The housing programs proposed in the reconciliation bill could help millions of Americans who desperately need housing assistance and begin to mitigate the damage of a stagnant housing supply.
Unlike other programs that "are barely worth passing at all," Ryan Cooper argues that the housing plan in the current reconciliation bill is "both necessary and excellent."
According to Cooper, the $327 billion plan "would be the biggest improvement in American housing policy in decades" and "would assist millions of people who desperately need it." If passed, it would expand Section 8 vouchers "by more than 50 percent over five years," provide "$80 billion in new capital grants for public housing and a temporary repeal of the Faircloth Amendment, which restricts the number of public housing units that can be built," and fund other programs that would incentivize upzoning and help people struggling to find housing.
The Biden plan would also "create millions of new rental units and homes for purchase so that assistance doesn't simply drive up prices on a fixed housing supply." Because "from about 2008 to 2014, housing investment was below the previous postwar record," Cooper writes, "[w]e need half a decade at least of exceptionally busy construction simply to make up for lost ground."
While the government often can't affect the supply side of housing, "today, housing supply could be drastically expanded — and this bill would help that happen."
FULL STORY: Biden's bold plan for American housing
An Uncommon Success for Housing Vouchers in Wichita
While less than a fifth of housing vouchers are utilized nationwide, Wichita has distributed around 70 percent of the vouchers allocated to the city.
Housing Voucher Recipients Find Themselves With Fewer Options
Americans relying on federal rental assistance are struggling harder than ever to find affordable housing, braving years-long wait lists and reluctant landlords.
North Texas HOA Effectively Bans Section 8 Recipients
Housing and civil rights advocates warn that the community’s rule instituting fines on landlords who rent to housing voucher recipients will disproportionately affect Black families.
The Slow Death of Ride Sharing
From the beginning, TNCs like Lyft and Uber touted shared rides as their key product. Now, Lyft is ending the practice.
Cool Walkability Planning
Shadeways (covered sidewalks) and pedways (enclosed, climate controlled walkways) can provide comfortable walkability in hot climates. The Cool Walkshed Index can help plan these facilities.
Congestion Pricing Could Be Coming to L.A.
The infamously car-centric city is weighing a proposed congestion pricing pilot program to reduce traffic and encourage public transit use.
What Is ‘Arterial Rapid Transit?’
Atlanta is planning to build ‘BRT lite,’ a version of bus service that offers signal priority and fewer stops but keeps buses in mixed-traffic lanes.
Vermont Latest State to Preempt Single-Family Zoning
The approval of the HOME law, S.100, will allow for duplexes in all residential neighborhoods in Vermont. Large swaths of residential zones in the state must also now allow tri- and four-plexes.
Master Plan Envisions New Neighborhood Around Philly’s 30th Street Station
A partnership led by Amtrak plans to redevelop the area around a historic train station with mixed-use buildings, cultural amenities, and open space.
Caltrans
San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency
City of Orange
Chaddick Institute at DePaul University
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Montrose County
Wichita-Sedgwick County Metropolitan Area Planning Department
City of Lomita
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.
