Housing Costs

White sign with No Camping - Violators Subject to Arrest and municipal code in red text with snowy trees in background.

Opinion: Unhoused People Need Housing, Not Law Enforcement

The sharp increase in the unhoused population calls for urgent action, not criminalization.

April 14, 2024 - The Hill

Boston city skyline

Land Trusts Preserve Affordability, but for Whom?

An analysis of buildings bought by the city for a community land trust in Boston reveals that many prior residents were evicted just before the sales.

April 3, 2024 - Next City

Row of colorful mobile homes on an asphalt street.

Out-of-State Investors Buying Up More Mobile Home Parks

In a trend that has accelerated since the pandemic, over one in five mobile home parks in Maine are owned by out-of-state investors.

April 2, 2024 - Bangor Daily News

Aerial view of mountain town of Steamboat Springs, Colorado in the winter with snow at dusk.

Colorado Town Fills Workforce Housing Need With ‘Dorm-Style’ Housing

Median rent in Steamboat Springs is $4,000 per month.

March 28, 2024 - CBS News

View of Austin, Texas skyline with river in foreground during morning golden hour.

The Paradox of American Housing

How the tension between housing as an asset and as an essential good keeps the supply inadequate and costs high.

March 26, 2024 - The Atlantic

Houston, Texas skyline.

Report: Las Vegas, Houston Top List of Least Affordable Cities

The report assesses the availability of affordable rental units for low-income households.

March 22, 2024 - Urban Edge

White three-story brick single-room occupancy hotel in downtown Los Angeles, California.

‘Micro-Apartment’ Trend Underscores Housing Crisis

SROs are making a comeback under a new name as the housing supply remains strained and costs soar.

March 22, 2024 - Associated Press via Yahoo News

Wood-frame two-story rowhouses under construction.

How ‘Filtering’ Opens Up Affordable Housing

An analysis of 12 U.S. cities found that new market-rate construction often leads to more affordable units becoming available, but the effect varies across housing markets.

March 20, 2024 - Bisnow

Aerial view of Salt Lake City skyline

Utah’s Affordable Housing Supply Dwindling

Rents and home prices are skyrocketing, forcing many residents to make difficult decisions or move out of major cities.

March 13, 2024 - KUTV

Close-up of mobile phone with Airbnb and VRBO app icons.

Running Rampant: How Short-Term Rentals Impact Communities With Loose Restrictions

Brendan O’Brien, author of “Homesick,” talks with us about his new book and what he's learned about the effects of short-term rentals in communities like Flagstaff, Arizona; Bozeman, Montana; and St. George, Utah.

February 28, 2024 - Shelterforce Magazine

Aerial view of Ashland, Oregon.

Facing Housing Crisis, Oregon Could Alter its Historic Land Use Law

A 1973 state law creates urban growth boundaries that limit urban sprawl, but rising housing costs are causing lawmakers to consider a one-time expansion.

February 26, 2024 - Associated Press

Two wood-frame houses under construction.

Housing Affordability Slow to Improve

Supply remains low, signaling little relief for renters and potential homebuyers.

February 22, 2024 - Florida Phoenix

Five-story apartment building under construction.

How to Improve the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit

With the housing shortage only getting worse, updates to a key federal program could help.

February 21, 2024 - Federation of American Scientists

Multistory parking garage in downtown Denver, Colorado.

Colorado Bill Would End Minimum Parking Requirements

Supporters of the bill say eliminating parking mandates would make housing more affordable and reduce carbon emissions.

February 19, 2024 - Fox 31

AFL-CIO sign on union headquarters building in Washington, D.C.

Labor Unions Fight for Affordable Housing

Workers find it increasingly difficult to access affordable housing near their jobs.

February 19, 2024 - The Guardian

Aerial view of Chattanooga, Tennessee with two bridges over river in background.

Chattanooga Slashed Homelessness in Half in 2023

The city’s focus on assistance for households at risk of eviction and supportive housing helped keep more residents housed.

February 13, 2024 - Smart Cities Dive

Close-up of orange and black For Rent sign on green wood fence.

How the Rent Crisis Impacts American Children

Roughly 40 percent of people facing evictions each year are children.

February 12, 2024 - KUNC

Modern building under construction.

Opinion: Federal Policies That Could Ease the Housing Deficit

The president of Habitat for Humanity has some suggestions for U.S. lawmakers.

February 11, 2024 - The Hill

Modular home under construction with crane dropping in components.

How To Boost Modular Home Construction

Modular housing can be built faster and at lower cost than traditional homes, but the industry is stymied by regulatory and other barriers.

February 7, 2024 - Center for American Progress

Red and white "For Sale" sign in front yard of suburban house.

Report: Just 7 Percent of Homes for Sale Affordable to Black Households

The affordability crisis continues to impact American households across the board, with 16 percent of listings affordable to the average household.

January 31, 2024 - Yahoo Finance

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.