Housing
Zoning reform made way for an explosion of smaller homes in California. Will it work elsewhere?
Encouraged by California’s success, states across the country are passing laws to allow for more accessory dwelling units to address a shortage of affordable homes. But a slew of factors can keep the housing solution from taking off.
This housing fix could help build more homes. But firefighters are sounding the alarm.
At the center of the housing debate are building codes, and whether states’ bids to update them to address the affordable housing crises poses safety risks to the individuals they are trying to help.
A swing constituency could help allow more homes
A survey could help illuminate for policymakers which housing reforms are more popular than others with a swing group of voters.
Building emergency housing to meet the unique needs of older adults
A silver tsunami of older adults experiencing homelessness is starting to crash across the U.S. Here’s how one state is trying to soften the blow.
How matchmaking can address two housing needs
As America’s population rapidly ages and housing costs soar, some states are playing matchmaker and matching young people in need of affordable housing with older adults with room to spare.
Platform lets cities, residents shop granny flat options
Like an Etsy for accessory dwelling units, an online platform displays preapproved designs and specs for ADUs, giving local governments a tool for streamlining construction and reducing the housing shortage.
What makes a city ideal for office-to-housing conversions?
It’s the state and local leaders who can work creatively with restrictive building codes and tax incentives, one expert says.
The 'silver tsunami' is here. Is government ready?
About 10,000 Americans are turning 65 every day. As the nation’s aging population continues to climb, states and the federal government are working to get plans in place to care for older adults.
Colorado takes a new—and likely more effective—approach to the housing crisis
COMMENTARY | Colorado’s transit-oriented housing has gained support among developers, city planners and environmental advocates.
Are modular homes the future of affordable housing?
In Buena Vista, Colorado, a public-private partnership crafted a patchwork of legislation, partnerships and regulatory tools to help a local company quickly deliver factory-built, affordable rental units.
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Housing boom in most of the US could ease shortage, but cost is still a problem
There are 5 million new housing units since 2020, mostly in the South and West, but supply has still not caught up with demand.
From foster care to secure housing: How vouchers help young adults build self-sufficiency
While some first-time renters rush to thrift stores to find eclectic pieces to decorate their new apartments, for adolescents leaving the foster system, the experience of moving out is often much bleaker.
Why income discrimination laws hurt poor renters
COMMENTARY| Laws that ban discrimination against voucher holders can push smaller landlords out of the low-income housing market, decreasing the amount of affordable housing.
Amid a housing crisis, hospitals offer a dose of relief
The housing crisis may be too big for state and local governments to overcome. That’s why hospitals are stepping in to remedy housing and health care gaps.
Easing the housing squeeze on low-income renters
The State and Local Innovation project will work with policymakers to draft bill language and leverage data and best practices to keep the lowest income renters in stable housing.
How local governments can respond to the housing crisis
A new book by Charles Marohn and Daniel Herriges of Strong Towns encourages local officials to promote small-scale developments, even if it means using city financial tools to get them off the ground.
HUD warns on AI-fueled housing discrimination
The Department of Housing and Urban Development confirmed characteristics like race and income are protected from AI algorithmic discrimination.
As property tax bills rise, states look for long-term solutions
Lawmakers in the Mountain West seek to provide permanent tax relief without harming local revenue.
New Maryland law enables local jurisdictions to impose higher taxes on vacant properties
The legislation aims to reduce the number of lots and houses that sit vacant for years on end in an effort to solve the state's affordable housing shortage.
States take aim at local basic income programs
The no-string-attached cash assistance initiatives have become the target of some state policymakers who claim the programs are a misuse of public funds.
