Volume 4 Number 10
November 2007

In this Issue
HUD’s M2M Goes Green to Preserve Affordable Housing
A New Direction in Plumbing Technology
The Investigation of Homeownership Barriers and Gaps Continues
Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac Meet 2006 Affordable Housing Goals
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In the Next Issue of ^ResearchWorks...

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• In a recent study prepared for HUD’s Office of Policy Development and Research, researchers used the American Housing Surveys from 1973 to 2005 to portray how American housing stock — as well as the nature and composition of American households — have changed over that 32-year span. This study includes an abundant set of tables and figures with detailed information on the housing stock and household characteristics. We’ll highlight some of the most compelling findings.

• The Applicability of Housing First Models to Homeless Persons with Serious Mental Illness presents findings from a study of the Housing First approach that provides permanent supportive housing to chronically homeless adults with mental illness and co-occurring substance-related disorders. We’ll be looking at strategies used by Housing First programs in Seattle, New York, and San Diego for stabilizing the housing situation of chronically homeless persons and addressing the root causes of their homelessness.

• Lean production manufacturing strives to eliminate the waste of time, money, and materials while creating a culture of continuous improvement within a manufacturing facility. A new report, Pilot Study: Applying Lean to Factory Home Building, examines nine manufactured and modular home production plants that have applied lean production methods. This article will examine how value stream mapping helped these manufacturers identify waste and target specific plant areas for intensive improvement in the production of affordable housing.

• Universal design, ENERGY STAR^® appliances, and EarthCraft green building techniques will be on display in 13 duplexes currently under construction in Bristol, Virginia. EarthCraft is a green building program that develops healthy, comfortable homes that reduce utility bills and protect the environment. The Bristol Redevelopment and Housing Authority assembled a mixed financing package for the duplexes that includes public housing modernization and housing replacement funds, Low-Income Housing Tax Credits, and a loan from the Virginia Housing Development Authority. ResearchWorks will examine how the Authority was able to develop high quality, affordable housing while keeping debt on the property to less than $500,000.