The September 22 Shelter and Settlements Workshop co-sponsored by USAID/OFDA and InterAction represented the first North American shelter initiative since at least 1996. Nearly 70 participants representing a diverse cross-section of humanitarian actors and institutions engaged in the shelter sector, including non-governmental organizations, academics, international organizations, consultants, and U. S. government agencies convened in response to an open invitation to address a wide range of shelter and settlements issues.