Secretary Martinez has announced the creation of the Regulatory Barriers Clearinghouse (www.regbarriers.org), a web site designed to create more opportunities for affordable housing. The new web site includes a forum that will give builders and developers from around the country the ability to share ideas and solutions for overcoming state and local regulatory barriers to affordable housing.

"The Bush Administration is committed to creating 5.5 million new homeowners by the end of the decade, and increasing the supply of affordable housing is the key to making the dream of homeownership a reality for more people," said Secretary Martinez. The Secretary made the announcement on Thursday, November 21, at the Home Ownership Summit 2002 in Washington, DC. "Our hope is that by sharing development ideas from throughout the country, we will expose other communities to solutions that can assist them in increasing their affordable housing stock."

Users can search the RBC database in many ways (www.huduser.org/rbc/search/PublicSearch.asp), including by state, by the published date of an entry, by keyword, or by searching one or a combination of the 10 barrier categories (Administrative processes & streamlining; building & housing codes; fair housing & neighborhood deconcentration; fees & dedications [impact fees & permit costs]; planning & growth restrictions; redevelopment/ infill; rent controls; state & local environmental and historic preservation regulations/ enforcement process; tax policies; and zoning, land development, construction, and subdivision regulations).

The Clearinghouse supports state and local governments, builders, community planners, non-profits as well as the average citizen seeking information about laws, regulations, and policies affecting the development, maintenance, improvement, availability, and cost of affordable housing.

Services offered by the Regulatory Barriers Clearinghouse include:

• a searchable database of publications, local laws, regulations, policies, and plans (www.huduser.org/bibliodb/search.asp?SearchScope=3) that identifies problem areas and offers possible solutions based on real-world experiences;
• a toll-free number [(800) 245-2691, option 4] to speak with housing professionals familiar with regulatory barrier issues and the clearinghouse collection;
• a "listserve" wherein publications and announcements will be emailed to keep interested constituents informed;
• a submission section that enables practitioners to share their experiences in identifying and - overcoming - the regulatory barriers to affordable housing; and
• an electronic newsletter (http://www.huduser.org/rbc/newsletter/vol1iss1.html) that highlights successful barrier removal strategies and policies, including a brief list of sources for further information.

In the near future, the site also will include a discussion board that will make it easy to share information in the context of an on-line community.

Visit HUD's Regulatory Barriers Clearinghouse (www.regbarriers.org) 24 hours a day, seven days a week - and add it to your "bookmarks" or "favorites" for quick return and easy reference.