EDDs can work in several, unique ways to support combined regional and local responses to meeting housing needs. Due to the regional nature of housing markets and labor sheds, exclusively local responses to housing needs can be inefficient, working from incomplete data sets, or addressing misidentified needs.
At the same time, solely regional responses to housing, or initiatives led without local community buy-in and support, can struggle with implementing effective, scalable, and useful solutions on the neighborhood and local government level. EDDs working on housing development should prioritize working collaboratively with local communities under clearly defined scopes, to ensure that solutions made on the local level are coordinated and consistent with other local solutions within regional housing markets. What works for one municipality may not translate to the community next door, and in some cases, what works in one municipality may actively conflict with solutions made in neighboring communities. This role as regional convenor, plan integrator, and/or clearinghouse is consistent with EDD’s mission to guide development and growth on the regional level and can further cement EDD’s reputation in their region as the voice for efficient, interjurisdictional regional development.
To begin, EDDs must first identify what role they can play within their regional housing ecosystem. There has been a considerable upswell in momentum and support for housing initiatives across the country in the past decade due to a marked increase in housing costs, both owner-occupied and rental properties. Many local and county governments have created specific housing plans that are now being implemented. To implement these plans, several entities have stepped up to address housing challenges in communities and there is now a plethora of different community stakeholders, private developers, non-profit organizations, advocacy groups, financial institutions, and other local, state, and federal funding agencies that are all working in communities to address housing challenges. To find where they best fit in their region, EDDs must first map out the existing community development organizations, private developers, and other entities currently invested in the affordable housing space in their region.