. PD&R's George Carter led the HUD brief with support from Kurt Usowski, Kevin Kane, Barry Steffen, and Adam Bibler.

    US-Israel Research Exchange on Principles for Housing Mix


  • April 2021

    UN Housing2030 – Shaping investment pathways to deliver affordable housing

    On 14 April 2021, IPAD staff attended the final webinar in a four-part series hosted by Housing2030, an initiative of Housing Europe, UN Habitat, and the UNECE. The series presented thematic sections of the forthcoming Housing2030 report set to be released in October 2021. For this final session, Josh Ryan-Collins, co-author of Rethinking the Economics of Land and Housing provided an in-depth history of the macro-economic factors affecting land and thereby housing prices, as well as possible policy alternatives.

    In addition, Professors Michelle Norris and Julie Lawson from the Housing2030 drafting team presented an overview of the report's affordable housing finance toolkit with illustrations of policy implementation in various countries. Representatives from Ireland, France, Denmark, Spain, and Poland also provided information around various affordable housing financing tools utilized in their respective countries.

    UN Housing2030 – Shaping investment pathways to deliver affordable housing


  • April 2021

    OECD Symposium on Systemic Recovery

    From 26-27 April 2021, IPAD staff attended the Fields Institute for Research in Mathematical Sciences' Symposium on Systemic Recovery, held jointly with the OECD. Presentations included the efficacy of lockdowns, global economic-stimulus responses to COVID-19, how to prepare for the next crisis, and inequalities in the post-COVID era.

    OECD Symposium on Systemic Recovery


  • April 2021

    OECD 2nd Pilot Meeting on Multi-level Governance

    Deputy Assistant Secretary and OECD Delegate Kurt Usowski, Director Cindy Campbell, and IPAD staff attended the OECD's 2nd Pilot Meeting on Multi-level Governance on 28 April 2021. The meeting included a presentation on the role of subnational governments in the implementation of vaccination programs, a proposal for a COVID-19 Territorial Recovery Platform, and a review of the OECD's multi-level governance self-assessment tools. Delegate Usowski provided information on the progress of vaccinations in the U.S. regarding the proposed platform, the OECD sought comment on possible metrics and outlined how the platform would initially leverage extant data to provide policymakers with information necessary to address pre-existing territorial inequalities, the unequal impact of COVID-19 on regions, and other local priorities related to fiscal and multi-level governance.

    OECD 2nd Pilot Meeting on Multi-level Governance


  • April 2021

    URBACT SDG Network

    In a series of meetings on 13, 14, and 21 April 2021, URBACT launched its network on localizing the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) known as the Global Goals 4 Cities network. Established in partnership with the Council of European Municipalities and Regions and chaired by Mihhail Kõlvart, Mayor of Tallinn, Estonia, the network will provide a space for the 19 EU cities implementing URBACT's participatory action method to share experiences and best practices and foster the localization of the SDGs.

    URBACT SDG Network


  • March 2021

    HUD's International Role in the 1970s

    While going through an old archive we found this article from May 1971 describing HUD's international role.

    HUD's International Role in the 1970s


  • March 2021

    Philanthropic Efforts in Racial Equity

    In the leadership message, director of PD&R's International and Philanthropic Affairs Division Cynthia Campbell discusses the work that several philanthropic and community foundations have been doing to advance racial equity in the United States. Campbell provides information about major foundations' commitments towards grantmaking projects, fellowship programs, and trust funds, and highlights three community foundations. Read more here: https://www.huduser.gov/portal/pdredge/pdr-edge-frm-asst-sec-040521.html

    Philanthropic Efforts in Racial Equity


  • March 2021

    Peace Corps Week 2021

    Katie Marinari who serves on the Executive Board of RPCVs at HUD, chaired the Peace Corps Week Committee. The Committee coordinated two events to celebrate Peace Corps Week. The first was an agency wide virtual presentation and moderated discussion highlighting RPVCs commitment to public service held on 2 March 2021. The second event was a Coffee Chat with the National Peace Corps Association held for members of RPCVs at HUD held on 3 March 2021.

    IPAD's staff includes two RPCVs – Katie Marinari, RPCV Jamaica 2017-2018 and Aaron Weaver, RPCV Macedonia 2011-2013.

    Peace Corps Week 2021


  • March 2021

    Jamaica Ministry Meeting

    On 9 March 2021, IPAD's Katie Marinari as a State Department Embassy Science Fellow (ESF) met with Jamaica's Minister of Housing, Urban Renewal, Environment And Climate Change, Pearnel Charles Jr., MP. The meeting organized by the State Department was to discuss the specifics of the U.S. Embassy support for the Housing Agency of Jamaica Limited (HAJ) through the ESF program and solicit the Minister's feedback on potential Ministry-level support.

    Jamaica Ministry Meeting


  • March 2021

    US-Israel Research Exchange Project – Urban Regeneration

    IPAD is continuing to work with our Israeli Counterparts in the Israeli Planning Administration and Ministry of Construction and Housing to develop a research partnership. The third exchange took place on 22 March 2021. The topic was on Urban Regeneration. Pamela Blumenthal gave a brief on Opportunity Zones and rezoning for higher density and William Lavy gave a brief on the RAD program.

    US-Israel Research Exchange Project – Urban Regeneration


  • February 2021

    Horizontal Housing Project Steering Group Meeting

    On 5 February 2021, IPAD staff Deputy Assistant Secretary and Delegate Kurt Usowski attended the third meeting of the OECD's Horizontal Housing Project Steering Group. Final comments were gathered from the group on the forthcoming report and Housing Policy Toolkit. Delegate Usowski noted the need to examine housing policy in declining urban areas.

    Horizontal Housing Project Steering Group Meeting


  • February 2021

    OECD Intermediary Cities Project

    On 19 February 2021, Deputy Assistant Secretary and Delegate Kurt Usowski, Director Cindy Campbell, U.S. State Department Mission to the OECD Advisor Gregory Pearman, and IPAD staff met with the Aziza Akhmouch Director of OECD's Division on Cities, Urban Policies and Sustainable Development to discuss RDPC's recent project proposal on intermediary cities and inclusive regional growth. Details of the project timeframe, scope, deliverables, and costs were all discussed.

    OECD Intermediary Cities Project


  • February 2021

    State Department Embassy Science Fellow

    IPAD's Katie Marinari has been selected as a State Department Embassy Science Fellow. She will provide technical support to the Housing Agency of Jamaica (HAJ) in three areas: 1) putting together a legislative package outlining a proposal to allocate budget resources to housing projects; 2) developing an urban regeneration policy that focuses on housing policies and climate resilience in accordance with the SDGs; and 3) housing program design and implementation planning rooted in community engagement and supportive services delivery that will produce sustainable outcomes. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic she will provide the support virtually on a part-time basis. The assignment will take place over the next 90 days.

    State Department Embassy Science Fellow


  • February 2021

    UNECE Housing 2021

    On 23-24 February 2021, Peter Kahn, Cindy Campbell, and Meron Habte attended the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) Regional workshop organized to support the exchange of experiences and good practices to address the undersupply of affordable housing, homelessness, rising urban rents, low quality of housing and urban infrastructure, limited access to land for housing construction and renovation, and mounting urban poverty.

    UNECE Housing 2021


  • February 2021

    US-Japan Aging in Place Mini Virtual Forum

    On 23 February 2021, IPAD facilitated a US-Japan Aging in Place Virtual Forum. Japan briefed on topics of community based elderly support and local community activities in response to COVID-19 to meet the needs of both elderly and non-elderly. HUD gave an update on IWISH and briefed on COVID-19 responses for both elderly and non-elderly including innovative using of CARES Act Funding to meet community needs and hotel conversions to housing. The next forum will be held in June.

    US-Japan Aging in Place Mini Virtual Forum


  • February 2021

    US-Israel City Exchange Project – DC & Jerusalem

    Under our MOU with Israel, IPAD along with our counterparts in the Israeli Planning Administration coordinated to host introductory city-to-city conversations throughout the month of February 2021. On 9 February 2021, Washington, DC and Jerusalem met to discuss topics including unique challenges and opportunities of being a national capital, urban regeneration in terms of density and height restrictions, and balancing historic value with new development.

    US-Israel City Exchange Project – DC & Jerusalem


  • February 2021

    US-Israel City Exchange Project – Miami, Tel Aviv, Eilat, & Nahariya

    Under our MOU with Israel, IPAD along with our counterparts in the Israeli Planning Administration coordinated to host introductory city-to-city conversations throughout the month of February 2021. On 22 February 2021, Miami, Tel Aviv, Eilat, and Nahariya met to discuss topics such as waterfront urban development, tourism-based economy in the COVID era, and climate resilient planning.

    US-Israel City Exchange Project – Miami, Tel Aviv, Eilat, & Nahariya


  • February 2021

    US-Israel City Exchange Project – Philadelphia, Camden, Rishon LeZion, & Herzliya

    Under our MOU with Israel, IPAD along with our counterparts in the Israeli Planning Administration coordinated to host introductory city-to-city conversations throughout the month of February 2021. On 23 February 2021, Philadelphia, Camden, Rishon LeZion, and Herzliya met to discuss topics including integrating transportation planning and urban development and urban regenerations projects along the waterfront.

    US-Israel City Exchange Project – Philadelphia, Camden, Rishon LeZion, & Herzliya


  • February 2021

    US-Israel Research Exchange Project – GIS Mapping

    IPAD is continuing to work with our Israeli Counterparts in the Israeli Planning Administration and Ministry of Construction and Housing to develop a research partnership. The second exchange took place on 18 February 2021. The topic was on GIS and other systems responsible for planning, building, and mapping.

    US-Israel Research Exchange Project – GIS Mapping


  • February 2021

    Community Gardens Can Help Increase Food Security

    In the leadership message, director of PD&R's International and Philanthropic Affairs Division Cynthia Campbell discusses the role that community gardens can play in combating food insecurity, a problem that is on the rise during the COVID-19 pandemic. In her discussion, Campbell highlights several innovative food access programs involving community and home gardens, distribution of or collection from fruit trees, and other direct-production methods of generating fresh food. Read the rest of Cindy Campbell's article here: https://www.huduser.gov/portal/pdredge/pdr-edge-frm-asst-sec-020821.html?WT.mc_id=edge_Feb09&WT.tsrc=Email

    Community Gardens Can Help Increase Food Security


  • January 2021

    US – Israel Research Exchange: Housing Market Data Analysis

    IPAD is continuing to work with our Israeli Counterparts in the Israeli Planning Administration and Ministry of Construction and Housing to develop a research partnership. Over the next few months, IPAD will be facilitating a series of virtual structured exchanges around potential topics. The first exchange took place on 21 January 2021. The topic was on housing market data analysis. Kurt Usowski and his team from the Office of Economic Affairs presented on behalf of HUD.

    US – Israel Research Exchange: Housing Market Data Analysis


  • January 2021

    OECD Champion Mayors for Inclusive Growth

    On 14 January 2021, Deputy Assistant Secretary and OECD Delegate Kurt Usowski, IPAD Director Cindy Campbell, U.S. State Department Mission to the OECD Advisor Gregory Pearman, and IPAD staff met with the Coordinators of OECD's Champion Mayors for Inclusive Growth Initiative. Now in its fifth year, the initiative is seeking to expand and develop a new assessment framework where mayors from across the OECD can share best practices. Areas for future collaboration were discussed.

    OECD Champion Mayors for Inclusive Growth


  • January 2021

    OECD Regional Development Policy Committee Working Parties Meeting

    The Regional Development Policy Committee (RDPC) held a joint informal meeting of the Working Party on Urban Policy, the Working Party on Rural Policy and the Working Party on Territorial indicators on 20 January. Deputy Assistant Secretary and Delegate Kurt Usowski, IPAD Director Cindy Campbell, and IPAD staff were in attendance. The meeting focused on the cross-section of the OECD's Principles for the working parties, with the goal of increasing their use among the cities and regions of member countries and development of a toolkit to facilitate that end.

    OECD Regional Development Policy Committee Working Parties Meeting


  • January 2021

    New Deal for Housing Justice A Housing Playbook for the New Administration

    Community Change, with support from the Ford Foundation, launched the Housing Playbook Project to reimagine the federal response to our nation's current and future housing challenges. New Deal for Housing Justice proposes more than 100 actionable, equitable ideas that can move forward within the first 200 days of the new administration. Read Housing Playbook here: https://communitychange.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/New-Deal-for-Housing-Justice.Policy-Paper.Community-Change.1.2020.pdf

    New Deal for Housing Justice  A Housing Playbook for a New Administration


  • December 2020

    The New Leipzig Charter

    In the leadership message, director of PD&R's International and Philanthropic Affairs Division Cynthia Campbell discusses the recent signing of the New Leipzig Charter by European Union member nations. The first Leipzig Charter was signed in 2007, and its successor, signed this November, focuses on three dimensions: the just, green, and productive city. Campbell further explains her impressions of a session, held during Germany's virtual Urban National Conference, that focused on applying the charter internationally. Read more here: https://www.huduser.gov/portal/pdredge/pdr-edge-frm-asst-sec-121420.html

    The New Leipzig Charter


  • December 2020

    IPAD at German Ministry's Annual Urban Conference

    Cindy Campbell, Director for International and Philanthropic Affairs, virtually attended the German Ministry's annual Urban Conference. She participated in a discussion on the new Leipzig Charter. The conference took place on 2 December 2020.

    IPAD at German Ministry's Annual Urban Conference


  • December 2020

    OECD Webinar on A Territorial Approach to Climate Action & Resilience

    Deputy Assistant Secretary Kurt Usowski, U.S. Delegate to the Working Party on Urban Policy for the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), and IPAD staff attended a December 9th committee meeting. The meeting focused on identifying policy priorities, barriers, and best practices for addressing environmental challenges through a regional lens.



  • December 2020

    OECD 2nd Roundtable on Smart Cities & Inclusive Growth

    On December 3rd, U.S. Delegate Kurt Usowski and IPAD staff attended a meeting of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) on methods to improve the measurement and evaluations of smart city initiative. The roundtable included panelists from the Korean Research Institute for Human Settlements, the Japanese Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, and the Swedish National Strategic Innovation Program for Smart and Sustainable Cities.



  • November 2020

    OECD Policy Brief on Affordable Housing

    U.S. Delegate Kurt Usowski and IPAD staff attended a meeting of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) Working Party on Social Policy to discuss the draft Affordable Housing Policies Brief. The meeting covered impacts of COVID-19 on housing, extant affordability and insecurity gaps and policies to address affordability.



  • November 2020

    Brazilian Delegation Visited the U.S.

    Brazilian Delegation Visited the U.S.

    Cindy Campbell and Mia Bailey worked in partnership with Region IX staff members Cynthia Abbott and Michael Huff to host a Brazilian delegation from the Ministry of Regional Development (MRD). The visit took place on 20 November 2020. The delegation was led by Minister Rogério Simonetti Marinho (Minister of Regional Development of Brazil). The primary focus of the delegation's visit was water infrastructure investments and economic development. The delegation visited several sites in Arizona, Nevada and California. Minister Rogério Simonetti Marinho and his team expressed interest in prefab and public housing. As a result of this interest, IPAD arranged a full day of events that included tours at Hunters Point Housing, Coliseum Connections and Factory OS. Coliseum Connections housing is a prefab multi-family affordable housing complex located in Oakland. Factory OS is a pre-fab housing factory located at Mare Island. Regional Administrator Chris Patterson escorted the group.



  • November 2020

    OECD Working Party on Urban Policy

    OECD Working Party on Urban Policy

    Deputy Assistant Secretary Kurt Usowski, US delegate to the Working Party on Urban Policy, and Cindy Campbell, Director IPAD, attended a meeting of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) on 3 November 2020. The meeting was held virtually. The Working Party on Urban Policy is part of the Regional Development Policy Committee, meetings are held twice a year. The meeting is coordinated through the State Department's US Mission to the OECD.



  • November 2020

    35th session of the U.S. – Israel Joint Economic Development Group

    On 9 November 2020, U.S. and Israeli officials convened for the 35th session of the U.S. – Israel Joint Economic Development Group (JEDG), the annual economic policy dialogue between the two countries. Assistant Secretary Seth Appleton representing HUD, provided a brief overview of HUD's response to COVID-19 and the economic aftermath. As well as provided an update on progress made on HUD's Memorandum of Cooperation with Israel.

    35th session of the U.S. – Israel Joint Economic Development Group


  • October 2020

    UNECE Housing and Land Management Meeting

    UNECE Housing and Land Management Meeting

    Paige Esterkin and Cindy Campbell attended the 81st session of the Committee on Urban Development, Housing and Land Management which will took place from 7-8 October 2020. The meeting discussed the implementation of key international agreements such as the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the New Urban Agenda and the Geneva UN Charter for Sustainable Housing. Paige Esterkin is the UNECE delegate for the Land and Housing Management Committee, replacing Marge Martin. Paige Esterkin was a panelist on a session on improving housing affordability in the UNECE Region.



  • October 2020

    Project HomeKey Discussion with the Barcelona Housing Department

    Project HomeKey Discussion with the Barcelona Housing Department

    On 29 October 2020, Director Cindy Campbell and Program Analyst Aaron Weaver arranged a virtual meeting between representatives of the City of Barcelona Housing Department, California's Department of Housing & Community Development, and the City of San Diego's Housing Commission to discuss Project HomeKey. The California delegation provided a description of the project including challenges surrounding streamlining regulatory processes, interagency and intergovernmental coordination, and site acquisition. The delegation from Barcelona expressed an interest in how land-use issues were addressed as well as acquisition and rehabilitation processes.



  • October 2020

    U.S. and Japan Case Studies: Aging In Place 2020

    Since February 2017, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's (HUD) Office of Policy Development and Research and the Japan Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism's (MLIT) Policy Research Institute, along with the Housing Bureau and Urban Renaissance Agency of Japan (UR), have held numerous joint research meetings focused on Aging in Place (AIP). In June 2017, Secretary Ben Carson of HUD; Minister Keiichi Ishii of MLIT; Maren Kasper, Executive Vice President of Ginnie Mae; and Masahiro Nakajima, President of UR, signed a Memorandum of Cooperation (MOC). The MOC focuses on AIP among elderly citizens in both countries. The aging of the population presents both countries with a significant demographic shift and AIP housing challenges. In the U.S., Naturally Occurring Retirement Communities and Villages are models of actively providing supportive services for the elderly with organized networks of volunteer, corporate, and governmental stakeholders. In Japan, mixed communities with a focus on promoting multi-generational resident communities are models of efficient service delivery to the elderly. As such, the MOC's initial focus on AIP and related housing and urban planning policies is an area of joint research that will benefit both countries.

    https://www.huduser.gov/portal/publications/US-Japan-CaseStudies.html

    U.S. and Japan Case Studies: Aging In Place 2020


  • October 2020

    International Engagement at a Distance: OECD highlight

    In the leadership message, director of PD&R's International and Philanthropic Affairs Division Cynthia Campbell discusses highlights of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development's (OECD) biannual Working Party on Urban Policy meetings. The OECD's primary mission is to promote economic policy and conduct evidence-based research that addresses social, economic, and environmental issues. The OECD and its researchers have posted several studies examining the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and have continued their research in several other disciplines. Read more here: https://www.huduser.gov/portal/pdredge/pdr-edge-frm-asst-sec-101920.html

    International Engagement at a Distance: OECD highlight


  • September 2020

    AHURI/HUD COVID-19 International Housing Policy Roundtable

    On 30 September 2020, HUD & the Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute (AHURI) co-hosted an international policy exchange as the opening of international housing policy dialogue in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. The International Roundtable was framed around the following issues: 1) The impact of COVID-19 in each country; measures to contain the spread, economic responses, and social welfare responses; and 2) Pathways to recovery – key learnings, policy levers. As well as Australian and U.S. delegations, representation included representatives from Austria, Canada, England, Ireland, Japan, New Zealand, Scotland, and Spain to capture diverse approaches to the pandemic and economic recovery.

    AHURI Roundtable


  • September 2020

    Disaster Funders Call

    IPAD facilitated the annual Disaster Funders Call on 30 September 2020 with Janet Golrick, Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary for Grant Programs, Office of Community Development and Planning, and Tennille Smith Parker, Director of Disaster Recovery and Special Issues Division. The call focused on the CDBG-Mitigation Program. As many of the grantees of CDBG-MIT reach the implementation stage, the call provided philanthropy an opportunity to hear more about and discuss HUD's mitigation and resilience work.

    Disaster Funders Call


  • September 2020

    HUG/Wilson Center Joint Research Initiative, Fourth Year

    HUG/Wilson Center Joint Research Initiative, Fourth Year

    HUD has completed their fourth year participating in a research partnership with the Wilson Center and the Korea Housing and Urban Guarantee Corporation on the comparative study of urban regeneration financing in the US and Korea. PD&R's Heidi Joseph and Katie Marinari have completed a case study on the LA Promise Zone. Final reporting on the research took place virtually on 9 September 2020. Also participating in the research partnership were the University of Pennsylvania, who studied the Atlantic Yards/Pacific Park in NYC, and American University, who focused on the District Wharf in DC.



  • August 2020

    Individual Giving and the Pandemic

    Individual Giving and the Pandemic

    In the leadership message, Cynthia Campbell, Director of PD&R's International and Philanthropic Affairs Division discusses how the pandemic could affect the funding of the local organizations that provide additional support to US communities.

    Read Cindy Campbell's article here: https://www.huduser.gov/portal/pdredge/pdr-edge-frm-asst-sec-081720.html



  • July 2020

    2020 Winners of the Secretary's Award for Public-Philanthropic Partnerships

    2020 Winners of the Secretary's Award for Public-Philanthropic Partnerships

    In coordination with the Council on Foundations, HUD announced the 2020 winners of the Secretary's Award for Public-Philanthropic Partnerships. The awards recognize innovative partnerships between foundations and government that have been critical in transforming communities and improving the quality of life for low-and moderate-income residents across the country.

    “We want to commend our award winners for their efforts to show the importance of government and philanthropy partnership,” said Secretary Carson. “Today's announcements of these awards honor the collaborative and unites us all together so that more Americans have the opportunity to be successful.”

    “The recipients of this year's Secretary's Award are stellar examples of the transformational power of strong public-philanthropic partnerships to improve the quality of life for generations of families,” said Kathleen Enright, President and CEO of the Council on Foundations. "The foundations and corporate philanthropies honored today provide insights and ideas for how to effectively respond to our nation's most pressing challenges.”

    This year's awards were presented as part of a ceremony simulcast during a conference call. Awards are given to place-based funders for completed or ongoing initiatives that are executed in partnership with a local, regional, or federal government agency.

    The winners are:


    Sheller Family Foundation
    The Homeless Assistance Fund, Inc.
    Meyer Memorial Trust
    Quicken Loans Community Fund
    The Rockefeller Foundation
    Bernard Project (SBP Long-Term Home Rebuilding)
    MUFG Union Bank Foundation



  • June 2020

    UN Habitat Executive Board Meeting

    UN Habitat Executive Board Meeting

    Cindy Campbell attended the June 29, 2020 UN Habitat Executive Board meeting which was held virtually. She attended along with a State Department delegation that included permanent delegates posted in Nairobi. The meeting centered around reviewing the 2020-2023 Strategic Plan and a review of the UN Habitat budget.



  • June 2020

    White House Opportunity Zone (OZ) Best Practice Report

    White House Opportunity Zone (OZ) Best Practice Report

    The White House Opportunity and Revitalization Council: Best Practices Report was released on 17 June 2020. The report highlights case studies and best practices, capturing the various ways in which OZ stakeholders are working collectively to implement the OZ initiative throughout the country. IPAD's Mia Bailey wrote the section of the report that focuses on the Charitable and Philanthropic Sector.



  • May, June, & July 2020

    Japanese Teleconference on US Zoning and Building Codes

    Japanese Teleconference on US Zoning and Building Codes

    Over a series of teleconferences, IPAD facilitated meetings between PD&R staff and our counterparts at the Japanese Embassy and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism with the International Code Council and the Agricultural Commissioner of Sacramento County, California to discuss zoning and building code policy in the United States, specifically around agricultural use.



  • May 2020

    American Academy of Housing and Communities Meeting

    American Academy of Housing and Communities Meeting

    Assistant Secretary Seth Appleton and Director Cindy Campbell participated in a virtual meeting of the American Academy of Housing and Communities on May 18, 2020. The Assistant Secretary gave an overview of HUD's participation at the World Urban Forum followed by a discussion on the CARES Act and how HUD is assisting communities. Cindy Campbell gave an overview of the international work being done by HUD.



  • April 2020

    AARP FOUNDATION – HUD RESEARCH COLLABORATION

    AARP FOUNDATION – HUD RESEARCH COLLABORATION

    AARP and HUD have a formal Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to partner in research. We have four areas of research that we are currently pursuing: Healthy Aging in Place, Disaster Risk Exposure of Elderly Persons, Shared Housing, and also Accessory Dwelling Units (ADU) and other innovative housing ideas. The collaboration helps both HUD and AARP advance their research in creative housing practices as it relates to the United States' elderly population.

