Author: Chris Holden
-
Federally assisted housing improves communities, contrary to stereotypes
A new report joins a long line of research that shows affordable housing does not drive down the value of neighboring properties.
-
Bipartisan emergency rental assistance bill would help renters keep their home
A bipartisan Senate proposal would make emergency rental assistance a permanent program, and provide other support for renters at risk of eviction.
-
Research shows the poorest places in America are mostly rural
A new research brief shows that rural counties make up the vast majority of places that have experienced extreme poverty over several decades.
-
Expanded Child Tax Credit mostly covered basic needs during the pandemic
New data shows that low-income households overwhelmingly used their Child Tax Credit payments to cover basic needs like food, utilities, and rent.
-
The U.S. is 7M apartments short for renters with the lowest incomes
The longstanding truth of the affordable housing crisis is that there are just not enough affordable homes available for renters with the lowest incomes. An annual report from the National Low-Income Housing Coalition has revealed once again that the U.S. lacks millions of apartments affordable to extremely low-income renters. Millions of renters cannot find affordable…
-
HUD unveils its first Equity Action Plan
For the first time, the Department of Housing and Urban Development has released a plan proposing actions to help people of color, LGBTQ+ people, and other groups get federal assistance that they need. HUD’s Equity Action Plan outlines barriers these groups face, and has proposals that will help more low-income renters. The HUD plan was…
-
Housing speculation leads to more evictions
A new report shows that housing speculation leads to worse living conditions for low-income renters, as well as increased evictions in distressed neighborhoods. Over the last decade, housing speculators — those who buy a property with the intent to sell it for a profit — have been buying more and more properties in low-income neighborhoods.…
-
Idaho approves affordable housing funds for the first time in state’s history
Idaho’s Governor Brad Little last month approved $50 million to build more affordable housing for working people. This is the first time in the state’s history that Idaho’s state government has provided any funds to develop new affordable housing. Although the state legislature created a state affordable housing trust fund in 1992, it has never…
-
Lowering regulatory barriers leads to surge in shelters for homeless persons
California added more than 6,000 shelter units for people experiencing homelessness in the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. This was accomplished with a lot of pandemic relief money to buy and renovate hotels and motels; but much of the success is also due to a state program that reduced regulatory barriers to new shelters.…
-
Low-income renters sacrifice future to pay rent during the pandemic
A new report shows how millions of low-income renters have had to borrow against their future to survive the COVID-19 pandemic. Low-income renters — especially Black and Hispanic renters — were more likely to lose income and fall behind on rent. These renters also leaned heavily on borrowing from family and friends, credit cards, and…