Category: Housing News

The subject of the affordable housing crisis finally made the stage last night at the fifth 2020 Democratic presidential debate in Atlanta. Many housing industry professionals agree that this may be the first time a presidential debate moderator has asked candidates about their plans to address homelessness and the lack of affordable housing. NBC News…

First California City Sued Under Recent State Housing Law

Nov 20, 2019

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The first lawsuit has been filed under California’s latest amendment to its Housing Accountability Act, alleging City of Huntington Beach illegally denied a housing development proposal, even though it complied with the zoning. The Housing Accountability Act, passed in 1982, was amended in 2017 to greatly strengthen its enforcement standards and promote the building of…

3 million people would lose SNAP benefits under rule proposal

Nov 5, 2019

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The Trump administration has proposed a rule change that would lead to about 3 million people losing Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. Under the proposal by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Food and Nutrition Service, automatic qualification for SNAP benefits — formerly known as Food Stamps — would become more restrictive. The proposed…

Affordable Housing Roundtable: Homelessness in America

Oct 28, 2019

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AHO Staff

In the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) 2018 Annual Homeless Assessment Report to Congress1, researchers estimate more than 553,000 people were experiencing homelessness on any given night. Thirty-five percent of which were living unsheltered or in places unfit for safe human habitation. The report cites a decline in homelessness from 2007 to…

HUD Officials Admit Holding Back Disaster Aid for Puerto Rico

Oct 25, 2019

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Two HUD officials recently admitted to a House subcommittee that the agency knowingly withheld a funding notice for Puerto Rico disaster aid. HUD was scheduled to publish funding notices for 18 areas affected by natural disasters in recent years, but Puerto Rico’s was the only funding notice that did not get published. The HUD officials…

California third in nation to enforce statewide rent control

Oct 8, 2019

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California Governor Gavin Newsom gave low-income tenants protection from rent gouging, approving statewide rent control legislation today. California is only the third state to do this, following Oregon in March of this year and New York in June. The new limit will not only cap annual rent increases, it will also provide tenants protection from…

Opinion: How will impeachment proceedings affect affordable housing?

Sep 30, 2019

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The United States government is entering turbulent political times. The House of Representatives has begun a formal impeachment inquiry against President Trump. This is only the fourth time it has happened in our history. No matter how it turns out, the impeachment process is disruptive to the normal business of Washington. But certain aspects of…

Senate committee approves modest increase in FY 2020 affordable housing spending

Sep 25, 2019

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The Senate Appropriations Committee approved a modest increase in affordable housing and community development funding last week for Fiscal Year 2020. It provides $2.3 billion more than FY 2019 funding levels. This is $11.9 billion more than the Trump administration requested in its FY 2020 budget. This is good news for low-income renters, who would…

HUD announces new housing assistance for youth leaving foster care

Sep 23, 2019

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