Grounded Solutions Network and Ford Foundation Launch Municipal Housing Initiative for Lasting Affordability
Cities will receive technical assistance, policy development, strategic planning, peer learning and programmatic support to preserve and produce affordable housing in emerging neighborhoods as part of ‘ForEveryoneHome: City Solutions for Housing Equity,’ an initiative announced in January 2019 by Grounded Solutions Network with support from the Ford Foundation.
The 18-month initiative is seeking applications for an inaugural cohort of three cities, targeting mixed-market localities with disproportionate growth between areas of amplified reinvestment vs. neighborhoods where housing quality, habitability, density and disparity are ongoing concerns.
“Cities are growing, with rising prices and demographic shifts threatening to displace long-time residents, particularly low-income communities of color,” said Grounded Solutions CEO Tony Pickett. “Many municipal leaders recognize the need to reshape the way growth unfolds, and targeted strategies and specific policies are necessary to build inclusive communities for all residents, regardless of income or zip code.”
“ForEveryoneHome will help cities address housing change proactively, with policies designed to produce housing that is equitable, accessible and affordable for generations.”
With partial funding support from the Ford Foundation, ForEveryoneHome will provide a 2-to-1 match of local funds to guide selected city officials and community leaders through a structured process of:
- Analyzing local housing conditions, policies and practices through a racial equity lens;
- Identifying local housing needs, challenges and opportunities;
- Producing a displacement prevention plan tailored to local needs; and
- Yielding an implementation-ready policy to enact the most urgent and impactful strategies identified in the displacement prevention plan.
“This is an opportunity for communities to ‘get ahead of the curve’ of neighborhood change and participate in city growth as vested stakeholders,” added Pickett, explaining how renewed investment brings increased access to jobs, improved schools, better parks, less crime, better transportation access, and improved health outcomes for underutilized neighborhoods.
“By expanding equitable housing choices for communities of color, we also expand their opportunities for success.”
Application instructions, requirements and additional information about ForEveryoneHome are available at https://groundedsolutions.org/ForEveryoneHome.
Applications are due February 28, 2019, no later than 5:00 pm PST.
