The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) roundtable on defining the next generation of housing policy considered issues in housing supply, rental assistance, homelessness, renter protections, and homeownership facing the country today.

HUD’s top leaders facilitated discussions on Oct. 7 and 8, with academics and researchers from leading universities and research centers providing key insights, the agency stated in a release. Those who spoke represented a diversity of perspectives, geographies and disciplines, to leverage their research and expertise and share evidence-based ideas to solve current and future housing challenges.

“We stand at a critical point in history,” HUD acting Secretary Adrianne Todman said. “Over the last four years, the Biden-Harris administration has been focused on reducing housing cost by increasing supply and providing rental assistance to families. But we know there is more work to do.

“This week, I hosted some of this country’s leading academics in housing policy to think broadly and creatively about how to address our housing challenges,” she added. “As housing costs rise and people struggle to find quality, affordable homes in their community, we are working to build the innovative solutions our nation needs.”

“The scale of our nation’s housing challenges requires us to think boldly about solutions, and fortunately we have a rich body of research and lessons from state and local innovation to help us identify promising, ‘next-generation’ housing policies,” HUD Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Policy Development and Research Solomon Greene said. “That is the spirt in which we are bringing together these scholars and thought leaders – let’s build upon the data, research, evidence, and experience to share innovative ideas that have the potential to deliver real and lasting impact.”