The DMV has one of the nation's highest rates of unhoused residents. The pandemic exacerbated the long-standing regional affordable housing crisis that displaces and forces many families and individuals to struggle and be housing insecure. Generations of systemic housing discrimination through redlining, racialized zoning and covenants, subprime mortgages, and disinvestment in black and brown communities coupled with high housing costs and limited affordable housing stock have been significant drivers in housing instability. The region has the financial resources and policies to move the needle; however, addressing the housing affordability crisis will require a radically new integrated vision and approach to achieve racial and economic housing equity.
An approach rooted in accountability, equity, and alignment of public, private, and social sectors that all have a role in addressing this challenge. HAND created a one-of-a-kind platform, the Housing Indicator Toolkit (HIT), to hold all of us accountable for the latest information on housing production across the region and comparison with established local housing targets. The HIT underscores the policies and investments jurisdictions must have in their toolkit if they want to be successful in meeting their respective targets.
Housing Indicator Tool Demo
LaToya Thomas, Housing Indicator Tool Policy Director, HAND
Panel I: Public Commitments to Regional Housing for All
Moderators: Ruth LaToison Ifill and Heather Raspberry, HANDS
Panelist: Robert White, District of Columbia City Councilmember; Current Chair of COG Board
Panelist: Christian Dorsey, Arlington County Board Member
Panelist: Derrick Davis, Prince George’s County Councilmember
Panel II: Private Sector Investments and Partnership with Communities to Meet Housing Needs and Shape Community Development
Moderators: Ruth LaToison Ifill , WRAG and Heather Raspberry, HANDS
Panelist: Monica Mitchell, VP Social Impact and Sustainability Wells Fargo
Panelist: Jennifer Olney, Community Investment Officer, GWCF
Panlist: Maia Shanklin Roberts, Incoming Vice President of Real Estate Development, Preservation of Affordable Housing
Join WRAG and HAND convening of government, philanthropy, community and private sector partners to commit and pledge to reaching established regional housing goals through shared partnership.
Registration open to WRAG and HAND members only