    Shared Housing: HUD continues to collect best practices in the area of shared housing. PD&R's Sean Martin is currently writing a research project on shared housing in the United States that will be published later this year in HUD's Insight publication. This publication will not only have best practices in shared housing matching services, mostly non-profits, but also in the commercial sector. HUD is also in the process of reviewing a notice for Public Housing Authorities that will reiterate the authorized use of HUD vouchers for those that share homes. Vouchers can be used for shared housing, if they are not related. We anticipate final clearance of this notice within the next few months. HUD's lead on the project, Cindy Campbell, and AARP's Stephanie Firestone, continue to work on this project in tandem.

    Disaster Risk Exposure of Elderly Persons: HUD, in partnership with AARP, is working to understand the unique vulnerabilities of elderly populations to natural disasters and to promote strategies to reduce risk in this population. To do this, researchers first scanned literature on the risks of elderly populations in the context of natural hazards. One key and consistent finding that surfaced is that fatalities resulting from direct and indirect causes of disasters are much higher among elderly persons than the general population. To inform local emergency planning on this threat, HUD proposed creating and analyzing new data on elderly risk exposure to two major natural hazards for which risk data is widely available: floods and wildfires. Using a range of data sources, HUD has developed granular geospatial data showing the exposure of elderly households to flood and fire and mapped this data in select regions of the United States. AARP is focused on high-elderly population counties in California, Texas, and Florida. The process of generating the data involved new methods to create detailed maps that would likely be useful to a range of stakeholders. The data for all households has been published on HUD's website here. HUD is finalizing detailed maps, analysis, and a presentation for AARP before sharing with local level affiliates. The ultimate objective of the data analysis is to provide compelling evidence to local advocates, policy makers, and emergency planners, that the exposure of elderly populations to hazard risks warrant careful consideration of this population's needs in order to mitigate the risk they face during severe fires and floods. HUD will then collaborate with AARP to identify risk reduction measures that can be deployed by governments ahead of and during disasters.

    Healthy Aging in Place Working Group: Under the auspices of the research MOU between HUD and AARP and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, (HUD) began collaborating in 2018 on research related to the understanding that housing is a platform not only for financial security and physical security, but also for social connections, wellness, and long-term services and supports. On November 6, 2019, AARP hosted, in partnership with HUD, the Innovation Roundtable entitled Exploring Supportive Housing Solutions that Advance Healthy Aging in Community: Examining the role of affordable rental housing models with supportive services for older adults, bringing stakeholders from the public and private sectors together. The goal of the roundtable was to foster cross-sector engagement to identify potential solutions and opportunities that can address the challenges that housing and other providers are facing as they integrate enhanced supportive services into housing properties to advance health and well-being for low-income adults. Participants at the table represented AARP, health and housing agencies within the federal government, insurers and health systems, various associations in the health and housing sectors, and property owners that provide supportive services on-site. The roundtable generated numerous partnerships and ideas for further research.

    Expanding Accessory Dwelling Units: Accessory dwelling unit (ADU) ordinances are zoning rules allowing single-family dwellings to include an additional housing unit. ADUs can be created in a variety of ways, including converting a portion of an existing house, adding to an existing house, converting an existing garage or constructing an entirely new building. In addition to creating a new unit of affordable rental housing, they can make homeownership more affordable by providing the owner with a source of income. Incentives to provide accessory dwelling units that will be deed-restricted as affordable may be offered, such as property tax limits for the accessory dwelling unit. Currently, there is a lack of comprehensive understanding of the different ordinances around the country. HUD researchers propose to create a comprehensive database of the different ordinances enacted by states and local jurisdictions, quantify barriers to ADU construction, and identify best practices and solutions. Initially the research will focus on ADU ordinance adoptions in naturally occurring retirement communities (NORCs).

  • April 2020

    Philanthropic Response to COVID-19

    Philanthropic Response to COVID-19

    Public charities and private foundations are responding to the unprecedented challenges and circumstances that have emerged from the COVID-19 global pandemic. Prior to the onset of the pandemic, these philanthropic organizations were already deeply rooted in mission critical efforts that improve outcomes for vulnerable populations and address communal needs. Now faced with the heightened vulnerabilities and circumstances that the virus has caused, philanthropies are finding innovative and strategic ways to combine, mobilize and distribute resources in rapid speeds. These resources are designed to address and offer relief in areas such as housing, rental assistance, health, education, lost wages and food security.

    Examples of charitable relief and response efforts include:

    Click here for more information on COVID-19 efforts IPAD is tracking.

  • April 2020

    IPAD's Philanthropic Toolkit Training for HUD Staff

    IPAD's Philanthropic Toolkit Training for HUD Staff

    As government leaders work to address and bring resolve to 21st Century challenges and needs, growing evidence suggests that government alone cannot accomplish these tasks in isolation. As the rippling effects of such challenges and needs impact our world and nation, government leaders have to become more sophisticated in establishing and nurturing public-private partnerships to meet and address these growing needs. The International and Philanthropic Affairs Division (IPAD) of HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research recognizes this and works to establish and nurture such partnerships to advance and accomplish HUD's mission and goals. IPAD developed a Philanthropic Engagement Toolkit designed to educate and help HUD employees grow in their knowledge and skillset in establishing and maintaining key partnerships in an ethical and responsible manner as public servants. The toolkit covers topics such as what is a partnership, partnership models, the basics of philanthropy, and covers the legal and ethical guidelines government employees must adhere to in forming such partnerships. Training opportunities are forthcoming.

  • February 2020

    Japanese Delegation

    Japanese Delegation

    IPAD hosted a group of researchers from Japan on Friday, February 28, 2020. The researchers all work on disaster recovery efforts and were from Meiji, Kyoto, and Senshu Universities. They were interested in learning more about HUD's CDBG-Disaster Recovery efforts, especially the Buy Out Program. Speakers included Todd Richardson, General Deputy Assistant Secretary (PD&R), Mark Shroder, Associate Deputy Assistant Secretary for Research, Evaluation, and Monitoring (PD&R), and Tennille Smith Parker, Director of Disaster Recovery and Special Issues Division (CPD).

  • February 2020

    Tokyo Forum

    Tokyo Forum

    Seth Appleton, Calvin Johnson, Cindy Campbell and James Redfield attended the 6th Aging in Place Forum held in Tokyo from February 25-27, 2020. The team visited social/public housing projects aimed at assisting Japan's aging population. Discussions took place on various aging in place initiatives including how to move forward on the next few years of research. The next Aging in Place Forum will be held in the United States sometime in the fall.

  • February 2020

    World Urban Forum 10 Abu Dhabi, UAE

    World Urban Forum 10 Abu Dhabi, UAE

    By Cindy Campbell, Director of International and Philanthropic Affairs

    HUD sent a very small delegation to the World Urban Forum, held every two years in different locations around the world. Our delegation included Assistant Secretary Seth Appleton, Deputy Chief of Staff John Coalter Baker, Director of HUD's International Division Cindy Campbell and Program Analyst Katie Marinari. Over 13,000 people from 168 countries participated in the 10th World Urban Forum (WUF10) in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, February 8 –13, 2020. Policy makers, academics, business and community leaders, artists, and urban planners engaged on a wide range of issues at this year's event. The theme this year was: Cities of Opportunities: Connecting Culture and Innovation. A non-binding declaration of voluntary actions and commitments for the next two years was released on the last day of WUF10, reiterating the shared aspirational goals to promote urban resilience, to review progress made in the implementation of the New Urban Agenda, and to advance people centered policy outcomes.

    The World Urban Forum gives participants a chance to meet each other and share valuable insight into pressing urban issues. While we were there, we had the chance to have bilateral meetings with several Ministry counterparts including Mr. Takuya Kurita, Vice Minister for Land, Infrastructure, Transport, and Tourism, Japan. We also met with the Director of Urban Policy Division, Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport, Korea.

    We had the opportunity to hear a brief from the Minister of Housing & Land Use Planning, Republic of Mauritius during the Minister's Roundtable. He noted that his small island nation has an 89% home ownership rate. We met with him after the roundtable to discuss this further and to perhaps share research in the future. It will be interesting to see how his country is able to use public private partnerships to achieve such a high level of home ownership.

    Our team was able to visit the offices of the Abu Dhabi Housing Authority. They gave us an overview of housing in Abu Dhabi which was fascinating. Most Emirate citizens get very generous subsidies for single family homes, which average five bedrooms and include a generous amount of living space. We received a brief on a new housing project located within walking distance of a beach. The planners took into consideration community needs such as incorporating schools, a mosque, playground and other amenities.

    The HUD delegation also had the opportunity to participate in a site visit to Masdar City, an intentionally planned sustainable urban community. Masdar City was built with the goal to be carbon neutral. The City relies on solar energy and strives towards water efficiency. There is also an emphasis on public transport, biking, and walkability. The community is a mixed-use development and includes the headquarters of the International Renewable Energy Agency, the Masdar Institute of Science and Technology, office space, incubator space for small start-ups, and a residential neighborhood with restaurants, shopping, and public parks.

    We also participated in high-level roundtables, side events, and networking events, which provided opportunities to share the work of HUD and to learn from other countries' approaches, policies, and programs. Seth Appleton was a panelist on the American Institute of Architects sponsored event entitled “AIA/HUD Secretary Awards: Housing and Community Development Strategies.” He gave an overview of this year's awardees. IPAD's Katherine Marinari was a panelist on the Wilson Center and Korea Housing and Urban Guarantee Corp co-sponsored event on “Innovative Partnerships and Financing for Urban Regeneration.” She discussed the Choice Neighborhoods program and utilization of innovative public private partnerships.

    The largest attended roundtable was the Minister's Roundtable. This was a gathering of senior leadership from around the world offering their insight into their country's current housing and urban policies. Seth Appleton highlighted our commitment to programs and policies that empower people to build self-reliance, that localize approaches by leveraging private-sector partnerships, that support sustainable homeownership, and that encourage affordable housing investments. He also detailed how President Trump's flagship initiative, Opportunity Zones, has helped to encourage long-term investment in economically distressed communities.

    Overall, this was a great opportunity to represent the United States and share HUD's policies and initiatives.



  • February 2020

    Assistant Secretary Seth Appleton Panelist at WUF

    Assistant Secretary Seth Appleton Panelist at WUF

    During the World Urban Forum, Assistant Secretary Seth Appleton was a panelist on the American Institute of Architects sponsored event entitled “AIA/HUD Secretary Awards: Housing and Community Development Strategies.” The Assistant Secretary discussed the established goals of the AIA/HUD awards and gave an overview of the 2019 awardees.

  • February 2020

    IPAD's Katie Marinari Panelist at WUF

    IPAD's Katherine Marinari Panelist at WUF

    During the World Urban Forum, IPAD's Katherine Marinari was a panelist on the Wilson Center and Korea Housing and Urban Guarantee Corp co-sponsored event on “Innovative Partnerships and Financing for Urban Regeneration.” She discussed the Choice Neighborhoods program and utilization of innovative public private partnerships.

  • February 2020

    Abu Dhabi Housing Authority

    Abu Dhabi Housing Authority

    While in Abu Dhabi for the World Urban Forum, Assistant Secretary Seth Appleton and the HUD delegation met with the Abu Dhabi Housing Authority including H.E. Khalifa Khadem Al Hemeiri, Executive Director, Policy Development & Strategic Planning Sector to discuss innovative housing projects and policies for Emirati citizens.

  • February 2020

    IVLP Albanian Delegation

    IVLP Albanian Delegation

    On February 12, 2020, a delegation from Albania visited HUD through the Department of State's International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP). The group spoke with Gayela Bynum from the Faith and Opportunity Initiative Office regarding the work HUD is doing around human trafficking. She spoke about the White House Summit on Human Trafficking that occurred on January 31, 2019 along with various programs in the area.

  • February 2020

    A Memorandum of Understanding between HUD and Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Housing

    A Memorandum of Understanding between HUD and Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Housing

    On February 6, 2020, Assistant Secretary Seth Appleton, Deputy Chief of Staff Coalter Baker, and Director Cindy Campbell traveled to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, to sign an official Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Saudi Ministry of Housing and HUD. The next steps in the MOU will be to invite the Saudi Ministry of Housing counterparts to the United States to learn more about HUD's housing programs and to give them a more in-depth overview of HUD's government-backed mortgage programs.

    Read more here: https://www.huduser.gov/portal/pdredge/pdr-edge-frm-asst-sec-030920.html



  • January 2020

    HUG/Wilson Center Joint Research Initiative

    HUG/Wilson Center Joint Research Initiative

    HUD is participating in a new research partnership with the Wilson Center and the Korea Housing and Urban Guarantee Corporation on the comparative study of urban regeneration financing in the US and Korea. PD&R's Heidi Joseph and Katherine Marinari will do a research case study on the LA Promise Zone. The interim report will be held virtually at the end of May 2020, with final reporting at the end of August. The University of Pennsylvania studying the Atlantic Yards in NYC and American University focusing on the District Wharf in DC are also participating in the research partnership.

  • January 2020

    Japanese Aging in Place Research Project Delegation Visit

    Japanese Aging in Place Research Project Delegation Visit

    HUD hosted a Japanese delegation visit from January 27-31, 2020. The delegation consisted of the Director of the Policy Research Institute for Land, Infrastructure, Transport, and Tourism and his colleague. HUD has a MOU with Japan focused on Aging in Place. Japan's Policy Research Institute is conducting a research project on programs for supporting aging in place. IPAD, along with the NY Regional Office and the DC Field Office, facilitated the delegation's visit to DC & NYC, which included site visits to supportive service providers, meetings with the local government officials, tours of Section 202 housing, and meetings with HUD leadership.

  • January 2020

    Academy Fellow Luncheon

    Academy Fellow Luncheon

    On January 9, 2020, the National Academy of Housing and Sustainable Communities hosted an international gathering luncheon to prepare for the World Urban Forum. As the head of the US delegation to the World Urban Forum, Assistant Secretary Seth Appleton was featured as the guest speaker. The purpose of this luncheon was to provide an overview of HUD's current priorities and initiatives and served as an opportunity to hold a dialogue with Academy Fellows to exchange ideas on urbanization, its significance for U.S. foreign and domestic policy priorities, and the strategic role of cities in solving global challenges.

    Director Cindy Campbell gave an overview of HUD's international work and participation in the World Urban Forum. Assistant Secretary Seth Appleton then gave an informative overview of HUD's current priorities and initiatives. Judith Hermanson, President and CEO, IHC Global and Jane Katz, Director of International Affairs and Programs, Habitat for Humanity International followed with responses of US Civil Society's priorities and initiatives. The luncheon ended with an official presentation of Owls and recognition of the presenters as Academy Fellows.



  • January 2020

    Scaling Solutions II

    Scaling Solutions II

    Scaling Solutions II was written by PD&R to highlight the various partnerships that have received the Secretary's Award for Public-Philanthropic Partnerships over the last eight years. The report highlights the strategies used by each partnership to increase the quality of life for low- and moderate-income residents. The report further describes the importance of successful partnerships and local solutions as they were implemented by the Gulf Foundation, HOPE SF Foundation, City Alive Foundation, the Legacy Foundation, the Community Foundation of the New River Valley, the Skillman Foundation, the Seattle Foundation, and the Greater Kanawha Valley Foundation.

    https://www.huduser.gov/portal/sites/default/files/pdf/Scaling-Solutions-II.pdf



  • December 2019

    IPAD's Meron Habte's USAID Ethiopia Mission Rotation

    IPAD's Meron Habte's USAID Ethiopia Mission Rotation

    In June 2019, IPAD's Meron Habte was fortunate enough to begin her rotation with USAID Ethiopia. She spent six months in the capital, Addis Ababa working on various lines of efforts. She was able to support the team with election programing, conflict, rule of law, and designing a youth project. Meron attended various bilateral meetings with the UN, EU, DFID, and various other governmental and non-governmental entities.

    However, her favorite part of the rotation was supporting the education team design the youth project. The youth make up the majority of Ethiopia; therefore, designing a project to support them was a huge undertaking. The project was supposed to encompass civics, health, employment, and empowerment. As such, they spent hours trying to tackle the many challenges the youth of Ethiopia face today.

    Meron was able to utilize what she had learned in the U.S. about education, civic engagement, community engagement, advocacy, and resource mobilization to support the team.

    Overall, Meron's experience in Ethiopia was invaluable. She was able to learn hands on about international development from foreign service officers that have been supporting developing countries carry on their journey to self-reliance.



  • December 2019

    A Joint Declaration of Intent between HUD & Germany's Ministry of the Interior, Building, and Community

    A Joint Declaration of Intent between HUD & Germany's Ministry of the Interior, Building, and Community

    Assistant Secretary Seth Appleton and the German Embassy's Envoy signed a Joint Declaration of Intent (Germany's version of an MOU) between the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development's Office of Policy Development and Research and the German Federal Ministry of the Interior, Building, and Community (BMI) on December 13, 2019. Following the document signing, several staff from IPAD met with Dr. Oliver Weigel from the Federal Ministry of the Interior, Building and Community and Dr. Tina Silbernagl from the German Development Agency for a meeting with the German Marshall Fund to discuss a joint project for 2020.

  • December 2019

    Korean Delegation

    Korean Delegation

    HUD hosted a senior Korean delegation on December 3, 2019. The senior person was Hyungwoo Chung the Vice President of the Presidential Committee for Job Creation. The Korean Presidential Committee on Jobs is preparing to introduce a "socially appropriate wage system" which is intended to be applied to public construction projects. Korea is planning to legislate the wage system with the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, the Ministry of Employment and Labor, and the Ministry of Strategy and Finance in 2020. The delegation met with HUD to learn more about how the U.S. manages labor issues in government supported construction projects. The Office of Davis Bacon and Labor Standards provided an overview of their work and PD&R gave an overview of LIHTC and Opportunity Zones.

  • November 2019

    UN Habitat Executive Board Meeting

    UN Habitat Executive Board Meeting

    IPAD assisted the State Department in preparing for the first UN Habitat Executive Board meeting which was held on November 19-20, 2019. The United States is the current chair of the Executive Board. The new UN Habitat Strategic Plan was reviewed along with progress on several resolutions passed during the General Assembly meeting held earlier this year. Cindy Campbell attended the Executive Board meeting along with representatives from State Department and the US Mission in Nairobi.

  • November 2019

    Korean Delegation

    Korean Delegation

    HUD hosted a five-person Korean delegation of researchers from Korea Land & Housing, a Public Enterprise by Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport in Korea on November 19, 2019. The Korean researchers are creating a government project to develop a housing market model. The discussion was on how PD&R's Economic and Market Analysis Division processes and analyzes data.

  • November 2019

    Italian Delegation

    Italian Delegation

    IPAD provided an overview brief for an Italian delegation visiting Washington DC on November 1, 2019. The group is part of the U.S. Italy Resilience to Natural Disasters and Cultural Heritage Working Group under the framework of the U.S. Italy Science and Technology Agreement through the State Department.

  • October 2019

    German Delegation

    German Delegation

    Assistant Secretary Seth Appleton and several staff from IPAD met with Dr. Oliver Weigel from the Federal Ministry of the Interior, Building and Community and Dr. Tina Silbernagl from the German Development Agency for a discussion on a revised Memorandum of Understanding with our German counterparts. The visit which took place on October 31-November 1, 2019 included meetings with the German Marshall Fund and a site visit to public housing.

  • October 2019

    Sustainable Cities Delegation Visit from Africa

    Sustainable Cities Delegation Visit from Africa

    The Institute of International Education (IIE) organized an U.S. Department of State's International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) entitled “Sustainable Cities,” a Regional Project for Africa. IPAD delivered on a HUD overview presentation to the 15-member delegation, each from a different country. The delegation's interests were on the initiatives that HUD offers to provide affordable housing, suitable living and expand economic opportunities for low- and moderate-income residents.

  • October 2019

    UK Lord Wei Visit

    The Lord Wei met with David Woll, Kurt Usowski and other PD&R staff on October 9, 2019. The United Kingdom Embassy requested this meeting. The Lord Wei requested information about US policy on how to address affordable housing as well as innovate approaches to shared spaces, land use, and the role of technology to unlock innovation.


  • September 2019

    The European Responsible Housing Awards 2019

    I recently read this year's European Responsible Housing Awards 2019 Handbook, which highlights best practices in housing throughout the European Union. The competition is run through the European Federation of Public, Cooperative & Social Housing, or Housing Europe, which is a network of 45 national and regional federations that includes 43,000 housing providers in 24 countries. Housing Europe's members manage more than 26 million homes, including social/public housing units, which make up roughly 11 percent of Europe's housing stock.

    Read the rest of the article here.


  • September 2019

    International Collaboration on Housing Affordability Research

    Over my two decades with HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research (PD&R), opportunities for international travel have been scarce. This year brought a welcome exception when organizers of the Penn/Oxford Symposium on Housing Affordability in the Advanced Economies accepted my proposal to present recent in-house research. The paper examined three alternative methods for measuring household-level housing affordability problems that we validated by estimating their association with food insecurity.

    Read the rest of the article here.


  • September 2019

    Opportunity Zone Philanthropy Roundtable

    Opportunity Zone Philanthropy Roundtable

    HUD hosted a Philanthropic Roundtable on Effectively Developing Strategies on Opportunity Zones. The roundtable was held on September 10, 2019, to solicit feedback on how best to stimulate the economic development of urban and economically distressed areas, including qualified opportunity zones economic development organizations to further the Opportunity Zones efforts. This roundtable was in consultation with key philanthropic stakeholders to highlight existing efforts to advance the success of Opportunity Zones.


  • September 2019

    Funders Call on Disaster Recovery

    Funders Call on Disaster Recovery
    Photo by Denniz Futalan

    IPAD hosted a Funders Call on Disaster Recover with David Woll, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Community Planning and Development and Tennille Smith Parker, Director of Disaster Recovery and Special Issues Division. HUD has issued the Mitigation Federal Register Notice. This call discussed the Notice and the CDBG-DR process including opportunities for engagement. The call was held on Monday, September 9. Over twenty funders were on the call.


  • September 2019

    Tokyo Metropolitan Government Delegation

    HUD hosted a six-person Japanese delegation from the Office for Housing Policy, Tokyo Metropolitan Government on September 26. The purpose of the visit was to learn more about U.S. housing policy and potentially utilize it for future policy planning. The discussion was on affordable housing in general, senior housing, and disaster recovery efforts at HUD, and represented by PD&R and Office of Housing.

  • August 2019

    Silicon Valley Community Foundation Visit

    Silicon Valley Community Foundation Visit

    Silicon Valley Community Foundation meeting to discuss Opportunity Zone engagement meeting held on 12 August 2019. Region Administrator Chris Patterson, Cindy Campbell, Erich Yost and Michael Huff met with Nicole Taylor, President and Gina Dalma, Senior Vice President of the Silicon Valley Community Foundation. Other Bay Area foundations attended including San Francisco Foundation, East Bay Community Foundation, McConnell Foundation and the Heising Simmons Foundation.


  • August 2019

    U.S. Department of State's International Visitor Leadership Program Delegation from Pakistan

    A delegation from Pakistan consisting of 10 participants involved in a project titled “Responsible Municipal Management: Creating Resilient and Innovative Cities of the Future.” Various federal agencies including HUD, DOT, and EPA participated in a roundtable discussion with the delegation regarding federal support for sustainable and resilient cities.


  • July 2019

    United Nations High Level Political Forum

    United Nations High Level Political Forum

    IPAD assisted the State Department in preparation for the HLPF held 5-16 July 2019 in New York. IPAD participated in several side events that were focused on housing and urban development issues. Marge Martin, Cindy Campbell, and Katie Marinari participated in the Philanthropy & the SDGs Special Event. Cindy Campbell was asked to play a lead discussant role during the Q&A at the event and questioned the panel how philanthropy and governments can better engage with one another.

    The team also met with leadership from the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA) to discuss HUD's research and programs on homelessness. The 58th Session of the Commission for Social Development will take place in February 2020, at the United Nations Headquarters in New York. The Commission is the advisory body to UN DESA responsible for the social development pillar of global development. The priority theme will be, “Affordable housing and social protection systems for all to address homelessness.” This meeting was to help inform research on best practices in addressing homelessness. IPAD will continue to follow up with UN DESA, State Department's US Mission to the UN and with the State Department International Organization office on this ongoing project.


  • July 2019

    Building Resilience through Public-Private Partnerships

    Building Resilience through Public-Private Partnerships

    The 8th annual Chamber of Commerce Foundation's conference held 23-24 July, focused on the collaboration required among private, public, and nonprofit sectors to help mitigate the effects of natural and human-made disasters. This year's conference, hosted by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation with support from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Department of Homeland Security (DHS), and U.S. Northern Command, focused on a community's ability to be resilient and the role all sectors can play in carrying that out.

    On 23 July, Christopher Bourne, Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Office of Innovation presented in a panel on “Rethinking Resilience Across Infrastructure.” The panel focused on rethinking and investing in the materials used in buildings and infrastructure that can protect against water damage and other natural hazards. The discussion covered how innovators are creating exciting new technologies and supplies to help rethink resiliency in homes and across the communities. Chris discussed HUD's new Office of Innovation and its focus on housing affordability and resiliency. He highlighted the Innovative Housing Showcase and sharing best practices through reports and case studies such as Building Even Better Homes report and the Durability by Design 2nd Edition.

    On 24 July, Stan Gimont, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Grant Programs, presented in a panel on “Utilizing Federal Resources.” The panel focused on services and resources that exist in federal departments other than FEMA who provide support before, during, and after a disaster. The discussion covered how to best utilize the services of the federal departments. Stan discussed HUD's Immediate Housing ESF under the disaster recovery framework along with the CDBG-DR program.


  • July 2019

    U.S. Department of State's International Visitor Leadership Program Delegation from Pakistan

    A delegation from Pakistan consisting of 10 participants involved in a project titled “Responsible Municipal Management: Creating Resilient and Innovative Cities of the Future.” Various federal agencies including HUD, DOT, and EPA participated in a roundtable discussion with the delegation regarding federal support for sustainable and resilient cities.


  • July 2019

    U.S. Department of State's International Visitor Leadership Program Delegation from Germany

    A delegation from Germany visited HUD, specifically meeting with CPD and PD&R, on 16 July 2019. The delegation consisted of two mayors from City of Schomelln and Neubrandenburg. The mayors were interested in learning about innovated policy approaches and initiatives at the federal levels that address common issues that face communities, especially smaller towns and cities in the U.S. They were interested in initiatives that make more strategic and effective investments in urban development, building smarter infrastructure, building more diverse economies and inclusive communities.


  • June 2019

    US-Japan Aging in Place Forum in Los Angeles

    US-Japan Aging in Place Forum in Los Angeles

    HUD hosted a delegation of eight Japanese senior officials from our HUD counterpart, MLIT, and from the Urban Renaissance Agency in Los Angeles from the 23rd to 28th of June 2019. LA Field Staff supported and attended the Forum. The Forum focused on site visits and in conference sessions to further discuss the four US and four Japanese case studies and next steps in research. The Aging in Place Research team has completed four US case studies and four Japanese case studies. These will be posted on the Japanese Ministry web site and our web site once we have final clearance. The US case studies are currently being translated. Below are the case studies:

    US Case Studies

    • Volunteerism in the United States
    • Accessible housing and technology research and demonstration grant program
    • Naturally occurring retirement communities and senior villages
    • Integrated wellness in supportive housing

    Japanese Case Studies

    • Voluntary and active development of community by neighborhood
    • Daily living support services in collaboration with private companies
    • Management of residential areas by private entities
    • Creation of regional medical and welfare service hubs


  • June 2019

    United Kingdom Research Meeting

    A parliamentary advisor for the Policy Research Unit, which is a not-for-profit company based in the UK Parliament, met with PD&R researchers who focus on welfare-to-work on 11 June 2019. The advisor's research is mainly focused on the changes made to work requirements and employment services at the federal and state level since the 1990s through to the present day and where this debate might be heading in the future.


  • June 2019

    Romania Delegation Meeting with Secretary Carson

    Secretary Carson met with Ben-Oni Ardelean, Vice-President of the National Liberal Party, a conservative party of Romania on 10 June 2019. Ardelean also serves as the Deputy Chairman of the Committee for Foreign Policy. He is a Member of the Chamber of Deputies.


  • May 2019

    USVI Philanthropy Forum

    The US Virgin Islands convening with HUD and FEMA for philanthropy was held 21-21 May 2019 at the Nissan Training Facility in St. Croix, USVI. The event was co-hosted by HUD and FEMA to update philanthropy on disaster recovery and resilience efforts in USVI. Highlights of the Territory's Recovery Plan, the Value of Public-Philanthropic Partnerships, the Role of Local Foundations in Long-term Recovery, and Non-profits and Recovery Implementation were discussed. The Council on Foundations and local USVI community foundations actively participated in the coordination of the event.


  • May 2019

    OECD Cooperation Meetings

    Alastair MacFarlane, Director of the Public Finance and Regulatory Analysis Division of the Office of Policy Development and Research in the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, met with representatives from OECD's Economics and Employment, Labor, and Social Affairs Directorates to share his agency's priorities for OECD work under the Housing Horizon Project. HUD could benefit from OECD cross-country research, MacFarlane said, on ways to expand the supply of housing for low-income residents; on the factors that make for risky mortgages in certain situations (such as for low-income borrowers); and on the effects of segregation in housing. MacFarlane also offered suggestions to improve ECO research on housing and wealth, noting that it would be useful to explore the factors that allow homeowners to build wealth, as well as on the range of user costs associated with renting. OECD staff thanked MacFarlane for his engagement and expressed interest in working with him to plan and develop their deliverables under the Housing Horizon Project going forward.


  • May 2019

    International Visitor Leadership Program

    IPAD hosed the U.S. Department of State's International Visitor Program delegation on the topic of “Sustainable Cities.” The delegation included 24 high-level representatives from countries including Argentina, Brazil, Germany, India, Israel, Nepal, and Tunisia. IPAD facilitated a knowledge exchange between the delegation and HUD senior staff to discuss diverse initiatives to provide affordable housing, suitable living environments, and expand economic opportunities for low- and moderate-income residents.


  • May 2019

    The First General Assembly of UN Habitat

    The First General Assembly of UN Habitat
    From left to right: Kevin Nelson, USAID; Cynthia Campbell, HUD; Niels Von Dueten, State Department;

    I (Cynthia Campbell, Director, International and Philanthropic Affairs Office of Policy Development & Research) represented HUD as part of a United States/State Department delegation to the First General Assembly of UN Habitat. This first session of the UN Habitat Assembly was held from 27 May to 31 May 2019, at the headquarters of UN Habitat in Nairobi. The special theme for the UN Habitat Assembly was “Innovation for Better Quality of Life in Cities and Communities”. UN Habitat is the urban arm of the United Nations. Their goal is to work on issues involving human settlements and sustainable urban development, in particular working towards adequate shelter for all and the development of sustainable human settlements in an urbanizing world. This branch of the United Nations was established in 1978 as an outcome of the First UN Conference on Human Settlements and Sustainable Urban Development (Habitat I) held in Vancouver, Canada, in 1976. The Habitat conferences are held every 20 years, the last one, Habitat III, was held in Quito, Ecuador and was attended by former HUD Secretary Castro. Every other year UN Habitat hosts the World Urban Forum. The last one was held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia in February 2018. Former Assistant Secretary Neal Rackleff, COO Ralph Gaines and I attended this meeting on behalf of HUD along with State Department officials.

    This was a widely attended General Assembly with delegations from 127 countries, including four Heads of State and Government and 49 Ministers. Over a third of the more than 2,900 delegates attending came from national governments. This meeting focused on several resolutions that will guide the mission of UN Habitat over the next few years. I was part of the United States negotiation team that worked in the draft committee as we reviewed the resolutions for alignment with US policy and objectives. A few of the resolutions included:

    - safer cities and human settlements;
    - capacity building for the implementation of the New Urban Agenda and the urban dimension of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development;
    - gender equality to support inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable cities and human settlements;
    - enhancing urban-rural linkages for sustainable urbanization.

    It was an interesting experience to part of a high-level negotiation team. The mission of UN Habitat is noble, they are working hard to eliminate slums around the world, mostly in the global south. I was the lead negotiator for several of the resolutions. This required me to be sitting in the United States seat as the lead negotiator. This can be a very tense experience as we are negotiating terms with dozens of other member states in the draft committee. Negotiations do not stop until they are resolved, on one evening we ended negotiations at midnight.

    While I was in Kenya, I had the opportunity to see one of the world's largest informal settlements, Kibera. Kibera is located on the outskirts of downtown Nairobi. The official Kenya Population and Housing census states that over 170,000 people in this the informal settlement. Other sources state that it is well over 500,000 and upwards to 1,000,000. Most residents of this slum earn less than $1.00 day. There are few schools and most cannot afford to send their children to secondary education. There are issues with clean water and diseases associated with living in these conditions are rampant. In fact, in 2018, there was an outbreak of polio. Following discovery of polio in sewage samples, the nation embarked on a massive vaccination campaign that seems to have eradicated the problem.

    The United Nations compound is located outside of the city of Nairobi in an affluent suburb. There is a stark contrast of wealth and poverty in Nairobi. Those that are of means live in gated communities and heavily fortified compounds with high walls and barbed wire fencing. My hotel had two perimeters of security, including two separate gates to enter guarded at all times. Electric fencing surrounded the entire hotel compound. To get into the lobby of the hotel, I had to go through a full airport type screening including my luggage. At all times I was aware that I was not in a country where I could move around freely. In January 2019, terrorists attacked a hotel complex located in the Westland area of Nairobi, 21 people were killed.

    I also had a chance to have a meeting inside of our US Embassy, which is located across from the United Nations compound. The previous US Embassy in Nairobi was attacked by terrorists using a truck bomb on August 7, 1998. Suicide bombers in trucks filled with explosives detonated outside the Embassy in Nairobi, and also the Embassy in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Two hundred and thirteen people were killed in Nairobi, most were Kenyans located outside of the Embassy, 12 Americans were killed in the Embassy. Following this, the Embassy was moved from downtown Nairobi to a northern suburb, now located across from the UN compound. There is a memorial at the former location in downtown Nairobi. It is a stark reminder of the danger that our State Department foreign service officers bear in order to serve our nation abroad.

    My experience as part of the negotiation team for the United States was very positive. The delegates that attended this conference were dedicated to making the world a better place through better policy and practice. It was heartwarming to see the enthusiasm and dedication from my fellow ministry counterparts.


  • May 2019

    IVLP Delegation on “Sustainable Cities”

    IVLP Delegation on “Sustainable Cities”

    On May 8th, 2019, IPAD hosted the U.S. Department of State's International Visitor Program delegation on the topic of “Sustainable Cities.” The delegation included 24 high-level representatives from countries including Argentina, Brazil, Germany, India, Israel, Nepal, and Tunisia. IPAD facilitated a knowledge exchange between the delegation and HUD senior staff to discuss diverse initiatives to provide affordable housing, suitable living environments and expand economic opportunities for low and moderate income residents.

    PD&R's Luis Borray, Architect, and Jagruti Rekhi, Social Science Analyst, presented on exploring best practices in environmentally sound creative urban planning and the design and maintenance of infrastructure systems in urban areas. CPD's Tennille Parker, Director of Disaster Recovery and Special Issues Division, spoke on examining the effect of natural and human made disasters on cities. PD&R's Cindy Campbell, Director of International and Philanthropic Affairs Division, discussed methods of collaboration among national and international specialists as a means of furthering the resiliency of cities.


  • May 2019

    PD&R present research at the American Association for Public Opinion Research (AAPOR) Annual Meeting in Toronto, Ontario, Canada

    A presentation “Developing a Standard Measurement of Housing Insecurity in Surveys” that George Carter and Nicole Watson of the Office of Policy Development and Research co-authored with Matt Virgile, Dave Tuttle, and Jessica Graber of Census will be presented the American Association for Public Opinion Research (AAPOR) Annual Meeting in Toronto, Ontario, Canada on May 18, 2019. “Housing Insecurity” is a concept used by researchers and policymakers that has not been measured in one consistent way throughout the research literature There is currently no comprehensive transferable instrument for measuring housing insecurity at the national level. The lack of a comprehensive consensus measure makes it challenging to track prevalence of housing insecurity from year to year and to examine its relation to health, education, employment, and criminal justice outcomes. For this reason, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development identified the development of a housing insecurity module as a research priority. The goal of developing the housing insecurity module is to construct a standardized series of questions to measure the continuum of housing insecurity. As part of this research, the U.S. Census Bureau conducted cognitive pretesting in 2018 on a new housing insecurity module developed by HUD, which will be administered to low-income households as a follow-up to the core 2019 American Housing Survey (AHS). Questions in the Housing Insecurity Research Module address three primary elements of housing insecurity: “Affordability,” “Stable Occupancy,” and “Decent and Safe.” We discuss findings about question difficulty and sensitivity from cognitive pretesting and revised or reordered question wordings that will be administered in the 2019 AHS based on our findings. We also discuss next steps in the scale development process of the housing insecurity research module, which will be based on data from the 2019 survey production.

    PD&R present research at the American Association for Public Opinion Research (AAPOR) Annual Meeting in Toronto, Ontario, Canada
    George Carter, HUD, on the left and co-author, Matt Virgile, U.S. Census Bureau, on the right

  • May 2019

    HUD Secretary's Award for Public-Philanthropic Partnerships

    HUD Secretary's Award for Public-Philanthropic Partnerships

    The Council on Foundations and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) are pleased to announce the winners of the 2019 HUD Secretary's Award for Public-Philanthropic Partnerships:

    California Community Foundation
    Citi Foundation
    Community Foundation of Utah
    Greater Minnesota Housing Fund
    The Home Partnership Foundation
    Medtronic Foundation
    National Church Residences Foundation
    Parkersburg Area Community Foundation
    Puerto Rico Community Foundation
    The Cleveland Foundation

    The winners were honored at a special presentation during the Council's Leading Together 2019 conference.

    This award, now in its seventh year, emphasizes cross-sector partnerships between the philanthropic and public sectors. The goal is to recognize the partnership process and its impact as a community strategy to increase the quality of life for low- and moderate-income residents across all American geographies—urban, suburban, and rural.


  • May 2019

    The Hotel Oakland Village Supports Aging in Place

    The Hotel Oakland Village Supports Aging in Place

    In the leadership message, director of PD&R's International and Philanthropic Affairs Division Cynthia Campbell recounts her recent visit with Deputy Assistant Secretary Calvin Johnson to the Hotel Oakland Village in Oakland, California. Originally constructed in 1912, the development was converted into a 400-unit affordable senior housing development in 1979. Campbell discusses the project's use of the Village model of senior living, which promotes resident health and wellbeing through social engagement.

    Read the rest of Cindy Campbell's article here:https://www.huduser.gov/portal/pdredge/pdr-edge-frm-asst-sec-051319.html


  • April 2019

    Egypt International Visitors Leadership Program Delegation Visit

    A group of delegates from Egypt focused on Community Revitalization and Urban Renewal visited HUD staff on 9 April 2019. This delegation visited under the auspices of the Department of State's International Visitor Leadership Program. The Institute of International Education arranged their program.


  • April 2019

    United Kingdom Housing Policy Advisor Visit

    A parliamentary advisor on housing, communities, and local government issues at the Policy Research Unit in the House of Commons met with representatives from PD&R and CPD on 10 April 2019. The advisor's research currently focuses on house-building finance initiatives, homelessness reduction pilots, and legislation to improve consumer redress in the rented and leasehold sectors. The advisor's work involves preparing policy and debate briefings on housing policy for Conservative Members of Parliament.


  • April 2019

    Opportunity Zones: Request for Information (RFI)

    Opportunity Zones: Request for Information (RFI)
    Opportunity Zones: Request for Information (RFI)

    HUD has published a Request for Information (RFI) for Opportunity Zones on April 17, 2019, in the Federal Register. HUD is seeking to hear from stakeholders about how we can leverage the tools HUD has to maximize the positive impact of Opportunity Zones. Created by the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, Opportunity Zones are distressed communities that provide tax benefits to investors who make new investments in the Zones. You can see the RFI here: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2019/04/17/2019-07682/review-of-hud-policy-in-opportunity-zones


  • April 2019

    United Kingdom Housing Policy Advisor Visit

    United Kingdom Housing Policy Advisor Visit
    United Kingdom Housing Policy Advisor Visit

    Egypt International Visitors Leadership Program Delegation Visit: A group of delegates from Egypt focused on Community Revitalization and Urban Renewal visited HUD staff on 9 April 2019. This delegation visited under the auspices of the Department of State's International Visitor Leadership Program. The Institute of International Education arranged their program.


  • April 2019

    Egypt International Visitors Leadership Program Delegation Visit

    Egypt Delegation Visit
    Egypt Delegation Visit

    Egypt International Visitors Leadership Program Delegation Visit: A group of delegates from Egypt focused on Community Revitalization and Urban Renewal visited HUD staff on 9 April 2019. This delegation visited under the auspices of the Department of State's International Visitor Leadership Program. The Institute of International Education arranged their program.


  • March 2019

    CDC and ASTHO Convening

    HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research and Office of Housing attended a convening hosted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO) in March 2019. The convening's purpose was to share knowledge, strengthen relationships, and explore collaborations between participants and community integrators to address health-related social needs. Participants included Accountable Health Communities (AHC) Alignment Track Bridge Organizations, state public health and Medicaid leaders, health insurance plans, healthcare providers, philanthropies, federal partners, and community integrators advancing access to health and social services. The objectives of this meeting were to:

    • Showcase examples of successful and innovative collaborations between healthcare and community-based partners that address health-related social needs, with a particular focus on transportation and food insecurity.
    • Expand participant knowledge on how to sustainably finance initiatives that address health-related social needs, overcome cross-sector data challenges, and strengthen multi-sector partnerships.
    • Offer an opportunity for participants to learn about the unique roles, strengths, motivations, and needs of stakeholders involved in community-clinical linkages work.
    • Provide attendees with approaches, tools, and resources to implement effective strategies and take action towards addressing unmet health-related social needs in the populations that they serve.


  • March 2019

    Aging in Place: Hotel Oakland Village

    Hotel Oakland Village
    Hotel Oakland Village: Village and Naturally Occurring Retirement Community (NORC) Model

    One of the focuses of the US-Japan Aging in Place Research Project is the Village and Naturally Occurring Retirement Community (NORC) model. This model has shown that it helps to enable elderly to age in place without the need of costly managed care facilities. The Hotel Oakland Village is a stellar example of this model and we wanted to get a firsthand look at their good work. Cindy Campbell, Director for International and Philanthropic Affairs, recently had an opportunity to meet with the staff from the Hotel Oakland Village.

    The building was originally open in 1912 as a luxury hotel occupying an entire city block in downtown Oakland. The interior was stunning, with chandeliers, gold leaf lobby ceiling and spectacular furnishings. The hotel hosted numerous dignitaries throughout the years including President Woodrow Wilson, President Calvin Coolidge, President Herbert Hoover and President Franklin D. Roosevelt who was there in 1939 to see the newly dedicated Bay Bridge and the Golden Gate Bridge. Other dignitaries included Mary Pickford and Douglas Fairbanks who stayed there during a visit to promote WWI Liberty Bonds. Charles Lindbergh, Amelia Earhart, Sarah Bernhardt, Jean Harlow, and Lily Langtry were also notable guests.

    The hotel closed during the Great Depression and was reopened in 1943 as a military veterans hospital, it operated for the next 21 years. After the hospital closed in 1963, the hotel remained vacant for the next 15 years. The City of Oakland considered demolishing the building, thankfully they did not. On December 18th, 1979, Hotel Oakland was designated Oakland Landmark #31 and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

    Real estate investor Bill Langelier and his partners purchased the landmark hotel in 1979. Their goal was to create an affordable housing option for seniors. Today the old hotel is a 400 unit project based affordable housing for senior citizens. Bill noticed that the seniors living in the building were not interacting with each other, they were isolating themselves in their apartments. In 2011, he came up the idea of forming a Village. The Village would offer a variety of not only health and wellness outreach but also social activities and those activities would take place in the old grand lobby of the building. Every resident has to walk through the lobby to get to their apartments. They would see the activities and would feel more welcomed to join. For instance, during our visit, a tai chi class was taking place in the lobby.

    The building is much more than just housing. Located on the first floor of the building is an adult day care center; the Hong Fook Community Based Adult Services Center. Seniors from the surrounding neighborhood as well as seniors in the building may utilize this service. The Village also operates a highly successful Health and Wellness program. Each resident is able to participate in a personalized wellness plan administered by a wellness nurse navigator who is located on site, within easy reach of every resident. The average resident's age is 81.

    There are 15 resident managed health groups. These groups help to encourage residents to be socially active and to take better care of their health. Some of the groups include: fall prevention, healthy eating, healthy mind, neighbors helping neighbors, personal safety, mahjong, karaoke, dance and gardening. The most well attended group is the health and wellness connection group which helps seniors with healthcare services and case management. Some of the other services the Village provide include free weekly food bank distribution, help with understanding your doctor's recommendations, post hospital support, health resource directory assistance, and health screenings throughout the year which include blood pressure checks, diabetes checks, fall risks and balance checks and flu shots.

    The key to their success has been resident participation. Each floor has a volunteer resident floor 'Captain' who helps to encourage residents participation in various activities. Also, when a resident participates they are often given a small token gift, such as a ramen noodle package. Although small, it helps to bring the residents out of their apartments and into the grand lobby. There are also plenty of other open spaces where residents can meet for activities including the hotel's old men's only cigar club room, richly paneled in dark wood, that now serves as a game hall which includes a pool table.

    Hotel Oakland Village is an excellent example of what can be accomplished when a multi-family senior housing complex incorporates the Village concept.


  • March 2019

    Partnering to Promote Aging in Place

    Partnering to Promote Aging in Place
    Partnering to Promote Aging in Place: U.S. – Japan Research Forum

    Cindy Campbell along with Calvin Johnson, Carol Star, and Leah Lozier attended the third U.S.-Japan Aging in Place Research Forum, which HUD hosted at our regional offices in San Francisco. The forum provided an opportunity for researchers from Japan's Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (which includes housing); Policy Research Institute; and Urban Renaissance Agency to meet with our research team at the Office of Policy Development and Research (PD&R). The team visited several demonstration sites that model the naturally occurring retirement community (NORC)/village concept including the Ashby Village in Berkeley and the NEXT Village in San Francisco.

    Read the rest of Cindy Campbell's article here: https://www.huduser.gov/portal/pdredge/pdr-edge-frm-asst-sec-031819.html


  • March 2019

    Addressing Homelessness in the United Kingdom

    Addressing Homelessness in the United Kingdom
    Addressing Homelessness in the United Kingdom

    The United Kingdom is taking a proactive stance on addressing homelessness with the lofty goal of eliminating homelessness by 2027. Homelessness in the United Kingdom is on the rise: 2017 marked the seventh consecutive year in which the homelessness rate increased. The December 2017 homelessness count identified an estimated 4,751 individuals, a 15 percent increase over the December 2016 count. The city of London accounted for one-quarter of the total count.

    In response to this growing problem, the government assembled an expert advisory panel. The Ministry of Housing, Communities, and Local Government then issued the Rough Sleeping Strategy report, which was presented to Parliament in August 2018 and discusses the government's strategy to address the nation's growing homelessness problem. The report outlines a three-pronged approach to eliminating and preventing further homelessness: Prevention, Intervention, and Recovery. The government's goal is to cut the number of individuals experiencing homelessness in half by 2022 and eliminate homelessness by 2027. The UK government has committed £100 million in the next 2 years alone to address the issue. Along with the government's commitment to address homelessness is a commitment to increase the affordable housing stock. The UK government is providing £9 billion to fund affordable housing projects, including an increase in council (social-public) housing.

    Read the rest of Cindy Campbell's article here: https://www.huduser.gov/portal/pdredge/pdr-edge-frm-asst-sec-021919.html


  • March 2019

    Denmark Delegation Visit

    Denmark Delegation Visit

    A delegation from the Knowledge Centre for Housing Economics, a Danish organization comprised of experts on housing economy and policy development, visited HUD on 18 March 2019. The delegation was led by Director Curt Liliegreen and several senior policy analysts from the organization. The Royal Danish Embassy's Minister Counselor for Economic Diplomacy also attended. The group requested information on programs for homeless people, vulnerable homeowners who are at risk of foreclosure, and the division of responsibility between the state and federal government. The Danish delegation highlighted Denmark's focus on aging, especially in rural communities where 30% to 35% of the population is over the age of 65. The group met with senior leadership from PD&R, as well as John Garvin and John Ligon.


  • March 2019

    Korea Delegation Visit

    Korea Delegation Visit

    Senior officials from the Korea Housing and Urban Guarantee Corporation and Korea Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (HUD's counterpart) visited on 19 March 2019. Senior PD&R staff met with them to discuss various housing initiatives and programs, in Korea and in the United States. The visit was part of the Korea and Wilson Center Research Collaboration to research urban revitalization. PD&R's researcher Paul Joice is participating in this comparative study of urban revitalization with a case study on Choice Neighborhoods in Chicago. Other case studies include: Columbia Pike Redevelopment Organization, West Philadelphia, Philadelphia City Center District and the Navy Yard and ONE DEC, Progression Place. The research group had interim briefings on 18 March, a visit to HUD and Ginnie Mae on 19 March, and a site visit to Philadelphia on 20 March. The project final out brief and site visits will take place in Seoul on 3-4 June 2019.


  • December 2018

    Secretary Carson To Lead White House Opportunity And Revitalization Council

    President Donald Trump signed an Executive Order establishing the White House Opportunity and Revitalization Council and named U.S. Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Ben Carson as its chairperson.

    The Council's 13 Federal member agencies will engage with governments at all levels on ways to more effectively use taxpayer dollars to revitalize low-income communities. The Council will improve revitalization efforts by streamlining, coordinating, and targeting existing Federal programs to Opportunity Zones, economically distressed communities where new investments may be eligible for preferential tax treatment.

    Opportunity Zones are a powerful vehicle for bringing economic growth and job creation to the American communities that need it the most. On average, the median family income in an Opportunity Zone is 37 percent below the state median. To date, 8,761 communities in all 50 States, Washington D.C., and five Territories have been designated as Opportunity Zones. Nearly 35 million Americans live in communities designated as Opportunity Zones.

