Homelessness

"No Camping" stencil on concrete.

Why Accuracy in Homelessness Data Matters

Cities have access to tools that can more effectively capture information about unhoused residents and pinpoint what types of resources are needed and where.

February 16, 2025 - Governing

Small encampment with tents and mattress along heating pipe in green forest.

Rural Homelessness Could Be Vastly Underestimated, Study Finds

The annual ‘point in time’ count fails to capture the diverse types of situations experienced by unhoused people in rural communities.

February 13, 2025 - The Daily Yonder

Crane and construction on multi-story buildings in downtown Houston, Texas.

How Houston Can Be a Model for Housing Reform

The city builds more new housing than almost any other and has dramatically reduced homelessness, yet low-income families struggle to find affordable housing.

February 12, 2025 - Urban Edge

Neoclassical United States Treasury building in Washington, D.C.

January Must-Reads: Top 10 Articles From Last Month

How a tidal wave of potential changes at the federal level could throw many programs planners depend on into chaos, a roundup of last year’s zoning stories, and the continuing ripple effects of a landmark Supreme Court case.

February 6, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Multifamily wood-frame buildings under construction in Fork, Utah with sunset sky and mountains in background.

As Housing Crisis Continues, Cities Take New Approaches

How U.S. cities are seeking to diversify their funding sources for housing assistance programs and eliminate barriers to housing construction.

February 4, 2025 - Smart Cities Dive

View up at US Department of Housing and Urban Development building in Washington, D.C.

National Housing Group Criticizes Executive Orders

The National Low Income Housing Coalition issued a statement charging that Trump’s executive orders would worsen the housing crisis.

January 27, 2025 - National Low Income Housing Coalition

The historic San Diego City and County Administration Building in Southern California.

San Diego Housing Assistance, Homelessness Programs Facing Major Cuts

Programs supported by federal and state programs are on the brink of losing funding, putting thousands of homeless and at-risk residents in jeopardy.

January 22, 2025 - Governing

Aerial view of statue on top of tall obelisk in downtown Indianapolis, Indiana.

Indianapolis Falls Short of 2018 Goal to End Long-Term Homelessness

The city’s progress in building supportive housing units has not kept up with the rising numbers of residents experiencing homelessness.

January 14, 2025 - Mirror Indy

Milwaukee, Wisconsin city hall at night in winter.

Milwaukee Homelessness Dropped in 2024

Bucking national trends, Milwaukee reduced homelessness in 2024 through Housing First policies and supportive services, but local advocates warn high housing costs will likely lead to an increase in the unhoused population in the coming year.

January 9, 2025 - Wisconsin Public Radio

Omaha, Nebraska skyline at dusk.

Omaha Homeless Services Providers Struggle to Keep Up

With the worst of winter weather ahead, shelter providers say there are not enough beds to meet the rising rate of homelessness in the city.

January 8, 2025 - First Alert 6

National Mall in winter with snow and people walking around, Washington Monument obelisk visible in background.

DC Shelters Brace for Extreme Cold

Homeless service providers are conducting outreach to help bring people indoors ahead of a potentially life-threatening winter storm.

January 7, 2025 - Washington 7News

Close-up of white and black NO CAMPING sign on black iron fence.

Nevada Cities Pass Punitive Anti-Homeless Laws

State legislators rejected a proposed bill that would have enshrined a “Homeless Person’s Bill of Rights” in state law.

January 3, 2025 - Nevada Current

Older unhoused man standing next to cart with belongings and a cardboard sign "West" in a desert landscape.

Homelessness Spiked by 18.1 Percent in 2024

Experts blame the alarming rise in the number of unhoused people on high housing costs and the end of pandemic-era protections.

December 30, 2024 - The New York Times

Blue tarps covering tents set up by unhoused people along chain link fence on concrete sidewalk.

Camping Bans Proliferate After Supreme Court Ruling

A Supreme Court ruling in the case of Grants Pass v. Johnson has led over 100 cities to pass or step up enforcement of camping bans that criminalize unhoused residents.

December 29, 2024 - KSMU

Blue "Welcome to Delaware" roadside sign.

Delaware’s Hope Center Tackles Homelessness With a ‘Humane, Dignified’ Approach

An emergency shelter has become a hub for social services and support for hundreds of unhoused residents.

December 20, 2024 - Next City

Person sleeping in car at night.

‘Safe Parking’ Programs Offer Small Comforts to Unhoused People

People living in cars are often at the mercy of parking regulations, forced to relocate frequently and left without access to resources like restrooms. Safe Parking programs aim to change that.

December 18, 2024 - Smart Cities Dive

Aerial view of DeKalb County Courthouse and surrounding area in Auburn, Georgia.

DeKalb County Launches Housing Assistance Program

The $13 million initiative will support local organizations providing wrap-around services and housing assistance to residents at risk of eviction or experiencing homelessness.

December 5, 2024 - WSBTV

Senior woman sitting inchair looking out large window at golden hour in Broomes Island, Maryland.

Homelessness Among Maryland Seniors Rose 77 Percent Since 2018

The high cost of housing is pushing many older adults into homelessness, while shelters are not equipped to address their specific needs.

November 14, 2024 - Maryland Matters

Aerial view of Norwalk, California.

California Sues Norwalk Over Shelter Moratorium

The state says the city of Norwalk’s prohibition on new shelters and transitional and supportive housing violates anti-discrimination and fair housing laws.

November 5, 2024 - KTLA

View of Salt Lake City, Utah skyline with snowy mountains in background.

Utah to Build New, 1,200-Bed Shelter Campus

The state’s attempt to decentralize emergency homeless shelters yielded poor results, leading to a decision to develop a “transformative” intake campus with wraparound services.

October 23, 2024 - Utah News Dispatch

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.

Top Books

An annual review of books related to planning.

Top Schools

The definitive ranking of graduate planning programs.

100 Most Influential Urbanists

The who's who of urbanism, according to Planetizen readers.

Urban Planning Creators You Should Know

A short list of voices on social, video, and podcasting platforms.