People & Places 2019 is taking place April 15-17 in Arlington, Virginia! Eighteen national nonprofits have joined forces to present People & Places 2019, a national community development conference. Join placemakers from different places, races, and national networks to share local solutions to displacement, disinvestment, and racial inequity. The luncheon features a discussion  on “People’s Right to Their Places: Community Accountability in an Age of Displacement” with community developers and organizers from Seattle, New York City, Los Angeles, and Washington, DC. Register by April 9 using these HAND discount codes: HANDpeople takes $100 off the 3-day rate. HAND1day takes $50 the 1-day rate.

As a proud member of the Housing Leaders Group of Greater Washington (HLG), HAND is excited to share its new initiative: the CAPITAL REGION HOUSING CHALLENGE! Officially launched at the D.C. Metro Affordable Housing Summit, the challenge is a cross-sector, capital solutions platform created to catalyze $1 billion dollars of NEW capital commitments that will accelerate greater housing affordability in the Capital Region. As a key stakeholder, we wanted to make sure you heard the news, and most importantly, know how you can get involved!

WHAT IS THE CAPITAL REGION HOUSING CHALLENGE?
Effectively addressing housing affordability requires a collective effort across multiple sectors and jurisdictions in the Capital Region. The Challenge is a multi-faceted effort to secure $1 billion toward housing affordability in the region by 2020 ($500 million in new private capital and $500 million in new public funds above current commitments).

The Challenge is not creating a new fund, rather it’s a platform to catalyze support and a regional commitment to scale the investment of public and private resources to meet the region’s housing production needs.

READY TO TAKE THE CHALLENGE?
Commitments from private investors, employers, anchor institutions, the philanthropic sector, as well as local and state governments are encouraged. Thank you to these organizations that have accepted the challenge!

• Bernstein Management Corporation
• Greater Washington Community Foundation Partnership to End Homelessness
• Justice Housing Partners
• Kaiser Permanente
• Metro IAF Community Restoration Fund, LLC
• Montgomery Housing Partnership
• The Washington Housing Initiative (Federal City Council & JBG SMITH)

In addition to catalyzing capital to support regional housing affordability, HLG will also be actively engaged in advocacy campaigns that align with the goals of the Challenge. In particular, state and local Trust Funds can leverage significant additional private investment to ensure housing affordability production, preservation, and additional housing support for individuals and families across the income spectrum. HLG will promote working with government officials, housing practitioners, and advocates to create or expand local housing trust funds in every jurisdiction in our region.

Check out this fact sheet for more information on the Challenge and how your organization can get involved.

You can read the full press release on the Challenge’s launch here.