Author: Chris Holden
-
Annual HUD report shows rise in homelessness for third year
HUD’s 2019 Annual Homeless Assessment Report (AHAR) shows that although homelessness decreased in many states, overall it rose for the third straight year under the Trump administration. Key Facts: There were 567,715 homeless persons counted in January, 2019, an increase of 2.7% in the homeless population. 63% of homeless persons were sheltered and 37% unsheltered.…
-
Affordable Housing Online up close with the candidates at NH primary town hall
Editor’s Note: Affordable Housing Online’s Senior Housing Analyst Chris Holden had a unique opportunity last week to attend one of CNN’s televised town hall events in Manchester, New Hampshire. Below is his personal account of his experience, with reactions to what candidates said about housing policy. Growing up in New Hampshire, I felt lucky that…
-
Does HUD’s Moving to Work demonstration help low-income renters?
HUD recently began expanding the Moving to Work (MTW) demonstration program. MTW allows selected Public Housing Agencies (PHAs) to try innovative approaches that increase housing choice, improve the quality of housing, increase cost-effectiveness, and promote self-sufficiency. Although Congress and HUD have expanded MTW, there are questions about how well low-income residents are being served by…
-
Trump administration FY 2021 budget keeps pushing housing cuts
The Trump administration is proposing huge cuts to affordable housing programs for the fourth year in a row. The administration released its FY 2021 budget with $47.9 billion for the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). This is 15% lower than what was passed in FY 2020. The budget again proposes large cuts to…
-
Supreme Court lets Trump public charge rule take effect
The Supreme Court voted last week to let a Trump administration rule take effect that will punish millions of legal immigrants if they use public benefits. If the rule survives challenges that are still being heard in lower courts, it will severely restrict the number of legal immigrants. The 837-page final rule was published in…
-
Carson kicks off bus tour to reduce affordable housing barriers
HUD Secretary Ben Carson kicked off a nationwide bus tour this week, “Driving Affordable Housing Across America.” The tour’s focus is on removing regulatory barriers to new affordable housing. The trip will provide the secretary with a “listening tour” to gather ideas on the best ways to increase the supply of affordable housing. The tour…
-
HUD rule proposal would let housing segregation slide
HUD will soon publish a proposed rule reducing local government requirements to the Affirmatively Further Fair Housing (AFFH) policy as required by the Fair Housing Act. The proposal completely rewrites an Obama administration requirement that cites document patterns of segregation and proposes concrete solutions in order to get federal community development funds. This Trump proposal…
-
Senate Considering Two Bills Promoting Housing Stability
Two bipartisan housing bills currently in the Senate will greatly benefit housing stability for low-income renters if they are passed. The Eviction Crisis Act would help renters facing the threat of eviction. The Family Stability and Opportunity Vouchers Act would help low-income households with young children move to neighborhoods of opportunity. Evictions have increased at…
-
Supreme Court Declines to Hear Appeal on Public Sleeping Bans
The Supreme Court recently rejected a request by the City of Boise to appeal a lower court ruling that decriminalizes being homeless. This past April, the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled against the city in Martin v. Boise. The Appeals Court said that the city cannot ticket and arrest people for sleeping on the…
-
Congress Nears FY20 Spending Deal to Avoid Government Shutdown
The U.S. House of Representatives passed $1.4 trillion in spending bills on Tuesday to fund the federal government through Fiscal Year (FY) 2020. The legislation now moves to the Senate, which must approve it quickly to avoid a government shutdown. Once approved, HUD will receive funding increases that are a rejection of the massive cuts…