In-person - Washington, D.C.

Virtual - Zoom

In recognition of homeownership month, Urban Institute and National Housing Conference will be co-hosting a convening called Catalysts for Change: Reducing the Racial Homeownership Gap. The event will feature remarks from Ginnie Mae President Alanna McCargo and a lunchtime fireside chat with DC Mayor Muriel Bowser. Panels include discussions of vertical and horizontal alignment of federal programs and resources, and best practices for closing the homeownership from local stakeholders. Event will also showcase an innovative virtual “Data Walk” capturing learnings in homeownership policy from Urban Institute.

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Speakers

Alanna McCargo

Muriel Bowser

Panel: A Closer Look: Federal Interventions in Homeownership Disparities

Narrowing the homeownership gap will take bold, intersectional policy solutions that recognize the changing dynamics of the first-time homeownership market. This panel will explore various facets of the racial homeownership gap, including the lack of affordable housing, fair access to quality credit, digitization, and the consumer. Panelists will discuss how these pieces can be addressed to create a holistic view of how federal housing policy interventions can move us toward a more equitable housing system.

Panel: Local Perspectives: Aligning Federal and Local Policy to Address the Racial Homeownership Gap

During the pandemic the federal government acted to prevent millions of Americans from eviction and foreclosure. This unprecedented intervention, operationalized at the state and local levels, serves as a demonstration that collaboration at all levels of government with local stakeholders can have a powerful impact on many Americans, including the most vulnerable among us. This Local Perspectives panel will examine policy solutions and local initiatives working to close the racial homeownership gap with an eye toward how existing and additional federal policy can be harnessed toward complementary ends.