Housing/Homelessness / Public News Service

In a national survey, Michigan was ranked 27th among the 50 states for its cost, access and quality of long-term care supports and services. California was ranked first. (Flickr)

Friday, January 27, 2023

MI State of State: Whitmer Promises Seniors Tax Breaks, Better Care

In her fifth State of the State address this week, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer emphasized policies designed to put more money in Michiganders' pockets…

The City of Albany received $80 million as part of the American Rescue Plan. $25 million will go to city agencies and organizations to fund local projects to support the city's post-pandemic economic recovery. (Adobe Stock)

Wednesday, January 25, 2023

Albany Mayor Focuses on Housing, Infrastructure after Mayors' Conference

The mayor of New York's state capital said she is eager to get to work on projects she observed at the U.S. Conference of Mayors' big meeting last …

Eviction Lab, 838 evictions were filed in Virginia during the first week of 2023. (Adobe Stock)">

Tuesday, January 24, 2023

Grant Funding Aims to Alleviate Virginia Eviction Crisis

About $3-million has been awarded to Virginia groups helping people facing evictions. The Virginia Eviction Reduction Pilot Program is designed to …

Housing and rental prices have skyrocketed out of many people's reach during the pandemic. (Aisyaqilumar/Adobe Stock)

Tuesday, January 24, 2023

Native Americans Moving Off the Rez Face Discrimination in MT

Native Americans in Montana face a slew of challenges to finding housing off reservations - including discrimination. A tight housing market in the …

A bill in the Washington Legislature would lift cities' restrictions on multifamily housing like triplexes, seen above. (Imagenet/Adobe Stock)

WA Lawmakers Look to Add Affordable Housing for 'Missing Middle'

Washingtonians are being squeezed out of the housing market, and some state lawmakers want to see significant changes to cities' zoning laws to …

More than 1 in 7 households nationwide paid over half of their income on housing in 2020, according to a report by Harvard University's Joint Center for Housing Studies. (Adobe Stock)

KY's Housing Shortage Worsened by Natural Disasters

Kentucky is facing a serious housing shortage, and the past few years of deadly floods and tornadoes have worsened the situation. Advocates want …

Green buildings are designed to reduce carbon footprints, and operational and maintenance costs, which boosts bottom lines for building owners and occupants. (Adobe Stock)

Building Construction in Colorado 7th Greenest in U.S.

Colorado ranks seventh nationally when it comes to addressing climate change in its building practices, according to the latest U.S. Green Building …

According to the National Low Income Housing Coalition, New York has a shortage of 615,025 rental homes that are affordable and available to extremely low-income renters. (Gov. Kathy Hochul)

Critics: NY State of State Address Misses Needed Solutions

While Gov. Kathy Hochul's State of the State speech addressed key issues affecting New Yorkers, some feel the solutions fell short. In her speech…

A Poor People's Campaign report examining the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic found the 300+ counties with the highest death rates have a poverty rate of 45%, which is 1.5 times higher than in counties with lower death rates. (PPC)

Advancing MLK’s Dream of Economic Justice in MA

Advocates for low-income workers in the Commonwealth said today is a reminder of the need to continue to advance Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s dream …

Black renters receive a disproportionate share of eviction filings and experience the highest rates of eviction filings and eviction judgments, according to the publication Sociological Science. (WayhomeStudio/Adobe Stock)

Study: TX Cities Spend More on Police, Less on Community Supports

The five largest cities in Texas are spending far more money on criminal justice than on community services, according to a new study. The Social …

According to a report from AARP New York, one solution to lack of accessible rural homes for seniors would be to create a tax credit of up to $2,750. It would be available to homeowners who retrofit their homes to make them more accessible to those who use walkers or wheelchairs or have trouble with steps. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Senior Rural NYers Face Housing, Transportation Disparities

A recent report from AARP New York finds older rural New Yorkers are struggling to age in place due to a wealth of disparities. The two biggest …

On Wednesday, tenants' rights groups urged the Los Angeles City Council to act before current protections expire on Jan. 31. (Agueda Dudley-Berrios/Community Power Collective)

