Builders in Ohio warn that, without intervention from Congress, tax credits meant to support affordable housing construction won’t keep up with rising costs and demand.

Affordable housing developers in Cincinnati are warning that reduced federal Low Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC) will have a negative impact on the construction of affordable units, reports Nick Swartsell for WVXU.
The funding shortage coincides with rising rents and a growing need for affordable housing. “Studies suggest Cincinnati needs about 30,000 more units of housing affordable to its lowest income residents,” Swartsell points out.
Affordable housing developers say “as labor costs, materials and interest rates get more costly, that state-administered pool of federal money builders can apply for isn't keeping up.” And while Congress passed a 12.5 percent increase to LIHTC programs in 2018, that increase expired this year, reducing tax credits for affordable housing once again.
Help could come from proposed federal and state legislation. If passed, the federal Affordable Housing Credit Improvement Act could finance as many as 1 million new affordable units in the next decade.
Housing developers say current efforts are encouraging, but not sufficient. According to Urban Sites Vice President for Affordable Housing Tim Westrich, “Barring some big unforeseen change, there will be fewer affordable housing units in the future.”
FULL STORY: Affordable housing developers say federal funding isn't keeping up with costs. That's a problem

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.

Home Insurers Are Fleeing California
Homeowners in the state are finding it increasingly difficult to secure insurance policies thanks to the growing risks of wildfire, drought, and other climate threats.

Los Angeles County Initiates Effort to Advance Equity in Infrastructure
L.A. County Public Works has launched an initiative to center equity in all of its processes, programming, and services as it plans, designs, builds, and maintains modern infrastructure that uplifts all communities of the county.

Addressing the Noise Impacts of Pickleball
Pickleball may be America's fastest growing sport, but it is not universally loved because of the noise it causes. Learn one expert's ideas for mitigating the noise impacts.
Caltrans
San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency
City of Orange
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Chaddick Institute at DePaul University
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.