The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed and deepened racial and other inequities in access to safe, stable, and affordable housing. The Biden administration has committed to working with communities to end housing discrimination, redress the ongoing harms of racist housing policies, remove barriers that restrict housing and neighborhood choice, and secure equal access to housing opportunity for all. 

Join Sarah Rosen Wartell, president of the Urban Institute, for the next installment in Urban’s conversation series, Evidence to Action. During this virtual event, Julián Castro, former secretary of the US Department of Housing and Urban Development, will discuss how the new administration can fulfill its obligations under the Fair Housing Act and close equity gaps in housing. Following that, Solomon Greene, senior fellow at the Urban Institute, Gustavo Velasquez, director of the California Department of Housing and Community Development, and Lisa Rice, president and chief executive officer of the National Fair Housing Alliance, will join Wartell to address what states and localities need from the federal government to advance fair, equitable housing and explore the most impactful actions the Biden administration could take.

Speakers

• Julián Castro, former Secretary, US Department of Housing and Urban Development @JulianCastro
• Solomon Greene, Senior Fellow, Urban Institute @metrosolomon
• Lisa Rice, President and Chief Executive Officer, National Fair Housing Alliance @ItsLisaRice  
• Gustavo Velasquez, Director, California Department of Housing and Community Development @GVelasquez72
• Sarah Rosen Wartell, President, Urban Institute @swartell

Materials

• Breaking Barriers, Boosting Supply (Urban Institute)

EVIDENCE TO ACTION SERIES

The Evidence to Action conversation series elevates the voices of leaders and changemakers responding to, recovering from, and building resilience during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. The Urban Institute was built for this moment. We answer tough questions with unbiased, rigorous research and evidence-based solutions. For 50 years, we have studied what it takes to strengthen social safety net programs, dismantle structural racism, protect workers and families, and build community resilience. Using advanced analytics, data science, technology, and decades of expertise, we equip changemakers with the facts and insights they need to accelerate solutions.

We strive to host inclusive, accessible events that enable all individuals, including individuals with disabilities, to engage fully. Please email [email protected] if you require any accommodations or have any questions about this event.