Launched in 2019 as a pilot project, the Housing Accelerator & SDG pilot program was created to explore the use of the UN Sustainable Development Goals as a framework to address housing insecurity in the cities of Los Angeles and Nairobi. Using a collaborative approach with emerging technologies, complemented by research and stakeholder convenings, the pilot intended to identify and support promising interventions. Then, through a formal accelerator program, the city would help scale promising interventions with cross-sector mentorship, pro-bono advising, educational programming and access to government data, systems, and services.

A Housing Security Journey Map was created that explores the experiences of low-income renters navigating housing insecurity. The tool helps to inform future strategies and investments related to housing insecurity and potential opportunities for increased coordination where emerging technology and data-sharing can fill gaps.

The timing of the pilot was interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic and resources pivoted accordingly.