Key facts
- Julia Gordon has been named the inaugural senior fellow at the Center for Affordable Housing Lending.
- Gordon previously served as HUD assistant secretary for housing and commissioner of the Federal Housing Administration (FHA).
- Her research will focus on barriers to affordable homeownership, including starter home supply and property insurance costs.
- The fellowship is the first initiative under the center's Housing Supply Research & Fellowship Program.
- The program received a $1 million grant from the Citi Foundation as part of its Blueprint for Housing Opportunity initiative.
The Center for Affordable Housing Lending has appointed Julia Gordon as its inaugural senior fellow. Gordon, who previously served as the FHA Commissioner and HUD assistant secretary for housing, will lead the new Housing Supply Research & Fellowship Program.
Her work will concentrate on identifying and addressing barriers to affordable homeownership, such as the shortage of starter homes and the rising costs of property insurance. Gordon stated her intention to develop practical solutions for policymakers and lenders.
The fellowship is supported by a $1 million grant from the Citi Foundation, part of its broader Blueprint for Housing Opportunity initiative, which aims to finance the creation and preservation of 250,000 housing units nationwide and provide grants to housing affordability nonprofits.
The program is designed to foster collaboration between housing experts and policymakers, translating research into actionable policy proposals. Fellows will work with the NAAHL's network to test ideas before publication, with the association's policy team advocating for recommendations among lawmakers. The initial phase also includes a report on the Community Reinvestment Act's impact and policy briefs on CDFIs and starter home shortages.