The Housing Initiative Council focuses on sharing best practices, emerging trends, and public and private approaches to producing and preserving all types of residential housing in the region, including affordable, mixed-income and market-rate housing.

Currently, the council is run by Hilary Chapman, Housing Program Manager, MWCOG, and Michelle Winters, Executive Director, Alliance for Housing Solutions, co-chairs for the initiative council.

The council has met twice this year, with two more virtual meetings coming by June. The annual density tour will be turned into a virtual meeting and discussion.

The first meeting in September focused co-housing case-studies in the DC region, with speakers- Martin Ditto, Ditto Residential, and Peter Stuart, Outlier. The council engaged in a lively discussion about the opportunities and challenges with this type of housing stock.

The second meeting in December focused on mixed-income housing case studies from DC, MD, and VA. The council had Kamilah McAfee, Wesley Housing, who discussed Union on Queen in Alexandria. In addition, Joe Magnotta, EYA, discussed The Lindley in Chevy Chase, MD. And finally, Laura Schonfeld, Hoffman Associates, spoke about The Channel at the Wharf in Southwest, DC.

The council looks forward to their next two meetings happening soon.