To enhance local affordability. To foster inclusive communities.

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Bridge

Bridging housing and policy sectors

Housing and neighborhood conditions shape outcomes across a variety of domains. A comprehensive and balanced housing policy strategy aims to bridge policy sectors, adopting policies that simultaneously advance both housing and other social policy goals. 

By coordinating and collaborating with other policy sectors, housing officials can help address complex, interconnected challenges, avoid unintended consequences of siloed policymaking, and maximize the potential benefits of housing investments. This coordinated approach can also help to strengthen relationships with policy officials and advocates in other social policy domains, which may expand the base of support for the locality’s housing strategy.

To foster cross-sector collaboration, housing policymakers may consider the following steps:

  • Identify and build relationships with colleagues from other sectors, such as health, education, and the environment. 
  • Encourage information sharing and communication across sectors and institutions.
  • Look for opportunities to coordinate data, policy development, advocacy, or evaluation activities to address shared goals and challenges.
  • Consider including housing policies within the locality’s comprehensive housing strategy that simultaneously advance housing and other social policy areas, such as health, education, or climate change.
  • Support policy efforts in other sectors that complement effective local housing strategies. 
  • Evaluate the potential impact of housing policies on non-housing outcomes when developing housing strategies.

Materials in this section describe some of these connections. Click on the links below to learn more.

Housing connections

Housing, climate change, energy, and the environment

Energy-efficient construction and strategic housing placement near jobs and public transit can cut energy use and greenhouse gas emissions, aligning with climate goals. Climate-related events like flooding also require resilient housing strategies and equitable responses to natural disasters. This overview explores the interconnections between housing, climate change, energy, and the environment. (Content coming soon.)

Housing and education

Dive deeper into how investments in quality affordable housing and neighborhood facilities can result in significant educational benefits for children, and steps that housing policymakers can take to support educational achievement.

Housing and health

Discover the connections between housing and health and how to leverage housing as a platform to improve the health of communities.  

Learn about opportunities for collaboration to integrate health considerations into housing strategies and planning

Housing and criminal justice

Explore how housing instability and criminal justice involvement interact to create a vicious cycle, and how housing and criminal justice agencies can work together to interrupt it. (Content coming soon.)

Housing, economic development, and transportation infrastructure

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