Missed among the coverage of the federal Omnibus Bill on Friday of last week: a long-awaited expansion of the Low Income Tax Credit.
"The $1.3 trillion Omnibus spending bill that was approved by Congress and begrudgingly signed by the President last week contained the first expansion of the Low Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) program in more than 10 years," reports Erika Morphy.
The news about the expanded LIHTC program wasn't part of the initial round of news coverage when President Trump signed the omnibus spending bill into law on Friday last week. That news focused more on the expansion of funding for TIGER and Community Development Block Grants. "The spending bill increased the number of LIHTCs that are available to the US states for the next four years by 12.5%," according to Morphy.
The LIHTC survived the GOP tax reform bill signed at the end of 2017, and now it has survived the federal budget process as well. The expanded funding for LIHTC isn't a guarantee that more affordable housing will be built—since President Trump signed the GOP tax reform bill into law, there's been more than one article raising the alarm about other ways the tax reform bill could harm affordable housing production. But, according to a source cited by Morphy in the article, "the expansion of the LIHTC…will help offset the effects of the Tax Reform bill that passed last year..."
FULL STORY: Spending Bill Gives Affordability Housing A Huge Boost
Losing Nonprofit Control of Tax Credit Housing?
How an ambiguous legal definition is endangering nonprofits’ control of dozens of affordable housing developments in the final years of their tax credit agreements.
'The Affordable City' Offers Solutions for the U.S. Housing Affordability Crisis
An excerpt from the new book by Shane Phillips, "The Affordable City," published by Island Press.
The COVID-19 Housing Crisis and the Housing Affordability Crisis Have the Same Solutions
The solutions for the U.S. housing crisis caused by the economic wreckage of COVID-19 will also provide relief in the future, according to this article.
Alabama: Trump Terminates Settlements for Black Communities Harmed By Raw Sewage
Trump deemed the landmark civil rights agreement “illegal DEI and environmental justice policy.”
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
Why Should We Subsidize Public Transportation?
Many public transit agencies face financial stress due to rising costs, declining fare revenue, and declining subsidies. Transit advocates must provide a strong business case for increasing public transit funding.
Understanding Road Diets
An explainer from Momentum highlights the advantages of reducing vehicle lanes in favor of more bike, transit, and pedestrian infrastructure.
New California Law Regulates Warehouse Pollution
A new law tightens building and emissions regulations for large distribution warehouses to mitigate air pollution and traffic in surrounding communities.
Phoenix Announces Opening Date for Light Rail Extension
The South Central extension will connect South Phoenix to downtown and other major hubs starting on June 7.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Caltrans
Smith Gee Studio
Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS)
City of Grandview
Harvard GSD Executive Education
Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions
Salt Lake City
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service