Despite billions in aid, low-income buyers have been priced out of the housing market and middle-class status.
While a red-hot housing market is great for investors, many of California's poorest are denied their right to social mobility because of outrageous housing costs. In Los Angeles, once the land of ample housing, only five ZIP codes have median home prices below $200,000 - and all of those are in one ghetto, Watts. Consider this: in 1970, a Californian earning a quarter of median income could afford a median-priced house. Now, to afford the same home, a family would have to earn 160% median income. Local charities, the Federal government, and the LA Housing Department simply lack the funds to keep up with the housing boom.
Thanks to Jeffrey Goodman
FULL STORY: At Low End of Home Market, High Hurdles

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

Chicago’s Ghost Rails
Just beneath the surface of the modern city lie the remnants of its expansive early 20th-century streetcar system.

Amtrak Cutting Jobs, Funding to High-Speed Rail
The agency plans to cut 10 percent of its workforce and has confirmed it will not fund new high-speed rail projects.

Ohio Forces Data Centers to Prepay for Power
Utilities are calling on states to hold data center operators responsible for new energy demands to prevent leaving consumers on the hook for their bills.

MARTA CEO Steps Down Amid Citizenship Concerns
MARTA’s board announced Thursday that its chief, who is from Canada, is resigning due to questions about his immigration status.

Silicon Valley ‘Bike Superhighway’ Awarded $14M State Grant
A Caltrans grant brings the 10-mile Central Bikeway project connecting Santa Clara and East San Jose closer to fruition.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Caltrans
City of Fort Worth
Mpact (founded as Rail~Volution)
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
City of Portland
City of Laramie