Ashoka Changemakers launches affordable housing competition

Guest Post

Ashoka’s Changemakers has launched an online competition to find the best solutions to integrate and develop affordable, inclusive and sustainable urban housing. This challenge especially seeks to identify solutions that respond to communities’ needs, work with the existing infrastructure, respect local, indigenous culture, materials, and practice, and can be applied to a wide range of locations.All solutions that demonstrate innovation, sustainability and a social impact, whether they are rooted in land rights and management, new technologies, transportation, financing, credit for the poor, and standards for accessibility, work-life balance, health, public safety, environmental quality, and citizen security, are encouraged! The most competitive entrants will be collaborations that incorporate affordable, inclusive, and sustainable ideas with tangible plans to be adapted and implemented in urban environments.

Submit your entry by February 2, 2011 to be eligible to win. Three winning innovations will receive a cash prize of US $10,000 each. We also have an Early Entry prize for the two best entries submitted by 5PM EST, December 12, 2010 who will each win a prize of US $500. To take advantage of this opportunity, we strongly urge you to submit your entry as soon as possible.

This competition is being launched in anticipation of the 2012 Summit of the Americas, and in support of U.S. President Barack Obama’s Energy and Climate Partnership for the Americas (ECPA). It is funded by the Rockefeller Foundation, and is a joint effort of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, the U.S. Department of State, and the American Planning Association.

The most competitive entrants will be showcased and reviewed at an event that closes the competition in June 2011 at the National Building Museum in Washington, D.C. where they will be viewed by public and private partners, including prospective funders.

Use the Changemakers community as a resource! The sooner you submit your entry, the more time the community has to comment on it, make suggestions and leave feedback, which you can use to improve your idea and proposal.

Visit the site to submit your innovation to the competition, and you may get in touch with Rachna Pandey Donthi for further details and clarifications c[email protected].