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Affordability, accessibility, supportive services in housing, and fair housing make up the bulk of this chapter.
Policymakers on the federal, state, and local levels have important roles in designing livable communities where residents of all ages can participate fully.
Livable and sustainable communities are safe and healthy. They offer residents choices in where to live and how to get around.
Planning refers to how policymakers design, regulate, and manage the built environment. Land-use, zoning, and developer requirements and incentives help planners guide development patterns.
Extreme weather conditions, natural disasters, and health emergencies can devastate communities. They can destroy housing, transportation networks, businesses, and institutions.
Redevelopment reuses previously developed land to catalyze new economic growth. It can provide new housing options or community amenities.
When done well, community planning spurs economic development that helps all members of a community thrive.
Enhancing livable communities—through projects to improve transportation options, ensure more affordable and accessible housing, and build and maintain public spaces such as parks—requires both ade
People of all ages and ability levels need safe, decent, and affordable housing that will enable them to continue living safely in their homes and communities as they get older.
Housing costs determine whether individuals and families can live in a neighborhood without sacrificing other basic necessities, such as food and health care.