Housing Solutions Lab
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 Charlottesville, Virginia

Charlottesville, VA’s path to equitable zoning reform

Charlottesville, VA, overhauled its zoning code in 2023 to address housing affordability and racial equity. Learn how the city eliminated single-family zoning, added affordability incentives, and protected vulnerable neighborhoods from displacement.
Man standing in front of a big screen showing data is used to illustrate data visualization as a tool for cities

Data visualization: Transforming local housing data into engaging visual narratives

This piece provides an overview of the significance of data visualization in transforming complex housing data into easily comprehensible graphical representations. It also emphasizes the increasing adoption of various visualization tools by cities, towns, and counties to present housing data effectively, ranging from simple charts to interactive dashboards. Additionally, it outlines key considerations and best practices for creating impactful housing-related visualizations, supplemented with multiple illustrative examples.
Lead paint is shown

Designing a local remediation ordinance: Lesson from Cleveland, OH; Syracuse, NY; and Toledo, OH

This brief provides a practical guide to local “lead laws” for cities interested in preventing exposure to lead-based paint hazards. It begins with a primer on these ordinances: what they are and how they work. We then provide a brief scan of local lead laws around the country. The third section draws on interviews with practitioners working to implement three recently approved lead laws in Cleveland, OH; Syracuse, NY; and Toledo, OH; to identify key decision points. Finally, we provide individual case summaries on the three sites.
Picture of the aftermath of a fire in the forest

Disaster resilience and recovery strategies from Sonoma County, CA; Honolulu, HI; and Larimer County, CO

Nearly every area in the United States faces risk from natural disasters. Storms, floods, fires, and other weather-related hazards can devastate homes and lead to displacement, housing instability, and community infrastructure loss. As climate change makes natural disasters more common and destructive, local policymakers face the growing challenge of preparing for and responding to them. This case study series explores steps localities have taken to either plan for or respond to a natural disaster.
Photo of notice of eviction is shown to illustrate eviction prevention strategies

Eviction prevention strategies from Grand Rapids, MI; Boulder, CO; and Syracuse, NY

Averaging data from 2000 through 2018, researchers estimated that approximately 2.7 million U.S. households are threatened with eviction each year. Eviction filings have also increased nationwide since protections related to the COVID-19 pandemic ended. This case study series explores three types of eviction prevention programs created to help improve conditions.
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.
University of VA, Charlottesville

How YIMBY activists helped secure new housing in Charlottesville, VA

Pro-housing advocacy was vital in promoting development in Charlottesville, Virginia, as the City Council approved the construction of two large apartment buildings despite opposition from the University of Virginia and some residents. The local YIMBY group, Livable Cville, played a key role by actively supporting the development through direct advocacy, writing letters to city officials, and educating the community on the benefits of increasing housing supply. Their efforts highlight how local YIMBY activism can significantly impact policy and planning decisions.
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.

Stay Informed

Stay up to date on the latest research, events and news from the Local Housing Solutions team:

OR
Sign up for LHS newsletter and register for a free My Account which allows you to save LHS resources and Housing Strategy Review Results:
Sign Up & Register