Skyrocketing rental costs are hitting low-income residents even harder as available subsidized housing continues to disappear.
Marisa Kendall reports that the San Francisco Bay Area is losing subsidized affordable housing. A new report from the California Housing Partnership says that the five-county region has lost 2,128 affordable homes since 1997 and another 5 percent of affordable housing stock, over 5,000 homes, are at risk of becoming unaffordable.
"Developers essentially are pouring water into a leaky bucket: as they build new units, older units fall out of the supply when their government contracts expire and landlords sell the buildings or convert them to market rate rents," says Kendall.
In addition, the recent government shutdown resulted in the expiration of about 1,000 housing contracts nationwide. Affordable housing advocates are worried that the uncertainty and possibility of missed payments will keep more landlords from participating in federal housing programs.
FULL STORY: Housing meant for the Bay Area’s poorest residents is slowly vanishing
New Book Highlights Human Side of Homelessness Crisis
A San Francisco reporter’s empathetic portrait of unhoused Bay Area residents reminds readers why supportive housing is worth fighting for.
Housing Measure Wins in Seattle Special Election
Voters approved a new tax that could bring in $50 million per year for social housing.
Menlo Park to Develop Parking Lots Into Housing
The city will issue a request for proposals to build subsidized housing on up to three downtown parking lots.
Study: Maui’s Plan to Convert Vacation Rentals to Long-Term Housing Could Cause Nearly $1 Billion Economic Loss
The plan would reduce visitor accommodation by 25,% resulting in 1,900 jobs lost.
Placekeeping: Setting a New Precedent for City Planners
How a preservation-based approach to redevelopment and urban design can prevent displacement and honor legacy communities.
Using Old Oil and Gas Wells for Green Energy Storage
Penn State researchers have found that repurposing abandoned oil and gas wells for geothermal-assisted compressed-air energy storage can boost efficiency, reduce environmental risks, and support clean energy and job transitions.
Washington State Plans Ambitious ‘Cycle Highway’ Network
The state is directing funding to close gaps in its existing bike network and make long-distance trips more accessible.
Homeowners Blame PG&E for Delays in ADU Permits
The utility says it has dramatically reduced its backlog, but applicants say they still face months-long delays for approvals for new electrical work.
Rethinking Wildfire Defense: How a Landscape Approach Can Protect Neighborhoods
Post-fire analysis of the Eaton Fire reveals that a landscape approach — including fire-resistant vegetation, home hardening, and strategic planning — can help reduce wildfire risk, challenging assumptions that trees and plants are primary fire hazards.
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.
Borough of Carlisle
Caltrans
Heyer Gruel & Associates PA
Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS)
City of Grandview
Harvard GSD Executive Education
Salt Lake City
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service
City of Cambridge, Maryland