Affordable Housing

Aerial view of dense residential neighborhood in Back Bay, Boston, Massachusetts.

Boston Affordable Housing Program Meets 1,000-Unit Goal

The program offers zero-interest loans to developers that keep rental units affordable for at least 50 years.

November 6, 2024 - Smart Cities Dive

Aerial view of Norwalk, California.

California Sues Norwalk Over Shelter Moratorium

The state says the city of Norwalk’s prohibition on new shelters and transitional and supportive housing violates anti-discrimination and fair housing laws.

November 5, 2024 - KTLA

Skyline of Reno, Nevada against snowy mountains and bright red sunset sky.

‘Biggest Little City’ Makes Room for Growth

The mayor of Reno has pushed for reforming housing regulations to support more affordable development.

November 5, 2024 - Business Insider

Trailer Parks

States Move to Protect Mobile Home Park Residents

Making it easier for mobile home park residents to collectively purchase the land they live on can protect their housing affordability for the long term.

November 4, 2024 - Stateline

Aerial view of Hoboken, New Jersey.

New Jersey Towns Call for Suspension of Affordable Housing Law

Close to two dozen municipalities are suing the state, arguing that the affordable housing requirements mandated by the Mount Laurel Doctrine are unrealistic and discriminate against suburban communities.

November 3, 2024 - Gothamist

Small, colorful homes on small lot in San Diego, California.

San Diego Begins to See Results of State Housing Law

Homeowners in Southern California are starting to take advantage of a state law that allows lot splitting and higher density in residential areas in an effort to increase housing supply and affordability.

November 1, 2024 - KPBS

Affordable housing

Commentary: How Can We Solve America’s Affordable Housing Crisis? CDFIs are the Key

As financial institutions whose mission is to support underserved communities, community development financial institutions can be key partners to ensure public-private efforts to build affordable housing pencil out.

October 31, 2024 - Bernel Hall

Close-up of computer screen with VRBO short-term rental platform site open.

How Much Are Short-Term Rentals to Blame for the Housing Crisis?

Whether and how deeply Airbnb and other short-term rentals affect housing costs depends largely on local conditions and economies.

October 31, 2024 - CNN

Blue and white Paramus, New Jersey town entrance sign.

New Jersey Calls for 85,000 New Housing Units

A state law known as the Mount Laurel Doctrine mandates that each jurisdiction accommodate enough new housing units to meet the local demand for affordable housing.

October 31, 2024 - Morristown Daily Record

Two-story home being retrofitted with energy-saving insulation.

Future of Justice40 Initiative Hinges on Election

The program requires that 40 percent of some federal funds be used to benefit historically disadvantaged communities.

October 30, 2024 - Blavity

U.S. Supreme Court building in Washington, D.C. against purplish sunset light.

SCOTUS Hamstrings Federal Agencies, a Blow to Housing and Health Equity

The Supreme Court has overturned the legal precedent Chevron deference. Without the authority to interpret ambiguities in regulations, the critical work of HHS and HUD could suffer.

October 30, 2024 - Zachary Travis

View of multistory apartment buildings in Washington, D.C. at dusk.

Where Are Rents Growing Fastest?

The Washington, D.C. region saw the nation’s fastest rent growth in the last year.

October 29, 2024 - The Washington Post

Modular housing under construction with worker guiding crane.

Commentary: New Bill Holds Key to Solving US Housing Crisis. We Just Have to Pass It.

Two bills currently moving through Congress could make mass production of prefabricated, affordable housing possible on a large scale.

October 29, 2024 - Jordan Rogove

Woman realtor or home buyer client wearing blazer walking past urban condo with red and white For Sale sign while talking on phone.

How a Government-Sponsored Enterprise Turned Away From its Housing Mission

A coalition of housing advocates is calling on the Federal Home Loan Bank system to return to its original purpose — lending to support housing.

October 28, 2024 - Shelterforce Magazine

Four-story modern apartment complex with white stucco and red brick.

Housing Measures on the Ballot in November

A survey of housing-related measures on state and local ballots this election season.

October 25, 2024 - Multifamily Dive

Aerial view of dense neighborhood with beach homes on coast in Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina.

Rising Insurance Rates Squeezing Affordable Housing Developers

Spiking insurance costs in coastal areas prone to climate disasters are making it harder for low-income housing developers to keep building.

October 24, 2024 - WHQR

Vacant two-story red brick home in Detroit with missing windows.

Checking in on Detroit’s Housing Renaissance

Efforts by the city and residents have generated 17,000 new housing units in the last five years.

October 23, 2024 - Strong Towns

How a Dallas Housing Coalition Won Bonds for Affordable Housing

Dallas's bonds aren't usually used for housing. A new coalition of advocates changed that.

October 22, 2024 - Shelterforce Magazine

Aerial view of purple MBTA train at West Concord station in Concord, Massachusetts.

Massachusetts TOD Law Yielding Results

While some cities are fighting the state’s push to increase density near transit, others are already breaking ground on multifamily projects that will bring hundreds of new housing units online.

October 20, 2024 - Boston.com

High-rise buildings under construction.

Texas Law Lets Neighbors Block Housing Development

A century-old law calls for a three-fourths vote to approve new projects when neighbors oppose the project, blocking affordable housing and multifamily developments.

October 17, 2024 - San Antonio Report

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.

Top Books

An annual review of books related to planning.

Top Schools

The definitive ranking of graduate planning programs.

100 Most Influential Urbanists

The who's who of urbanism, according to Planetizen readers.

Urban Planning Creators You Should Know

A short list of voices on social, video, and podcasting platforms.