    Currently, there are approximately 380,000 Public Housing units and approximately 340,000 Project-Based Rental Assistance units within Opportunity Zones. Nearly a third of the more than 100,000 rental units preserved through HUD's Rental Assistance Demonstration (RAD) are located in Opportunity Zones.

    Read more about the RAD program.
    Read more about the Opportunity Zones program.


  • December 2018

    World Habitat Awards By Cindy Campbell

    World Habitat Awards By Cindy Campbell


    The World Habitat Awards highlights best practices in housing around the globe. The Awards were established in 1985 to help promote good housing practices. The World Habitat Awards foundation partners with UN Habitat for these annual awards. UN Habitat is the United Nations arm for urban issues.

    This year's two winners highlight a creative response to long standing problems. The first winning project from Japan is administered by a non-profit called Little Ones. This group helps single mothers find apartments. This is an issue in Japan as there is a social stigma attached to single mothers. They are often seen as financially unstable and unable to pay rent so they have a very difficult time finding landlords who are willing to rent to them. Single mothers also have difficulty finding employment even in major cities like Tokyo. The majority of single mothers live at or below the poverty line. Less than half of all single mothers receive any type of financial support from the father. The child poverty rate for working single parents in Japan is the highest among all industrialized nations. Japan also has a rapidly aging demographic, which has created a growing problem with empty or abandoned housing stock. There are nearly 9 million vacant homes in Japan, which equates to about 14 percent of the housing stock. The problem will increase, by 2033 nearly one third of all homes in Japan will be vacant. The Japanese government passed a law in 2015 that helps promote reutilization of abandoned properties. The non-profit Little Ones is able to negotiate with owners and local city officials to renovate the homes and then rent them to single mothers.

    The second winner focused their efforts on smokeless stoves in rural Pakistan. Four out of five households lack access to a safe and clean cooking source. Cooking with wood burning stoves, the most common form of cookery in rural Pakistan, leads to a number of health problems such as serious respiratory issues and eye problems. These are especially more problematic for children. The Chulah project, run by the Heritage Foundation of Pakistan, has trained a cadre of folks to teach rural families how to build a Chulah cooking stove. These stoves are not only more healthy for the families, they also use 50 to 80 percent less firewood than a traditional stove, saving time and effort since most rural women must collect firewood.

    There are several finalists that had some very creative projects, including using plastic bottles as a construction material for refugee homes in Algeria. Not only does this method help to recycle used plastic bottles but the homes are cooler and they provide an easy and economical construction material. In Rwanda, a US based non-profit, EarthEnable, set up a program to replace dirt floors with a new more durable, waterproof earthen surface. Over a billion people worldwide live with dirt floors. Dirt floors are unsanitary and can lead to serious health conditions, especially for children. In Nairobi, Kenya, a low-income neighborhood known as a large informal landfill site, a project was initiated to improve the physical appearance of the streets. The Model Street initiative, part of a Making Cities Together project, helped to improve the area by paving, painting and creating children's playgrounds and planting trees.

    Other finalists included projects from Haiti promoting local building cultures, Netherlands bringing young people and refugees together through housing, United Kingdom promoting a creative way to house refugees, and Tajikistan using micro-loans to pay for energy saving home improvements. More can be found on these awards at:
    https://www.world-habitat.org/world-habitat-awards/winners-and-finalists/#findProject


  • December 2018

    Global Cities and Affordable Housing: Cape Town

    Because of its mild climate, fantastic beaches and restaurants, and well-developed infrastructure, the city of Cape Town, South Africa currently faces increasing affordability challenges that have forced lower-income residents to live far from the city center where they work. The Cape Town Partnership is an organization that collaborates with the city of Cape Town and the Western Cape Government to make Cape Town a more livable city. The organization enjoys institutional partnerships that include Cape Peninsula University of Technology; Development Action Group (DAG), a nongovernmental organization that addresses emerging urban challenges; and the Cape Town Tourism Board, among others. Their efforts have culminated in a 10-year strategy to include discussions and development of affordable housing in Cape Town and subsequently making Cape Town a livelier and more livable place for residents of all income levels.

    https://www.huduser.gov/portal/pdredge/pdr-edge-trending-041618.html


  • December 2018

    2019 Secretary's Award for Public-Philanthropic Partnerships

    The Council on Foundations, in partnership with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, announce the opening of nominations for the  2019 Secretary's Award for Public-Philanthropic Partnerships. Now in its seventh year, this award recognizes excellence in partnerships that have transformed communities through collaborations between foundations and government entities.

    Learn more about this year's award and apply today. Applications are due Jan. 14, 2019.

    View 2018's ten winners that included The Conrad N. Hilton Foundation, Greater Cedar Rapids Community Foundation, Rasmuson Foundation, Anthem Foundation, and more.

    The Secretary's Award winners will be honored at several events at the Council's Biennial Conference in Miami, FL, April 29 – May 1, 2019.

    If you have any questions please contact Stephanie Powers (stephanie.powers@cof.org) or Peter Gordon (peter.gordon@cof.org).

  • November 2018

    London Affordable Housing Challenge

    The London Affordable Housing Challenge, an International Architecture Competition, has released the results of its challenge which aimed to get architects and designers to propose solutions for affordable housing in London. The challenge is part of Bee Breeders' Affordable Housing Crisis design series which has already introduced several proposals to address the global demand for urban housing. The first-place submission proposes adaptable housing through the use of 3D printing. The second-place submission details how co-living and cohabitation can increase density in housing spaces. Finally, the third-place submission proposes a mix of room types in order to accommodate large groups or small numbers of inhabitants.

    https://beebreeders.com/architecturecompetitions/londonhousing


  • November 2018

    Jamaica Prime Minister Meeting with Secretary Carson

    The Prime Minister of Jamaica, Andrew Holness and Jamaica's Ambassador to the U.S., Audrey P. Marks met with Secretary Ben Carson during Prime Minister Holness' work visit on November 27th, 2018. The meeting with Secretary Carson was an opportunity to deepen HUD's relationship with the Jamaican government and for the Prime Minister to learn about HUD initiatives that might inform Jamaican policy.

    Jamaica Prime Minister Meeting with Secretary Carson

  • November 2018

    Korea Housing Finance Corporation visit to HUD

    A group from the Korea Housing Finance Corporation (KHFC) visited HUD to learn more about HECM. KHFC is a government agency overseeing governmental guaranteed reverse mortgage program (home pensions), housing credit guarantee and issuing Mortgage Backed Securities (MBS). The group visited on 27 November 2018.

  • November 2018

    Aging in Place Research Project Visit to Tokyo

    Calvin Johnson and Cindy Campbell visited to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT) and the Urban Renaissance Agency (UR) in Tokyo, Japan 25-27 September 2018. This was an opportunity for the Aging in Place research team to visit and learn more about Japan's best practices in aging in place. Calvin and Cindy visited several elderly support service demonstration sites. They visited the Tamadaira-no-Mori Housing Complex, Hino City, Tokyo where they saw an example of integrated elder services in an elderly multi-family housing complex. The team visited Greentown Misumi Housing Complex where they saw further examples of bringing supportive services directly into housing including a very unique public-private venture with the 7-11 Convenience Store. They also visited a city run elderly support project in Shinagawa City, within the greater Tokyo region. This unique project was a partnership with a local elementary school. Unused space within the school was sectioned off as an adult day care center which had a long list of elderly support services available. They also visited another single family unit that had been converted into an elderly community activity center. The final visit was to Toyoshiki Housing Complex, Kashiwa City, Chiba Prefecture. This was yet another example of bringing supportive services directly into housing. This project included a unique public-private partnership with a private fitness center, many of the health and fitness services offered at this center were elderly centered.

    Japan has the world's oldest population with a median age of 47.3 and a life expectancy of 85.3 years compared to the U.S. with a median age of 37.7 and a life expectancy of 78.7. About 15% of the US population is age 65 or older, 27% of Japan's population is age 65 or older. Japan has seen a large population shift to urban city centers such as Tokyo and Osaka. This has left the rural areas of the country with over 15% vacancy rate. One of Japan's challenges is providing services to elderly in rural areas. Our partnership with our Japanese Ministry counterparts will help provide additional insight on strategies we might research and explore focusing on the delivery of supportive services to seniors in their own housing, senior housing designed to support healthy aging, and the development of multi-generational communities to support ‘aging in place.' It is worth noting that the latter is being sponsored by the national government in the form of a reduced rent housing unit for households living with in 2km or an elderly family member.

    MLIT provided new insight into how the Japanese finance elderly care facilities to include elder day care and elder/senior housing. The Urban Renaissance Agency (UR), a quasi-government organization, operates 750,000 housing units for low-to-moderate income residents in Japan – mostly in transit-oriented suburban communities. The Japanese have a unique approach to providing affordable housing for the middle class, an approach that would be worth investigating further. Essentially, UR plays a key role in acquiring land in areas beyond but with easy access to the city center. This approach to transit-oriented community planning and development increases the stock of affordable rental housing with easy access to the central business districts.

    Although this visit was centered on aging in place projects, the team also had a chance to have discussions on disaster resiliency. Japan has suffered a series of natural disasters, including the great earthquake of 2011 that included the nuclear reactor incident at Fukushima. The Japanese have a great number of lessons learned from their response to this devastating earthquake that could be of great value to HUD's disaster recovery efforts. The United States has not had an earthquake nor tsunami of this magnitude in recent history. These lessons would be useful in preparation to an event of this scale. Further, the Housing Bureau of MLIT is responsible for disaster recover, to include relocating displaced owners and owners and supporting the redevelopment and reconstruction of affected communities and their housing.

    This was a great opportunity to see first hand how Japan is dealing with their ‘silver tsunami.' Our Japanese Ministry counterparts have some very creative ways of dealing with the growing elderly population, both urban and rural. These key insights helped inform our US-Japan Aging in Place Forum which was held in San Francisco the last week of October 2018. As we move forward in our research partnership, we will be able to add innovative ideas in Aging in Place.


    Japan Visit Sep 2018 Outside Senior Center- Cindy Campbell and Calvin Johnson
    Japan Visit Sep 2018 Outside Senior Center- Cindy Campbell and Calvin Johnson


    Japan Visit Sep 2018 Toyoshikidai PRI President and Calvin Johnson
    Japan Visit Sep 2018 Toyoshikidai PRI President and Calvin Johnson

    Read the rest of Calvin Johnson's article here:
    https://www.huduser.gov/portal/pdredge/pdr-edge-frm-asst-sec-121018.html


  • October 2018

    Argentina

    On 25 October 2018, Argentinean delegates from the Ministry of Interior, Public Works and Housing met with PD&R staff. The delegation discussed the approach HUD is taking regarding low-income housing projects and the role private sectors play, development in technology and sustainability, the link between our projects and FEMA, and relationships between different agencies at a state level regarding housing policies.

  • October 2018

    Israel

    On 22 October 2018, U.S. and Israeli officials convened for the 33rd session of the U.S. – Israel Joint Economic Development Group (JEDG), the annual economic policy dialogue between the two countries. The purpose of these annual meetings is to strengthen the bilateral economic relationship between the two countries and to continue expanding and deepening policy coordination and cooperation across a broad range of sectors. The JEDG is held alternately in the U.S. and Israel. HUD participated in the JEDG annual meeting in Washington, D.C. on 16 October 2017. During the JEDG meeting and the following two days of meetings at HUD headquarters and at site visits in Washington, D.C., the Israeli delegation, led by Israel's Ministry of Finance, and HUD discussed initiatives, programs, and policies regarding housing supply, affordable long-term rental policies, and availability of affordable housing. Within the Israeli government, the Ministry of Housing was recently moved into the Ministry of Finance. The Israeli delegation also included officials from the Ministry of Construction and Housing, the Israel Innovation Authority, the Israeli Embassy in Washington and the Israel Land Authority. A Memorandum of Cooperation (MOC) was signed on 22 October 2018 by Deputy Secretary Pam Patenaude and Deputy Minister of Finance Rabbi Cohen. The MOC will allow both ministries to work collaboratively and in a mutually beneficial manner to support and learn from research on affordable housing and urban development policies and programs.

  • October 2018

    United Kingdom

    Samantha Jury-Dada, a researcher from the UK, met with several HUD staffers on Choice Neighborhoods community safety funding project which reduces gang violence. The exchange of information included policies focusing on creating and maintaining safe communities in HUD-assisted housing, specifically admissions policies; funding to support safety and security initiatives; Violence Against Women Act protections; and highlights an example of a juvenile reentry assistance grantee's partnership with their city's gang reduction program. The meeting was held on 3 October 2018.

  • October 2018

    Geneva, Switzerland

    The United States Mission to the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) Housing and Land Administration Meeting was held on 4-5 October 2018. UNECE's major aim is to promote pan-European economic integration. UNECE includes 56-member States in Europe, North America and Asia. Over 70 international professional organizations and other non-governmental organizations take part in UNECE activities. IPAD coordinates membership and information/research exchanges for the UNECE Housing and Land Administration Committee. The work of the Committee focuses on the social dimension of sustainable housing to address housing affordability, social housing and low-cost housing. This committee's work is based on key United Nations policy documents on housing and urban development, including, Geneva UN Charter on Sustainable Housing and Strategy for Sustainable Housing and Land Management 2014-2020. Assistant Deputy Assistant Secretary Marge Martin attended the meeting on behalf of HUD. The focus of this year's meeting was “towards sustainable housing and urban development through the alignment with the 2030 agenda and the New Urban Agenda in the UNECE Region.”

  • October 2018

    Japan

    The third US – Japan Aging in Place Forum took place in San Francisco. HUD hosted a delegation of eight senior officials from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transportation and Tourism as well as officials from the Urban Renaissance Agency to discuss Aging in Place research. Calvin Johnson, Cindy Campbell, Carol Star and Leah Lozier attended from PD&R. PD&R's IPAD office has the lead for this project. The focus was on the village movement and aging in place supportive services. The researchers mapped out next steps in the research project that will continue through 2019. This is part of the MOU that was signed in June 2017 by Secretary Carson. The forum took place from 29 October to 1 November in the Region IX office.

  • October 2018

    HUD Deputy Secretary Patenaude and Israeli Deputy Finance Minister Cohen Sign Joint Memorandum of Cooperation

    HUD Deputy Secretary Patenaude and Israeli Deputy Finance Minister Cohen Sign Joint Memorandum of Cooperation
    Deputy Minister of Finance Yitzhak Cohen and Deputy Secretary Pam Patenaude signed a Memorandum of Cooperation to increase collaboration between the US and Israel on October 22nd, 2018

    U.S. Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Deputy Secretary Pamela Hughes Patenaude, on behalf of HUD Secretary Ben Carson, and Israel's Deputy Finance Minister Yitzhak Cohen today signed a Memorandum of Cooperation to increase collaboration between the United States and the State of Israel on a host of housing, community development and mortgage finance issues. The signing took place in Jerusalem during a meeting of the U.S.-Israeli Joint Economic Development Group (JEDG). Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin is leading the U.S. delegation on behalf of President Donald Trump.

    The cooperative memorandum signed today establishes the formal exchange of information and research related to low- and moderate-income housing, mortgage and housing finance, rental housing assistance, management of public housing, and community development. Read the joint Memorandum of Cooperation.

    “This cooperative agreement will serve as another building block in strengthening the close ties between our nations on a number of common issues that impact our citizens,” said Patenaude. “We plan to share research and best practices for addressing the affordable housing challenges facing our nations. I am convinced that working together, we will be able to learn from each other to improve the lives of those we serve.”

    “The Memorandum of Cooperation on housing is an opportunity to deepen the close ties between Israel and the United States on an important issue that preoccupies both countries,” said Cohen. “Israel and the United States are facing very different housing challenges, but we can learn from these differences and cooperate on sharing acquired knowledge for the benefit of the next generations.”

    Deputy Secretary Patenaude's visit to Israel and the formal execution of the Memorandum of Cooperation is the result of the extensive work following last year's JEDG meeting when Minister Kahlon led a delegation to Washington, D.C.

    During this year's JEDG meeting, Deputy Secretary Patenaude is participating in a panel discussion on affordable housing with Zeev Bielski, the Head of the Israeli Housing Administration. She will also join a roundtable at the Urban Clinic at Hebrew University, tour an affordable housing development and visit a development built to withstand earthquakes.

  • August 2018

    Adaptive Reuse of Historic Buildings

    In the latest Edge issue, IPI Director Cindy Campbell discusses reuse of historic buildings, using the U.S. Embassy in Rome as an example.

    Read the full article here.

  • July 2018

    HUD and the Council on Foundations Announce the 2018 Winners of the Secretary's Award for Public-Philanthropic Partnerships

    HUD and the Council on Foundations announced the 2018 winners of the Secretary's Award for Public-Philanthropic Partnerships. The awards recognize exemplary partnerships between foundations and government that have been critical in transforming communities and improving lives.

    "Through these awards, we celebrate what we can accomplish through partnership, and we acknowledge that the outcomes we can achieve together are far greater than we can achieve on our own," Secretary Ben Carson said. "What unites all of today's winners is the drive to help others, especially those communities and neighborhoods which are often neglected."

    "The cross-sector partnerships demonstrated among the winners of this year's awards highlight the power of collaboration," said Gene Cochrane, interim president and CEO of the Council on Foundations. "Through innovative, bold ideas and unique partnerships, these foundations are shining examples of philanthropy's ability to promote the common good."

    This year's awards were presented by Secretary Carson as part of a ceremony simulcast on Facebook Live from HUD Headquarters in Washington, DC. Awards are given to place-based funders for completed or ongoing initiatives that are executed in partnership with a local, regional, or federal government agency. The 2018 winners are:

    • Anthem Foundation
    • Bon Secours of Maryland Foundation
    • Charles Stewart Mott Foundation
    • The Conrad N. Hilton Foundation
    • Greater Cedar Rapids Community Foundation
    • The Harry & Jeanette Weinberg Foundation and The Leonard & Helen R. Stulman Charitable Foundation
    • Michael Reese Health Trust and Polk Bros. Foundation
    • Rasmuson Foundation
    • Spartanburg County Foundation
    • U.S. Endowment for Forestry and Communities

    To learn more about 2018 winners and their initiatives, visit: https://www.huduser.gov/secaward/cof

  • May 2018

    Public-Philanthropic Partnerships Combat Homelessness in Southern California

    Cindy Campbell, Director of the Office for International and Philanthropic Innovation, discusses her experience in Los Angeles and the work being led by public-philanthropic partnerships to address the rising homelessness in the region. Homelessness numbers in Los Angeles County increased markedly in 2017. There were 57,794 homeless individuals in 2017, a 23 percent increase from 2016 (46,874). The city of Los Angeles saw a 20 percent increase in homelessness, from 28,464 individuals in 2016 to 34,189 in 2017.

    Read the full article on HUD's The Edge.

  • May 2018

    Case Study: Montgomery County Foundation

    Your Way Home Montgomery County is a partnership of public, philanthropic, and private enterprises that is significantly reducing homelessness in a wealthy suburban county northwest of Philadelphia. By many measures, Your Way Home exceeds the performance of the previous homeless care system by coordinating the efforts of government agencies, philanthropic organizations, and community organizations; serving as a forum for knowledge sharing and relationship building; and providing facilities and services for people experiencing or at risk of homelessness in the county. Under the shared leadership of the Montgomery County Foundation, Inc., as the philanthropic backbone organization and the Montgomery County Department of Housing and Community Development as the lead public-sector agency, Your Way Home has reduced homelessness in the county by 37 percent since its founding in 2014. The coalition also increased the percentage of at-risk households diverted into housing from emergency shelters, reduced the average length of stay in shelter for single adults, and helped clients participating in rapid rehousing increase their incomes. In 2016, a HUD Secretary's Award for Public-Philanthropic Partnerships recognized Your Way through the Montgomery County Foundation.

    Read the full case study on here.

  • May 2018

    Building HUD's Capacity To Partner With Philanthropy

    HUD's Office for International and Philanthropic Innovation (IPI) provides resources, tools, and advice to help develop robust partnerships between HUD and philanthropic foundations. In addition to supporting HUD initiatives such as EnVision Centers and Promise Zones, IPI trains federal staff, which helps to expand the department's capacity to partner with philanthropy. By building HUD's capacity to partner with philanthropy, the agency is more prepared to take advantage of new opportunities, break down barriers, and achieve better results. Public-philanthropic partnerships broaden the reach of both federal government and philanthropic investments.

    Read the full article on The Edge.

  • March 2018

    HUD Team Attends the World Urban Forum in Kuala Lumpur

    In February, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia hosted this year's World Urban Forum. HUD led the U.S. delegation, sending a small group that included Neal Rackleff, Assistant Secretary for Community Planning and Development, Ralph Gaines, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Community Planning and Development, and me. Assistant Secretary Rackleff was designated the head of the delegation, which also included representatives from the U.S. Department of State, the U.S. Agency for International Development, the Millennium Challenge Corporation, and the Overseas Private Investment Corporation. More than 20,000 participants from 165 countries participated, including more than 100 ministers and deputy ministers.

    Read the full article on the Edge, PD&R's online magazine.

  • March 2018

    HUD Leadership Participates in Homelessness Roundtables with Philanthropic and Government Partners

    HUD Leadership Participates in Homelessness Roundtables with Philanthropic and Government Partners

    This month, HUD, the Hilton Foundation, and United Way hosted a convening with philanthropic and government partners on the topic of homelessness in the Los Angeles metro region. Neal Rackleff, Assistant Secretary of Community Planning and Development, and Matthew Hunter, Assistant Deputy Secretary of Field Policy and Management, led the conversations with local funders and government agencies about ways that public-philanthropic partnerships can help address homelessness and how HUD can continue to support Los Angeles' efforts. Some of the public-philanthropic partnerships that were highlighted during the convening included Home for Good, a county-wide effort that includes over 200 partners working collaboratively on solutions to end homelessness in Los Angeles County, and Los Angeles County's Flexible Housing Subsidy Pool.

    Additionally, Assistant Secretary Rackleff, Assistant Deputy Secretary Hunter, and Regional Administrator Jimmy Stracner participated in a national roundtable discussion hosted by Funders Together to End Homelessness. The HUD principles joined break-out groups made up of funders from across the country who are committed to ending homelessness. They discussed coordinated efforts between HUD and the philanthropic community, and the foundations shared what strategies they are seeing as effective and what key struggles they are facing.

  • January 2018

    Announcing the Launch of the Excellence in Public-Philanthropic Partnerships Exchange

    To better create new opportunities for learning and exchange among foundations and their public partners, HUD and the Council on Foundations launched the Excellence in Public-Philanthropic Partnerships Exchange. The Exchange is a community of practice that supports and improves public-philanthropic partnerships by creating a space for foundation and government representatives with proven track records for innovative collaboration to exchange ideas, information, lessons learned, research, tools, and other resources. All previous Secretary's Awards winners — foundations and government partners — are invited to participate in the exchange.

    Read more on The Edge, HUD's online magazine.

  • November 2017

    President Donald J. Trump's Summit Meeting with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe of Japan

    President Donald J. Trump commenced his trip to Asia with a visit to Japan. During the visit, the President met with American and Japanese military service members, participated in bilateral meetings and social events with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, met their Majesties the Emperor and Empress, engaged Japanese and American business leaders, and met with the families of Japanese citizens abducted by the North Korean regime. The President congratulated Prime Minister Abe on his recent electoral victory and reaffirmed his desire to continue working closely with Japan.

    President Trump noted the memorandum of cooperation the United States and Japan signed this year to facilitate cooperation regarding the challenges associated with an aging population and housing market stability. This cooperation enables joint research on approaches to allow seniors to remain in their own homes and “age in place.”

    Read the full press release here.

  • August 2017

    Global Cities and Affordable Housing: Hong Kong

    Most global cities experience challenges in providing affordable housing. For the second city in our series on affordable housing, we examine Hong Kong, a Special Administrative Region (SAR) of China. Hong Kong, with 7.3 million residents, has an independent economy and conducts its own commercial and international agreements. Its housing, however, is “severely unaffordable,” according to the 2017 Demographia International Housing Affordability Survey.

    Read more on The Edge, HUD's online magazine from the Office of Policy Development and Research.

  • June 2017

    Global Cities and Affordable Housing: Sydney

    Global cities are an agglomeration of worldwide business activity, cultural diversity, innovation, and vibrancy on a large scale. Many of these cities face growing housing affordability issues, and each city has its own path to remedying this problem. In a series of articles, we are going to observe how several global cities are tackling the issue of affordable housing.

    Sydney, the state capital of New South Wales (NSW) and Australia's most populous city, is the nation's economic capital and a global city. It is not, however, without its share of housing issues. As urbanization increases, Sydney's headlines frequently read “Housing Out of Reach” and “The Death of the Australian Dream.”

    Read more on The Edge, HUD's online magazine from the Office of Policy Development and Research.

  • April 2017

    Announcing the Winners of the 2017 Secretary’s Awards for Public-Philanthropic Partnerships

    The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the Council on Foundations (COF) announced the winners of the 2017 HUD Secretary's Award for Public-Philanthropic Partnerships.