Rise in Evictions Expected Feb. 1 as L.A. Protections Expire

By Jaisal Noor for Yes! Magazine.Broadcast version by Suzanne Potter for California News Service reporting for the Solutions Journalism Network-…

A 2021 housing affordability study found a decent two-bedroom apartment in the Omaha and Council Bluffs market would require a minimum wage of $19 an hour, more than many essential jobs in the area pay. (Adobe Stock)

ARPA Funds to Build Affordable Housing in Omaha-Council Bluffs

More affordable housing is coming to a Nebraska market that really needs it. An Omaha nonprofit has partnered with the City of Omaha, and was …

Baltimore City rents have increased 19% since the start of the pandemic. (Adobe Stock)

The Grassroots Fight for Housing Justice in Baltimore

By Jaisal Noor for Yes! Magazine.Broadcast version by Brett Peveto for Maryland News Connection reporting for the Solutions Journalism Network-Public …

Gov. Jay Inslee's last live State of the State address to lawmakers was in 2020. (TVW)

Gov. Inslee's State of the State Covers WA's 'Multifaceted' Challenges

Gov. Jay Inslee delivered his State of the State speech on Tuesday to open up the 2023 legislative session, touching on a wide range of issues he …

North Dakota's High Plains Fair Housing Center says it received 498 intake calls related to housing discrimination in 2022. That compares with 324 in 2021. (Adobe Stock)

ND Group Reports Spike in Housing Discrimination Calls

The U.S. is seeing record numbers of housing-discrimination complaints filed by consumers, and North Dakota is among the states where calls for help …

data from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, workers in seven of the 10 most common occupations don't earn the income needed to afford rent for a studio apartment in Nevada. (Adobe Stock) ">

NV Lawmakers Urged to Level Tenant-Landlord Dynamics

Nevada is the only state with a summary eviction system, meaning it is up to a renter to initiate a court challenge if a landlord decides to evict …

Evanston�s Historic Roundhouse and Railyards, constructed by Union Pacific Railroad in 1912-1914, was refurbished by the city in 2009 as a public facility. (Mary Humstone)

Historic Restoration Called More Sustainable Than New Construction

A changing climate is prompting many developers to consider how their work can be more sustainable, and how they can produce housing, retail and …

A study on the impacts of hurricanes by the nonprofit research institute Resources for the Future found no significant change to the sociodemographic characteristics of neighborhoods after a hurricane other than income. (Wikimedia Commons)

Study: Gentrification & Increased Property Values Follow Hurricanes

After a hurricane, according to a new study, wealthier people tend to sweep into impacted communities, purchasing homes even at the increased …

The number of families with children experiencing homelessness declined by 6% between 2020 and 2022, marking a total decline of 36% since 2010, according to the Department of Housing and Urban Development. (AdobeStock)

Report: 2022 a Mixed Bag on Homelessness as "All In" Program Launches

Volunteers will fan out across New Mexico cities this month for the annual "point-in-time" count of the unhoused, even as a new program launches …

More than 10 million households headed by someone over 65 spend <a href=

more than one-third of their income on housing. Half of these pay more than 50%, according to a Harvard University study. (Adobe Stock).">

More Affordable Housing for Seniors: An AARP Iowa Priority

As housing prices continue to rise, AARP Iowa is asking cities and towns to change their rules to allow more livable space on a home site. The group …

Colorado's median rent is expected to reach $2,700 a month by 2032, which is only affordable for people with an annual income above $106,000. (Adobe Stock)

CO Lawmakers to Decide How to Invest $300 Million in Affordable Housing

In November, Colorado voters approved the largest source of dedicated funding to address affordable housing and homelessness in the state's history…

Starting in 2023, the pay rate for tipped service workers in the Commonwealth will increase from $6.15 an hour to $6.75, while time-and-a-half pay on Sundays and holidays will be eliminated completely. (Adobe Stock)

MA Minimum Wage Hike Not Enough for Costly Housing Market

At least 25 states are raising their minimum wage in the new year - including Massachusetts, where the minimum wage increases to $15 per hour…

A total of 5,623 households, consisting of families and individuals, are experiencing homelessness in Maricopa County, according to the Maricopa Association of Governments' latest quarterly report. (Adobe Stock)

