Skip to main content

Calls to Action

Advancing Housing Supply & Equity Across the Region

The Housing Indicator Tool makes clear that the Greater DC, Baltimore, and Richmond regions must produce and preserve tens of thousands of homes annually to meet demand and address persistent inequities. Meeting this moment will require coordinated, cross-sector action—aligning capital, policy, land, and community partnership to deliver housing at the scale required. The following calls to action outline how stakeholders can work together to accelerate production, preserve affordability, and drive accountability across jurisdictions.

  • Real Estate Developers

    Deliver housing at scale

    • Build mixed-income and affordable housing, particularly in high-opportunity areas
    • Partner with and invest in emerging and BIPOC developers
    • Incorporate innovative models (co-location, adaptive reuse, mixed-use) to maximize supply
    • Use HIT benchmarks to align production with regional housing needs and affordability gaps

  • Advocates & Community Members

    Build public will and accountability

    • Advocate for policies that increase housing supply and reduce barriers (e.g., zoning reform, density)
    • Use HIT data to track local progress and hold jurisdictions accountable
    • Partner with developers and policymakers to advance community-informed solutions
    • Engage diverse stakeholders to reduce opposition and build support for housing development

  • Non-Profit Organizations & Institutions

    Convene, implement, and scale solutions

    • Serve as anchor institutions by leveraging land and partnerships for housing development
    • Translate community needs into actionable development and policy strategies
    • Advance racial equity by embedding inclusive practices across programs and partnerships
    • Align programming and advocacy with HIT targets to drive measurable outcomes

  • Property Managers

    Ensure long-term housing stability

    • Maintain strong communication with residents and service providers to improve outcomes
    • Integrate resident-centered practices into operations
    • Share operational insights with developers to inform future projects
    • Support preservation efforts by stabilizing at-risk properties

  • Service Providers

    Strengthen housing stability and outcomes

    • Deliver services (financial coaching, health, education) that improve resident stability
    • Advocate for increased funding for supportive services tied to housing
    • Partner with property managers and developers to integrate holistic service models

  • Philanthropy

    Catalyze innovation and close funding gaps

    • Provide flexible, catalytic capital for preservation and development
    • Fund pilot programs and scalable models aligned with HIT priorities
    • Support advocacy and capacity-building efforts across the ecosystem
    • Use funding to de-risk projects and unlock additional investment

  • Lenders & Financiers

    Unlock capital and scale investment

    • Expand access to patient, flexible capital (acquisition, predevelopment, gap financing)
    • Address inequities by investing in underrepresented developers and communities
    • Evaluate underwriting practices that limit affordable housing feasibility
    • Align lending strategies with HIT-identified gaps and production targets

  • Public Sector

    Set policy, enable production, and ensure accountability

    • Reform zoning to allow greater density and housing variety
    • Establish and adequately fund housing trust funds and incentive programs
    • Leverage public land for affordable housing development
    • Use HIT data to set, monitor, and enforce housing production and preservation targets

  • Private Sector

    Invest in housing as economic infrastructure

    • Invest in housing to support workforce stability and regional competitiveness
    • Partner on innovative models (e.g., mixed-use, employer-supported housing)
    • Use corporate influence to advocate for housing-friendly policies
    • Contribute to impact funds and place-based investment strategies

  • Policy Think Tanks

    Inform strategy and elevate solutions

    • Produce research that identifies scalable, evidence-based housing solutions
    • Use HIT data to analyze trends and recommend targeted interventions
    • Elevate best practices and support regional policy alignment

  • Institutions of Higher Learning

    Lead through research, land, and influence

    • Leverage institutional land for affordable housing development
    • Conduct research aligned with HIT to inform policy and practice
    • Serve as conveners and advocates for equitable housing solutions

  • Faith-Based Institutions

    Unlock land and moral leadership

    • Use underutilized land for affordable housing development
    • Partner with mission-driven developers to deliver community-centered projects
    • Advocate for housing as a moral and community imperative

  • Employers

    Support workforce housing and economic growth

    • Invest in housing solutions that support employee stability and retention
    • Partner with developers and communities on workforce housing initiatives
    • Advocate for policies that expand housing supply and affordability

  • Healthcare

    Advance housing as a social determinant of health

    • Invest in housing to improve health outcomes and reduce system costs
    • Partner with developers and service providers to support residents
    • Integrate housing into broader community health strategies

  • Tech

    Drive innovation and efficiency

    • Develop technologies that reduce development costs and timelines
    • Support data platforms that enhance housing transparency and accountability
    • Invest in scalable solutions that improve housing delivery and sustainability