    The awards were presented at the Council on Foundations Annual Conference in Dallas, Texas. They honor 10 innovative and impactful cross-sector initiatives that have increased the quality of life for low- and moderate-income Americans living in urban, suburban, and rural communities across the nation. These initiatives focus on solving a broad range of issues, from expanding affordable housing to promoting employment opportunities for students, reducing substance abuse among young people, and improving local infrastructure.

    “I want to congratulate each of our winners for their extraordinary efforts to bridge the gap between philanthropy, government, and nonprofits,” said HUD Secretary Ben Carson. “Today’s awards celebrate the power of partnership, and honor exceptional organizations that are laying a strong foundation for more Americans to succeed and thrive.”

    Read details about the ten winning partnerships here.

  • March 2017

    The U.S. and Japan Partner to Research Aging in Place

    Japan's current population is among the world's oldest. The United States is experiencing a similar demographic shift: as the baby boomers age, the number of older adults is soaring and is expected to continue increasing dramatically.

    Housing will be a crucial linchpin in any plan to preserve a high quality of life for older adults. Housing affordability and accessibility, as well as the location of housing and the ability to integrate long-term care within the home or community, will determine how well this generation ages.

    The governments of Japan and the United States understand the importance of housing for older adults. For this reason, Japan's Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport, and Tourism (MLIT); HUD; and Ginnie Mae, a government-owned corporation within HUD, are leading a joint research partnership on aging in place. The Japan Housing Finance Agency and the Japan Urban Renaissance Agency have also joined the partnership in support of common goals.

    Read more about this partnership on HUD's The Edge, an online magazine.

  • February 2017

    Learning Exchange with South Korea


    A delegation from South Korea led by the Deputy Minister for Housing and Land visited HUD and Ginnie Mae on February 8th, 2017 for a learning exchange. Representatives from Ginnie Mae discussed private investment and affordable housing. HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research led a discussion on the U.S. housing market and government housing policy. A representative from HUD's Office of Community Planning and Development gave an overview of affordable housing programs in the United States.

  • February 2017

    German - U.S. Cooperation: Working Together To Find New Solutions for Our Cities

    Each year, German policymakers and practitioners gather to discuss the most pertinent issues and advancements in urban development. This past September in Hannover, Germany, the 10th annual National Urban Development Conference focused on how government policies can best promote sustainable, inclusive growth in cities. The event emphasized strategies for creating better outcomes for vulnerable populations such as recent immigrants, racially diverse citizens, and other underrepresented groups. Despite Hannover's distance from Washington, DC, the urban development challenges and opportunities facing both U.S. and German cities were strikingly similar, illustrating the importance of sharing best practices across borders.

    Read more on The Edge.

  • February 2017

    The Secretary’s Award for Public-Philanthropic Partnerships

    HUD’s Office for International and Philanthropic Innovation and The Council on Foundations launched the 2017 HUD Secretary’s Awards for Public-Philanthropic Partnerships. The Council and HUD are seeking applications from foundations working with the public sector to improve the neighborhoods and quality of life for low- and moderate-income Americans. The winners of these prestigious HUD Secretary’s Awards will be presented at the Council’s 2017 Annual Conference in Dallas, Texas, in April.

    “We are pleased to be working with HUD's Office of International and Philanthropic Innovation again this year to recognize cross-sector collaborations between foundations and government,” said Council President and CEO Vikki Spruill. The Secretary’s Awards for Public-Philanthropic Partnerships recognize excellence in partnerships between philanthropy and government that have transformed the relationship between the sectors and led to measurable benefits in terms of increased economic development, employment, health, safety, education, disaster resilience, inclusivity and cultural opportunities, and/or housing access for low- and moderate-income families.

    Learn More About the Awards

    Apply Today

  • January 2017

    Ending Youth Homelessness through Cross-Sector Partnerships

    A stable home is critical to the development of children and young adults. When they spend their energy wondering where they’ll sleep and what to eat, it’s nearly impossible for them to focus on doing well in school and preparing for their future.

    On any given night, more than 45,000 unaccompanied youth and young adults experience homelessness. Yet, youth homelessness is often an invisible problem, as young people are often not in plain sight. Many don’t know where to go to ask for help and many communities lack dedicated youth services. Despite these limitations, philanthropy and federal partners have come together to commit to ending youth and young adult homelessness by 2020.

    To accomplish this goal, HUD and its federal partner agencies are joining with several philanthropic organizations, including the Raikes Foundation, to align investments and resources in order to ensure that homelessness among youth and young adults is rare and are brief occurrences.

    Read more on the HUDdle, HUD’s blog.

  • December 2016

    HUD and Partners Looking Beyond Habitat III

    More than 30,000 people gathered in Quito, Ecuador, from October 17 to October 20, 2016, for Habitat III, the United Nations Conference on Housing and Sustainable Urban Development and the last major United Nations conference of the Obama administration. HUD's Office for International and Philanthropic Innovation (IPI) recently returned from this inspiring and thought-provoking event, which happens once every 20 years, filled with enthusiasm for taking action to improve our cities and communities.

    Read more on The Edge about what comes next and how HUD is continuing to address urban challenges through the New Urban Agenda.

  • November 2016

    Learning from Innovative Community Efforts with the Prosperity Playbook Toolkit

    Katherine O’Regan, Assistant Secretary for Policy Development and Research, discusses the Prosperity Playbook initiative and its significance in addressing inequality and access to opportunities in communities across the country. Through Prosperity Playbook, HUD positions itself as a new kind of federal partner in this work by supporting the objectives and actions of local leaders to address inequities in economic mobility, access to opportunity, and affordable housing. Read about how the Community of Practice and online toolkit are two ways in which HUD seeks to highlight and amplify these strategies as well as empower other leaders to take similar action.

    Full article available on The Edge.

  • October 2016

    Interview on Partnering with Philanthropy

    A new report, Scaling Solutions, examines the role philanthropy played in HUD’s Sustainable Communities Initiative (SCI). SCI was a conscious and dramatic shift toward a collaborative, “place-based” approach. Notably, philanthropy, working closely with the federal government, local governments, and community partners, contributed significantly to the success of the initiative.

    Based on 48 interviews with SCI grantees and their partners, Scaling Solutions serves as a playbook for activating cross-sector partnerships and improving collaboration within place-based initiatives. Natalie Robles, a communications specialist in the Office of Economic Resilience, led the creation of the report.

    Read the interview with Natalie Robles to learn more about best practices for government and philanthropy partnering together.

  • October 2016

    A Preview of The Prosperity Playbook

    The Prosperity Playbook is a HUD-sponsored online resource for local officials and planners that will launch in fall 2016. The Prosperity Playbook will serve as a repository of ideas, best practices, and case studies for fostering equitable and inclusive community growth.

    At this year’s Daniel Burnham Forum, two leaders participating in Prosperity Playbook, Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed and Kansas City Mayor Sly James, discussed access to opportunity and inclusive growth in their cities.

    Read more about the Prosperity Playbook initiative and the discussion at the Burnham Forum.

  • October 2016

    Secretary Castro Addresses Habitat III

    Representing the U.S. Delegation, Secretary Castro delivered his remarks at the Habitat III Plenary Meeting in Quito, Ecuador. He discussed the New Urban Agenda and the United States' approach to urban development over the next 20 years.

    Watch the video of his remarks here.

  • October 2016

    Secretary Castro Outlines Three Ways to Build Cities of Promise

    HUD Secretary Castro is representing the U.S. Delegation in Quito, Ecuador for the United Nations Habitat III Convening. Read his Medium post about his plan for sustainable and inclusive urban development, which outlines three key ways we can address rapid urbanization and help build cities of promise.

  • October 2016

    HUD releases the U.S. 20/20 Habitat III Report

    In preparation for the Habitat III Conference, HUD released The U.S. 20/20 Habitat III Report. The report outlines the agency's work since the previous Habitat II conference 20 years ago, and reflects on the critical themes that will define the U.S. Habitat agenda for the next 20 years. The report focuses on three themes: promoting upward mobility for underserved Americans, expanding employment and educational resources and investing in community institutions. It is the result of nearly two years of significant consultations with federal, state and local partners whose diverse views were captured in the final report.

    Read the full press release.

  • September 2016

    Scaling Solutions: Strategies for Building Effective Philanthropy Partnerships

    When you think of natural partnerships, government and philanthropy may not be your first thought. In HUD's new report, Scaling Solutions: A How-To Guide for Unleashing the Potential of Public-Philanthropic Partnerships, we work to turn those perceptions around. This guide describes the unique collaboration between philanthropy and government that emerged during HUD's Sustainable Communities Initiative. On the local, regional, and national levels, philanthropies and the public sector are leveraging each other's strengths to deliver results for communities and build projects together from the ground up.

    Read more on the HUDdle, HUD's blog.

  • September 2016

    Introducing IPI Director Cynthia Campbell


    The Office for International and Philanthropic Innovation welcomes Cynthia Campbell as its new Director. Cynthia comes to HUD after 30 years in the U.S. Navy, including time working at the White House in the Bush and Obama administrations, followed by work at Fisher House Foundation and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. Learn more about Cynthia and her vision for IPI.

  • August 3, 2016

    PrepCom 3 Meeting Summary

    Salin Geevarghese, Deputy Assistant Secretary for International and Philanthropic Innovation at HUD, attended PrepCom3 in Surabaya, July 25-27. PrepCom 3 is the final meeting of Member States of the United Nations and members of specialized agencies of the Preparatory Committee for Habitat III prior to October's conference. PrepCom3 was preceded by PrepComs 1 and 2 in New York and Nairobi, respectively. To learn more about PrepCom3, please visit their web site. There, you can read the latest draft of the New Urban Agenda and more about the proceedings.

  • July 20, 2016

    Comcast and HUD Collaborate to Provide Access to Broadband Services to HUD-Assisted Households

    Last week, the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), in partnership with Comcast, announced exciting new developments furthering the goals of ConnectHome. IPI continues to assist with this effort to narrow the digital divide for families with school-age children who live in HUD-assisted housing by engaging with philanthropy and sharing lessons from this innovative public-private collaboration. For information on ConnectHome and HUD's partnership with Comcast, read the press release here.

  • July 15, 2016

    IPI Co-Hosts Convening on Habitat III Efforts

    The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's Office for International and Philanthropic Innovation (IPI), in partnership with the Lincoln Institute for Land Policy, Citiscope, and the Wilson Center, co-hosted the fifth and final dialogue in a series of conversations designed to leverage Habitat III and relevant global conversations to elevate and inform discussion within the U.S. government policy community and about sustainable urban development and its important global implications. The final session, hosted at HUD headquarters in Washington, D.C. on Monday, July 11th, convened stakeholders from national non-profits, philanthropic foundations, private organizations and federal agencies for a discussion on the tools that will be necessary in implementing the New Urban Agenda in the United States after the Agenda is negotiated and released following this October's Habitat III conference in Quito, Ecuador.

    Over 100 representatives joined in person and online to hear two panel discussions around two key tools that have come out in recent months as a way to guide governments in how they finance their cities and inform them on growth trends that have policy implications. Alex Blei, a research scholar in the New York University (NYU) Urban Expansion program, presented on his work on the Atlas of Urban Expansion, a framework he developed using satellite imagery and historical maps to document global urban expansion. The findings of his studies imply that many cities will grow in extent, significantly outpacing their development in density, and that most of this growth is unplanned. The Atlas of Urban Expansion takes a global framework, but many of the works' findings have implications for cities like Baltimore and Detroit that have seen their central cities diminished while their metro areas have expanded.

    The second presenter, Lourdes Germán, the Director of International and Institute-Wide Initiatives at the Lincoln Institute for Land Policy, commented more extensively on the development of domestic cities, unveiling to the group a toolkit for municipalities to use in thinking about the way they finance various city-level projects. Using information compiled from Lincoln's Fiscally Standardized City (FiSC) dataset, Census data, and Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR) data, the toolkit establishes a municipal fiscal health scorecard that evaluates five key components across city financing: rules of governance, expenditures, revenues, borrowing, and financial management. The scorecard has the capability of being very powerful from a decision-making and comparative standpoint, as it provides cities with a wealth of data in order to make informed decisions and elucidates on the experiences of other cities using that data.

    Guests used these tools presented by NYU's Urban Expansion program and the Lincoln Institute for Land Policy as a platform to discuss sustainability and inclusivity, two key goals that have emerged from conversations heading into Habitat III. For more information, you can watch the full web cast of the morning session featuring the presentations and discussions by Alex Blei and Lourdes Germán embedded below. IPI will be releasing a report from the National Committee's meeting at a later date.

  • July 6, 2016

    From Habitat II to Habitat III, An Interview with Ismael Guerrero

    Ismael Guerrero, Executive Director of the Denver Housing Authority (DHA), shares lessons learned from Habitat II and discusses priorities and expectations for the upcoming Habitat III conference to be held in October 2016.

    Read the interview here.

  • July 6, 2016

    $8.7 Million Awarded to Prevent and End Homelessness through a Pay for Success Model

    The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the Department of Justice (DOJ) awarded $8.7 million to address homelessness and reduce recidivism among this justice-involved population through the Pay for Success model.

    The Office for International and Philanthropic Innovation led the inter-agency cooperation that made this housing demonstration possible, working closely with partners at HUD and DOJ, as well as experts from the Department of Health and Human Services, the Corporation for National and Community Service, the Office of Management and Budget, the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness, and the White House Office of Social Innovation.

    From the press release: “HUD's Pay for Success Permanent Supportive Housing Demonstration, tests cost-effective ways to help persons cycling between the criminal justice and homeless service systems. Funded by DOJ and implemented through a HUD/DOJ partnership, this demonstration advances a model that offers a new source of financing to expand permanent supportive housing for the reentry population. This is part of a broader Administration effort to reduce barriers facing justice-involved individuals who are trying to put their lives back on track, including barriers to housing. Read a White House fact sheet on these efforts.”

    See the grantees and read the entire press release here.

  • June, 2016

    Roundtable Invitation: After Quito: Implementation of the New Urban Agenda, July 11, 10-12

    June, 2016
    Please join the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, and Citiscope for After Quito: Implementation of the New Urban Agenda, a roundtable discussion in a series of special dialogues organized by the U.S. Habitat III National Committee as part of national preparations for Habitat III. The event will be held on Monday, July 11, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon at the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development, Brooke Mondale Auditorium A & B, 451 7th Street S.W., Washington, D.C. 20410.

    A panel of experts will consider the policies, tools, and resources necessary for implementing, financing, and monitoring the New Urban Agenda. How can data and information about the dynamics of global urbanization be better connected to informed decision-making? How can cities overcome the barriers to raising revenue to support local sustainable development?

    Framing Remarks
    George W. “Mac” McCarthy, President and CEO, Lincoln Institute of Land Policy

    Presentations
    Monitoring: Alex Blei, Research Scholar, New York University
    Financing: Lourdes Germán, Director, International and Institute-wide Initiatives, Lincoln Institute of Land Policy

    Respondents
    Carey L. Biron, News Editor, Citiscope
    Solomon Greene, Senior Fellow, Urban Institute
    Amy Liu, Vice President and Director, Metropolitan Policy Program, Brookings Institution
    Shelley Poticha, Director, Urban Solutions, Natural Resources Defense Council
    Frank Shafroth, Director, Center for State and Local Government Leadership, George Mason University
    Moderator: Armando Carbonell, Senior Fellow and Chair, Department of Planning and Urban Form, Lincoln Institute of Land Policy

    A light lunch will be served following the roundtable discussion.

    This event is being organized in coordination with the U.S. Habitat III National Committee, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, and the U.S. Department of State. The series is part of a formal and informal public dialogue leading to Habitat III, designed to exchange ideas on global urbanization, its significance for U.S. foreign and domestic policy priorities, and the strategic role of cities in solving global challenges.
    Please RSVP for the event here by Thursday, July 7, 2016.

  • June 13, 2016

    Miami High School Students Participate in Design Chalet for Habitat III

    In advance of Building a Resilient South Florida, one of five regional convenings on Habitat III co-hosted by HUD in collaboration with civic, governmental, educational, and philanthropic partners, high school students from seven Miami-Dade County Magnet Schools participated in a design charrette on May 25th to reimagine their suburban neighborhoods in more resilient, age-friendly, and sustainable ways. Led by the Center for Urban and Community Design at the University of Miami, these students proposed ideas that could have real world impacts. A group of students will be selected to present their ideas to leaders during the June 13th Building a Resilient South Florida Convening.

    Learn more via coverage from the Miami Herald.

  • June 13, 2016

    Fostering Innovation through Pay for Success, An Interview with Yennie Tse

    Innovating within the federal government takes focus, creativity, persistence, and flexibility. One key example of this was the Office for International and Philanthropic Innovation's (IPI's) work with Pay for Success (PFS) and the recently announced permanent supportive housing demonstration. IPI's own Yennie Tse was a central figure in the early success of PFS, and below she shares the story of how this innovation took root at HUD.

    Read the interview at HUD's online magazine, the Edge.

  • May 5, 2016

    HUD Leaders Speak at USC Social Change Conference

    The Sol Price Center for Social Innovation, located at the University of Southern California (USC), featured several current and former HUD leaders at the annual conference this year. Entitled “Activating Markets for Social Change,” the 2016 conference highlighted the impact of social innovation in marginalized urban communities and discussed innovative, cross-sector strategies and partnerships. Salin Geevarghese, Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Office for International and Philanthropic Innovation, participated in a panel on comprehensive community initiatives and upward mobility. Erich Yost, Community Liaison for the Los Angeles Promise Zone, and Ray Brewer, HUD Field Office Director, shared their insights on the Promise Zone initiative in Los Angeles. Raphael Bostic, former Assistant Secretary for Policy Development and Research, also spoke.

    For those that were not able to attend, a video of each session of the event is available on the USC Price YouTube channel.

    Welcome & Keynote
    Setting the Context: Population-level Change

    Panel 1
    Regional Tax Approaches

    Panel 2
    Pay for Success / Social Impact Bonds

    Panel 3
    Value-Capture

    Panel 4
    Comprehensive Community Initiatives

    Panel 5
    Human Capital: Connecting Communities to 21st Century Jobs

    Panel 6
    Promise Zones

    Panel 7
    Social Entrepreneurship and Social Change

    Panel 8
    Bringing it All Together

  • April 26, 2016

    An Interview with Antonio Riley on the Midwest Regional Convening of UN Habitat III

    Learning from the City: The Midwest Regional Convening of UN Habitat III took place on March 31, 2016. It was the first of five regional Habitat III forums that HUD will co-host to engage local and regional practitioners across the country.

    As part of a series of interviews The Edge will be featuring on the Habitat III regional convenings, HUD Regional Administrator, Antonio Riley, shares his thoughts on the convening.

  • April 25, 2016

    Winners of the 2016 HUD Secretary's Award for Public-Philantropic Partnerships

    HUD and the Council on Foundations announced the 2016 winners of the HUD Secretary’s Award for Public-Philanthropic Partnerships. This award emphasizes cross-sector partnerships between the philanthropic and public sectors. The goal is to recognize the partnership process and its impact as a community strategy to increase the quality of life for low- and moderate-income residents across all American geographies — urban, suburban, and rural.

    Awards were given to place-based funders for completed or ongoing initiatives that are executed in partnership with a local, regional, or federal government agency. The winners are:

    Foundation

    Location

    Project Name

    The Montgomery County Foundation, Inc.

    Montgomery County, PA

    Your Way Home Montgomery County Express

    Boston Foundation

    Boston, MA

    Success Boston

    The Annie E. Casey Foundation

    Baltimore, MD

    Opportunity Collaborative

    Ann Arbor Area Community Foundation

    Ann Arbor, MI

    Washtenaw Coordinated Funders

    Communities Foundation of Texas

    Texas

    Educate Texas

    The Community Foundation of the New River Valley

    Southwestern, VA

    Aging in Place Leadership Team

    Seattle Foundation

    King County, WA

    Communities of Opportunity

    The Greater Kanawha Valley Foundation

    Charleston, WV

    Investing in Our Communities: West Side of Charleston

    Toledo Community Foundation

    Toledo, OH

    Overland Initiative – Partners for Places

    Incourage

    Wisconsin Rapids, WI         

    Blueprints for Tomorrow

    To view the Council on Foundations' video recognizing the recipients of the 2016 HUD Secretary's Award for Public-Philanthropic Partnerships, please click here.

  • March 18, 2016

    IPI Hosts HUD Place-Based Convening with Philanthropy

    Over the past several years, issues of equity and opportunity have been front and center in community development discussions and practice. Philanthropy, academia, and the public sector have been testing various place-based approaches, recognizing that social, economic, and health outcomes are all connected. Building on recent conversations led by philanthropy and academia and reflecting on recent place-based efforts, the Office of International and Philanthropic Innovation (IPI) at the U.S. Department for Housing and Urban Development (HUD) convened philanthropic stakeholders for a workshop on December 2, 2015 to learn from and build on those efforts undertaken by philanthropy, research institutions, HUD, and other stakeholders.

    Participants shared lessons from place-based programs, provided feedback on HUD-led programs, and offered solutions for enhancing cross-sector collaboration and partnership to strengthen and scale effective programs to build strong, sustainable, and equitable communities.

    “Helping Communities Together,” a report by IPI that summarizes the event and the discussion is available here.

  • March 4, 2016

    Philanthropic Partners Launch “Successes of Philanthropy” Website

    Successes of Philanthropy, a new website from Washington Monthly and sponsored by a group of foundations, features weekly stories chronicling philanthropic engagement and innovations on a variety of issues in the United States. Covering such topics as resilient cities, homelessness, and neighborhood revitalization, the website serves as a platform for philanthropy to share successful initiatives that are making a difference in communities.

    Neill Coleman of the Rockefeller Foundation described the story of the Foundation's collaboration with HUD on Rebuild by Design and the National Disaster Resilience Competition. Through this partnership, HUD and the Rockefeller Foundation leveraged resources and expertise to prioritize improving resilience in America's cities affected by recent disasters.

    By publicizing stories like the collaboration between the Rockefeller Foundation and HUD, the Successes of Philanthropy website aims to elevate promising strategies and increase knowledge of how philanthropy is making a difference on these issues.

  • February 26, 2016

    Seizing New Opportunities and Partnerships: The Role of Philanthropy in Innovating HUD's Resilience Work

    HUD is committed to making itself more friendly to partnerships, both to ensure the most efficient use of critical federal dollars and to help local stakeholders leverage the power of partnerships to create the most meaningful and effective impacts in their communities. Nowhere has that commitment been more evident than in HUD's work on resilience.

    On January 21, 2016, HUD Secretary Julián Castro announced the winners of the National Disaster Resilience Competition (NDRC), which makes nearly $1 billion available to communities that have been affected by natural disasters. Through NDRC, HUD will provide funding for resilient housing and infrastructure projects to 13 states and communities that were impacted by major disasters between 2011 and 2013. Much of what makes HUD's resilience work successful has been the agency's focus on partnerships with philanthropies.

    Read more about how Rebuild by Design and the National Disaster Resilience Competition represent opportunities for partners at all levels to leverage more than $2 billion for vulnerable communities.

  • February 4, 2016

    HUD Collaborates with AARP Foundation on Coordinated Research and Initiatives

    To address complex, societal problems, organizations must recognize the expertise of others and collaborate together on shared goals and strategies. That's why AARP Foundation and HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research have signed a Memorandum of Understanding promoting coordinated research and initiatives to address the problem of inadequate, unaffordable housing for low-income older adults.

    Housing is the linchpin of well-being, yet for too many older adults that linchpin is threatening to come loose. Our population is aging rapidly and our nation's housing supply is not prepared for this change. By 2030, the 50+ population will have increased by 20 percent, and one in five people will be 65 or older. A huge majority of those people want to age in place, growing older in the familiar surroundings of home.

    Read more about how HUD is partnering with AARP Foundation on The HUDdle, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's Official Blog

  • January 16, 2016

    Preparing for the United Nations Habitat III Conference

    Message from Deputy Assistant Secretary (DAS) Salin Geevarghese

    Habitat, the United Nations Conference on Housing and Urban Sustainability, is held every 20 years. It's been more than a year since HUD and its partners began preparations for Habitat III, which will be held this October in Quito, Ecuador. In this article, DAS Salin Geevarghese discusses HUD's approach to the planning process, updates readers on the work so far, and previews a number of upcoming events that HUD is cosponsoring.

    Read the full article on The Edge, the Office of Policy Development and Research's online magazine.

  • January 8, 2016

    Call for Abstracts for Habitat III Cityscape Articles

    Cityscape, HUD's journal for original research on housing and community development topics, will feature a Symposium on Habitat III. The intent is to initiate a dialogue on Habitat III by featuring research that addresses the issues being discussed. Abstracts are due January 29, 2016; final papers will be due June 15, 2016.

    Please see the Call for Abstracts for more information.