Arizona's First Emergency Shelter for Homeless Seniors to Open Next Summer

Arizonans 55 and older who are experiencing homelessness in the Phoenix area will soon have a place that will offer services and assistance to meet th…

According to the Connecticut Fair Housing Center, evictions reached their <a href=

lowest points during the pandemic because of rent protections. During 2020 and 2021, evictions reached 6,429 and 9,356, respectively. (Adobe Stock)">

CT Facing Rise in Evictions

Connecticut is seeing a record high number of evictions. During 2022, the state recorded more than 21,000 evictions filed, despite a decline from 2017…

In an era of skyrocketing housing costs, a manageable budget might seem out of reach for low-income households. But certain community action agencies can help with financial planning if housing expenses are overwhelming. (Adobe Stock)

Making Houshold Budgets Work for Low-Income North Dakotans

The transition to a new year often has people thinking about new goals. For those struggling to get by, their hopes for 2023 are more about survival…

More than 40 people across six eastern Kentucky counties lost their lives during devastating flooding in the region this past summer. (Office of Governor Andy Beshear) More than 40 people across six eastern Kentucky counties lost their lives during devastating flooding in the region this past summer. (Office of Governor Andy Beshear)

Eastern KY Communities Aim to 'Get Recovery Right' After Floods

Infrastructure problems continue to plague eastern Kentucky months after severe flooding left thousand of residents without housing. According to …

Housing assistance groups say 25% of Minnesota homeowners and renters pay more than they can afford for housing. (Adobe Stock)

Market Challenges Persist, But MN Keeps Affordable Housing Solutions in Sight

Amid a challenging housing market, Minnesota has released annual funds to provide more affordable homes around the state. It coincides with efforts …

Community health workers offer many services, including education on topics related to chronic disease prevention, physical activity and nutrition. (Adobe Stock)

Community Health Workers Make Inroads in MN

It's been three years since COVID-19 cases first surfaced. While doctors and nurses have treated those patients, community health workers continued …

Tishman Speyer has been annually donating the milled lumber from the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree to Habitat for Humanity since 2007.(Habitat for Humanity Susquehanna)

Rockefeller Tree Lumber to be Used in MD Habitat for Humanity Homes

One of the more famous Christmas trees in the world will be coming home to Maryland as milled lumber. In 2021 a family in Cecil County was …

When the 2023 legislative session convenes, New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham says she'll push lawmakers to ensure all public school students get free school meals. (vejaa/AdobeStock)

Post-Pandemic, Hunger in NM Still a Critical Concern for Thousands

Holiday preparations are underway, and those who battle hunger in New Mexico are urging communities to remember their neighbors at a time when food …

A report headed to the Texas Legislature urges state lawmakers to expand

Report: Addressing Non-Medical Factors a Game-Changer for Texans

Investing in factors outside the doctor's office could improve Texans' health and save the state money, according to a report from a group appointed …

As part of New York City's new plan to address mentally ill homeless people, a special hotline will be staffed with clinicians to aid first responders as to whether a person presents as mentally ill. (Adobe Stock)

Experts Worried About NYC’s New Plan for Mentally Ill Homeless People

New York City Mayor Eric Adams' new plan for aiding the mentally ill is facing backlash for its effectiveness. Adams' plan allows police officers…

An average hotel room costs municipalities roughly $240 per night for one family and with families often scattered at various locations, social services can be difficult to administer. Transitional housing units would alleviate both costs and service gaps. (Adobe Stock)

More Transitional Housing Needed for Increased Asylum Seekers in Maine

The growing number of asylum-seekers in Maine has spurred cities and towns to join forces and build more transitional housing for families in need…

Children living near refineries, highways and other sources of air pollution are disproportionately at risk of developing respiratory illness. (Adobe Stock)

Connecting CO Health Outcomes to Climate Solutions, Lower Utility Bills

A successful program that helps low-income households weatherize homes and lower energy bills is setting its sights on improving the health outcomes o…

The city-run Engagement Center is a low-barrier day facility, which serves a few hundred people each day from the nearby

Engagement Center Finding Success Near Boston’s Troubled 'Mass and Cass'

Boston's 'Mass and Cass' area, with its large homeless population and open-air drug market, remains a trouble spot for city officials, but staff at …

The Echo Park Trash Club is staffed by a rotating cast of volunteers. Two similar clubs have now formed in the Silver Lake and Lincoln Heights neighborhoods of Los Angeles. (Echo Park Trash Club)

L.A. 'Trash Club' Helps Unhoused People and the Community

By Caroline Tracey for High Country News.Broadcast version by Suzanne Potter for California News Service reporting for the Solutions Journalism Networ…

AARP Texas State Director Tina Tran presents Charles Ray Guidry, Jr. with the Andrus Award. (AARP)

AARP Texas Honors Champion for the Homeless

Charles Ray Guidry Jr. spent years being homeless, often sleeping on cardboard in church parking lots. Now, he's a champion for others struggling to …

Western Nebraska is home to food deserts, where there is no easy way to get good, healthy food regularly, which disproportionately impact seniors in rural areas. (Adobe Stock)

Reimagining Ways to Get Struggling Nebraska Families Back on Track

With a new legislative session on the horizon and new legislators after the November elections, the Coalition for a Strong Nebraska is bringing …

The expansion of tax credits and free school meals during COVID-19 temporarily lifted more than three-million children out of poverty during the latter half of 2021, according to a Child Trends report. (disha1980/AdobeStock)

Study: Lifting Children Out of Poverty Losing Momentum

A new study found progress made to reduce child poverty over the past 25 years in the U.S. is at risk of stalling or being reversed. Child poverty …

The 11% decline in the number of homeless veterans from 2020 to 2022 is the biggest in more than five years. (Adobe Stock)

NE Follows National Trend of Reducing Homelessness Among Veterans

The number of veterans experiencing homelessness nationwide has decreased 11% since 2020, and a similar improvement has been observed in Nebraska…

On a typical night, about 580,000 Americans are considered homeless. (Victoria/Adobe Stock)

Oregonians Recognize Hunger, Homelessness Awareness Week

As the cold weather settles in and some families make plans for the holidays, others are recognizing Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week this week…

Displaying flags associated with the LGBTQ community is a protected action under the Fair Housing Act. (Michael/Adobe Stock)

Fed Housing Protections Against LGBTQ Discrimination Could Change

The Biden administration banned housing discrimination based on a person's sexual orientation and gender identity, but the gain in protections for …

According to a study done by CoStar Group, a real estate research company, most counties in Central New York have seen rental prices increase by at least 3% since 2019. (Adobe Stock)

New Affordable Housing to Aid CNY Renters, Eventually

Two new affordable housing developments in Central New York should help alleviate the region's affordability problem. The Wheat Street Apartments …

In Minnesota, the average home heating aid distributed to eligible households each winter is $500. (Adobe Stock)

Winter is Coming: Help for Higher Heating Bills in MN

After warm a start to November, cooler temperatures have found their way back to Minnesota. That's prompting reminders for homeowners and renters to …

According to the National Low-Income Housing Coalition, about $5.6 billion is needed during the next 20 years for rural America to preserve more than 470,000 rental homes in the U.S. Department of Agriculture's portfolio for current and future residents. (Adobe Stock)

VA Forum Discusses Rural Housing Issues

A forum in Virginia today will address accessible and affordable housing options in Appalachia. The forum is a collaboration between AARP chapters …

If Congress reinstates the Child Tax Credit, a family with one child under six would<br />receive an annual $3,600,, providing significant help to cope with rising food and energy prices. (Adobe Stock)

Inflation Relief Payments Not Enough to Help ME Families in Need

With food and energy prices soaring, the one-time $850 inflation relief checks for Mainers could not arrive at a better time, but advocates for low-…

New Mexico has a statewide shortage of 32,000 affordable housing units, according to this year's survey by the New Mexico Housing Authority. (Adobe Stock)

NM Rent-Control Advocates: 'In It for the Long Haul'

Advocates for rent control in Albuquerque said they will not give up their quest for more affordable housing, despite the city council rejecting such …

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