Housing policy can ensure a sustainable economic recovery by focusing on five outcomes.

Planners looking for ways to "build back better," in the words of president-elect Joe Bide, have a suite of housing policy options to choose from.
Elizabeth Champion and Megan Gallagher present a detailed list of five policy outcomes that can contribute to economic stability and mobility in the recovery from the ravages of the pandemic.
"The current housing policy response focuses on two outcomes: supporting housing affordability and stability," according to the article. "Both have crucial implications for all the components of upward mobility but are likely to fall short of fully supporting equitable housing recovery that strengthens future resiliency." To make up for that shortcoming, Champion and Gallagher propose three additional outcomes as a goal for planners and policymakers. Here is how the article lists the five outcomes in total, with much more detail included in the source article:
- Housing affordability can promote multiple dimensions of mobility.
- Housing stability encourages civic engagement and promotes economic success, power, and belonging.
- Housing quality can have long-term effects on a household’s autonomy and economic success.
- Housing that builds wealth can offer homeowners a resource for investments in education, health, and other opportunities.
- Neighborhood context can influence upward mobility, with some “high-opportunity” neighborhoods offering more advantages.
The long-term recovery will require even more proactive work toward established outcomes, write the duo, "[acknowledging] the full influence of housing on a household’s power and autonomy and sense of being valued in their community as drivers of the household’s upward mobility."
FULL STORY: Five Housing Outcomes That Could Promote Long-Term Recovery from the COVID-19 Pandemic

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

USGS Water Science Centers Targeted for Closure
If their work is suspended, states could lose a valuable resource for monitoring, understanding, and managing water resources.

Congress Moves to End Reconnecting Communities and Related Grants
The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee moved to rescind funding for the Neighborhood Equity and Access program, which funds highway removals, freeway caps, transit projects, pedestrian infrastructure, and more.

Mapping Groundwater Risks from Orphan Wells Across U.S. Aquifers
A new USGS study reveals that more than half of the nation’s documented orphan wells lie within aquifers supplying the vast majority of U.S. groundwater, posing widespread risks of contamination from aging, unplugged infrastructure.

Reflections on Representation and Legacy in Parks and Public Service
In a personal reflection for Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, planner Clement Lau explores how cultural identity, public service, and a commitment to equity have shaped his career in parks, community planning, and sustainability.

Poor Conditions in Mobile Home Parks Put Residents at Risk
Failing infrastructure, poor water and air quality, and predatory owners endanger the health of manufactured home residents, many of whom are elderly and low-income.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
City of Moorpark
City of Tustin
Tyler Technologies
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada
Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions