Consider the following definition of a local housing strategy.
Local Housing Strategy – A local housing strategy is a formal strategy, usually documented in a written plan that comprehensively outlines how cities, towns, and counties will advance their housing policy objectives and includes all four of the following elements:
- A clear set of housing policy objectives
- A comprehensive approach to meeting these objectives using the full array of resources available to local agencies in the community
- A timeline for implementation
- A process for periodically assessing progress and publicly sharing results to ensure transparency and accountability
A local housing strategy is
not the same as:
- The Consolidated Plan required by HUD, which in most communities focuses primarily on how the jurisdiction will spend federal block grants.
- The Comprehensive Plan required by state law, which generally focuses primarily on a community’s land use policies.
However, the information prepared for these plans can be very helpful in informing a local housing strategy, and vice-versa.
