Panelists Conclude Need for National Housing Policy

Becker, Christine, Nation's Cities Weekly

A panel of 10 city officials and housing experts believes that a national housing policy and agenda are sorely needed to break down the barriers to affordable housing and homeownership.

That conclusion emerged from a two-hour roundtable discussion last week in Columbus, Ohio, sponsored by the National League of Cities, City of Columbus and WOSU-TV. The roundtable was one of a series of public policy discussions planned around key issues that emerged from the NLC Advisory Council's 2003 report, Divided We Fall, Inequality and the Future of America's Cities and Towns.

In March, NLC President Charles Lyons, selectman from Arlington, Mass., asked city officials to join him in a year-long effort to examine the inequalities and develop strategies for making the America dream a reality for everyone.

"There are a growing number of Americans who can't afford a decent home or are spending so much of their income on housing that they can't afford other essentials," Lyons said at the opening of the roundtable. "We need to have a mature conversation about where we're headed and talk about what local officials can do together to begin to confront this continuing problem.'"

Mayor Michael Coleman of Columbus said focusing on affordable housing is a "'focal point for the city of Columbus."

"Homeownership is the cornerstone …

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Publication information: Article title: Panelists Conclude Need for National Housing Policy. Contributors: Becker, Christine - Author. Magazine title: Nation's Cities Weekly. Volume: 27. Issue: 25 Publication date: June 21, 2004. Page number: 1+. © 2009 National League of Cities. COPYRIGHT 2004 Gale Group.

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