Author: Chris Holden
-
HUD Delays Rule Promoting Fair Housing
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced a delay this month in implementing a 2015 fair housing rule designed to reduce residential segregation. The rule requires local governments receiving HUD community development funds to submit an Assessment of Fair Housing (AFH) report. This assessment documents where segregation is occurring in the…
-
VA Reverses Course on Proposed Cuts in Veterans Homelessness Programs
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) reversed course this month on a proposal to shift funding targeted to house homeless veterans to be used by local VA hospitals for general service use, after facing opposition. The program, called Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (VASH), combines rental assistance provided by HUD Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers (HCV)…
-
Proposed Tax Reform Not Good for Low-Income Renters
12/19/17 Update: Today, the House passed its tax bill by a 227-203 vote. The Senate is expected to vote tonight. Editor’s Note: This article reflects Affordable Housing Online’s analysis of the two tax reform bills passed by the Senate and House of Representatives, and how it would affect participants of low-income housing programs. The Republican…
-
A Renter’s Guide to FEMA Housing Assistance
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is the largest of many agencies that provide assistance after disasters. FEMA’s assistance is supposed to fill in the gaps not covered by ongoing government assistance programs, insurance companies and private charitable organizations like the Red Cross. In all cases, FEMA’s operational goal is to facilitate moving households from…
-
Housing Authority Strategies Help Prevent Crime in Public Housing
For a long time, Public Housing was seen as a center for violent crime, with images of brick high-rise complexes in dangerous neighborhoods dominating the media. But violent crime has been on the decline in the United States since 1995. And as violent crime has diminished nationwide, so too has it decreased on Public Housing…
-
LA Section 8 Opening May Be Largest in Recent Years
Last week, the Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles (HACLA) opened its Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) waiting list to new applicants for the first time since 2004. The rush of new applicants in the first few days has some thinking this may be the largest response to a wait list opening…
-
Hurricanes Harvey and Irma Federal Relief Funding Approved
President Trump signs the bill that gives $15.25 billion in emergency aid for disaster relief. Photo courtesy of Andrea Hanks of The White House. On Friday, September 8, President Trump signed legislation providing $15.25 billion to help with the recovery from Hurricanes Harvey and Irma. Of these funds, $7.4 billion are for the Federal Emergency…