I have attached the requirements and instructions on writing a policy memo

An important skill for professionals in all fields is the ability to concisely summarize complex

issues. Urban planners, in particular, are frequently required to conduct research on proposed new policies and/or evaluate lengthy policy reports and present recommendations to their colleagues, supervisors, and/or other decision-makers. After these tasks have been completed, planners are often asked to present their findings in a clear, concise, and short (1-2 page) memorandum.

For this assignment, you are required to thoroughly read a policy document and then prepare a

memorandum based on hypothetical.

1) The State of the Nation’s Housing, 2016 published by the Joint Center for Housing

Studies of Harvard University. The report is available for free at the following link:

State of the Nation’s Housing

Hypothetical

San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer has a multi-pronged agenda that includes, among other issues, housing policy. He is dedicated to identifying and implementing strategies to promote a vibrant housing market for all San Diegans regardless of race, income, household size, and type of housing (rental or ownership). Mayor Faulconer has directed his chief of policy, Mike Hansen, to brief him on current challenges and issues in the national housing market as a way to gain insight into potential programs, policies, trends, and challenges that may impact San Diego.

You work for Mr. Hansen as one of his research analysts, and he has given you an evaluation of

national housing trends and policies to review and critique entitled The State of the Nation’s

Housing 2016. It was prepared by Harvard University’s Joint Center of Housing Studies, which is regarded as one of the nation’s preeminent housing policy institutes. Mr. Hansen plans to use your review of the document in preparation for an upcoming briefing meeting that he has scheduled with Mayor Faulconer to discuss national and local housing issues.

Your supervisor, Mr. Hansen, has asked you to prepare a 1-2-page memo that succinctly

summarizes the report’s key findings and recommendations. He values your opinions and has

asked you for the following: 1) a summary of the issues and trends; 2) identification and

evaluation of the key challenges and opportunities; 3) and identification of the most compelling

issues to be shared with Mayor Faulconer. As you present the material, make sure to draw

connections between national trends and their implications for San Diego.

Your memo should include the following:

1) Opening Segment/Statement of Topic: This should include the purpose of the memo and a

brief overview of what the memo will contain. You should be explicit: “The purpose of

this memo is to. . .” It should also contain a policy statement. Take a position on the issue

– what do you think about The State of the Nation’s Housing? Are there any particularly

compelling national trends and/or challenges that are of significance, particularly for San

Diego? Think of this as your thesis statement. (1 short paragraph)

2) Brief Overview of Issue Area: This is background on the issue you are addressing – what

is the main theme of the report from Harvard University’s Joint Center for Housing

Studies? Briefly provide the background and state the problem/challenge/opportunity that

is addressed in the document. (1 paragraph)

3) Discussion: This is the longest section of the memo. This is where you will provide a

concise summary and evaluation of the issues along with identification of the key

findings, trends, challenges and opportunities, and recommendations. What are the critical

issues? What are the challenges? What are the opportunities? What are the

recommendations? Incorporate critical thinking – if you feel strongly that specific issues

should be emphasized in Mr. Hansen’s presentation to Mayor Faulconer, this is where you

should make your case as supported by the evidence. Present the discussion so that the

main points are clearly organized in a useful and easy to follow manner. You may use

headings if this helps you effectively convey the information and your argument. It is

important, even essential, to strategically include specific facts/data from the report to

substantiate your argument and presentation of the material. Be very deliberate in your

selection of factual material to incorporate into your memo. (2-3 paragraphs max.)

4) Closing Segment: This is a short segment where you state your main policy

recommendations and the ways in which they will benefit your reader (your supervisor,

Mr. Hansen). Re-emphasize your thesis and your main position/recommendations. Make

sure to connect the findings of the report to San Diego. You do not need to be an expert in

San Diego housing policy. Rather, it is up to your informed discretion to identify ways in

which the Harvard study’s findings can apply to/inform San Diego housing policy. (1

short paragraph)

Formatting the Memo

As you prepare your policy memo, be mindful that your objective is to present your ideas in a

clear, concise, and logical manner. Your main points should be easily identifiable by the reader.

Use facts to support your assertions, but do so in a way that will enhance your memo rather than

“clutter” it with too much minutiae. It is acceptable to include tables and charts in a memo, but

only do so if they enhance your argument. In the real world you would likely find it necessary to

conduct additional research. This is not necessary for this assignment. Memos typically do not

contain footnotes or a bibliography, but if you cite a source (in this case the Lincoln Institute

report), make sure to reference the source in the text. For example, “In the report, High Speed

Rail: International Lessons for US Policy Makers, the authors draw attention to. . .” or “Harvard

University’s Joint Center for Housing Studies report from 2016 entitled The State of the Nation’s

Housing 2013 draws attention to. . .”

Format

The memo should use the following heading segment:

MEMORANDUM

TO: (Intended Reader’s Complete Name and Title)

FROM: (Your full name, USP 100)

DATE: (Current Date – assignment due date should be used)

RE: (What the memo is about)

The memo should be singled spaced, use 12 point Times Roman font, and have 1-inch margins.

The only exception is the formatting of the heading, which should have an extra space in between

each line as illustrated above. Separate each paragraph with an extra line and do not indent

paragraphs. The memo must not exceed two pages. Memos that exceed the page limit will receive an automatic 2 point deduction.

Answer Preview…………….

The purpose of this memo is to examine the current challenges and issues in the national housing market with the aim of providing recommendations for programs and strategies that the county can use in the development of its housing policy. In spite of the progress made by the U.S economy regarding recovery from the 2008 financial crisis, recovery in the housing sector of the economy is slow as evident by shortages in the construction of new……..

APA 771 words