Housing Solutions Lab

The Lab at the NYU Furman Center assists small and midsize cities to plan, launch, and evaluate evidence-based local housing policies.

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What We Do

City Engagement

The Lab works directly with local leaders to find innovative solutions to housing challenges by offering trainings and workshops, peer learning opportunities, policy guidance, and one-on-one support.

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Housing Policy Resources

A one-stop platform rich with housing policy resources and case studies to support comprehensive, balanced, and equitable local housing strategies.

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Research and Data Analysis

Explore evidence and analysis on timely housing policy questions, and learn about Lab research partnerships.

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Tools and Resources

Discover how to use local housing data and get customized reports on your community’s housing needs.

Explore the Housing Needs Assessment Tool

Why did the NYU Furman Center launch the Lab?

The NYU Furman Center launched the Housing Solutions Lab to help cities—particularly small and midsize cities—design, launch, and evaluate local housing strategies that expand supply, improve affordability, and strengthen resident well-being. The Lab works collaboratively with local leaders nationwide to address pressing housing challenges, fill knowledge gaps, and advance equitable, effective, evidence-based policy. Drawing on the Furman Center’s research expertise and network of academic and policy experts, the Lab brings rigorous evidence and practical insights to support local housing decision-making.

Visit the Housing Solutions Lab

The Lab welcomes questions from local policymakers and practitioners, including requests for case studies, help with data analysis, program or policy design, or research and evaluation. Our team can help answer your most pressing housing questions.

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What Our Lab Cities are Saying

"Working with the NYU Housing Solutions Lab, we gained invaluable insights. Our team engaged with experts, delved into national data, and learned from successful housing programs in other cities. This experience not only validated our existing efforts to achieve greater access and equity but also provided us with innovative ideas to further enhance our programs in Detroit. The collaborative environment empowered us to continuously improve our services and better serve our residents."

Rico Razo, Chief of Home Repair and Neighborhood Services, City of Detroit

"Both the Lab's direct technical assistance and policy guidance through Local Housing Solutions have bolstered the City of Evanston's data-driven approach to developing a strategic housing plan and strengthening our inclusionary housing policies. The Lab team helped us analyze our local data to better understand the housing shortage in our community and elevated useful examples of how other cities use data to inform local housing strategies."

Uri Pachter, Senior Housing Planner, City of Evanston

“Our partnership with the NYU Housing Solutions Lab has been instrumental in designing our evidence-based direct rental assistance (DRA) program. The Lab supported us at every stage, from planning, program design, and the federal approval process. Participating in the Lab’s six-month DRA Cohort and ongoing Community of Practice has allowed us to learn alongside peer housing authorities facing similar challenges. The expertise of the Lab’s team has been invaluable, and we’re excited to continue working together as our DRA program launches and evolves.”

Kimberly Anhalt, MTW Initiatives and Housing Policy Manager, City of Reno Housing Authority