Evanston Mayor Daniel Biss aims to access funding from Cook County to address migrant housing. He would utilize the funding to renovate a vacant two-story office building into a transitional center for migrants trafficked from Texas. The funds could also be used for shelter, wrap-around services like transportation, enrolling children into schools, and applying for public benefits
Lansing Mayor Andy Schor announced a plan to invest $3.5 million from the Michigan Neighborhood Grant program to build new homes and repair existing homes. This program is expected to help nearly 7,500 households needing significant repairs. Mayor Schor said in a press release, “We need to build more new homes, rehabilitate more of our older homes, and make targeted investments in improving our neighborhoods – that’s exactly what MI Neighborhood is going to help us do.”
Mayor of Beaverton, Oregon Lacey Beaty successfully lobbied for federal and state funds to better assist Beaverton’s residents experiencing homelessness. In November, she was able to begin building the city’s first emergency homeless shelter at no cost to residents. “I truly believe government is its own worst enemy sometimes,” she says, “because we try to solve such big issues that we miss opportunities to take meaningful first steps. This is our meaningful first step.”
Providence, like many communities across the country, is struggling to keep up with local demands for housing. While Providence has been disproportionately impacted by the state’s housing crisis, Mayor Brett Smiley has responded by investing American Rescue Plan Act dollars into emergency housing solutions and supporting housing development across all price points to meet residents’ needs.
Over the last year, under the leadership of Smiley, Providence has invested $4.3 million from ARPA to create or extend over 444 emergency shelter beds and is set to invest another $1.7 million in emergency housing support that is anticipated to benefit over 600 households. This is in addition to the ARPA funding that the city has invested in the Affordable Housing Trust that, all together, will create or preserve over 1,000 units of high-quality affordable housing projects across the city. Providence residents need both immediate support and long-term solutions to address the housing crisis, which is why Smiley has now established the Housing and Human Services Department to better coordinate and streamline the city’s ongoing investments and strategies.
In June 2022, Mayor Joyce Craig announced a call for affordable housing proposals to apply for $3.4 million in investments of federal recovery funds, including from ARPA. This effort built on the $2.7 million of federal HOME funds already used to develop or renovate 152 affordable housing units in the city, and in October 2023, prior to the end of her term, Craig approved $3.8 million of ARPA and HOME funds for affordable and supportive housing initiatives that will create 188 affordable units, re-open a women’s shelter, and continue an effective housing voucher program.
Projects were selected based on their potential to provide the various types of housing and services that residents need. In addition to new construction, the funding extends an ARPA-funded program to incentivize landlords to rent to tenants with Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers, and a partnership with a local non-profit to re-open a women’s shelter for an additional 2-3 years.
“Housing is the number one issue facing our community, and we are once again taking action to ensure our residents have a safe and affordable place to live,” said Craig. “The City of Manchester is prioritizing the development of affordable housing for Manchester families and increasing shelter options for our most vulnerable community members. This latest investment will provide affordable housing and shelter for hundreds of residents.”
Mayor Quinton Lucas, allocated more than $15 million from the American Rescue Plan to address the dual issues of homelessness and affordable housing. An additional $12.5 million has been set aside to establish the City’s Affordable Housing Trust Fund for affordable housing development, paying special attention to the needs of vulnerable populations. According to the mayor’s office, the ARPA funding represents half of the city’s $25 million investment in the Housing Trust Fund, which will help the city serve hundreds of residents.
In 2023, Kansas City Council green-lit the second round of the Housing Trust Fund Advisory Board’s recommendations, allocating funds to 12 applicants dedicated to bolstering affordable housing options. The selected programs, once implemented, will realize 542 affordable housing units, serving specific demographics and needs in the community. Among these recipients are housing for veterans (55 homes), support for women in recovery from substance use (37 homes), and assistance for individuals grappling with homelessness and mental health challenges (47 homes). Additionally, plans include the establishment of a new navigation center and cottage community (38 homes) tailored to meet the unique housing needs of LGBTQ+ individuals. Furthermore, the initiative aims to safeguard the residences of 232 low-income households by preserving and rehabilitating an existing affordable housing community.
As a consequence of the infusion of ARPA funds, the Housing Trust Fund has awarded two rounds of funding to 26 projects, supporting nearly 1,000 units, including rehabilitation to provide units specifically for seniors and people with disabilities.
“Since becoming mayor, I have been proud to commit $75 million to Kansas City’s Housing Trust Fund, which already has created hundreds of affordable housing units—ensuring stable and dignified housing available to Kansas Citians in all zip codes,” said Lucas.
Hawaii Senator Stanley Chang introduced legislation that would leverage funds to boost existing housing production programs. Each year, the state allocates funds to the Rental Housing Revolving Fund (RHRF), providing $177,000 per unit for 4% Low Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) projects. Specifically, the bill would:
– Guaranty Fund: Part of RHRF serves as collateral, securing loans from private lenders.
