Should monthly charges be pegged to the cost of financing, developing, and operating housing, or to household income? Or are there other ways to design how rent is calculated?

Exploring the challenges of defining and implementing fair rent in the U.S., an article from Shelterforce contrasts existing market-based and subsidized models with an alternative approach like Zurich’s “cost rent” system. It highlights the disconnect between rent, operating costs, and affordability, questioning the sustainability of profit-driven housing. The discussion examines cooperative housing models and the potential for decommodifying housing while acknowledging structural limitations within capitalist economies. Ultimately, the article asks whether housing should be treated as a public service, similar to education, and what policies could ensure long-term affordability without reliance on market fluctuations or income restrictions.
Read more at the source link.
FULL STORY: What Makes Rent ‘Fair’

Alabama: Trump Terminates Settlements for Black Communities Harmed By Raw Sewage
Trump deemed the landmark civil rights agreement “illegal DEI and environmental justice policy.”

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

The 120 Year Old Tiny Home Villages That Sheltered San Francisco’s Earthquake Refugees
More than a century ago, San Francisco mobilized to house thousands of residents displaced by the 1906 earthquake. Could their strategy offer a model for the present?

LA’s Tree Emergency Goes Beyond Vandalism
After a vandal destroyed dozens of downtown LA trees, Mayor Karen Bass vowed to replace them. Days later, she slashed the city’s tree budget.

Sacramento Leads Nation With Bus-Mounted Bike Lane Enforcement Cameras
The city is the first to use its bus-mounted traffic enforcement system to cite drivers who park or drive in bike lanes.

Seattle Voters Approve Social Housing Referendum
Voters approved a corporate tax to fund the city’s housing authority despite an opposition campaign funded by Amazon and Microsoft.
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