Bloomberg Philanthropies funds local housing reforms nationwide

Bloomberg Philanthropies last week announced a new housing initiative to expand three city-led housing solutions from Atlanta, Austin and San Diego to as many as 30 additional municipalities across the country. Selected municipalities will receive $450,000 to $750,000 apiece to support technology pilots to streamline approvals, engage architects to produce permit-ready plans and hire strike team staff. They will also receive operational support from Accelerator for America and other partners, including Public Digital, to speed implementation. The first 15 cities selected for support are Albuquerque, New Mexico; Alexandria, Virginia; Charleston, South Carolina; Chattanooga, Tennessee; Cleveland, Ohio; Columbia, South Carolina; Durham, North Carolina; Louisville, Kentucky; Miami, Florida; Nashville, Tennessee; Omaha, Nebraska; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Portland, Maine; Providence, Rhode Island; and San Jose, California. “City halls are taking local action to increase the housing supply and ease the shortage that is driving up rents and leaving the dream of homeownership out of reach,” Michael R. Bloomberg, founder of Bloomberg L.P. and Bloomberg Philanthropies and former three-term m...