Author Archive
Molly Bolan

Molly Bolan is the assistant editor at Route Fifty. She previously covered education for The Keene Sentinel in her home state of New Hampshire.
Management
‘Housing Catalogs’ Make a Comeback
Once popular in the 1950s, pre-approved housing designs are back and helping cities build homes that aesthetically align with existing homes.
- By Molly Bolan
Finance
State & Local Roundup: The ESG Debate Hits a New Frenzy
Plus: Medicaid expansion marches on; Utah restricts social media for minors; More kids eat free; Development without displacement; and more news you can use from around the country.
- By Daniel C. Vock, Molly Bolan and Elizabeth Daigneau
Health & Human Services
Low-Income Renters Continue to Be Hit Hardest By Housing Shortage
A new report finds that no state has an adequate supply of affordable rental housing. Governments, it suggests, must create incentives for developers to build affordable units.
- By Molly Bolan
Tech & Data
New HUD Playbook Guides Underserved Communities in Accessing Broadband Funding
It seeks to help public housing authorities, multifamily owners and operators, and tribes determine how to spend federal broadband money to close the digital divide.
- By Molly Bolan
Health & Human Services
California Governor Announces Plan to ‘Create More Housing, Faster’
In an effort to tackle one of the country’s largest homeless populations, Gov. Gavin Newsom last week announced plans to build 1,200 tiny homes and spend $1 billion on local homelessness initiatives.
- By Molly Bolan
Management
Public Sector Work Equals High Job Satisfaction
A new workforce survey reveals what employees love about the public sector, and what’s driving them away.
- By Molly Bolan
Finance
State & Local Roundup: Bank Collapses Add to Worries for State and Local Officials
Plus: Lawmakers want to tighten SNAP work requirements; Conservatives continue DEI assault; A potential labor strike in L.A.; and more news you can use from around the country.
- By Daniel C. Vock, Molly Bolan and Elizabeth Daigneau
Health & Human Services
Seattle Explores a Different Approach to Affordable Housing
Social housing typically centers on permanent affordability, tenant leadership and equity. It's an approach used by cities all over the world, and one some Seattle residents are hoping to see in their own community.
- By Molly Bolan
Finance
Biden Administration Unveils Plan to Boost Affordable Housing
Housing advocates have praised the president’s budget proposal, which would give housing programs a $1.1 billion bump.
- By Molly Bolan
Finance
State & Local Roundup: The Child Tax Credit Gets a Boost
President Biden this week proposed bringing back the 2021 expanded credit amidst moves by states to enact their own. Plus: A red state pot rebuke; Tennessee restricts Nashville’s city council; Boston transit troubles; and more news you can use from around the country.
- By Daniel C. Vock, Molly Bolan and Elizabeth Daigneau
Public Safety
State & Local Roundup: Concerns About Crime Weigh Heavily on Voters in Mayoral Races
Plus: An effort to add the Equal Rights Amendment to the Constitution stalls; Illinois tackles mental health in kids; remote work saps revenue in D.C.; states prepare to reduce Medicaid rolls; and more news you can use from around the country.
- By Daniel C. Vock, Molly Bolan and Elizabeth Daigneau
Infrastructure
In Race to Build Out EV Charging Stations, Some Cities and States Have a Leg Up
As the number of electric vehicles surge, a new ranking looks at the state of charging infrastructure and which cities and states are ready to receive them.
- By Molly Bolan and Elizabeth Daigneau
Public Safety
New Tool to Help Cities Make the Case for Public Safety Funding
The Black-led coalition behind the online tool is also launching an effort to reduce gun homicides in 12 cities by 20% over the next five years. Its inaugural cohort includes Baltimore, Baton Rouge, Indianapolis and Newark.
- By Molly Bolan
Management
Can You Lend This Sewer Agency an Ear?
A new podcast from the Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District seeks to connect with its residents.
- By Molly Bolan
Infrastructure
State & Local Roundup: Offshore Wind Push Expands to the Gulf of Mexico
Plus: The mayors of Chicago and New Orleans could lose their jobs; an “innovative” housing plan is defunded; Boston struggles to recruit transit chief; “right to repair” bills proliferate; and more news you can use from around the country.
- By Daniel C. Vock, Molly Bolan and Elizabeth Daigneau
Infrastructure
Investors Purchases of Single-Family Homes Drops By Almost Half
The slowdown comes as mortgage rates rose and housing prices declined, according to real estate firm Redfin.
- By Molly Bolan
Management
State & Local Roundup: Governors Unveil Plans for Budget Surpluses
Plus: North Carolina’s possible Medicaid expansion; a “humiliating” debate; ransomware cripples Oakland; and a power outage at J.F.K. airport; and more news you can use from around the country.
- By Heather Kuldell, Daniel C. Vock and Molly Bolan
Health & Human Services
This Microshelter Can be Built in Under an Hour
The popularity of tiny housing units for people experiencing homelessness increased during the pandemic but remains a relatively low-cost alternative to traditional shelters.
- By Molly Bolan
Finance
EPA Announces $2B to Fight Forever Chemicals
The funds are part of a multiyear program to address per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances that contaminate drinking water.
- By Molly Bolan
Finance
One City’s Attempt to Bring Racial Equity to Home Repairs
Established in 2015, Detroit’s zero-interest home repair program has kept hundreds of Black homeowners in their homes.
- By Molly Bolan