Participate in cross-sector partnerships focused on affordable housing
Increasing numbers of students and members of the communities adjacent to schools and universities are faced with housing insecurity.
Forge partnerships with business, local government, and other sectors to develop new housing options. Utilize students and faculty to plan, design, and build homes in underserved communities.
To get started:
Consider providing housing directly (on university-owned land, for example) to help with housing needs of students, staff, or faculty.
Partner across sectors to identify funds for affordable housing projects.
Universities can consider development agreements with local school districts to provide capital improvements in schools rather than pay impact fees.
Best Practices / Innovative Programs
Stanford University, as part of a development agreement addressing its new long-term land use permit with Santa Clara County, proposed a $4.7 billion package of housing, transportation, and public school benefits. The goal is to confront regional challenges of affordability and housing availability by constructing hundreds of housing units sold below market rate, which will be accessible for students and community members.
The University of Buffalo's School of Architecture and Planning has an Affordable Housing Initiative that allows student architects, planners, and real estate developers to plan, design, and ultimately build single-family or multi-family housing prototypes for underserved neighborhoods. The prototypes will be replicable both for Buffalo and cities similar to it across the nation.
