Housing

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

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

July 2, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Aerial view of new neifhborhood under construction with enpty lots in foreground.

In California Battle of Housing vs. Environment, Housing Just Won

A new state law significantly limits the power of CEQA, an environmental review law that served as a powerful tool for blocking new development.

July 2, 2025 - CALmatters

Aerial view of town of Wailuku in Maui, Hawaii with mountains in background against cloudy sunset sky.

Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly

Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.

July 1, 2025 - Honolulu Civil Beat

Tents inhabited by unhoused people lined up on sidewalk in Los Angeles, California in front of industrial building.

California Homeless Arrests, Citations Spike After Ruling

An investigation reveals that anti-homeless actions increased up to 500% after Grants Pass v. Johnson — even in cities claiming no policy change.

July 1, 2025 - Times of San Diego

Route 66 motel neon sign.

Albuquerque Route 66 Motels Become Affordable Housing

A $4 million city fund is incentivizing developers to breathe new life into derelict midcentury motels.

July 1, 2025 - High Country News

Aerial view of single-family homes with rooftop solar panels in planned development near Austin, Texas.

A New Texas Neighborhood is Powered by Geothermal Energy

The 7,500-home development claims to be Austin’s ‘first zero energy planned community.’

June 29, 2025 - Floodlight

Heat map of extreme heat in rural U.S. communities.

Data: In Rural America, Mobile Homes are Heat Traps

Extreme heat is often viewed as an urban problem, but rural communities face their own unique risks.

June 29, 2025 - The Daily Yonder

Zohran Mamdani, candidate for NYC mayor, speaking at event outdoors wearing black puffy jacket.

NYC: What Mamdani’s Rivals Can Teach Him About Transportation

The mayoral candidate won on a bold, progressive platform. Some of his opponents had even bolder ideas.

June 29, 2025 - StreetsBlog NYC

Two-story green apartment building in residential neighborhood in Berkeley, California with tall street trees.

Berkeley Approves ‘Middle Housing’ Ordinance

The city that invented single-family zoning is finally reckoning with its history of exclusion.

June 27, 2025 - San Francisco Chronicle

Connecticut state capitol with gold dome and modern office buildings in background in Hartford, CT.

Connecticut Governor Vetoes Housing Bill

Gov. Lamont reversed his view on a controversial affordable housing bill that would have required municipalities to zone for set amounts of affordable housing to receive state funding.

June 27, 2025 - Housing Wire

For Rent sign on red stucco apartment building.

A Case for Universal Rental Assistance

A pair of researchers argues that expanding rental assistance programs for low-income households is the most effective way to alleviate the housing crisis.

June 26, 2025 - The Conversation

Looking up at high-rise office buildings in New York City.

Office Conversions Have Increased Every Year This Decade

Since the pandemic, office vacancy rates remain high, leading many cities to adjust zoning codes to accommodate adaptive reuse.

June 26, 2025 - Smart Cities Dive

People protesting housing discrimination at rally in 1964.

What Is the Fair Housing Act?

Signed in 1968, the Fair Housing Act legally prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, sex, and other protected categories in housing. Over fifty years later, access to safe and affordable housing remains uneven across social and racial groups.

June 25, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Brick building with high-rise under construction with yellow crane in background in downtown Portland, Oregon.

Portland Housing Bond Created Nearly 5,000 Units, But Affordability Remains Out of Reach

Despite better-than-expected results from multiple local housing bonds, housing costs and homelessness remain top of mind for many Oregonians.

June 25, 2025 - Governing

Large white banner with red letter reading "Space Available - Apts. for Rent - Call 898-0660" on brick building in Washington, D.C.

US Rents Squeezing Low-Income Tenants

Despite a recent — and slowing — apartment construction boom, renters at the lower end of the income scale are still struggling to find housing.

June 25, 2025 - Bloomberg CityLab

Person holding sign reading 'Rent Relief Now!' wearing blue face mask.

Tech Tools Help Tenants Push Back Against Problematic Landlords

Shelterforce found more than a dozen examples of tenant-serving technology that help renters identify landlords, respond to eviction, fight back against housing discrimination, and more.

June 25, 2025 - Shelterforce Magazine

Wood-frame multifamily housing units under construction on a street in low-density area or suburb.

More Apartments Are Being Built in Less-Dense Areas

Rising housing costs in urban cores and a demand for rental housing is driving more multifamily development to exurbs and small metros.

June 24, 2025 - Smart Cities Dive

Colorful bright blue small houses with decorative cacti in courtyard in San Diego, California.

Opinion: How to Rebuild the ‘Starter Home’ Market

Large minimum lot sizes and restrictions on multi-unit housing put an artificial floor under home costs. Is it time to eliminate them?

June 24, 2025 - Greater Greater Washington

Buildings in downtown Springfield, Missouri at dusk.

Missouri Tenants Sue Housing Owners Over Tax Credit Program

In Springfield, Missouri, organized tenants have filed a lawsuit against the past and present owners of their tax credit–financed properties, claiming that in exercising an opt-out provision they violated both state and federal requirements.

June 23, 2025 - Shelterforce Magazine

Former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo walking down city street.

Cuomo Is the Candidate of Both NIMBYs and Developers. What Gives?

In the New York City mayoral race, odd bedfellows align to preserve the housing status quo.

June 23, 2025 - Benjamin Schneider

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