Getting to Scale: The Need for a New Model in Housing and Community Development

Download (pdf, 160.37 kb)

From Investing in What Works for America's Communities

While vibrant communities require more than housing, affordable rental housing with supportive services remains an essential part of community development. The current system for developing and operating such housing is not sustainable for several reasons—reduced development, reduced funding, no support for enterprise in contrast to projects, excessively complex regulations that are highly risk averse and prevent innovation, no scale. We need a new system that facilitates innovation and business diversification, measures outcomes, and encourages collaboration and that provides less expensive enterprise level funding to enable those who develop and operate this housing to operate at scale.

Authors: Sister Lillian Murphy, Mercy Housing
Janet Falk, Mercy Housing

Date of Publication: August, 2012

Last Updated: August, 2012