Regional Approaches to Affordable Housing

This report, prepared by the American Planning Association (APA) with funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Fannie Mae Foundation, examines regional planning strategies that enhance the feasibility of affordable housing development and retention. The study identifies successful and promising planning approaches, institutional structures that work best, alternative ways of providing financial assistance, and incentives for local governments to address regional housing needs. Among the strategies examined are fair-share programs, state and regional affordable housing trust funds, and private sector approaches. Resources provided in the document include annotated references, resource contacts, a list of state statutes on local housing planning, a research note on housing forecasting and fair-share allocation formulas, and excerpts from APA’s Growing Smart Legislative Guidebook and Policy Guide on Housing.