Housing News - Affordable Housing Online

States are slow getting emergency rental assistance to desperate tenants

By Chris Holden on April 9th, 2021

Tagged As: Affordable Housing News, Editorials

As the pandemic unfolded last spring, state and local governments had to scramble to help renters avoid eviction. State and local governments have used federal funding to create emergency rental assistance (ERA) programs, but many areas have been slow getting this assistance to low-income renters. Congress provided $25 billion for emergency rental assistance in December. … Continue reading States are slow getting emergency rental assistance to desperate tenants

Housing News - Affordable Housing Online

Affordable housing is a big focus of Biden’s infrastructure plan

By Chris Holden on April 8th, 2021

Tagged As: Editorials

President Biden’s $2 trillion infrastructure plan — The American Jobs Plan — will rebuild the nation’s aging infrastructure. It will create millions of good paying jobs, support the shift to a clean energy economy, address longstanding racial equity issues, and invest heavily in affordable homes for low-income renters. The proposal has billions of dollars for … Continue reading Affordable housing is a big focus of Biden’s infrastructure plan

Housing News - Affordable Housing Online

Housing Wait List Recap: April 5, 2021

By Nathan Brunet on April 5th, 2021

Tagged As: Waiting List Openings

This week’s recap highlights Section 8, Public Housing, and other affordable housing waiting lists that have been recently announced for the week of April 5, 2021. If you are struggling to pay rent during the coronavirus pandemic, information on local COVID-19 Rental Assistance programs can be found here. New Waiting List Announcements Anchorage, AK Section … Continue reading Housing Wait List Recap: April 5, 2021

Housing News - Affordable Housing Online

“Right to counsel” movement helping renters avoid eviction

By Chris Holden on April 1st, 2021

Tagged As: Editorials

There are few low-income renters who can afford lawyers when they go to eviction court, which puts them at a disadvantage. In these cases, landlords almost always win. A national movement supporting a right to civil counsel is pushing cities and states to make sure that low-income renters get a fair shake in eviction court. … Continue reading “Right to counsel” movement helping renters avoid eviction

Housing News - Affordable Housing Online

Biden announces the American Jobs Plan

By Nathan Brunet on March 31st, 2021

Tagged As: COVID-19 Current Events

Details of a $2 trillion infrastructure plan were released by President Biden today, including a dedication to build new affordable housing and to address the growing rent crisis. The Fact Sheet written by the White House says that $213 billion will be invested “to produce, preserve, and retrofit more than two million affordable and sustainable … Continue reading Biden announces the American Jobs Plan

Housing News - Affordable Housing Online

Indiana law opens the door to more evictions

By Chris Holden on March 30th, 2021

Tagged As: Affordable Housing News, Editorials

A law enacted recently in Indiana will make it easier for landlords to evict low-income renters. Being passed over the governor’s veto, this law will also prevent local governments from regulating landlord-tenant relations. Senate Enrolled Act (SEA) 148 expands the types of cases that are eligible for emergency possession orders. An emergency possession order means … Continue reading Indiana law opens the door to more evictions

Housing News - Affordable Housing Online

Eviction moratorium extended until June

By Nathan Brunet on March 29th, 2021

Tagged As: COVID-19 Current Events

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has extended its moratorium on evictions for most Americans due to the coronavirus pandemic until June 30, 2021. This means that qualified renters are be protected from getting evicted until the moratorium is lifted. The CDC moratorium was most recently scheduled to expire on March 31, 2021, … Continue reading Eviction moratorium extended until June

Housing News - Affordable Housing Online

Housing Wait List Recap: March 29, 2021

By Nathan Brunet on March 29th, 2021

Tagged As: Waiting List Openings

This week’s recap highlights Section 8, Public Housing, and other affordable housing waiting lists that have been recently announced for the week of March 29, 2021. If you are struggling to pay rent during the coronavirus pandemic, information on local COVID-19 Rental Assistance programs can be found here. New Waiting List Announcements El Paso, TX … Continue reading Housing Wait List Recap: March 29, 2021

Housing News - Affordable Housing Online

American Rescue Plan benefits go beyond checks and unemployment extensions

By Robin Lovelace on March 26th, 2021

Tagged As: COVID-19 Current Events

By now, everyone is aware of President Biden’s American Rescue Plan; a $1.9 trillion relief bill passed last month. In fact, most Americans have already received their Economic Impact Payments that were part of the plan. This bill contains other not so well known benefits for low-income renters. Below is a summary of a few … Continue reading American Rescue Plan benefits go beyond checks and unemployment extensions

Housing News - Affordable Housing Online

Open letter from Affordable Housing Online: Considerations for new HUD Secretary Marcia Fudge

By AHO Staff on March 24th, 2021

Tagged As: Editorials

Editor’s Note: Now that Marcia Fudge has been sworn in as Secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), she faces several challenges to help low-income renters. Even before the pandemic, housing was not affordable for anyone earning minimum wage. And now, millions of more renters are at risk of eviction and homelessness. … Continue reading Open letter from Affordable Housing Online: Considerations for new HUD Secretary Marcia Fudge