A report developed for Chattanooga and Hamilton County outlines potential small housing types that could easily and affordably fit into existing neighborhoods.
A Homelessness & Incremental Housing Toolkit recommends designs for “small, proximate, private, and dignified housing” that could be built on existing residential lots to create a new source of affordable housing in Hamilton County, Tennessee. Robert Steuteville describes the report on the Congress for New Urbanism site, noting that “The small individual buildings allow for privacy—and for housing to fit into existing neighborhoods.”
According to the toolkit’s authors, “The focus on infill at a manageable scale avoids concentrations of poverty.” The proposed housing types include studio cottages, duplexes, one-bedroom cottages, and small, two-story multifamily buildings. “ The units are designed to be attractive (“dignified”) yet inexpensive to construct. The building forms are simple, with inexpensive roof lines and foundations, and efficient plumbing and utilities.”
The homes are designed to fit into existing neighborhoods and access existing transit and other resources and infrastructure. “This toolkit is targeted to ways to increase housing supply in a way to maximize benefits while limiting resistance to traditional homelessness housing responses,” the authors explain.
FULL STORY: Infill micro-housing for the homeless
Tiny Homes are a First—but not Last—Step in Ending Homelessness
Cities are trying to stretch affordable housing funds to meet the demand for both short- and long-term housing.
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.
Permanent Supportive Housing Providers Face Steep Insurance Hikes
High insurance costs are calling some organizations’ future into question as supportive housing providers struggle to meet their expenses.
What ‘The Brutalist’ Teaches Us About Modern Cities
How architecture and urban landscapes reflect the trauma and dysfunction of the post-war experience.
‘Complete Streets’ Webpage Deleted in Federal Purge
Basic resources and information on building bike lanes and sidewalks, formerly housed on the government’s Complete Streets website, are now gone.
The VW Bus is Back — Now as an Electric Minivan
Volkswagen’s ID. Buzz reimagines its iconic Bus as a fully electric minivan, blending retro design with modern technology, a 231-mile range, and practical versatility to offer a stylish yet functional EV for the future.
Healing Through Parks: Altadena’s Path to Recovery After the Eaton Fire
In the wake of the Eaton Fire, Altadena is uniting to restore Loma Alta Park, creating a renewed space for recreation, community gathering, and resilience.
San Diego to Rescind Multi-Unit ADU Rule
The city wants to close a loophole that allowed developers to build apartment buildings on single-family lots as ADUs.
Electric Vehicles for All? Study Finds Disparities in Access and Incentives
A new UCLA study finds that while California has made progress in electric vehicle adoption, disadvantaged communities remain underserved in EV incentives, ownership, and charging access, requiring targeted policy changes to advance equity.
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.
City of Albany
UCLA Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies
Mpact (formerly Rail~Volution)
Chaddick Institute at DePaul University
City of Piedmont, CA
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research