platform for citymakers more Information

National Urban Development Policy

Use of cookies

Cookies help us to provide our services. By using our website you agree that we can use cookies. Read more about our Privacy Policy and visit the following link: Privacy Policy

OK

Navigation and service

The picture shows Atlanta’s living lab. Until recently, these apartments were used as social housing buildings.

Dialogues for Urban Change: Breaking Barriers to Housing for All

The exciting launch of the US-German Network brought together urban experts to discuss issues around housing and homelessness.

The US-German Peer-to-Peer Learning Network on affordable housing is part of the project “Dialogues for Urban Change (D4UC)”, which is implemented by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Housing, Urban Development and Building (BMWSB). Under the theme “Breaking Barriers to Housing for All” the network was launched in April 2023 in Atlanta. It brought together representatives of US-American cities (Atlanta, Seattle, St. Louis), German cities (Berlin, Munich, Frankfurt), as well as colleagues from city associations and ministries of both countries - supporting multi-level governance and policy coherence for integrated urban development. Strong partners are the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the German Marshall Fund of the United States (GMF).

The peers discussed learnings from recent crises (e.g., pandemic, climate change disasters, refugee arrivals) and how to tackle future crises utilizing local planning strategies. They dove deep into the use of land use planning tools and strategic plans, which offer different options for designing denser and more mixed-used cities and neighborhoods. Underpinned by site visits, participants focused on advising each other on their respective living lab - one tangible project at a neighborhood level per city, which builds the foundation for the transnational learning experience.

Besides the network meeting, BMWSB and HUD came together in Washington to further discuss issues of homelessness, which resembles the start of a cooperation in this pressing field. Strategic plans to prevent and end homelessness include (1) scale housing and supports that meet demand, (2) improve effectiveness of homelessness response systems and (3) prevent homelessness by reducing housing instability. All in all, we are looking with anticipation to further cooperation.

Further information: Dialogues for Urban Change