Homeless Services

Omaha Tiny Homes

Tiny House Movement Arrives in Omaha

A tiny house village has been approved for a location in Downtown Omaha. When complete, the new homes will provide stability and shelter for the formerly unhoused.

October 21, 2020 - Omaha World-Herald

Seattle Sailboats

Capital Gains Tax Under Consideration in Seattle

A proposed capital gains tax would invest $37 million per year in solving affordable housing and homelessness crises in Seattle.

June 28, 2020 - The Urbanist

Olympia, Washington

Tax on High Earners Proposed to Fund Homeless Services in Seattle's King County

The Washington State Legislature is proposing a type of tax that the city of Seattle tried, and failed, to implement a few years go.

February 3, 2020 - KUOW

Pacific Coast

Housing Litigation by California Attorney General Yields Results

A landmark state lawsuit will be settled if the Huntington Beach City Council approves an amended specific plan that increases housing. The lawsuit was enabled by 2017 legislation strengthening California's 50-year-old housing element law.

January 27, 2020 - Los Angeles Daily News

San Francisco

Amid Opposition, S.F. Homeless Navigation Center Completed

A new facility providing shelter and services to San Francisco’s homeless will open this month, even after a year of community pushback.

December 27, 2019 - Curbed San Francisco

Underpass Camp

Seattle Regional Homelessness Authority Plan Moves Forward, but Faces Controversy

A proposal for a regional entity to oversee homeless services in King County is running into jurisdictional conflicts.

December 20, 2019 - The Urbanist

Homeless

When the Federal Government Ties Homeless Funding to Unemployment Rates

A strong economy can lead to a lack of affordable housing and a lack of affordable housing can lead to higher rates of homelessness. But a stronger economy can also disqualify regions from federal support for homelessness.

September 10, 2019 - KUOW

Cherry Creek

New Plan to Address Homeless Needed in Denver

After Denver voters rejected the "Right to Survive" initiative in May, the city is looking for new ways to "do better" for its homeless population.

June 21, 2019 - The Denver Post

17th Street, Denver, Colorado

Denver to Restructure Homeless Services After Audit

The city will commit new funding and potentially a new department to better manage its homeless services.

May 2, 2019 - Smart Cities Dive

Hurricane Katrina

How New Orleans Rehoused 90 Percent of Homeless Residents

Homelessness spiked in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina. But the city has made substantial progress in providing housing and services to keep people off the streets.

March 15, 2019 - WBUR

Homeless Services

HUD Announces $2 Billion in Grant Funding for Local Homeless Programs

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development is renewing program support for thousands of local programs that offer support and assistance to the homeless.

January 28, 2019 - U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development

San Diego, California

San Diego Not Even Close to Meeting Permanent Housing Goals for Homeless

The city’s new $6.5 million "bridge shelters" are providing a place to stay, but not accomplishing what they set out to do.

June 28, 2018 - San Diego Union-Tribune

Seattle Homeless

The Cost of Solving Homelessness in Seattle: $400 Million

It’s "dramatically higher" than any number under discussion, and not even close to what the city will raise with its new tax on large businesses.

May 17, 2018 - Crosscut

Seattle, Washington

Seattle Reaches Compromise on Controversial Tax for Affordable Housing

The Seattle City Council, prompted by pressure from Mayor Jenny Durkan, approved a smaller version of the "Head Tax" that provoked the ire of Amazon.

May 15, 2018 - The Urbanist

Seattle, Washington

Amazon, Seattle Go to War Over Proposed Tax

Amazon, a company with cities throwing money at its feet all over the country, has decided to halt construction on an expansion in its hometown over a proposed "head tax."

May 5, 2018 - The New York Times

Homeless Services

Sales Tax, Not Property Tax, Preferred Funding Tool for Seattle's Homeless Crisis

Seattle's King County is home to an estimated 10,000 unsheltered homeless people. Local officials are trying to figure out how to raise the funds to address the crisis.

April 6, 2017 - KUOW

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.

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.