Housing

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

New five-story apartment building under construction.

Opinion: How Geothermal HVAC Lowers Costs, Improves Grid Resilience

Geothermal heating and cooling systems can reduce energy costs and dramatically improve efficiency.

June 22, 2025 - Greater Greater Washington

Close-up on clipboard with pre-tenancy application and red pen.

Tenant Screening: A Billion-Dollar Industry with Little Oversight. What’s Being Done to Protect Renters?

Reports show that the data tenant screening companies use is often riddled with errors and relies on information that has no bearing on whether someone will be a good tenant.

June 22, 2025 - Shelterforce Magazine

Map of Western U.S. indicating public lands that would be for sale under a Senate plan in yellow and green.

Map: Where Senate Republicans Want to Sell Your Public Lands

For public land advocates, the Senate Republicans’ proposal to sell millions of acres of public land in the West is “the biggest fight of their careers.”

June 19, 2025 - Outdoor Life

SMall backyard cottage ADU in San Diego, California.

San Diego Votes to Rein in “Towering” ADUs

City council voted to limit the number of units in accessory buildings to six — after confronting backyard developments of up to 100 units behind a single family home.

June 18, 2025 - NBC San Diego

Large tower under construction with crane with American and Texas flags in downtown Austin, Texas against sunset sky.

Texas Legislature’s Surprising Pro-Housing Swing

Smaller homes on smaller lots, office to apartment conversions, and 40% less say for NIMBYs, vote state lawmakers.

June 18, 2025 - The Texas Tribune

Red brick five-story multifamily housing building in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.

Even Edmonton Wants Single Staircase Buildings

Canada's second most affordable major city joins those angling to nix the requirement for two staircases in multi-family buildings.

June 18, 2025 - Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC)

Rendering of white three-story single-stair building in Austin, Texas with staircase in the middle.

Austin's First Single Stair Apartment Building is Officially Underway

Eliminating the requirement for two staircases in multi-story residential buildings lets developers use smaller lots and more flexible designs to create denser housing.

June 17, 2025 - Building Design & Construction

Tall modern condo buildings on both sides of CN Tower rising in middle.

Toronto Condo Sales Drop 75%

In two of Canada’s most expensive cities, more condos were built than ever — and sales are plummeting.

June 17, 2025 - Financial Post

Two small wooden one-story homes in Florida with floodwaters at their doors.

As Trump Phases Out FEMA, Is It Time to Flee the Floodplains?

With less federal funding available for disaster relief efforts, the need to relocate at-risk communities is more urgent than ever.

June 16, 2025 - Governing

FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?

After describing his path towards focusing on walkability as the essence of good planning, Jeff Speck marches through his five principal reasons for making more walkable places.

Reinventing Malls: Planning Alchemy—Turning Gray Fields Into Gold

The course focuses on the opportunities and imperatives that shape reinvention of mall sites.

Senior Planner

City of Thousand Oaks

Community Development Director

City of Wisconsin Rapids

Professor of Urban Planning

Harvard University Graduate School of Design

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