LISC's new strategic plan is to create what we are calling Sustainable Communities. We envision these communities as places that people want to live in, contribute to, thrive in and be proud of. Such communities will be able to attract and maintain their populations and contribute to the overall health of their cities and regions.

We have identified five program goals that, taken together, define this larger vision of Sustainable Communities:

• Developing, Preserving, Investing in the Physical Environment

• Increasing Family Income and Wealth

• Stimulating Economic Activity, Locally and Regionally

• Improving Access to Quality Education

• Fostering Livable, Safe and Healthy Environments

LISC believes that a new, deepened focus on building Sustainable Communities, as exemplified by the five goals mentioned above, will help neighborhoods to achieve the next level of their development and residents to enjoy more fulfilling lives. Over time, we see this strategy contributing to moving the entire field toward a more comprehensive development agenda, and delivering a wealth of new resources and talent to communities where the supply of affordable housing is dwindling, family incomes remain low, financial services are poor, jobs are elusive, and quality education continues to be largely unavailable.