HUD's Office of Sustainable Housing and Communities: Changing the Built Environment through Innovative Grant Initiatives

Through the Office of Sustainable Housing and Communities (OSHC), HUD awarded approximately $138 million in planning grants to regions, states, cities and towns committed to planning for sustainable development. Recognizing the critical link between sustainability and health, HUD has launched a webcast series for grantees that includes an introductory session on the links between housing, community development, and health. In addition, we will provide assistance to those grantees interested in building capacity and incorporating health into their vision and existing work to create sustainable and inclusive communities. The focus of this group of grantees is on access to healthy foods, safe neighborhoods free of crime, and opportunities for physical activity. These grantees are on the “ground floor” as they participate in cutting-edge efforts to identify the spillover effects of sustainable planning and development for population health. This presentation will provide an overview of HUD's new sustainable communities grants, an update on the progress of those grantees working on health-related issues, identify challenges in implementation, and invite participation by the public health community in these innovative efforts.