Congress has approved a $4 billion federal Neighborhood Stabilization Program, but as the funding trickles down to cities, many find the money too tight to solve many of their problems.
"The federal stabilization program is barely up and running. But already, many states and localities are frustrated by the small sums involved and how the Department of Housing and Urban Development is allocating the grants. The problems are an indication of how federal efforts to halt the foreclosure crisis have proven inadequate to the task."
"Nationwide, some 5.2 million homeowners are expected to lose their houses between 2008 and 2010, according to Economy.com, a research firm."
"HUD recently announced allotments for 308 cities, counties and states. Using a formula based on population, foreclosures and the concentration of subprime mortgages, HUD divvied up the money in grants ranging from $2 million for Pittsburgh to $32 million for Los Angeles. The formula has led to some disparities. California, with 560,000 foreclosures, will receive $529 million, including grants to state and local governments. Meanwhile, Florida, which has half as many foreclosures, gets $541 million."
FULL STORY: Housing-Crisis Grants Force Cities to Make Tough Choices

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

Chicago’s Ghost Rails
Just beneath the surface of the modern city lie the remnants of its expansive early 20th-century streetcar system.

Amtrak Cutting Jobs, Funding to High-Speed Rail
The agency plans to cut 10 percent of its workforce and has confirmed it will not fund new high-speed rail projects.

Ohio Forces Data Centers to Prepay for Power
Utilities are calling on states to hold data center operators responsible for new energy demands to prevent leaving consumers on the hook for their bills.

MARTA CEO Steps Down Amid Citizenship Concerns
MARTA’s board announced Thursday that its chief, who is from Canada, is resigning due to questions about his immigration status.

Silicon Valley ‘Bike Superhighway’ Awarded $14M State Grant
A Caltrans grant brings the 10-mile Central Bikeway project connecting Santa Clara and East San Jose closer to fruition.
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