Providing quality housing for people of all income levels is an integral component in any smart growth strategy.

It is also a key factor in determining households' access to transportation, commuting patterns, access to services and education, and consumption of energy and other natural resources.

Smart growth represents an opportunity for local communities to increase housing choice not only by modifying their land use patterns on newly-developed land, but also by increasing housing supply in existing neighborhoods and on land served by existing infrastructure.

Integrating single- and multi-family structures in new housing developments can support a more diverse population and allow more equitable distribution of households of all income levels across the region.

Most importantly, providing a range of housing choices allow all households to find their niche in a smart growth community – whether it is a garden apartment, a rowhouse, or a traditional suburban home – and accommodate growth at the same time.

Create a regional program to encourage all communities to include a fair share of affordable and moderate-range housing.

Use transportation funds as an incentive to provide housing near transit.

Use housing to engender 24-hour cities in revitalization plans.

Integrate smart growth and housing programs.

Develop smart growth funds to promote development in underserved communities.

Use different builders on contiguous blocks of land to ensure a diversity of housing styles.

Create a housing trust fund.