  • January 6, 2016

    Preparing Our Housing for the Transition to a Post-Baby Boom World: Reflections on Japan's May 26, 2015 Vacant Housing Law

    Peter Manda
    Boston University School of Law

    Cityscape Cover Image
    For more than a decade, policymakers and planners around the United States have increasingly been making a concerted effort to address the needs of the retiring baby boomers, particularly in funding for health care, long-term social services, elder justice, and retirement security. The 2015 Japanese Special Measures Law to Further a Response to Vacant Housing provides local governments and municipalities in Japan with expansive powers to identify vacant homes and compel owners to repair or remediate them. The Japanese Vacant Housing Law asks us to consider more carefully (1) what will happen to housing when the baby boomers die, and (2) what measures can be taken to prevent an abandoned housing crisis of equal scale in the United States. This article reviews general demographic trends in the United States and Japan, provides a summary of the 2015 Japanese Vacant Housing Law, and recommends development of data to assist with policies in the United States that can better address, and possibly prevent, a potential exacerbation of vacant and abandoned housing related blight over the course of the next 45 years.

    To access the complete article in Cityscape Volume 17, Number 3, please click here.

  • June 10, 2015

    HUD Announces Winners Of Innovation Of The Day

    WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) today announced the three local initiatives selected as winners in HUD's Innovation of the Day Competition. The winning entries were chosen by their peers through an online ballot that allowed the public to vote for their favorite projects.

    “Congratulations to the teams who worked so hard to develop and implement an innovative solution to help solve an important issue in their communities,” said Katherine O'Regan, HUD's Assistant Secretary for Policy Development and Research. “These initiatives exemplify how creative solutions are being successfully applied to real-world challenges in community and economic development.”

    Click here for the press release

  • June 3, 2015

    (Due date was June 11, 2015)
    Solicitation of Expressions of Interest
    Habitat III Policy Unit Technical Experts and Co-Leading Organizations

    The United Nations Conference on Housing and Sustainable Urban Development (Habitat III) will be held in Quito, Ecuador from October 17 - 20, 2016. As part of the preparatory process for this event, the Secretary-General of Habitat III is seeking technical experts to serve as members of ten policy units, as well as organizations to co-lead those policy units.

    Each policy unit will be composed of 20 technical experts, including participants from academia, government, civil society, and other regional and international bodies, ensuring diversity and geographical representation. Each policy unit will be co-led by two organizations.

    Policy units are charged with identifying challenges, policy priorities and critical issues, as well as developing action-oriented recommendations for implementing the New Urban Agenda. The issues discussed by each policy unit will serve as technical inputs for Member States' consideration in the preparation of the Conference's outcome document.

    A list and descriptions of the policy units can be found on the Habitat III website.

    HUD is soliciting expressions of interest from qualified technical experts, which it will then forward to Habitat III for consideration in its selection of appointments to the policy units.* Selection criteria are as follows:

    • Demonstrable Competence;
    • Geographical Balance; and,
    • Gender Balance.

    More information on the selection process can be found in Annex I (Selection Process and Criteria). Other information on serving as a technical expert, including duties and responsibilities, can be found in Annex II (Terms of Reference for Experts).

    All expressions of interest to serve as technical experts must contain:

    1) A complete curriculum vitae (CV) describing the candidate's technical qualifications; and
    2) The policy unit or units on which the candidate wishes to serve.

    HUD is also soliciting expressions of interest from organizations wishing to co-lead the policy units.* Information on selection criteria for co-leading organizations can be found in the above-referenced Annex I and also in Annex III (Terms of Reference for Co-leading Organizations).

    All expressions of interest to serve as co-leading organizations must contain:

    1) A description of the organization addressing the criteria listed in Annex III ;
    2) The policy unit or units on that the organization proposes to co-lead; and,
    3) The name of and contact information (telephone and email) for the individual representing the organization.

    The Habitat III Secretariat will make all decisions regarding the appointment of technical experts to policy units and the selection of co-leading organizations. All expressions of interest must be forwarded to Leopold.E.Wetula@hud.gov at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development by close of business on Thursday, June 11, 2015.

    *Please note that the Secretary-General is also requesting nominations from accredited stakeholders, including UNECOSOC, Habitat II, and specially accredited organizations, which offers an alternate path for appointment as a technical expert or co-leading organization.

  • October 2014

    The Secretaries' Award for Public-Philanthropic Partnerships 2014 Announced


    HUD, the Department of Agriculture (USDA), and the Council on Foundations are pleased announce the recipients of the Secretaries' Award for Public-Philanthropic Partnerships. Now in its third year, this award recognizes excellence in partnerships that have transformed relationships between foundations and government entities. These are partnerships that result in measurable benefits in terms of increased economic employment, health, safety, education, sustainability, inclusivity and cultural opportunities, and/or housing access for low and moderate income families.

    This awards program is part of an ongoing, formal partnership between HUD, USDA, and the Council, featuring partnerships across all American geographies — urban, suburban, and rural. The Secretaries' Award winners were honored at the Council's Fall Conference for Community Foundations in Cleveland, October 19-22, 2014. Please see the HUD press release.

    Information about the 2014 award recipients is now available at https://www.HUDUser.gov/portal/about/Pub_Phil_2014_Intro.html.

  • May 2014

    New Leadership in PD&R's Innovation shop


    As the newest member of the Office of Policy Development and Research's (PD&R's) leadership team, I want to introduce myself to The Edge community and express how honored I am to advance the work of PD&R's Office for International and Philanthropic Innovation (IPI) as its new Deputy Assistant Secretary.

    When Secretary Donovan asked me to lead the innovation team, I knew that I could not have asked for a better opportunity. I am thrilled to carry on the legacy of my predecessor, Ana Marie Argilagos, whose intelligence, creativity, and leadership helped found IPI's office and the innovation team. As I begin my third week with IPI, I am evaluating every part of our title: the Office for International and Philanthropic Innovation. Read more on The Edge.

  • May 2014

    Evaluating the First Year of U.S.-Germany City Exchange Program for HUD Grantees


    The German Marshall Fund of the United States (GMF) recently released a Report looking at the first year of the Dialogues for Change (D4C) initiative, an innovative, international peer-to-peer exchange network that engages city leaders in substantive and meaningful dialogue to find common solutions to shared community development challenges.

    Launched in 2012, D4C is part of a 2011 Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between HUD and the German Ministry of Transport, Building, and Urban Development. The MOU, administered by PD&R's Office for International and Philanthropic Innovation (IPI), authorizes collaboration around sustainable urban development, highlighting the shared interests of the U.S. Livability Principles and the Leipzig Charter on Sustainable European Cities. Under the MOU, the nonprofit organization GMF was selected to develop and coordinate the D4C initiative. Read more on The Edge.

  • May 2014

    The 2014 Secretaries' Award for Public-Philanthropic Partnerships


    HUD is pleased to partner with the Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Council on Foundations on our joint Secretaries' Award for Public-Philanthropic Partnerships. Now in its third year, this award recognizes excellence in partnerships that have transformed relationships between foundations and government entities. These are partnerships that result in measurable benefits in terms of increased economic employment, health, safety, education, sustainability, inclusivity and cultural opportunities, and/or housing access for low and moderate income families.

    This awards program is part of an ongoing, formal partnership between HUD, USDA, and the Council. This year, we are pleased that USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack will join HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan to feature partnerships across all American geographies — urban, suburban, and rural. The Secretaries' Award winners will be honored at the Council's Fall Conference for Community Foundations in Cleveland October 19-22, 2014.

    The 2014 award application and details are now available at https://www.HUDUser.gov/secaward/cof. Applications are due on June 10, 2014.

  • April 2014

    Addressing Inequality and Access to Opportunity at the World Urban Forum

    Harriet Tregoning, Director of HUD's OER, Francisco Gaetani, Executive Secretary of Brazil's Ministry of Environment, Junia Santa Rosa, Brazil's Deputy National Secretary of Housing/Ministry of Cities, Amanda Olalquiaga, Ms. Santa Rosa's Assistant, HUD's Secretary Donovan and Larry Handerhan, Coordinator of IPI's International Research and Initiatives.
    From April 6th through 9th, HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan attended the UN's World Urban Forum 7 in Medellín, Colombia. In many quarters, the World Urban Forum is seen as the most prominent global convening dedicated to urban issues. The Secretary served as Head of the U.S. Delegation and was accompanied by HUD senior staff members Harriet Tregoning (Director of the Office for Economic Resilience) and Salin Geevarghese (Deputy Assistant Secretary for International and Philanthropic Innovation). Secretary Donovan had several high-level public speaking engagements in which he discussed the challenges posed by inequality both domestically and abroad, as well as various mechanisms the global community can use to tackle these problems. He also held a series of Bilateral Meetings with his international counterparts and world leaders,  and participated in a Redevelopment Tour of Medellín, recently named the World's Most Innovative City. More information on HUD's role in this year's World Urban Forum can be found here.

    Click here for more pictures

  • February 2014

    IPI Co-hosts a World Urban Forum 7 (WUF7) National Pre-Session Dialogue

    Panel on Public-Private Partnerships for Equitable Twenty-First Century Cities  with Jason Marczak, Deputy Director of the Adrienne Arsht Latin America Center, Atlantic Council (Moderator); Pamela Flaherty, President and Chief Executive Officer, Citi Foundation; Alonzo Fulgham, Vice President for Strategy and Sustainable International Development, CH2M HILL; and Ana Marie Argilagos, Deputy Assistant Secretary, Office for International and Philanthropic Innovation, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (L to R).
    On February 4 in Washington, D.C, IPI co-hosted the first in a series of dialogues with the Atlantic Council, UN-Habitat, Next City, and other partners examining the role of innovation and partnership in equitable urban development policy. Subtitled “Steps to Build Resilient, Equitable Societies,” the event drew an audience of nearly 200 and was intended to prepare the U.S. audience for the World Urban Forum in Medellín, Colombia in April. Panelists conversed with stakeholders on how to support and spotlight innovation and exchanged lessons learned and best practices on the subjects of of “Public-Private Partnerships for Equitable 21st Century Cities” and “Harnessing Urban Innovation for Global Inclusive Development.” Watch the full discussion on webcast here.

    Subsequent events in the WUF7 National Pre-Session Dialog series took place in Philadelphia (February 24), Chicago, and New York (both on March 4).

    Sponsored by UN-Habitat, WUF is the most prominent global convening dedicated to urban issues. This theme of WUF7 was “Urban Equity in Development,” with a particular focus on how the design, governance, and infrastructure of cities are critical components in addressing poverty and inequality.

    Medellín's reputation as a hub of urban innovation engendered a high level of interest in WUF7 among U.S. public, private, philanthropic, and NGO stakeholders. Housing Ministers and heads of state from around the world were among the attendees. You may also want to check out a brief summary of the WUF7 event on UN-Habitat's website.

  • February 2014

    IPI coordinates Secretary Donovan's January trip to Chile

    Secretary Donovan and MINVU at reconstruction site.
    In early January, IPI coordinated Secretary Donovan's January trip to Chile, which was highlighted in a Blog Post on HUD's media channel, The HUDdle. The primary purpose of the Secretary's visit was to identify lessons from Chile's long-term disaster reconstruction efforts that may apply to Hurricane Sandy-impacted regions in the U.S. Staff-level Disaster Teams from HUD and the Chilean Ministry will follow up with a video exchange in February. The trip also coincided with the launch of Chile's first rental housing subsidy program, which offers a flat monthly subsidy to young families that wish to temporarily rent rather than purchase a home. PD&R staff plans to monitor the performance of the rental subsidy program and discuss its relevance to U.S. housing policy (both HCVP and Rapid Re-Housing programming).


    Click here for more pictures
     

  • January 2014

    HUD Senior Advisor Participates in OECD Expert Workshop on Measuring Regional Well-Being

    OECD Logo for Better Life Initiative
    On January 23rd, Solomon Greene, Senior Advisor to HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research and Office for International and Philanthropic Innovation, presented at an expert workshop on “Measuring Regional and Local Well-Being for Policy Making,” hosted by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). This workshop, held at the OECD headquarters in Paris, was part of the OECD's “How's Life in Your Region?” project, which was launched last year to develop a conceptual framework for measuring well-being in cities and regions. Participants in the workshop discussed the analytical framework emerging from a recent draft report prepared by the OECD on measuring well-being that proposes a set of internationally comparable well-being indicators and provides guidance to policymakers for using these indicators to improve policy results. During a presentation to the international urban policy experts gathered at the workshop, Greene shared models of measuring regional well-being that are being developed through the U.S. Partnership for Sustainable Communities, as well as lessons learned from HUD's Sustainable Communities Initiative.

    More information on the OECD “How's Life in Your Region?” project can be found here: http://www.oecd.org/regional/how-is-life-in-your-region.htm

    The agenda for the OECD expert workshop on “Measuring Regional and Local Well-Being for Policy Making” can be found here: http://www.oecd.org/gov/regional-policy/workshop-agenda.pdf;

    More information on the Partnership for Sustainable Communities can be found here: http://www.sustainablecommunities.gov; and

    More information on the HUD Sustainable Communities Initiative can be found here: http://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/HUD?src=/hudprograms/sci

  • January 2014

    Pay for Success Around Permanent Supportive Housing with the Re-Entry Population

    The Department of Justice's FY14 appropriations bill includes up to $5 million under the Second Chance Act for Pay for Success (PFS) programs to implement a permanent supportive housing model for the re-entry population. HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research and Office of Public and Indian Housing are collaborating with DOJ on approaches to pilot this Pay for Success program. Extensive research demonstrates that there is a small but very costly cohort of people who consume extremely high levels of crisis public services. This cohort includes individuals caught in a revolving door of incarceration, homelessness, and crisis healthcare. The PFS program, a new model of financing social service programs to help federal, state and local governments, seeks to demonstrate that investments in stable housing and services for “frequent users” (of jails, shelters, and emergency rooms) are more effective than back-end spending on emergency rooms, jails, and homeless shelters.

  • December 2013

    International Gathering of Mayors and Ministers Compare Strategies on Community and Economic Development

    OECD's 5th Urban Roundtable
    Deputy Secretary Maurice Jones and IPI Deputy Assistant Secretary Ana Marie Argilagos participated in the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Fifth Urban Roundtable of Mayors and Ministers. Secretary Donovan co-hosted the last Urban Roundtable in Chicago in 2012. These meetings deepened and continued HUD's engagement with OECD in the context of policy exchanges that seek to improve domestic policy, with a particular emphasis on resilience, better metropolitan governance, and governance efficiency. While significant discussion centered on bridging local and national policies, the event also served as an opportunity for HUD to further advise on OECD's Inclusive Growth strategy. In turn, HUD has come away with valuable lessons learned from OECD's critical policy analysis, which seeks to mobilize effective public investment strategies, strengthen capacities, and forge more innovative public-private partnerships.

    Deputy Secretary Jones was also invited to the Third Ministerial Meeting of the Territorial Development and Policy Committee (TDPC), which was held in tandem with the Urban Roundtable. The TDPC focused on “Regions and Cities: Where Policies and People Meet.” The Deputy Secretary used the opportunity to discuss HUD's place-based initiatives; SCI, SC2, Choice Neighborhoods, and our latest initiative, Promise Zones. The OECD marked the occasion by launching two important new publications: “Regions at Glance 2013” and “Investing Together: Working Effectively Across Levels of Government.” The latter report based one of its case studies on HUD's SC2 initiative.

    Deputy Secretary Jones and DAS Argilagos held eight bilateral meetings with counterparts from around the world. The in-depth meetings helped forge a new relationship with Mexico, and deepened our already productive exchanges with Germany, Japan, Chile, Korea, and the Netherlands.

  • November 2013

    Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) visits HUD

    CMHC meets with Deputy Assistant Secretary of Native American Programs, Rodger Boyd, and Thomas C. Wright, Director of Office of Loan Guarantee
    IPI hosted a delegation from the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) led by Director of Strategic Policy Coordination Jeannie Dempster. CMHC and IPI are working to strengthen ties between our agencies and to advise one another on innovative ways to advance our respective domestic policies. During their two-day visit, CMHC staff met with key HUD program staff to exchange ideas and policies around retrofit and rehab of public housing, housing for aging populations, aboriginal housing initiatives, and housing finance. HUD staff also learned about CMHC's recent initiative to connect workforce training with public housing redevelopment. IPI will continue to communicate with CMHC to share best practices and coordinate involvement in global convenings.

  • November 2013

    Deputy Secretary Maurice Jones keynotes the National Philanthropy Day in Norfolk, VA

    Deputy Secretary Maurice Jones keynotes the National Philanthropy Day in Norfolk, VA
    Deputy Secretary Maurice Jones delivered the keynote speech at National Philanthropy Day in Norfolk, VA, an event held by the Hampton Roads Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP). The Deputy Secretary discussed with philanthropic leaders HUD's priorities, including Strong Cities Strong Communities (SC2), resilience, sustainability, and innovative solutions to housing and community development challenges. The Deputy Secretary stressed the importance of HUD's approach to public-private and public-philanthropic partnerships.

    Click here for more pictures

  • November 2013

    Secretary Shaun Donovan discusses Global Urban Challenges in Chicago

    Secretary Donovan was the keynote speaker at the “Global Urban Challenges: The Role of Research Universities” conference in Chicago this past November. The international convening was sponsored by the University of Chicago and The Chicago Council on Global Affairs, where an international audience of urban planning faculty and scholars gathered to discuss “the role of the research university in better understanding current and future urban issues — particularly urban health, urban education, and urban planning — and in translating research findings into improved urban policy and institutions.” A summary of the conference's plenary and working group sessions can be found here.

  • September 2013

    Secretary Shaun Donovan speaks at the National Academy of Sciences on Building Resilience to Catastrophic Risks

    Secretary Donovan delivered the keynote address on “Building Resilience to Catastrophic Risks through Public-Private Partnerships,” a joint program held by the National Academies and the World Economic Forum (WEF). WEF's Global Agenda Council on Catastrophic Risks, examines innovative ways to manage risks and improve resilience. As a member of the Council, Secretary Donovan discussed a number of President Obama's priorities on climate change and private-public partnerships. The Secretary emphasized activities relating to the President's Climate Action Plan, the Hurricane Sandy Rebuilding Task Force, and the launch of Rebuild By Design; a multi-stage regional design competition created to develop innovative projects that protect and enhance Sandy-affected communities.

    This meeting also served as an opportunity for Secretary Donovan to exchange policy ideas with the Chilean Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Rodrigo Pérez Mackenna, who oversaw reconstruction efforts after the 2010 earthquake, Ed Martinez, President of the UPS Foundation, and the leadership of the National Academies. View interviews with resilience partners, including Secretary Donovan here.

  • September 2013

    Secretary Donovan and Dutch counterpart keynote the H209 Forum: Water Challenges for Coastal Cities

    Secretary Donovan and Melanie Schultz, the Netherlands' Minister of Infrastructure and the Environment, delivered keynote speeches and participated in a discussion before the H209 Forum: Water Challenges for Coastal Cities which focused on:

    • Adaptation to climate change and how to keep New York, New Jersey, and the Netherlands safe and resilient;
    • The economics and governance of water; and
    • Innovative water technologies.

    Donovan discussed integrated approaches to disaster mitigation, recovery and adaptation, governance issues, and various collaborative approaches, highlighting HUD's work on the Hurricane Sandy Taskforce.

    The conference was organized by the Henry Hudson 500 foundation in partnership with Regional Plan Association, the Metropolitan Waterfront Alliance, Netherlands Water Partnership, and the Center for Urban Real Estate – Columbia University. The forum brought together over 300 participants from the private sector, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), policymakers, engineers, academics, and architects.

  • September 2013

    Secretary Shaun Donovan announces the 2013 winners of the Secretary's Award for Public-Philanthropic Partnerships

    The Secretary's Award for Public-Philanthropic Partnerships

    Secretary Donovan announced the 2013 winners of the HUD Secretary's Award for Public-Philanthropic Partnerships at the Council on Foundations' Community Foundations Conference in San Diego. Ten funders from around the country were recognized for their outstanding partnerships with the public sector to improve housing and neighborhoods; education, health and recreation; transportation, community participation, arts and culture; and public safety, sustainability, and economic development. HUD and the Council on Foundations annually recognize place-based funders for their initiatives that are accomplished in partnership with a local, regional, or federal government agency.

    Donovan also spoke about the critical role that community foundations play in improving people's lives, highlighting the ways that HUD will work with community foundations to address the challenges ahead.

  • June 2013

    Philanthropy partners with HUD to launch an international design competition for the Hurricane Sandy-affected region

    On June 20, 2013, Secretary Donovan, who chairs the Hurricane Sandy Rebuilding Task Force and the Rockefeller Foundation, launched Rebuild by Design, a multi-stage regional design competition that will develop innovative projects to protect and enhance Sandy-affected communities.

    Over 140 prospective teams from more than 15 countries submitted proposals, representing some of the top engineering, architecture, design, landscape architecture, and planning firms, as well as research institutes and universities, worldwide. Thanks to the generous support of the Rockefeller Foundation and JPB Foundation, as well as the New Jersey Recovery Fund and the Deutsche Bank Americas Foundation, along with other philanthropic partners, ten Design Teams are participating in an intense eight-month process broken out into two distinct stages: analysis and design.

    These Design Opportunities follow three months of in-depth analysis and public outreach, including both one-on-one conversation with people living in affected areas and robust guided conversation with design teams and citizens. Ten Design Opportunities were selected to be developed in partnership with a diverse range of stakeholders in the coming months. Find out about each of them here.

  • March 2013

    Secretary Donovan Participates in the World Economic Forum
    Secretary addresses global conference on Designing Smart Cities and the Future of Urban Development

    President Obama, Secretary Donovan and mayors of SC2 cities participate in a White House convening on the interagency program.Secretary Shaun Donovan and Stewart Sarkozy-Banoczy, Director, IPI, participated in the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland. WEF is an international organization committed to improving the state of the world by engaging business, political, academic and other leaders of society to shape global, regional and industry agendas, during which the Secretary spoke on “Designing Smart Cities” and the “Future of Urban Development.” Engagement with WEF will assist HUD in innovation transfer and finding best available evidence and lessons for policy development and dissemination by learning from counterparts around the globe.

    Secretary Donovan then met with Professor Klaus Schwab, founder and chairman of the World Economic Forum (WEF) to discuss ways in which the WEF and HUD can collaborate. Mr. Schwab and the Secretary agreed to collaborate on exploring climate change/adaptation, energy efficiency, housing finance, and innovative financing mechanisms. HUD is also planning to engage on WEF's Global Agenda Councils.

  • March 2013

    Lessons from the Netherlands: Secretary Donovan Signs Agreement for Exchange with the Netherlands' Ministry for Infrastructure and the Environment

    Secretary Shaun Donovan and Melanie Schultz van Haegen, Minister of Infrastructure and the Environment for the Netherlands, met and signed an agreement pledging closer cooperation between our two countries on issues related to disaster mitigation, sustainable and integrated planning, and water management infrastructure. Watch the signing ceremony on HUD's YouTube channel. The HUD-Dutch Memorandum of Understanding lays out certain areas of cooperation over the next five years including:

    • Creating new community development strategies that place a premium on sustainability and ‘livability' principles;
    • Pursuing infrastructure and water management strategies and climate resilience and preparedness, including new approaches to flood protection systems and ‘building with nature;' and
    • Leveraging private and philanthropic investments to maximize public investments in urban development and long-term disaster mitigation.

    Read the Memorandum of Understanding here.
    Watch the video of the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding here.
    To launch this cooperation, IPI facilitated a roundtable in New York, NY at HUD Region II offices between Dutch and U.S. participants involved in disaster planning, recovery, and mitigation to discuss with the Minister how lessons from the Dutch can guide our rebuilding work in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy. Representatives from government, regional planning, philanthropy, private sector and academia contributed to the conversation and defined next steps. Minister Schultz and her delegation also participated in site visits of Newark, Jersey City, and Hoboken, New Jersey, meeting with local officials and touring affected areas.

  • March 2013

    Pacific Rim Council on Urban Development (PCRUD) Forum

    Deputy Assistant Secretary Ana Marie Argilagos participated in the Pacific Rim Council on Urban Development (PCRUD) conference hosted by the National Housing Authority of Thailand. Argilagos represented HUD to deepen knowledge exchange among the United States and its Asian and European partners and to lift up best practices on regional land use and sustainable development; public-private partnerships and cross sector collaboration; resilience and mitigation efforts to combat impacts of climate change; transit-oriented development; and housing finance and affordability.

  • February 2013

    Director General of Spatial Planning for the Netherlands Exchanges Disaster Mitigation Practices with Secretary Donovan and the Hurricane Sandy Rebuilding Task Force


    IPI, in collaboration with the Hurricane Sandy Rebuilding Task Force, coordinated a three-day learning event with Henk Ovink, Director General of Spatial Planning, Ministry for Infrastructure and the Environment, Kingdom of the Netherlands. Mr. Ovink participated in discussions with Secretary Shaun Donovan to benefit the newly formed Task Force and to advise HUD on disaster mitigation and recovery best practices with recommendations on integrated approaches to disaster mitigation, recovery and adaptation. Mr. Ovink also toured affected sites in New York City and met with Task Force and HUD staff to discuss specific issues regarding infrastructure, community development, and the Dutch experience in disaster mitigation.

