The Urban Institute simulated a model to predict the cost of a universal housing assistance program to support those who face homelessness.
Many low-income renters will struggle to pay rent next month as a result of economic stagnation. While many cities and states have implemented an eviction pause, Mary Cunningham says it's not enough, calling for a universal housing assistance program to fortify the housing safety net.
"With fewer people able to save for emergencies and many already struggling to make their monthly payments, renters are more vulnerable to housing insecurity than homeowners. Low-income renters—many of whom work in service industries hit hard by the pandemic shutdown—are at high risk for eviction and homelessness during shelter-in-place measures enacted to contain the pandemic," writes Cunningham.
What would be the cost of scaling the Housing Choice Voucher Program to meet the needs of the approximately 8.2 million households not currently receiving program assistance? On average the household subsidy would amount to $7,530 per year or $628 per month. Urban Institute predicted a final figure of around $100 billion, only a fraction of the $2 trillion federal stimulus package that fails to substantively address the issue.
Cunningham calls for swift action on a universal housing assistance program to avoid housing loss after the lifting of the eviction moratorium.
FULL STORY: It’s Time to Reinforce the Housing Safety Net by Adopting Universal Vouchers for Low-Income Renters
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Cities, states, and the federal government are trying to prevent a repeat of 2008 while still facing the challenges of inequality and poverty that grew out of the previous recession.
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Federal Stimulus Offers a Chance for Local Reinvention
Cities around the country are making big plans for economic relief funding from the federal government.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
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The Five Most-Changed American Cities
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San Diego Adopts First Mobility Master Plan
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Housing, Supportive Service Providers Brace for Federal Cuts
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Op-Ed: Why an Effective Passenger Rail Network Needs Government Involvement
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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.
New York City School Construction Authority
Village of Glen Ellyn
Central Transportation Planning Staff/Boston Region MPO
Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS)
City of Grandview
Harvard GSD Executive Education
Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada
Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions