Panelists will explore the disconnect between policy intentions and real-world implementation – why thousands of people remain unhoused despite having rental assistance, how land-use regulations stall the creation of deeply affordable units, and which policy shifts are necessary to break the gridlock. The discussion will focus on actionable reforms, drawing from local and national strategies to unlock the full potential of affordable and supportive housing as the most effective tool for preventing and ending homelessness.

Panelists will examine the barriers that prevent people from transitioning out of shelter and into permanent housing, despite the availability of vouchers and supportive housing programs. The discussion will unpack the bottlenecks in the placement process, from administrative delays to landlord resistance, and highlight the site-level strategies that have successfully accelerated housing placements. Panelists will also explore what happens after placement—why housing retention remains challenging for many, how supportive services can prevent returns to homelessness, and a special guest will share lived experience with the voucher process.

Focus: Journalist and author Brian Goldstone explores the growing crisis of working Americans experiencing homelessness, drawing from his book There’s No Place for Us: Working and Homeless in America. In conversation with HELP USA’s Chief Operating Officer, Daniel Farrell, they will examine the economic instability, rising housing costs, and systemic failures that have left millions without a home, challenging conventional narratives about who becomes homeless and why. Together they will discuss parallels between the book, the national crisis, and the NYC housing landscape, shedding light on urgent, real-world solutions that move beyond short-term fixes to create lasting change. 

Panelists will explore scalable, innovative housing solutions that move beyond traditional development. The discussion will highlight new construction technologies, corporate-backed investment funds, and adaptive reuse as strategies to expand supply and accelerate the transition from homelessness to housing stability. Speakers will examine barriers to scaling housing production, the role of private capital, and lessons from national models in modular housing, rapid deployment, and public-private partnerships. The conversation will center on actionable solutions NYC can implement now to build more housing, faster.