Housing

Why a government shutdown is complex for state and local governments

It will impact welfare, food stamps, housing and infrastructure, among other things. But planning for a shutdown is difficult for a myriad of reasons.

  • By Kery Murakami

5 things to know about Eric Adams’ latest housing proposal

The New York City mayor unveiled the latest on his goal to become a “City of Yes.”

  • By Sahalie Donaldson

Massachusetts has a huge waitlist for state-funded housing. So why are 2,300 units vacant?

One cause of the vacancies is the online waitlist system the state rolled out four years ago.

  • By Todd Wallack and Christine Willmsen, ProPublica

A $10K incentive opens the door to homeownership for city employees

In a bid to attract and retain workers, Baltimore will double its financial incentive for city employees who purchase a home in one of its “middle neighborhoods.”

  • By Molly Bolan

Devil in the details: How outdated zoning code stymies development

With an analysis of its antiquated zoning laws and a newly restructured planning department, Boston is laying the groundwork to address housing shortages and meet its sustainability goals.

  • By Molly Bolan

What does it mean when the homeless workforce can’t afford housing?

It means there’s fewer people to help the unhoused, exacerbating the homelessness crisis, a new report says. It estimates that $4.8 billion is needed to adequately pay current workers.

  • By Molly Bolan

Some states protect Section 8 renters, but enforcement is elusive

The protective laws can take years to have an effect for voucher holders.

  • By Robbie Sequeira, Michigan Advance

How cutting red tape can encourage housing conversions

By streamlining zoning and broadening eligibility for adaptive reuse programs, Los Angeles and Kissimmee, Florida, encourage developers to convert business properties to desperately needed housing.

  • By Molly Bolan

Mobile homes could be a climate solution. So why don’t they get more respect?

Mobile homes could be a key player in combatting climate change as they can be built or retrofitted with more energy-efficient and climate-friendly features.

  • By Siri Chilukuri, Grist

Motels converted to house families at capacity, new homeless intake center expected to hit limit

The model of converting motels into shelter space has helped address underlying issues of homelessness by providing housing and individualized case management, but one county needs more of them.

  • By Michael Lyle, Nevada Current

Geospatial tech can help cities get ahead of real estate speculators

With insights from property analytics, cities can craft better policies to ensure an adequate supply of affordable housing for local residents.

  • By Molly Bolan

How local government can drive housing innovation

COMMENTARY | Raleigh, North Carolina, tapped into a nontraditional vendor pool to find new ways of using so-called granny flats to boost affordable housing.

  • By Nick Lyell
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To solve the affordable housing crisis, some communities are turning to hotels

The pandemic presented communities with a unique opportunity to convert hotels into residential spaces, creating everything from temporary transitional housing to long-term supportive homes. But is the model sustainable today?

  • By Molly Bolan

‘Who’s going to work there?’: Lawmakers grapple with labor shortages

Affordable housing, reliable child care and available mental health services could be the key for state and local governments desperate to fill vacant job positions in their communities. Lawmakers are finding ways to meet workers' needs through legislation and funding.

  • By Kevin Hardy , Stateline

Prevention pays off: How one city may soon end family homelessness

Milwaukee’s community leaders and social services organizations are setting common goals and directing resources toward keeping families from becoming homeless in the first place.

  • By Molly Bolan

Couch, car or curb: Defining which young person is ‘homeless’ affects aid state by state

A patchwork of definitions complicates efforts to help youth without permanent homes.

  • By Robbie Sequeira, Stateline

Governments have faith that church property can help solve the housing crisis

Cities and states are addressing zoning and funding challenges to help faith-based organizations transition underutilized property into affordable housing.

  • By Molly Bolan

The risk of fraud is high in the nation’s largest housing program, report finds

The federal department that disperses funds to states to build affordable housing is failing to provide necessary oversight, an audit found, increasing “the opportunities for mismanagement and fraudulent activity.”

  • By Kery Murakami

Housing-first interventions, not policing, key to ending homelessness

New data shows that government assistance during the pandemic dramatically reduced homelessness. So why are cities and states increasingly turning to criminalization to address the issue?

  • By Molly Bolan

The Whole-Home Repairs program is remaking the housing landscape

The landmark initiative is helping Pennsylvanians with costly fixes.

  • By Harrison Cann

‘Loved to death:’ New report says tourism that drives the state’s economy can hurt local cities

When droves of tourists arrive to small communities, the demand for housing, amenities and resources strains the pockets of state and local governments.

  • By Darrell Ehrlick, Daily Montanan