To enhance local affordability. To foster inclusive communities.

Housing Policy Case Studies

Please click on any of the photos below to read one of the profiles.
Big Sky, Montana, a popular tourist destination in the winter months

Balancing tourism and housing: Innovative approaches in Provincetown, MA; Big Sky, MT; Moab, UT; and Frisco, CO

Tourist destinations like Provincetown, MA; Big Sky, MT; Moab, UT; and Frisco, CO, face significant housing challenges due to high demand for short-term rentals, second homes, and seasonal worker accommodations. Rising housing costs and limited availability make it difficult for local workers to find affordable housing. To address these issues, each locality has implemented unique strategies, such as short-term rental regulations, deed restrictions, impact fees, and housing trust initiatives. These policies aim to balance the needs of the tourism industry with affordable housing options for local residents and essential workers.
Boulder County Regional Housing Partnership

Boulder County Regional Housing Partnership

The Boulder County Regional Housing Partnership spearheaded the development of a new regional housing plan that aims to triple the amount of affordable housing in the region over the next fifteen years.
Image of rental agreement is used to illustrate rental registries across U.S. localities

Exploring rental registries across U.S. localities

This brief examines the implementation and impact of rental registries in five U.S. localities—Portland, ME; Cedar Rapids, IA; Jersey City, NJ; Oakland, CA; and Concord, CA—illustrating how these customized databases enhance understanding of local rental markets.
Davis, California

From conflict to collaboration: How Davis, CA, built a partnership with UC Davis University to address housing concerns

In Davis, California, a collaboration between the university, city, and county resulted in a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to address the strain on housing and public services caused by the growing student population. The MOU outlined commitments to increase university-sponsored housing, invest in transit, and ensure the university contributed to public resources. Key takeaways include the potential of MOUs to improve town-gown relationships, establish accountability mechanisms, and facilitate regular tracking of progress.
Project leaders, local politicians, and members of the West End Community participate in a formal groundbreaking ceremony on a new stadium for the new Major League Soccer expansion team FC Cincinnati, Tuesday, Dec. 18, 2018, in the West End neighborhood of Cincinnati.

Lessons learned from a Community Benefits Agreement in Cincinnati, Ohio

In 2017, FC Cincinnati proposed building a Major League Soccer stadium in the West End, a historically Black, low-income neighborhood. To address concerns of displacement and inequity, the club negotiated a Community Benefits Agreement (CBA) with the West End Community Council and the Port of Greater Cincinnati. This CBA aimed to support local youth, affordable housing, and community development. While it brought tangible benefits like financial support for neighborhood programs, the rushed negotiations and lack of enforcement mechanisms hindered its effectiveness in preventing resident displacement. Lessons from this CBA highlight the importance of community involvement, transparency, and strong legal frameworks in CBA processes.
Images of houses used to illustrate naturally occurring affordable housing (NOAH)

Preserving naturally occurring affordable housing (NOAH) in Brooklyn Park, MN

This case study examines a suburban community that dedicated funding to preserve its stock of market-rate affordable rental properties, commonly referred to as naturally occurring affordable housing (NOAH). The City of Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, established the Brooklyn Park NOAH Preservation Program in 2017. Since its inception, the program has preserved over 1,400 units through low-cost loans to developers and rental property owners for the acquisition or rehabilitation of NOAH rental properties. This case study reviews the program’s history and operations and its progress toward reducing displacement and improving the quality of existing housing stock.

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