Readout of HUD Delegation Participation in the Cities Summit of the Americas
Last week, HUD senior officials participated in the 2023 Cities Summit of the Americas in Denver, CO. A delegation of HUD leaders joined subnational leaders from across the entire Western Hemisphere with diverse and inclusive representatives of government, civil society, business, academia, youth, culture and the arts, and indigenous and underrepresented groups. The delegation participated in the following sessions:
Panel: Calling for Ways Forward, Localizing the Housing Agenda in the Western Hemisphere
Solomon Greene, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary (PDAS) for Policy Development and Research, participated in a panel focused on localizing the housing agenda in the Western Hemisphere and creating environments that enable local and regional governments to implement the right to adequate housing. PDAS Greene spoke of HUD’s efforts to support local governments through funding, technical assistance and capacity building, data and research, and partnerships. He also emphasized Housing Choice Vouchers as an important tool that we use to support communities.
Multilateral Roundtable: Homelessness - A Global Challenge Requiring Local Solutions
Marion McFadden, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary (PDAS) for Community Planning and Development, led a roundtable focused on best practices and solutions to homelessness that are being utilized in various municipalities. There were two themes that connected a lot of the conversation: partnership and supportive services. Various panelists emphasized the importance of partnerships across sectors. Cities, counties, and municipalities cannot truly address homelessness without working with private sector and non-profit partners. For example, a proper and robust solution to homelessness can only be achieved when a city and their housing authority works with private industry builders, as well as non-profits that provide specialized services or support. The prevailing consensus was that housing without supportive services does not properly address the homelessness crisis.
Panel in Innovation Plaza – HUD Executive Housing Panel
HUD leaders led a panel focused on informing Cities Summit attendees about the work HUD does for communities across the United States, how we work across siloes and sectors to bring people the funding and resources that benefit them, and how best to contact the various participants when it comes to housing issues and support.
Multilateral Roundtable: Digital Inclusion
Beth Lynk, Assistant Secretary (AS) for Public Affairs, participated in a roundtable focused on the issue of equity in digital access. Despite the unprecedented expansion of digital technologies over the last decade, approximately 1 in 3 people in areas around the world are not online. Discussion was geared towards identifying challenges to digital inclusion, sharing knowledge about what’s worked in eliminating barriers to digital access in various communities, and doing so in an equitable way. AS Lynk was able to connect the topic of digital inclusion and the digital divide to the work HUD does in expanding housing opportunities for all.
