Affordable Housing

Public Housing at a Crossroads
Housing authorities in cities like San Antonio are turning to public-private partnerships and mixed-income development, but do these projects exclude the households who need housing assistance most?

Boston’s Fair Housing Policy Shows Promise
The city was the first to tie fair housing requirements to zoning reform.

This Part of Spain Won Rent Regulations US Tenant Activists Can Only Dream of
In Spain, a new law makes rent control possible — and one region has implemented it. In Catalunya, a rent freeze and rental price index promise to help struggling tenants.

Strategies for Preventing and Ending Homelessness
A new report recommends a comprehensive, nationwide affordable housing plan as the ‘single most effective’ method of ending homelessness.

Vancouver City Council Eliminates Parking Mandates, Supports TOD
In a significant step for more diverse housing and transit-friendly development, the Vancouver City Council eliminated parking minimums and adopted a Transit-Oriented Areas (TOA) policy.

‘Grand Boulevards’ Could Ease Housing Crisis
A prominent urbanist argues that redeveloping commercial corridors with denser housing could bridge the gap between the housing supply and demand.

Reining in Rising Property Insurance Rates
There are many proposed ways to mitigate the property insurance cost crisis. They all require action from federal or state governments.

Study: Housing Crisis is About Affordability, not Supply
New research shows that there is no overall shortage of housing units, but all U.S. metropolitan areas face a severe lack of affordable units for low-income renters.

Report: DC Needs ‘Immense’ Funding Increase to Address Housing Crisis
Close to 60,000 District households can’t afford their housing costs, according to research from the Urban Institute.

10,000 Americans Turn 65 Every Day; Why It Matters
As more people age, communities are preparing for the growing need for services, affordable housing, and transportation.

The Permanent Affordability That Wasn't: Lessons from the Pythian Building
A high-stakes, high-profile community land trust project once hailed as a triumph in New Orleans ended in disaster for its residents, but it’s important to draw the right lessons about why.

California Supreme Court Rules in Favor of People's Park Housing
The decision paves the way for a controversial student housing development.

Omaha Program Promotes Infill Development
Budding developers can access funding and low-cost vacant lots for affordable housing construction.

New Tennessee Law Allows No-Cost Incentives for Affordable Housing
Local governments in the Volunteer State can now offer developers incentives like increased density, lower parking requirements, and priority permitting for affordable housing projects.

Cohousing as a Solution to High Housing Costs and Social Isolation
Living arrangements designed to encourage social interaction and provide shared facilities can lower the cost of living and build more friendly, supportive neighborhoods.

Connecticut Cities Slow to Submit Affordable Housing Plans
Per a 2017 state law, all cities and towns must submit plans for providing enough housing in their jurisdictions, but a lack of clarity and enforcement mechanisms gives the law little real power.

How the ‘Housing Trap’ Keeps Housing Unaffordable
The financialization of housing uncouples housing prices from local supply and demand. Fixing this requires a new approach.

Colorado Cities Seek to Address Housing Crisis With Modular Housing, STR Rules
Cities are incentivizing more affordable housing types and limiting permits for short-term rentals in an effort to keep housing affordable for residents.

Austin Reduces Minimum Lot Size
Smaller lot sizes for single-family homes can make construction more affordable and homeownership available to more households.

Rural New York Explores Creative Housing Solutions
Rural communities and small cities are implementing affordable housing solutions at the local level, while the state budget prioritizes urban areas.
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