New Updates on The Edge

Message from PD&R Leadership:
The Power of Creative Placemaking
The practice of creative placemaking energizes and empowers residents and leverages the power of cultural assets to transform distressed communities into vibrant neighborhoods. Rachelle Levitt, Director of PD&R’s Research Utilization Division, describes the many forms that creative placemaking can take, and she presents several examples of how creative placemaking has helped to stimulate the development of affordable housing and community amenities across the country.

In Practice:
Village Offers Housing, Community, and Microenterprise Opportunities for Austin’s Chronically Homeless
Community First! Village is a 27-acre community near Austin, Texas, with 140 permanent supportive housing units, including micro houses, canvas-sided cottages, and recreational vehicles. When fully completed in 2018, the village is expected to provide 240 housing units for persons experiencing chronic homelessness, volunteers, and staff. In addition to housing, the community offers onsite behavioral and physical health and microenterprise opportunities that enable residents to earn an income and learn entrepreneurial skills.

Trending:
The U.S. and Japan Partner to Research Aging in Place
The U.S. and Japan are experiencing similar demographic shifts reflective of aging populations. Recognizing that housing will be a crucial linchpin in any plan to preserve the quality of life for older adults, Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport, and Tourism; the Japan Housing Finance Agency; the Japan Urban Renaissance Agency; HUD, and Ginnie Mae are participating in a joint research partnership on aging in place. To launch the partnership, HUD and Ginnie Mae hosted their Japanese counterparts for the U.S.—Japan Housing and Finance Innovation Forum.

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