– Interest Rate Reduction: The state leverages credit for lower interest rates.
– Funds Stay with the State: Funds remain with the state rather than being transferred to borrowers.
The aim is to multiply housing projects.
Chang believes this legislation would enable three to four times as many housing projects while reducing risk and financial strain on the state. Given the current costs required to create one unit, reducing the impact of state subsidy per unit. This proposal will encourage the growth of the private lending industry rather than replace private sector lenders. Eventually, this will help create a critical mass of inexpensive housing.
Hawaii has long grappled with a severe housing shortage. Median home prices on Oahu, the most populous island, have soared to over $1.15 million for single-family homes and $515,000 for condos. This unattainable cost of living has driven many residents to leave Hawaii, resulting in seven consecutive years of statewide population decline and more Native Hawaiians living away from their homeland than within it.
Hawaii Senator Stanley Chang introduced The ALOHA Homes Program (Affordable Locally Owned Homes for All) which would promote more dense construction, sold exclusively to Hawaii residents. Key components of the ALOHA Homes Program include affordable down payment assistance, promoting socioeconomic diversity and simplifying eligibility, self-sustaining funding as the State recoups its investment through unit sales, and transit-oriented development.
The ALOHA Homes program was signed into law as a pilot program in 2023. Chang hopes the program will create momentum for many more housing projects on state lands along the rail line, eventually creating the critical mass of inexpensive housing that will house Hawaii’s future population growth. The ALOHA Homes model is essentially the method that Singapore and Vienna use to house 82 percent and 60 percent of their populations, respectively, in attractive, desirable, well-maintained public housing.
Montgomery County Councilmember Will Jawando authored the Housing Opportunity, Mobility, and Equity (HOME) Act that would protect tenants through rent stabilization, provide predictable housing costs, and help them stay in their homes over time, just like homeowners. The County Council approved renter regulations that balance the need to protect tenants with providing landlords with economic tools to maintain and build housing. Montgomery County is the first county in Maryland to establish permanent rent stabilization at a maximum cap of 6%.
The compromise bill that passed, Rent Stabilization, prevents rent gouging, reduces displacement, and creates cost predictability for tenants and landlords by:
– Setting an annual rental increase allowance of CPI-U plus three percent, capped at a maximum of six percent;
– Establish guidelines for fees and fee increases for regulated rental units;
– Establishing provisions for the landlord to increase the rent above the cap and apply a surcharge for renovations; and
– Defining a process for landlords to bank unused rental increase allowances.
The bill is already having an impact, sending a clear message that the county cares for renters and believes they should have sustainable housing with predictable costs.
As the bill goes into effect, the county will monitor its implementation to ensure that it balances the need to protect tenants with providing landlords with economic tools to maintain and build housing. A protection or right is also only as good as it is known by the public, particularly those most impacted, and the next steps will include raising awareness among tenants and landlords about their rights and responsibilities.
Maryland Delegate Adrian Boafo introduced a “Ban the Box” policy for rental applications to prohibit discrimination against those with a criminal history from applying. Criminal history inquiries will be limited to the past three years, enabling individuals with older criminal histories to have a fair chance at securing housing, with an exception for individuals on the sex offender registry. Additionally, this bill requires housing providers to provide a physical disclosure stating the reasons for denying an applicant, fostering a more open and accountable housing system. Further, this bill mandates that all housing providers restrict their application fees to cover only the actual cost of the screening process.
Housing continues to be one of the most significant barriers for those transitioning out of prison. This bill will help send a message by helping returning citizens access essential housing.
https://newdealleaders.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/AI-Threats-to-Elections-WEB-2048x1154-1.jpeg
1154
2048
Rachel Walsh
http://newdealleaders.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/logo-tnd.png
Rachel Walsh2024-07-25 13:15:052024-07-25 13:15:05AI’s Impact on Elections: Assessing the Growing Threats and Solutions
https://newdealleaders.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Cassidy-BidenThirdDebate.webp
1982
1982
Rachel Walsh
http://newdealleaders.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/logo-tnd.png
Rachel Walsh2024-07-21 19:31:232024-07-21 19:31:23Statement from NewDEAL CEO Debbie Cox Bultan on President Joe Biden’s Decision to Exit 2024 Race
https://newdealleaders.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/igor-omilaev-eGGFZ5X2LnA-unsplash-scaled.jpg
2133
2560
Rachel Walsh
http://newdealleaders.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/logo-tnd.png
Rachel Walsh2024-07-17 17:41:172024-07-17 17:41:17New AI Task Force Convenes State and Local Officials
https://newdealleaders.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/AI-Background.jpeg
849
1080
Rachel Walsh
http://newdealleaders.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/logo-tnd.png
Rachel Walsh2024-07-17 13:01:582024-07-18 13:04:54NewDEAL Leaders to Co-Chair AI Task Force