  • January 2013

    Deputy Assistant Secretary Argilagos Speaks on Philanthropy and Government at the University of Southern California

    Ana Marie Argilagos, Deputy Assistant Secretary, IPI, spoke at the University of Southern California on “Philanthropy: Imagination, Innovation, and Impact,” focusing on the potential for philanthropy and government to support diffusion and scaling to achieve greater impact. Argilagos evaluated the potential for HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research to surface and highlight best practices in communities and offer tools for funders looking to adapt those models in their own place-based strategies. Argilagos also highlighted the Pay for Success model and the Strong Cities Strong Communities initiative to identify ways in which HUD is looking to both scale up best practices at the federal level and diffuse models to other place-based funders.

  • January 2013

    “Dialogues for Change,” Workshop with Germany
    IPI works with German and U.S. municipal officials on civic engagement

    In coordination with HUD's Declaration of Intent with the German Ministry of Transport, Building, and Urban Development that was signed in 2012, IPI co-hosted a transatlantic city learning exchange with the Ministry and the German Marshall Fund of the United States. The three-day workshop focused on civic engagement best practices and featured representatives from three U.S. cities (Austin, Flint, and Memphis) and three German Cities (Bottrop, Ludwigsburg, and Leipzig,) to figure out how to incorporate inclusion and equity in the civic engagement process, how to design successful and sustainable processes, and how to adapt tactical and web tools for the U.S and German urban context.

  • January 2013

    IPI Formalizes Collaboration with Harvard's Initiative for Responsible Investment (IRI)

    A Memorandum of Understanding has been created with the Hauser Center at Harvard University's Initiative for Responsible Investment (IRI) to collaborate on research and develop case studies on mobilizing and deploying private investment for sustainable cities, and the public policies that enable these public-private partnerships. The effort enlivens IPI's partnerships with the Brazil and Germany, as IRI will develop comparative case studies of cities within each country covering themes including transit-oriented development, equity, energy infrastructure, affordable housing, and community development institutions. IRI and HUD will also examine private investment opportunities for HUD's Sustainable Communities Initiative grantees.

  • December 2012

    HUD Awards Nearly $109 Million to Four Communities to Revitalize Housing, Surrounding Neighborhoods

    Secretary Shaun Donovan announced on 12/13/12 that four communities will receive a combined $108.9 million to redevelop distressed housing and bring comprehensive neighborhood revitalization to blighted areas.

    HUD's Choice Neighborhoods Initiative (Choice) will help transform distressed communities in Cincinnati, Ohio; San Antonio, Tex.; Seattle, Wash.; and Tampa, Fla. This landmark initiative promotes a comprehensive approach to transforming areas of concentrated poverty into viable and sustainable mixed-income neighborhoods. The $108.9 million federal investment of Choice Neighborhoods has generated $393 million in private investments and commitments from local jurisdictions and partners, a more than 300 percent leveraging.

    “HUD's Choice Neighborhoods Initiative supports local visions for how to transform high-poverty, distressed communities into neighborhoods of opportunity,” said Donovan. “We're emphasizing a comprehensive approach to revitalizing neighborhoods by considering the totality of a community with regard to health, safety, education, jobs and quality housing in mixed-income neighborhoods.”

    Links to the grantee neighborhood maps are posted below. These grantees along with all other past Choice Neighborhoods grantees can also be reviewed and analyzed at https://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/HUD?src=/press/press_releases_media_advisories/2012/HUDNo.12-193.

    Cincinnati
    San Antonio
    Seattle
    Tampa

  • October 2012

    Hud Awards Nearly $5 Million to Spur Next Generation of Housing, Neighborhood Transformation
    17 communities to execute grassroots efforts to revitalize housing, communities

    U.S. Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Shaun Donovan announced today that 17 communities across the U.S. will receive Choice Neighborhoods Planning Grants. The $4.95 million awarded today provides these communities the resources they need to craft comprehensive, community-driven plans to revitalize public or other HUD-assisted housing and transform distressed neighborhoods. Read more about these local planning efforts and see links to the neighborhood maps below. These grantees along with all other past Choice Neighborhoods grantees can also be reviewed and analyzed at https://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/HUD?src=/press/press_releases_media_advisories/2012/HUDNo.12-193.

    “While many of these grantees have already collaborated to get to this stage, this funding enables them to take their initial discussions further to plan out strategies to build stronger, more sustainable communities that will address distressed housing, failing schools, rampant crime, and all that plagues the nation's poor neighborhoods,” said Donovan. “HUD's Choice Neighborhoods Initiative represents the next generation in a movement toward revitalizing entire neighborhoods to improve the lives of the residents who live there.”

    HUD's Choice Neighborhoods Initiative promotes a comprehensive approach to transforming distressed areas of concentrated poverty into viable and sustainable mixed-income neighborhoods. Building on the successes of HUD's HOPE VI Program, Choice Neighborhoods links housing improvements with necessary services for the people who live there – including schools, public transit and employment opportunities.

    Newark Housing Authority
    The Michaels Development Company I, L.P.
    County of Pasco
    Housing Authority of the City of Austin
    Sunnydale Development Co., LLC
    BRIDGE Housing Corporation
    District of Columbia Housing Authority
    Housing Authority of the City of Camden
    Housing Authority of the City of Columbia
    Kingsport Housing & Redevelopment Authority
    Municipal Housing Authority for the City of Yonkers
    The Woonsocket Neighborhood Dev. Corp. d/b/a NeighborWorks B
    The City of Roanoke Redevelopment and Housing Authority
    New York City Housing Authority
    Boston Housing Authority
    Housing Authority of the City of Spartanburg
    The Housing Authority of the City of Durham

  • September 2012

    Secretary Donovan Discusses Top Philanthropic Partnering Opportunities

    During the summer, the Secretary offered philanthropy guidance about what he felt were some of the most strategic opportunities for philanthropy to collaborate with HUD. During a series of three Secretary's Briefing Calls focusing on Choice Neighborhoods; Strong Cities, Strong Communities; and Sustainable Housing and Communities, the Secretary outlined specific ways that the philanthropic community could partner at a national or local level, build on or leverage HUD's investments, or advance the field of practice. The Office of International and Philanthropic Innovation is available to answer questions about these priorities and help coordinate efforts.

  • September 2012

    Winners for the First Secretary's Award for Community Foundations Announced

    We are excited to announce the winners of the inaugural Secretary's Award for Community Foundations. These ten community foundations were honored by the Council on Foundations CEO Vikki Spruill and HUD Deputy Secretary Maurice Jones on Sept. 10th at the Council's conference in New Orleans. A jury selected one community foundation from each of HUD's 10 regions. Awards were given to community foundations for excellence in completed or ongoing initiatives that are executed in partnership with a local, regional, or federal government agency. We hope you'll take a moment to check out the winners on the award site where you can download a one-page profile on each of the outstanding public-philanthropic partnerships.

  • September 2012

    Urban Regeneration and Compact City Policies with HUD Collaboration in Asia

    IPI attended a joint Korean Ministry of Land Transport and maritime Affairs (MLTM) and Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) conference on Urban Regeneration and Compact City. IPI presented on HUD's Sustainable Community Partnership, SC2, public housing, and Asia city case studies. The panel also included UK Professor Michael Parkinson, who presented European policy approaches on urban regeneration, Prof. Ja-hoon Koo of Hanyang University, who focused on TOD, and Tadashi Matsmoto of OECD and others who presented the compact city policy from environmental incentives, Japanese examples, and European perspectives.

  • September 2012

    Gates Foundation and Funders Together collaborate to End Homelessness

    IPI hosted the next event in the Meet the Funder series with David Wertheimer from Gates Foundations and Anne Miskey of Funders Together. David discussed how Gates' priorities have evolved and how the Foundation has shaped their thinking on what “ending” homelessness means with some meaningful indicators to measure. David also shared some innovative stories on what the Takoma Housing Authority is doing to encourage rapid rehousing and connect the public housing authority with the school systems, thanks in large part to the flexibility of being a Moving To Work site. Miskey explained how affinity groups can cover the “gaps” in philanthropy's strengths and weaknesses, and how Funders Together has worked closely with federal agencies recently.

  • September 2012

    France's Ministry of Ecology, Energy, and Sustainable Development Exchanges with HUD

    IPI hosted a learning exchange with representatives from France's Ministry of Ecology, Energy, and Sustainable Development. Representatives from Policy Development & Research, Healthy Homes, and Sustainable Communities participated to exchange information on energy efficient building, indoor air quality, and sustainable communities. Patricia Blanc, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Health and Environment of France explained how her team has attempted to improve the energy efficiency of buildings while improving indoor air quality through four initiatives: 1) addressing air quality issues in public schools, 2) placement of a chemical emission rating system on household products, 3) banning commercial products harmful to citizens, 4) development of targets and regulations to improve energy efficiency. A brochure on France's Health-Environment Action Plan (in English) can be found here. The meeting led to a commitment to follow-up on sharing retro-fit return on investment figures, protocols/checklists for auditing/assessing an existing building's performance on sustainability, air quality or environmental impact criteria, specific results of products tested and which have been certified/denied for use in France, and HUD's experience with developing environmental justice programs and policies.

  • September 2012

    World Urban Forum VI: Wrapping up the Pre-Naples Dialogue

    On August 15 at the National Building Museum, HUD/IPI, UN Habitat, and the National Building Museum, with support from the Ford Foundation, hosted the Wrap-Up session to the Nearing Naples series in anticipation of the upcoming World Urban Forum (WUF) VI, UN Habitat's biannual conference on “Rethinking Urban Planning and the Future of Cities.” Heidi Crebo-Rediker, Chief Economist with the U.S. Department of State, who led the U.S. delegation to WUF VI in Naples, opened the session with an address to the audience. Her speech centered on the idea of government working with the private sector to create public-private partnership to address social and fiscal issues. Following her introduction, Neal Peirce, Chairman, the Citistates Group, moderated a panel discussion which included Erika C. Poethig, Acting Assistant Secretary, Policy Development and Research (PD&R), HUD; Christopher Williams, Director of the Washington Office, UN-Habitat; Steven Feldstein, Director, Office of Policy in the Bureau for Policy, Planning and Learning, USAID; and John Moon, Program Specialist, Community Development Financial Institutions Fund, U.S. Department of the Treasury. The panelist discussed potential lessons that legacy cities could borrow from international cities, identifying indicators other than population growth to gauge the success of cities and region, the type of programmatic initiatives that the US can support to promote sustainable urban development in Africa, Asia, and Latin America, and ways the U.S. can leverage and best integrate global health, food security, resilience and other development areas to support the urban agenda.

  • August 2012

    Section 811 Project Rental Assistance Demonstration Program Funders Call

    In August, IPI hosted a 811 PRA Demonstration funders call with philanthropy. The demo is a central part of the Department's effort to utilize housing as a platform for improving quality of life. The program will award rental assistance funds to state housing agencies (or other appropriate entities) that have formed partnerships with state Medicaid and health and human services agencies that have developed methods for identifying, referring, and conducting outreach to a target population of extremely low-income persons with disabilities requiring long term services and supports. Opportunities for funder involvement include capacity building at the agency and ground levels as well as program evaluation and public outreach.

  • June 2012

    HUD Announces New Research Partnerships

    The Office of Policy Development is excited to announce PD&R's Research Partnerships, a new platform for HUD to engage with researchers, philanthropy, and other organizations leading innovative housing and community development research. Through PD&R's newly-enacted non-competitive cooperative agreement authority, the agency can participate in research projects that are developed and led by outside individuals and organizations. Unlike competitive NOFAs and procurements, this authority allows PD&R to partner in research projects that were not designed by HUD and which HUD has not solicited. Research proposals may be submitted to PD&R at any time and must demonstrate evidence that at least 50 percent of the project is funded by philanthropic or other government entities. In 2012, PD&R is focusing its involvement in research partnerships on projects that advance one of four research priorities: 1) gleaning knowledge from HUD demonstrations, 2) better understanding how housing is a platform that improves a person's quality of life, 3) increasing use of American Housing Survey data, and 4) making improvements to the state of housing technology. Information about PD&R's Research Partnerships is now posted on HUDUSER. Questions may be directed by email to ResearchPartnerships@hud.gov.

  • June 2012

    Living Cities Presents its Integration Initiative and Transit-Oriented Development Work

    For its Meet the Funder, Know the Work series, IPI hosted a visit with Robin Hacke and Carmen Rojas from Living Cities. Living Cities is an innovative collaborative of 22 of the world's largest foundations and financial institutions. Living Cities' work aligns closely with several of HUD's place-based initiatives including Sustainable Housing and Communities. Living Cities' Integration Initiative also shares two sites in common with the SC2 initiative—Cleveland and Detroit. In nearly 20 years Living Cities members have collectively invested almost $1 billion to re-engineer long-broken public systems such as education, workforce development and transportation for the 21st century. Please find more information about how Living Cities puts capital to work at : The Capital Absorption Capacity of Places: A Research Agenda & Framework.

  • June 2012

    OECD Releases Publication "Redefining Urban: A New Way to Measure Metropolitan Areas"

    This publication compares urbanization trends in OECD countries on the basis of a newly defined methodology which helps cross-country comparison of the socio-economic and environmental performance of metropolitan areas in OECD countries. The methodology, developed by the OECD in collaboration with the EC-Eurostat, is presented and results from its application to 28 OECD countries are discussed together with policy implication both on national growth and governance of cities. The publication includes three original papers that present the urbanization dynamics and prospects in China and South Africa and the governance challenges resulting from the new policy agenda on cities in the United Kingdom. The publication is available from OECD's website.

  • May 2012

    IPI Presents at Mission Investors Exchange Annual Conference

    Staff from HUD's Office for International and Philanthropic Innovation participated in Mission Investors Exchange—which unites the organizations PRI Makers and More for Mission. IPI shared how philanthropic organizations and other funders are working to leverage and align with public funds at the local and national level to optimize capital and impact. The conference looked at opportunities to use debt and equity structures at market- and below-market rates to achieve mission-related goals in across a broad set of programs. Preservation of affordable housing, for example, is an area of great interest to social investors. IPI's forthcoming in-house research on HUD as an investor will highlight case studies of other examples in which HUD funds are used within larger mission-related investing structures.

  • May 2012

    Rental Assistance Demonstration Funders Briefing

    The Rental Assistance Demonstration (RAD) is a central part of the Department's rental housing preservation strategy. Authorized by the Congress last year, RAD provides the opportunity for Public Housing Authorities and owners to voluntarily convert the assistance of public housing and other vulnerable HUD-assisted properties to long-term, project-based Section 8 rental assistance contracts. During this funders-only call, HUD's RAD team provided background on the goals and purpose of the demonstration, an update on where it stands currently – including plans for resident engagement, technical assistance, and a RAD evaluation – and opportunities for philanthropic engagement.

  • May 2012

    Latin American Municipal Leaders Visit HUD

    IPI hosted a delegation of municipal officials from across Central America through the Department of State's International Visitors Leadership Program to discuss sustainable urban development. The delegation included officials from cities large and small and from municipal utility authorities in Bolivia, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru and Venezuela. HUD researchers discussed with the delegation various challenges they're facing to developing sustainable communities and innovative ways to move forward. HUD representatives shared best practices around sustainable housing and communities and the Partnership for Sustainable Communities' Livability Principles. IPI plans to continue working with the delegation to lift up new and innovative ideas in Latin America.

  • May 2012

    Nearing Naples Summer Dialogue: Rethinking Urban Planning and the Future of Cities

    On May 24 at the National Building Museum, UN Habitat with its partners, HUD/IPI, Habitat for Humanity International, and the National Building Museum, with support from the Ford Foundation, hosted the first in a summer series of dialogues in advance of the World Urban Forum (WUF) VI, UN Habitat's biannual conference on “Rethinking Urban Planning and the Future of Cities.” Participants and presenters included the American Planning Association, International Youth Foundation, Lincoln Institute of Land Policy, World Bank, and the District of Columbia Office of Planning. Attendees discussed the myriad of challenges and opportunities facing the future of cities in the developed and developing world. Exploring ideas including how to conduct comparative analysis between lessons from the past and future challenges, the panelists debated how to integrate planning in informal settlements, how to provide all citizens with quality of place and how to incentivize and encourage public participation, innovation, and solutions for the future. The next dialogue, focused on “Equity and Prosperity” will take place on June 18 at the National Building Museum.

  • March 26, 2012

    HUD-South Africa-NAHRO International Exchange

    On March 26, 2012, IPI welcomed a delegation of South African Housing & National Association of Housing and Redevelopment (NAHRO) Officials to HUD, including Humphrey Mmemezi, Minister of the Executive Council (MEC) of Local Government & Housing in the Gauteng Province (includes Johannesburg and Pretoria). The delegation discussed housing and community development issues that are consequence of increasing rural-urban migration in South Africa, as well as opportunities for knowledge-sharing and learning exchanges. The delegation highlighted their joint concern over the provision of quality affordable rental housing for historically disadvantaged populations. John Hopkins, CEO of the Southern African Housing Foundation (SAHF), also invited Deputy Assistant Secretary Argilagos to participate in their International Conference and Exhibition, focusing on "Building Capacity for Delivery” in Capetown in September 2012.

  • March 16, 2012

    Meet the Funder: Solomon Greene, Senior Program Officer, Open Society Foundations

    As part of our Meet the Funder Series, IPI invited Solomon Greene, Senior Program Officer in the US Programs Division's Equality and Opportunity Fund at the Open Society Foundations (OSF), to discuss his work with the Neighborhood Stabilization Initiative; a strategic grantmaking program to mitigate the impacts of the national foreclosure crisis on low-income communities and communities of color. The initiative began in New York in 2007 as a way to protect low-income communities from heightened instances of predatory lending, and has now evolved into a multi-city project supporting interventions into the subprime lending and foreclosure crisis aimed at any of three overlapping goals: Preventing foreclosures for homeowners in mortgage distress; Stabilizing communities with high concentrations of mortgage foreclosures; and expanding access to fair and affordable credit. Following his presentation, Mr. Greene fielded a series of questions in regards to; risks of leveraging private investment for mission-based housing organizations; the future of the initiative; the consequence of REO Rental Initiative and the challenges of the rent-to-own model.

  • March 15, 2012

    Strong Cities, Strong Communities White House Convening

    On March 15, 2012, PD&R/IPI aided in engaging philanthropic stakeholders in the field of housing and urban development to attend a convening at the White House highlighting the recent launch of the Strong Cities, Strong Communities initiative. During the event, President Obama signed an Executive Order to establish the White House Council on Strong Cities, Strong Communities. The Council that includes 19 federal agencies will build on the SC2 pilot initiative launched last summer and seeks to: Coordinate the implementation of SC2 and build a foundation for expanding the program to cities across the country; Recommend policies to the President for building local expertise in strengthening local economies; and changing Federal policies and programs to address issues to strengthen local capacity and spur economic growth.

  • March 12, 2012

    Policy Briefing: OECD Compact City Policies

    On March 12, 2012, PD&R/IPI invited Tadashi Matsumoto, Senior Policy Analyst, and Mr. Yasushi Yoshida, Head of Division from the OECD's Division for Regional Policy for Sustainable Development to HUD to discuss their forthcoming report on Compact City policies. Drawing from case-studies from Vancouver, Portland, Paris, Melbourne, and Toyama, Mr. Matsumoto defined the notion of “Compact City” as policies aiming to forge dense and proximate development patterns, link urban areas by public transport systems, and increase accessibility to local services and jobs. The ultimate goals of the study are to: better understand the compact city concept and the implications of today's urban contexts; better understand potential outcomes, particularly in terms of Green Growth; develop indicators to monitor compact cities; examine current compact city practices in OECD countries; and propose key compact city strategies based on their findings. Following the presentation on the report, Mr. Yoshida spoke more generally about OECD initiatives in regards to energy, transport, and sustainable urban form. Subsequently, US government stakeholders in sustainable urban development policies responded to the presentations, including: Jeff Skeer, APEC Energy Working Group Delegate, DOE; Salin Geevarghese, Senior Advisor to the Director of the Office of Sustainable Housing & Communities, HUD; Lynn Richards, Policy Director, Office of Sustainable Communities, EPA; and Lilly Shoup, Office of Policy, DOT.

  • March 8-9, 2012

    The OECD Roundtable for Mayors and Ministers: Mobilizing Investments for Urban Sustainability, Job Creation and Resilient Growth; Chicago

    Following months of preparation, Assistant Secretary Bostic and IPI staff accompanied the Secretary to the fourth annual OECD Roundtable for Mayors and Ministers in Chicago, IL. Secretary Donovan co-hosted the event, in conjunction with; NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, and Secretary-General of the OECD Angel Gurría. On the morning of March 8th, the Secretary and Mayor Emanuel chaired a Roundtable discussion themed around investing in cities for sustainable economic growth; while Secretary-General Gurría and Mayor Bloomberg chaired the discussion of the role of cities on the road to Rio+20. Following a lunch honoring International Women's Day, a series of policy dialogues occurred, focusing on financing urban sustainability in key sectors, with Raphael co-chairing the portion on building. On March 9th, the OECD unveiled and led discussion around their Territorial Review of the Chicago Tri-State Metro Region, which is the OECD's first territorial review of a US Metropolitan Area. In an attempt to target international attendees with less stake in the Chicago Territorial Review, IPI, in conjunction with the Urban Land Institute of Chicago and the City of Chicago, helped facilitate a neighborhood tour showcasing urban revitalization through current health, institutional, environmental and cultural community redevelopment projects in local neighborhoods.

  • March 1, 2012

    World Urban Forum 6 Planning Meeting

    IPI invited Chris Williams, Director of the UN-HABITAT Office in Washington, to aide in facilitating a planning session with non-governmental partners for the World Urban Forum 6, which will be held on September 3-6 in Naples, Italy. Due to the fact that Secretary Donovan led a strong delegation to WUF 5 in Rio back in 2010, HUD hopes to continue that momentum onto WUF 6 and be a strong presence in Naples, particularly through the organization of networking events (which are more akin to policy exchanges). IPI and its partners are currently in the process of developing concepts for networking events, which are to be innovative exchanges themed around the WUF 6 dialogue points; Urban Planning (with institutional and governance streams), Basic Services, Prosperity and Economy of Cities, and Equity and Culture. In the past, the US has collaboratively hosted roughly 15 networking events, which will also be our target number for WUF 6. Beyond opportunities presented at networking events, Chris highlighted multiple opportunities for US engagement at WUF 6. For instance, a series of roundtables will seek to engage the following affinity groups; the Business Sector, Parliamentary Members, Academics, and those promoting issues of Youth & Gender. Looking forward, IPI will continue to convene planning meetings in preparation for the Forum in September. The next meeting will most likely be held at the National Buildings Museum in mid April.

  • Partner.HUD.Gov Version 1.2 is Live

    On Tuesday, January 17th, version 1.2 of Partner.HUD.Gov went live with the recently announced 2011 Choice Neighborhoods Planning Grantees and Competitive Runners-Up. The newest version also includes enhanced functionality and design so be sure it check it out at www.partner.hud.gov. Planning will continue for other grant programs to expand the site such as Sustainable Communities.

  • Secretary Donovan and HHS Secretary Sebelius recently co-wrote an essay for the “How Housing Matters to Families and Communities” commentary series supported by the MacArthur Foundation and the Spotlight on Poverty and Opportunity.

    Spotlight on Poverty and Opportunity (12/5, Donovan and Sebelius) How Housing Matters: Housing As a Platform for Improving Health Outcomes. When we think of improving the health outcomes of Americans, we often think of better medicine, lower health care costs, and smarter prevention strategies. But in many ways, safe, decent affordable housing is just as important. Perhaps the clearest example is an effort by the federal government that began a decade ago to reduce people's exposure to lead hazards in their homes. Since that time, these efforts have reduced the number of children with lead poisoning by 75 percent. That's just the beginning. Several studies have demonstrated that “permanent supportive housing” ends homelessness, which is associated with serious health problems. Providing people with a combination of housing vouchers and supportive health services actually ends up costing less than the revolving door of shelters, emergency rooms, detox centers, prisons, and hospitals.

  • Planning for OECD Urban Roundtable for Mayors and Ministers Underway.

    From December 5-7, Deputy Assistant Secretary Ana Marie Argilagos attended meetings of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), including the Working Parties on Urban Areas, Rural Areas, and Indicators, as HUD reignites relationships for new common efforts. Serving as Vice Chair of the Working Party on Urban Areas, Argilagos is providing the US perspective on housing and urban development. She also worked to finalize plans for the upcoming OECD Urban Roundtable of Mayors and Ministers. Secretary Donovan, Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, Mayor Michael Bloomberg of New York/C40 and OECD Secretary General Angel Gurría will be co-hosting the Urban Roundtable event on March 8 and 9, 2012 in Chicago. This 4th urban roundtable will involve mayors and ministers from close to fifty countries – as well as attracting high-level business leaders, civil society groups and former heads of state from cities and countries around the world, and it will present a unique opportunity to discuss sustainable development and urbanization here in the U.S.

  • HUD and Partners Launch “I-10-K” At Clinton Global Initiative.

