For many advocates, researchers, and policymakers, the enormous amount of information available to us is a blessing and a curse. The blessing is that so many resources are potentially at our fingertips to inform our decision-making; the curse is sorting through it all. We know that keeping up with the latest information is often a monumental task.
That is why the National Housing Conference (NHC) has launched the new Housing Resource Center (HRC). Nowhere else will you find a platform that captures information from across the housing spectrum – catering to the diverse needs of policymakers, journalists, lenders, home builders, civil rights groups, consumer and affordable housing advocates, real estate professionals, nonprofit and for-profit housing development corporations, academics, and more. The HRC offers access to an ever-expanding collection of over 1,000 resources, presenting an unparalleled wealth of knowledge in a single, centralized repository. Let’s explore the content available on this innovative platform.
The HRC’s collection of resources is organized under twelve umbrellas: Climate, Community Development, Health and Housing, Homelessness, Homeownership, Preservation, Production and Supply, Racial Equity, Regulatory Reform, Rental Housing, Sustainability, and Technology. Resources span from news articles to toolkits to congressional actions, all searchable by topic and type of resource.
The HRC also provides comprehensive lists of housing-related blogs, podcasts, and data tools that housers can use to build on their understanding of current events and deepen their knowledge of housing and community development.
Visitors to the HRC can also search for any desired content, aided by background tagging to access the most up-to-date information on the topic.
Everyone reading this note has in some way contributed to shaping NHC into what it is today through their expertise and experience, enhancing the national dialogue. It was our goal to find a meaningful way to bring your amazing work to the forefront of NHC’s resources. In the design of the NHC, we prioritized leveraging the collective strength of our members while driving traffic to their respective websites. Each resource opens in a new tab linking back to its original source, aiming to elevate our members’ individual websites. NHC is committed to highlighting the trusted sources we rely on for information, encouraging further exploration of organizations working to better housing outcomes for families nationwide.
As an organization, NHC works every day to bridge the gaps between our diverse members and offer a place for housers to come together to find solutions to our affordable housing policy challenges. At launch, the HRC boasts over 1,000 resources, but we want more. Anyone can submit suggested resources to add to the HRC utilizing the Contact Us feature. We welcome recommendations continuously and look forward to sharing other resources that are available.
The Housing Resource Center is active and available on our website now and will be accessible to all through June 30, 2024, after which it will become an exclusive benefit reserved for NHC members, policymakers, and journalists. NHC memberships begin at $100 a year for individuals ($50 for those under 30), $1,000 for nonprofit organizations, and $2,500 for for-profit organizations. By becoming a NHC member you will not only retain access to the HRC, but you will also receive our weekly Member Brief, delivering the latest housing news and developments, as well as our Member Note, which delves into significant economic developments and discussions on today’s critical housing issues. You can also take advantage of exclusive networking opportunities and event discounts.
We appreciate the generous support of Bank of America, JPMorgan Chase & Co., Rocket Mortgage, and Wells Fargo for their continued support that makes projects like this possible. The current version of HRC is just the beginning. We have plans to incorporate additional features and updates that will keep housers working together and make this a must-visit resource for anyone working in the housing industry. The HRC belongs to all of us, and we hope it will make your job easier and our boldest goals more attainable.