Affordable Housing

How to Treat Housing as a Human Right
SPUR's housing report, "What Will it Really Take to Create an Affordable Bay Area," found that it will take 2.2 million units in the next 50 years to avoid worsening housing inequality.

The Case for Letting Developers Pay Not to Build
Inclusionary zoning requires new developments to include affordable units, but many cities allow developers to bypass this by paying an off-site fee. Is the fee-out option getting unfairly demonized?

Renters Living in Small Buildings Face the Steepest Economic Risks in the Pandemic
Renters in smaller multi-family buildings and single-family homes are faced with larger economic challenges during the pandemic, according to new analysis by researchers at the Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University.

Housing Relief Targets Multi-Family Property Owners in Chicago
The Emergency Relief for Affordable Multifamily Properties Program is designed to keep multi-family property owners from entering default.

1,000-Plus Mixed-Income Units Planned in Miami
A planned development made possible by a ground lease with the county could add over a thousands mixed income units to the housing market in Miami.

Urban Planning in a Post-Pandemic World
The coronavirus crisis is highlighting the contributions of cities as well as their vulnerabilities and the planning issues that need to be priorities in the future.

1,100 New Homes Planned in the Middle of San Francisco
The prospect of a large mixed-use development on a 17-acre parking lot in the center of San Francisco took a substantial step forward this week.

Massive Affordable Housing Effort in New York Faces Coronavirus Reckoning
A controversial but sweeping housing initiative in New York City, one of Mayor Bill de Blasio's signature initiatives, had a full head of steam before the coronavirus. Now it's facing drastic cuts.

What Could a Joe Biden Presidency Accomplish on Affordable Housing?
Democratic presidential candidates made the housing crisis part of their platforms. What might a President Biden do to ease the shortage?

$1 Million for an Affordable Apartment in California—Coronavirus Could Make it Worse
The pre-existing condition of the California housing market will make it very difficult to meet the demands of the state's residents as unemployment spikes in the state.

Expanding Housing Choice Vouchers Would Strengthen the Safety Net
An expanded housing voucher program is needed to address the medium- and long-term economic consequences of COVID-19.

Office-to-Residential Conversions Considered as Workers Go Remote
Reduced demand for office space after coronavirus could lead New York landlords to consider the conversion of offices to residential spaces.

Safe At Home: Securing Affordable Housing in a Pandemic
An interview on the critical importance of securing quality affordable housing during the pandemic, coupled with the challenge of responding to the operational needs of ongoing development projects.

Using Inmate Labor to Build Affordable Housing
How do we balance the need to provide job training to those incarcerated with the need to ensure that prisoners are not exploited for their work?

In Wyoming, Vast Open Spaces Meet Extreme Gaps Between Rich and Poor
The story of Jackson Hole, Wyoming, illustrates the class tensions that arise when an idealized vision of life close to nature butts up against the realities of wealth, privilege, and social inequality.

Why Is Housing in the D.C. Area So Pricey? It’s the Land
It’s not "luxury" factors that make housing in Washington, D.C., extremely expensive.

In U.S., Income Growth Dispersing to More Places
The country’s economic pie is sliced up differently now as growth in metropolitan areas involves either income or population increases—but not both.

Intercity and Intracity Data on Homelessness Needed for Effective Policies, Study Says
A broader evidence base can more effectively evaluate policies for preventing and ending homelessness, according to a recent study published by Housing Policy Debate.

The Federal YIMBY Act Makes Progress in the House
A federal bill intended to increase transparency in land use and zoning decisions as well as encourage localities to eliminate barriers to housing has advanced out of a House of Representative committee.

California's Piecemeal Progress on Housing Production
California Assemblymember Richard Bloom and Tara Barauskas dive into the barriers to affordable housing in California and whether recent legislation streamlining local planning, zoning, and permitting processes.
Pagination
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.
City of Moorpark
City of Tustin
Tyler Technologies
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
Chaddick Institute at DePaul University
Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada
Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions