The Housing Advocacy Committee rallies architects to be changemakers—elevating public policy and reimagining design responses to housing affordability and homelessness.
AIA Members, architecture students, and partners in the affordable housing community are welcome to join us at any time during the year – as committee members or for specific events! Reach out to co-chairs or staff for more information.
View the Committee Charter (PDF)
Each year at Search for Shelter, volunteer architects, landscape architects, interior designers, and students create pro bono solutions for design projects submitted by Minnesota affordable housing and/or homeless nonprofit organizations.
This interdisciplinary community of practice is aligned in the desire to create both quantity and quality in affordable housing solutions.
The Housing Advocacy Committee regularly tours projects underway and recently completed to see the best in high-quality, local, affordable housing design.
Policy: Federal, State, and Local
The Housing Advocacy Committee supports Government Affairs Committee work on housing policy at the national, state, and local levels. They provide real-world experience and expertise to enhance policy solutions in building codes and statutes.
Minnesota Housing
For more than 50 years, the agency has worked to provide access to safe, decent and affordable housing and to build stronger communities across the state. In 2024, they distributed $1.96 billion in resources and served 73,650 households.
Excellence in Affordable Housing Design
The AIA Minnesota Affordable Housing Design Award, funded by the McKnight Foundation, recognizes and encourages innovative, high-quality design for affordable housing.
