The National Low Income Housing Coalition’s annual report highlights the shortage of affordable and available housing units for low-income households.

The National Low Income Housing Coalition 2023 annual report, “The Gap,” shows a worsening housing crisis for low-income renters, with Texas ranking sixth for available and affordable housing, reports Jamil Donith for Spectrum News 1 El Paso.
As Donith explains, “This year’s data shows the national average for affordable and available rental homes is 33 rental units per every 100 extremely low-income household.” For some Texas cities, this number is much lower: the state average is 25, while Houston has 19 rental units per 100 households and Austin and Dallas both have just 16.
According to Michael Depland, spokesperson for housing advocacy group Texas Housers, “severe affordable rental shortages, lack of state funded programs and subsidized housing, exclusionary zoning laws, population growth and inflation are some major factors” in the state’s failure to provide enough affordable housing for its growing population. “Depland tells Spectrum News Texas Housers researchers found that out of the more than $30 billion state surplus, none of that money went to renters or tenant rights programs.”
According to the report, the solution is clear. “Only sustained and significant federal investments in rental housing can ensure that the lowest-income renters, who are disproportionately people of color, have affordable homes.”
FULL STORY: Texas tops list of worst states for affordable and available housing

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.

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

In Urban Planning, AI Prompting Could be the New Design Thinking
Creativity has long been key to great urban design. What if we see AI as our new creative partner?

Cal Fire Chatbot Fails to Answer Basic Questions
An AI chatbot designed to provide information about wildfires can’t answer questions about evacuation orders, among other problems.

What Happens if Trump Kills Section 8?
The Trump admin aims to slash federal rental aid by nearly half and shift distribution to states. Experts warn this could spike homelessness and destabilize communities nationwide.

Sean Duffy Targets Rainbow Crosswalks in Road Safety Efforts
Despite evidence that colorful crosswalks actually improve intersection safety — and the lack of almost any crosswalks at all on the nation’s most dangerous arterial roads — U.S. Transportation Secretary Duffy is calling on states to remove them.
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.
Appalachian Highlands Housing Partners
Gallatin County Department of Planning & Community Development
Heyer Gruel & Associates PA
Mpact (founded as Rail~Volution)
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
City of Portland
City of Laramie