NMHC has been at the forefront of the debate on what can be done to help solve the nation’s housing affordability crisis. To further highlight recently released research on apartment demand and Vision 2030, NMHC/NAA partnered with Bloomberg Government to hold a policy forum where stakeholders from across the political spectrum, industry and academia could come together to discuss what steps could be taken to find common ground and which would lead to the development of more housing for America’s families.
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The program was kicked off by NMHC’s President, Doug Bibby, who opened the discussion by noting:
“For too long stakeholders on different sides of the housing debate have spoken past each other - sticking to tired talking points and unproven policy recommendations. For too long relationships have been adversarial instead of supportive of opportunities for partnership. For too long too many have refused to engage in thoughtful, purposeful dialogue, instead opting for finger pointing and ignoring different views.”
Doug was joined by a number of public and private leaders in the housing affordability debate, including Jeff Hayward, Head of Multifamily for Fannie Mae, NAA’s President, Bob Pinnegar, Toby Bozzuto, President and CEO of the Bozzuto Group, the mayors of Baltimore and Oakland, CA, Catherine Pugh and Libby Schaaf and the Milken Institute’s Michael Stegman, among others.
During a panel discussing the problems causing the affordability crisis, Toby Buzzuto explained the challenges facing the industry, especially the rising costs:
“We (Bozzuto Group) think there is a hugely important need for affordable housing. But the issue is that a two-by-four or a brick doesn’t care whether it’s in an uber-expensive city center or an affordable housing project, it costs the same.”
Further during the discussion, the Mayors of Baltimore and Oakland agreed on the importance of public-private partnerships. They noted that the public sector has not yet fully explored how they can partner with the private sector to address the housing crisis.
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The morning’s dialogue was wide-ranging with each of the participants bringing their own experiences, best practices and beliefs to the table. A common theme of the proceeding was that there are a variety of opportunities for the public and private sectors to work together and find common ground. While the nation’s housing challenges are not going to be solved during a single conversation, this forum was intended to be a start of an ongoing conversation that highlights to leaders across the country that more needs to be done and that the best way forward is when stakeholders are open to new ideas and views.
Video of the event is available at the below links:
- Welcome Remarks
- Setting the Stage: Shifts in Multifamily Housing and Finance Policy
- Real World Snapshot of Affordable Housing Challenges
- Understanding the Problem: What’s Behind the Affordable Housing Crisis?
- Scoping Solutions: Building a Better Future for Residents
Photos of the event can be found here.
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