The United Way's 211 helpline received 6 million calls for referrals for housing support, almost twice as many as calls for utility assistance.
The United Way reports that calls to its 211 helpline for housing assistance support reached a record high of 6 million in 2025, accounting for 31% of the helpline’s referrals.
According to an article by Ryan Kushner in Smart Cities Dive, that number eclipses the next largest call categories, which were utilities (3.1 million) and food assistance (2.5 million). "Over the past decade, referrals for housing assistance have surged 150%. Housing last year also made up the largest 'unmet need,' according to the organization."
Heather Black, vice president of 211 system strategy at United Way Worldwide, said "What we’re hearing across the 211 network is a sharp increase in people struggling — particularly around finding and keeping stable housing — which serves as a sounding alarm from communities nationwide."
FULL STORY: Housing referrals from United Way helpline hit all-time high: ‘a sounding alarm for communities’
New HUD Guidelines for Point-in-time Survey “Assure an Undercount” of Unhoused Americans
The count, the nation’s most comprehensive survey of homeless residents, excludes some populations, including people incarcerated at the time or living in housing-insecure conditions.
National Survey Shows ‘Severe, Widespread, and Worsening’ Housing Crisis
Mayors from around the country agree that more support is needed at the federal level to strengthen housing assistance programs.
Seven Ideas for Tackling the Housing Crisis
One expert's take on the housing crisis and which policy solutions might best counter it.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
The state-sanctioned urbicide of Austin
People don’t kill cities. Freeways do.
US to reduce Colorado River water deliveries to Mexico
A new Colorado Treaty amendment reduces Mexico’s Colorado River water allocation by 250,000 acre feet.
Mamdani overhauls NYC's Vision Zero plan with 100 new policy goals
The overhaul aims to reduce traffic deaths and make streets safer for pedestrians, cyclists and drivers through lower speed limits, new safety infrastructure and more.
Amtrak not solely to blame for New Jersey commuter rail's unreliability, report finds
A new study from the Garden State Initiative found that NJ Transit’s budget grew 20% across a 4 year period, but reliability declined significantly over the same period.
EPA erases limits on planet-warming pollution from power plants
Under Monday’s plan, power plants would still have some limits on how much mercury, arsenic and other contaminants they can emit.
FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?
After describing his path towards focusing on walkability as the essence of good planning, Jeff Speck marches through his five principal reasons for making more walkable places.
Reinventing Malls: Planning Alchemy—Turning Gray Fields Into Gold
The course focuses on the opportunities and imperatives that shape reinvention of mall sites.
Eagle County Government
Harvard University Graduate School of Design
Nashville Planning Department
The Architects Foundation
University of Cincinnati Online
The Pocatello Development Authority
The Urban Renewal Agency of the City of Pocatello
Journal of the American Planning Association