The proposed budget seeks to expand the housing voucher program, incentivize housing production, and promote zoning reform, but will likely face strong opposition from congressional Republicans.

The proposed budget released by the White House on Thursday includes over $175 billion in investments directed at increasing the nation’s housing supply and alleviating the affordability crisis.
As Michael Brady explains in Smart Cities Dive, “The budget proposal includes $59 billion in mandatory funding and tax incentives to increase the affordable housing supply and $10 billion in mandatory funding to create incentives for state and local governments to eliminate barriers to affordable housing such as restrictive zoning.”
The proposal includes a neighborhood homes tax credit, which “would cover the gap between the construction costs and the sale price for rehabilitated or newly constructed single-family homes in low-income communities,” as well as an expansion of the low-income housing tax credit, rental assistance, among other incentives and subsidies. The budget also proposes an expansion of the Housing Choice Voucher program, voucher guarantees for vulnerable groups, and funding for eviction prevention efforts.
Brady notes that “Congress is unlikely to pass the president’s budget as written, with the White House engaged in a pitched battle with congressional Republicans over spending priorities and the debt ceiling.” Meanwhile, a budget outline being considered by congressional Republicans would cut 43 percent from housing programs and paves the way for eliminating the Housing Choice Voucher program.
FULL STORY: More than $175B in housing investments in Biden budget proposal

New Florida Law Curbs HOA Power
The legislation seeks to cut down on ‘absurd’ citations for low-level violations.

New Tennessee Law Allows No-Cost Incentives for Affordable Housing
Local governments in the Volunteer State can now offer developers incentives like increased density, lower parking requirements, and priority permitting for affordable housing projects.

Planners’ Complicity in Excessive Traffic Deaths
Professor Wes Marshall’s provocatively-titled new book, "Killed by a Traffic Engineer," has stimulated fierce debates. Are his criticisms justified? Let’s examine the degree that traffic engineers contribute to avoidable traffic deaths.

Study: Housing Crisis is About Affordability, not Supply
New research shows that there is no overall shortage of housing units, but all U.S. metropolitan areas face a severe lack of affordable units for low-income renters.

Are Race-Based Lawsuits Affecting Community Lenders?
Shelterforce spoke with community lending leaders and experts about the current mood across the sector. What, if anything, are organizations doing to avoid becoming the next target of conservative activists?

New Park Promotes Community and Connectivity in Lewisville, Texas
The city of Lewisville just celebrated the opening of Glory Park/Parque la Gloria, helping to improve park access and the quality of life for residents.
City of Madera
City of Santa Clarita
Borough of Carlisle
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Chaddick Institute at DePaul University
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Colorado Energy Office
Pima County Community College District
City of Piedmont, CA
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.