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Affordable HEALTH (Housing Equity and Long-Term Health) Initiative

The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed and deepened health and housing disparities across the country, as millions of the most vulnerable families lack the ability to shelter in place safely and affordably. This is especially the case for households and communities of color.

While concentrating on critical relief measures in recent months, the housing industry is now focusing on the need to develop affordable multifamily housing that is more responsive to resident health needs and more resilient to future health emergencies.

With support from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, NCSHA is working with other affordable housing leaders to advance opportunities for financing healthier multifamily affordable housing. The NCSHA initiative will explore development- and neighborhood-level changes that demand consideration in light of the pandemic; the importance of resident needs, racial equity, and community participation in development planning and funding decisions; and various options for financing new health-related strategies. The initiative will prioritize the interrelated health and housing needs of households and communities of color.

Recognizing that a number of housing and health organizations are working toward a similar goal, the NCSHA initiative will add value to emerging industry best practices by promoting what’s working, enhancing HFA policies and practices to encourage healthier communities, and identifying new financing approaches.

National Advisory Group

NCSHA has convened a diverse advisory group of national leaders who bring deep expertise in multifamily affordable housing financing, development, management, resident services, and public policy. The group will advise NCSHA on current practices and knowledge in the field and assess opportunities to advance healthier affordable housing through financing, program development, and public policy. The group includes the following members:

For More Information

Contact Program Director James Tassos with questions.

Resources on Sustainable and Healthy Housing

Support for this project was provided by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The views expressed here do not necessarily reflect the views of the Foundation.