    The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has forged an exciting and unique partnership focused on the use of competitions and networks to discover and disseminate the most imaginative solutions for creating sustainable and livable communities. The “Commitment to Action” known as Innovation 10 Thousand or I-10K was announced at the CGI annual meeting in New York City. The commitment and partnership have been crafted to develop a replicable platform to engage sustainable development innovators towards the goal of creating new housing and employment opportunities in urban locations. I-10-K is a unique collaboration between HUD, the U.S. Department of State, American Planning Association, Context Partners, X PRIZE Foundation, Rockefeller Foundation, Un Techo Para Mi País, and Ashoka's Changemakers. The partners conceived of using competitions as a way of advancing housing and urban development innovations across public, private and nonprofit sectors. President Clinton has stated that he believes CGI can lift up and standardize such models, ultimately creating solutions for social and economic mega-challenges. For more information and to see how this program links to HUD's recent Sustainable Urban Housing Competition, visit:

    The Urban Institute reports that progress continues on the innovative Housing Opportunities and Services Together (HOST) evaluation of ways to coordinate public housing and human services to maximize positive outcomes for parents and children. Bolstered by $3 million in seed money from the Open Society Foundation's Special Fund for Poverty Alleviation and which is attracting matching support from other sources, the Institute is working with local entities serving low-income residents in a variety of public housing and mixed-income settings. Ultimately, the program aims to produce evidence and lessons, especially for housing agencies and policymakers, for strengthening and streamlining effective services benefiting high-need, low-income populations. For more information, visit here.

  • United Nations World Habitat Day

    On Monday, October 3 Deputy Assistant Secretary addressed an audience at the United Nations in celebration of World Habitat Day and convened by UN-HABITAT and the Consortium for Sustainable Urbanization. The theme was “Cities and Climate Change” for which an expert international panel discussed the connections among urbanization, sustainability, growth, energy, housing, and development. Argilagos discussed the importance of organizations collaborating and jointly investing in innovation. She discussed the concept of “collective innovation” and shared examples of how HUD was working across sectors to tackle some of the greatest challenges in cities for the future. An article about the forum can be found at:
    http://www.southsouthnews.com/Pages/NewsDetails.aspx?NewsId=de9824bc-a407-4b1f-9fb5-2ce4392a7b73

  • HUD and Partners Launch “I-10-K” At Clinton Global Initiative

    The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has forged an exciting and unique partnership focused on the use of competitions and networks to discover and disseminate the most imaginative solutions for creating sustainable and livable communities. The “Commitment to Action” known as Innovation 10 Thousand or I-10K was announced at the CGI annual meeting in New York City. The commitment and partnership have been crafted to develop a replicable platform to engage sustainable development innovators towards the goal of creating new housing and employment opportunities in urban locations. I-10-K is a unique collaboration between HUD, the U.S. Department of State, American Planning Association, Context Partners, X PRIZE Foundation, Rockefeller Foundation, Un Techo Para Mi País, and Ashoka's Changemakers. The partners conceived of using competitions as a way of advancing housing and urban development innovations across public, private and nonprofit sectors. President Clinton has stated that he believes CGI can lift up and standardize such models, ultimately creating solutions for social and economic mega-challenges. For more information and to see how this program links to HUD's recent Sustainable Urban Housing Competition, visit:
    https://archives.hud.gov/news/2011/pr11-233.cfm

  • Project Rebuild: HUD and the American Jobs Act

    At the beginning of September, President Obama announced the American Jobs Act and delivered the bill to Congress last week. This bill outlines all aspects of the President's plan to create jobs. Here you will find a fact sheet and FAQs on Project Rebuild which is the portion of the American Jobs Act that directly involves HUD. Project Rebuild is designed to create jobs, stabilize neighborhoods, and reduce vacancy. Project Rebuild will accomplish this by leveraging the success of the Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP) while making critical changes to scale up, address commercial vacancies, and leverage capacity in the private sector. IPI will continue to communicate with our stakeholders about these efforts, so please stay tuned to our website and sign up on our listserv for future emails and announcements.

    Project Rebuild FAQs
    Project Rebuild Fact Sheet

  • Sustainable Urban Housing Competition

    Sustainable Urban Housing Competition On July 18-19, the Sustainable Urban Housing Competition came to a close with two days of events held at the National Building Museum. The competition partners, the American Planning Association, Ashoka Changemakers, the Brazilian Ministry of Cities, HUD, the National Museum, the US State Department, and with the support of the Rockefeller Foundation delivered a series of events that covered a broad range of topics in urban sustainability.

    The first day of events was dedicated exclusively to the finalists, and helping them develop their projects further, while also tying their individual efforts to global urban sustainability initiatives. Finalists heard from competition organizers, representatives from the US government's Partnership for Sustainable Communities, and discussed the impacts of urban planning and the role of public private partnerships.

    There were also workshops and consultations designed to assist the finalists with marketing their project and attracting attention of future partners and investors.

    Assistant Secretary for Policy Development and Research, Raphael Bostic, launched the second day's learning summit by discussing the connection between sustainability and cities, and how HUD's goals intersect with the competition's themes of innovation, sustainability, and urban development. These themes were addressed by the panels, and shown in practice through the finalist's presentations of their work. The event culminated in an awards ceremony celebrating all eleven finalists' innovative approaches to providing sustainable, energy efficient housing and communities in a way that unleashes economic opportunities for the urban poor, and builds smarter, cleaner cities around the world.

    Click here for a blog and videos of the event.

  • HUD Signs MOU with the German Ministry of Transport, Building and Urban Development

    HUD Signs MOU with the German Ministry of Transport, Building and Urban Development On behalf of HUD, the Office for International and Philanthropic Innovation (IPI) in the Office of Policy Development and Research hosted a visiting German delegation May 9-13. The visit began with the signing of a Joint Declaration of Intent between HUD and the German Ministry of Transport, Building and Urban Development, with the HUD delegation led by Deputy Secretary Sims and featuring representation from a range of intersecting HUD programs and offices. The Joint Declaration establishes a foundation for future collaboration between the two governments, framed by the Livability Principles of the Federal Sustainabilty Partnership and the Leipzig Charter for Sustainable European Cities. According to HUD Deputy Secretary Ron Sims, the Declaration "reinforces the idea that developing more sustainable communities is something both our nations recognize as critical to our futures. The US and Germany share a common vision that we can build a better, more sustainable and livable tomorrow.” On Monday afternoon a policy exchange panel entitled, “Shrinking Cities: Best Practices and Visions of the Future through a Transatlantic Lens,” was held at the German Marshall Fund, featuring representatives from HUD, the philanthropic community, the German Marshall Fund, and the German Ministry of Transport, Building, and Design. The group, led by Stewart Sarkozy-Banoczy, Director of Philanthropic Research & Initiatives in IPI, then traveled to New York where the delegation met with HUD's Region II Regional Administrator Adolfo Carrion and staff and toured the Ground Zero site and transportation hub. See press release and link to Joint Declaration here

    Click here for more pictures

  • Sustainable Urban Housing Winners Announced: The best global solutions for building livable and inclusive cities

    Three winners emerged from the global collaborative competition: Sustainable Urban Housing: Collaborating for Liveable and Inclusive Cities, hosted by Ashoka's Changemakers, with support from the Rockefeller Foundation. HUD, State Department, the American Planning Association, and Government of Brazil are partners on the competition. Deputy Sims served as a judge for the competition to narrow the competition to ten finalists, and HUD's Office for International and Philanthropic Innovation (IPI) in PD&R has taken the lead on behalf of HUD. The competition identifies innovative solutions for providing sustainable, energy efficient housing in a way that unleashes economic opportunities for the urban poor, and builds smarter, cleaner cities around the world. The winning entries will each receive US $10,000 to scale-up their initiatives. In addition to receiving US $10,000, the winners will be showcased and reviewed at an event that closes the competition in June 2011 at the National Building Museum in Washington, D.C. IPI will be working with the finalists and winners to lift up their ideas and will pursue building on the success of this initiative.

    The three winners are: Developing Real Estate for Squatters and Tenants of the City of Buenos Aires, Argentina,
    Zero Waste, Sustainable Architecture, Renewable Energy: Unlimited Source of Renewable Materials for Sustainable Housinga, Brazil
    Green Development Zone, USA - People United for Sustainable Housing (PUSH), Buffalo, NY

     

  • HUD Signs Partnership Agreement with the Business Civic Leadership Center

    HUD and the Business Civic Leadership Center have signed a Public-Private Partnership Agreement in order to collaborate on joint events for information sharing and raising awareness within the business philanthropic community around housing and community develop issues. Read more about this partnership and see a video clip with Regional Administrator Jane Vincent on the BCLC blog: http://www.chamberpost.com/2011/04/public-private-partnerships-advancing-community-development/

  • HUD Requests for Expressions of Interest - Fellowship Placement Pilot Program - Economically Distressed Cities

    Last year, senior leadership from the White House, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), and other federal agencies have assessed ways to enhance technical assistance to help some of the nation's most economically distressed cities. One primary result of these discussions led to HUD's development of the Fellowship Placement Pilot Program, a brand new program that will deploy a class of highly skilled and committed fellows into cities facing long-term economic challenges to help build capacity support and provide intense technical assistance.

    HUD is pleased to announce the Request for Expressions of Interest (REI) Notice for the Fellowship Placement Pilot Program for public competition. HUD is seeking a qualified third party or a partnership of third parties to grant $2.5 million to manage, administer and implement the fellowship program. HUD broadly considers a third party to be an educational institution, private and for-profit entity, or private or public nonprofit with a 501(c)(3) status. A partnership can be comprised of two or more of these entities. Read more information about this Request here.

  • USAID Request for Applications Posting: HAITI REHABILITATION AND REINTEGRATION OF PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES PROGRAM

    Since the January 12 2010 earthquake in Haiti, there has been a tremendous outpouring of assistance from the international community to help the country recover. We at USAID are heartened by these expressions of interests in the reconstruction process, and we thank you for your interest in partnering with USAID in the health sector.

    As our reconstruction efforts move forward, we are pleased to share with you a Request for Applications (RFA) that was posted on March 14th, 2011 on www.grants.gov. USAID is requesting applications from qualified organizations to implement the Rehabilitation and Reintegration of Persons with Disabilities Program to achieve the following results.

  • New Research! Providing Housing within the Sustainable Development Framework: Lessons from Learning Exchanges with Brazil, Mexico, and South Africa

    Download

    Throughout 2010, The Department of Housing and Urban Development's Office of International and Philanthropic Innovation (IPI) invited delegations of housing experts from Brazil, Mexico, and South Africa to Washington, D.C. to exchange ideas and perspectives regarding housing challenges and opportunities in these countries. After each of these three learning exchanges, IPI's staff was struck by the intelligence, energy, creativity, and dedication of these housing professionals. In this report we present brief reports and learning from each country on conditions, policies, and programs in housing and sustainable urban development, explore some common themes and challenges, and conclude with insights from national and international experts that point to fruitful directions in practice.

  • New Research! From Urban Institute- The Potential for Public-Private Partnerships: Philanthropic Leaders Consider Housing as a Platform

    Download

    This paper reports on the opportunities and challenges of creating partnerships between foundations and government agencies in promoting housing as a platform. Through discussions with philanthropists, the authors examine evidence for "housing as a platform" and assess the challenges that impede public private partnerships. They find that there is a wide interpretation of philosophies that can make partnerships more difficult to establish. While foundation leaders harbor considerable skepticism about developing effective partnerships, they also recognize the benefits of collaborating with public agencies. The authors identify specific topics related to HUD's strategic interests where improvement might advance closer relationships between HUD and private foundations.

    http://www.urban.org/publications/1001512.html

  • Sustainable Housing Prize & Judge's Orientation Call

    IPI's Sustainable Urban Housing Prize, which is a joint initiative with State Department, American Planning Association, the Government of Brazil, Ashoka's Changemakers, and funded by the Rockefeller Foundation officially closed for submissions on Friday, February 11. The competition received over 300 entrants from around the world and more than 80 nominations (http://www.changemakers.com/en-us/sustainableurbanhousing).

    In addition to Deputy Secretary Sims, the panel includes judges from multiple countries and sectors, including: Angel Cabrera, President, Thunderbird School of Global Management; Eduardo Rojas, Urban Development Consultant; Jane Weru, Executive Director and Founding Member, Akiba Mashinani Trust; Jerro Billimoria, Founder, Aflatoun; Maria Otero, Under Secretary of State for Democracy and Global Affairs, U.S. Department of State; Sara Topelson, Undersecretary for Urban and Territorial Development, Federal Government of Mexico; William Cobbett, Manager, Cities Alliance; and Ines da Silva Magalhaes, Housing Secretary, Government of Brazil.

    After the official challenge judges decide on the top ten entries, the contest will move to an online voting phase where the public will be able to vote on the most innovative and encouraging ideas. Be sure to check out the website above when voting begins on March 23, 2011!

    Read more on the HUDdle Blog: http://hud-blog.omnitecinc.com/2011/01/28/sustainable-obtainable-attainable/

  • Notice of Public Interest (NOPI) for Fiscal Year 2010- Application Deadline February 4, 2011

    Transformation Initiative: Sustainable Communities Research Grant Program

    The purpose of this NOPI is to inform the research community of the opportunity to submit grant applications to fund quality research under the broad subject area of sustainability. HUD is primarily interested in sponsoring cutting edge research in affordable housing development and preservation; transportation-related issues; economic development and job creation; land use planning and urban design; green and sustainable energy practices; and a range of issues related to sustainability. This NOPI is governed by the information and instructions found in HUD's Fiscal Year 2010 Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) Policy Requirements and General Section that the Department posted on June 7, 2010 (FR 5415-N-01).

    The pre-application deadline date is 11:59:59 p.m. eastern time on February 4, 2011. Pre-applications and full applications must be received by Grants.gov. Applicants need to be aware that following receipt, applications go through a validation process in which the application may be accepted or rejected. Please allow time for this process to ensure that you meet the timely receipt requirements.

    If you are interested in applying, please visit here.
    You will also need to register at http://grants.gov/applicants/get_registered.jsp.

  • New Working Group to Coordinate and Attract $150 Million for Economic Development and Opportunity

    New Working Group to Coordinate and Attract $150 Million for Economic Development and OpportunityA working group of major philanthropic and financial institutions, Investors for Sustainable Communities, has announced an effort to coordinate up to $150 million in investments to build stronger communities grounded in more resilient, regional economies that provide opportunity to all residents and that firmly embrace environmental stewardship…. Going forward, participants will coordinate their investments, aligning them as appropriate with federal grants such as the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's (HUD) Sustainable Communities Planning Grant Program, and invite others to invest alongside them - leveraging more than $150 million over the next three years.

    The full press release can be found here http://www.livingcities.org/press/releases/?id=14
    More information on the Working Group can be found here http://backend.livingcities.org/_backend.livingcities.org/files/Investors_for_Sustainable_Communities_Program_Description.pdf

  • Sustainable Urban Housing Prize Competition Early Deadline Submission Award

    On December 12, the early prize deadline for the Sustainable Urban Housing Prize Competition passed and the best entries will each be eligible to win a prize of US $500.

    Early Entry Prize Winners: Congratulations to Green Development Zone in the USA, Housing Finance for urban financially excluded families in India, and Franquicia Social para el desarrollo de vivienda sustentable in Mexico! Each of these entrants has been awarded a prize of US $500.

    The competition has applicants from countries all around the world, including Argentina, Mexico, India, Sierra Leone, the United States, Australia, and Brazil, in addition to 50 project nominations. Applications for the competition will continue to be accepted through February 17th, 2011, and three winners will receive $10,000 prizes. Visit http://www.changemakers.com/sustainableurbanhousing to find out more.

  • New Working Group to Coordinate and Attract $150 Million for Economic Development and Opportunity

    Social investors invited to join the effort


    WASHINGTON, DC -- (October 14, 2010) – A working group of major philanthropic and financial institutions, Investors for Sustainable Communities, has announced an effort to coordinate up to $150 million in investments to build stronger communities grounded in more resilient, regional economies that provide opportunity to all residents and that firmly embrace environmental stewardship.
    Investors for Sustainable Communities is sponsored by Living Cities, a consortium of 22 of the world's largest foundations and financial institutions working to revitalize America's cities.  Participants in Investors for Sustainable Communities include national philanthropies such as the Ford, Surdna and Rockefeller foundations, regional funders such as the McKnight Foundation, and financial institutions such as Citi and Morgan Stanley (a full list is provided below). 

    The working group's three-part approach, known in policy circles as equitable Transit-Oriented Development (equitable TOD), seeks to: develop healthier, more affordable neighborhoods that offer convenient and safe access to jobs, stores, schools and services; expand transportation options connecting these neighborhoods to the regional economy (e.g. job centers); and ensure that all people—regardless of income, race, age, ability, and similar considerations, can participate in development decisions and share in the benefits. 
    From 2008 through 2010, participants in Investors for Sustainable Communities invested over $100 million in equitable TOD.  Going forward, participants will coordinate their investments, aligning them as appropriate with federal grants such as the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's (HUD) Sustainable Communities Planning Grant Program, and invite others to invest alongside them - leveraging more than $150 million over the next three years. The effort will also benefit from the participation of national nonprofit organizations such as the Funders' Network for Smart Growth and Livable Communities, a learning and action collaborative of national and regional foundations and other funding partners, and Reconnecting America, a national organization working to integrate transportation systems and the communities they serve.

    "Transit-Oriented Development is a powerful way to make metro areas, the engines of our economy, more competitive, inclusive and environmentally sustainable," said Pablo Farias, Chairman of Living Cities and Vice President of Economic Opportunity and Assets at the Ford Foundation.  "Just as important, it offers a chance for low-income people to contribute to and share in the benefits of metropolitan growth.  The participants in this collaborative, and the members of Living Cities more broadly, are committed to making this agenda a pillar of our effort to strengthen American cities." 

    Economic growth is a critical dimension to the effort.  "As America begins to rebuild its economy following the Great Recession, we need to ensure we are laying the foundation for lasting and broadly-shared prosperity," said Lee Sheehy, Director of the Region and Communities Program at the McKnight Foundation and co-chair of the working group.  "Our ability to innovate and create jobs depends on our ability to connect business, capital and talent as efficiently as possible.  China and India get this, and are way ahead of us.  We need to grow our options in order to compete."  Audrey Choi, Head of Global Sustainable Finance at Morgan Stanley adds, "Designing new, innovative ways to achieve growth by blending public, philanthropic and private capital will be critical to this work."

    TOD is also a quality-of-life issue, noted Nick Turner, Managing Director at the Rockefeller Foundation.  "Families must have more options to live in places where they can bike or walk to school or the grocery store, or take the bus or train to work," said Turner.  "Providing more walkable and transit-oriented development would help hardworking Americans to save more of their time and money.  This effort is one step in making sure people have those affordable options."

    The working group is particularly interested in the equity dimension of TOD: ensuring that all people can participate in development decisions and share in the benefits and opportunities TOD creates.  This means, for example: expanding housing options for working families and seniors near train stations and bus routes; using transit to revitalize distressed neighborhoods while taking measures to prevent low-income residents from being priced out; connecting local residents and businesses to the employment and contracting opportunities created by these investments; and intentionally engaging disadvantaged communities in decision-making to ensure that development meets their needs.  

    "Millions of working families, particularly those living in ‘first-ring' suburbs, have seen their combined monthly housing and transportation costs rise to more than half of their incomes," said Phil Henderson, President of the Surdna Foundation.  "At Surdna, we believe there is an economic, environmental, and equity imperative to expand quality transportation options throughout the country, improving residents' access to available jobs, education and training, and other opportunities in their regions." 

    The working group's emphasis on equity and inclusion was a major factor in the AARP Foundation's decision to participate, according to foundation president Jo Ann Jenkins.  "Equitable TOD can provide options for all people, regardless of age or income, so that access to auto transportation does not determine their ability to live independently, connect to their families and communities and access the job market," said Jenkins.

    Participants' shift toward collaboration is an important one, stated Living Cities' CEO Ben Hecht.  "Our members have been investing individually in this work for years," said Hecht.  "But they recognize that no one institution has the means to achieve this agenda on its own.  By working across sectors, coordinating their resources and pooling their influence, these organizations can move the needle far more effectively."

    The name Investors for Sustainable Communities signals the working group's intent to reinforce the federal policy framework emerging from the recently established Interagency Partnership for Sustainable Communities.  The Partnership, launched in 2009, consists of several federal agencies including HUD, the Department of Transportation and the Environmental Protection Agency.  Partnership agencies are working to align their rules and funding programs so that efforts in housing, transportation, environmental infrastructure and economic development reinforce and leverage one another.  Many local and state governments are following suit.  Within weeks, HUD, through its Office of Sustainable Housing and Communities, is expected to announce grants tallying over $200 million toward the Partnership's goals.
    The working group is taking measures to promote the successful adoption of the Sustainable Communities framework at the regional, state and local levels.  In early 2011, it will sponsor a "Sustainable Communities Boot Camp" tailored to the needs of regions that will receive grant awards from HUD.  The Boot Camp will help arm practitioners with the approaches and strategies they need to build systems that advance economic prosperity, equity and inclusion and environmental stewardship simultaneously. 

    "The emerging Sustainable Communities Framework is critical to our work," said Sheehy.  "This is not a partisan issue.  We want to see the Sustainable Communities approach become the way government at all levels does business.  We welcome the opportunity to partner with the administration to advance our common goals."

    Investors for Sustainable Communities is one of several efforts under way or in development at Living Cities that seeks to address issues affecting people, places and economic opportunity, such as access to education, housing, health care, transit and jobs, simultaneously.  On October 28, for example, Living Cities will announce the five urban regions selected to participate in the Integration Initiative, which will provide up to $80 million in grants, loans and Program-Related Investments (PRIs) to support game-changing, cross-sector efforts to create opportunities for low income people.   

    For additional information, please see the Investors for Sustainable Communities Program Summary at www.livingcities.org : http://backend.livingcities.org/_backend.livingcities.org/files/Investors_for_Sustainable_Communities_Program_Description.pdf

  • USAID Making Cities Work Paper Competition on Urban Poverty:

    Building on the success of last year's paper competition, USAID's Urban Programs Team, in cooperation with the International Housing Coalition (IHC), The World Bank, the Woodrow Wilson Center's Comparative Urban Studies Project (CUSP), and Cities Alliance, is once again seeking paper submissions for an upcoming policy workshop and paper competition on urban poverty in the developing world. Paper topics should address one of three sub-topics: land security, urban health, and urban livelihoods. Winning papers will be published and selected authors will present their papers in a policy workshop to be held in Washington, D.C. in October 2011.
    Download the competition fact sheet here: http://www.makingcitieswork.org/news/paper-competition-urban-poverty-abs...

  • World Bank's new Urbanization Platform:

    The World Bank announced that it will launch a Knowledge Platform with committed funds to focus on urbanization. The Knowledge Platform will convene and create a network of actors in the urban field, with the goal of identifying policies and investments that will improve urbanization outcomes.

    See PowerPoint on Platform here: http://prezi.com/mtqgtcoqzopu/urbanization-kp-technical-version/

    Download Fact Sheet on Platform here: http://www.makingcitieswork.org/news/world-bank-announces-knowledge-plat.

  • Call for Abstracts Now Open

    The Australian and New Zealand Association of Planning Schools (ANZAPS) members on the World Planning Schools Congress WPSC2011 Local Organising Committee and Strategic Advisory Committee are delighted to announce that the official call for abstracts for WPSC2011 is now open!

    Colleagues can access details on the call for abstracts by clicking on the Call for Papers tile on the front page of the WPSC2011 website – www.wpsc2011.com.au.

    Alternatively, full details on the call for abstracts can be found by clicking here - where you will find more information.

  • Second Lee Kuan Yew World City Prize 2012: Open for Nominations

    The Prize focuses on four key elements: liveability, vibrancy, sustainability, and quality of life. It recognizes practical, cost-effective solutions and ideas that can generate lasting social, economic and environmental benefits, which can be replicated across cities and communities around the world. The nominated individual or organization may be from either the private or government sector and can include non-government organizations (NGOs) and academics.

    The Prize is named after Singapore's first Prime Minister, and present Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew. Mr Lee has been instrumental in developing Singapore into a distinctive, clean and green garden city in the short span of a few decades.

    The Lee Kuan Yew World City Prize Laureate will be presented with an award certificate, a gold medallion, and a cash prize of S$300,000, sponsored by Keppel Corporation.

    The inaugural Prize attracted 78 nominations from 32 countries worldwide and was eventually conferred on Bilbao City Hall in recognition of its integrated, holistic approach to urban transformation. Bilbao City Hall has demonstrated that urban regeneration can be a powerful social and economic driver to catalyze change, strengthen the urban fabric, inject vibrancy, and improve the quality of life for its citizens.

    Nominations for the Lee Kuan Yew World City Prize 2012 are now open and will close on 31 March 2011.

    For nominations and full details of the Prize, please visit the official Prize website at www.leekuanyewworldcityprize.com.sg

  • World Habitat Day: October 4, 2010

    The United Nations has designated the first Monday of October every year as World Habitat Day. The idea is to reflect on the state of our towns and cities and the basic right to adequate shelter. It is also intended to remind the world of its collective responsibility for the future of the human habitat.

    The United Nations chose the theme Better City, Better Life to highlight our collective vision of a sustainable urban world that harnesses the potential and possibilities, mitigates inequalities and disparities, and provides a home for people of all cultures and ages, both rich and poor.

    More information: www.unhabitat.org/whd.