Affordable Housing

Aerial view of coastal town of Astoria, Oregon with suspension bridge and sunset sky.

Rural Oregon Counties Struggle to Balance Growth, Affordability

Regions like Clatsop County are calling on the state to offer more resources for affordable housing.

January 2, 2024 - Governing

Four-story light-colored multifamily apartment building.

HUD Resiliency Awards Target Affordable Multifamily Housing

The Green and Resilient Retrofit program aims to reduce vulnerability to climate challenges and improve energy efficiency in multifamily buildings.

December 31, 2023 - Housing Wire

White clapboard house with For Sale sign in front yard

Majority of US Home Listings Are Unaffordable

Just 15.5 percent of homes for sale in 2023 were affordable for the average earner, but there could be hope for 2024.

December 29, 2023 - CBS News via Yahoo Finance

Brick New York City apartment buildings with fire escapes and high-rise under construction in background.

New York Launches New Housing Financing Initiative

The program is aimed at supporting housing projects with 70 percent or more affordable units.

December 28, 2023 - Commercial Observer

Senior couple sitting on sofa looking at laptop computer held in the man's lap.

Report Highlights Housing Insecurity Among Seniors

Older Americans face rising mortgage debt, high costs for medical care and assistance, and a dearth of accessible housing.

December 27, 2023 - Smart Cities Dive

Aerial view of Portland, Maine at dusk.

Portland, Maine Embraces Zoning Reform for Multifamily Housing

The Portland City Council amended the land use code to allow up to four units on all residential lots on the mainland, and up to three on island lots. It also eliminated parking requirements for these uses.

December 27, 2023 - The Portland Townsman

Aerial view of Vail, Colorado ski resort town with multi-story buildings in foreground and snowy mountains in background.

How Ski Towns are Tackling the Housing Crisis

Mountain towns in Colorado and other western states are struggling to maintain a supply of affordable housing for their workers and lower-income residents.

December 25, 2023 - High Country News

View of Rockefeller Center Christmas tree lit up at night in front of 30 Rock high-rise.

The Afterlife of 30 Rock’s Christmas Trees

Where do the iconic trees go after the holidays?

December 22, 2023 - USA Today

Vintage multi-story brick apartment building and modern concrete and glass apartment building separated by a steep public stairway in Los Angeles, California.

The State of Housing in California

Homelessness continues to rise, and recent legislation aimed at boosting housing production may be limited in its effect.

December 21, 2023 - CALmatters

Aerial view of large homes surrounded by mature trees with Lake MIchigan shoreline at left.

Milwaukee County Affordable Housing Program Targets Suburbs

The growth of jobs in the Milwaukee suburbs is outpacing the housing supply.

December 21, 2023 - Wisconsin Watch

Multifamily building with blue sky in the background.

5 Trends for Affordable Housing in 2024

Technology and policy are just two factors shaping the future of affordable housing.

December 21, 2023 - Building Design & Construction

Close-up of red and white "No camping - Violators subject to arrest" sign.

HUD: Homelessness Up by 12 Percent

The agency’s annual point-in-time count identified over 650,000 Americans living without permanent housing.

December 20, 2023 - Big Country News

Rendering of Park Station mixed-use development in Woodlawn neighborhood of Chicago, Illinois.

Commentary: A Vision for Responsible Neighborhood Revitalization

The first project under Chicago’s Woodlawn Housing Preservation Ordinance is taking shape, aiming to bring new housing and retail to the neighborhood while avoiding displacement.

December 20, 2023 - Richard Whitney

Base Camp Village

Insurance Rates Rise Sharply for Affordable Housing

Increases of up to 104 percent in insurance rates are squeezing nonprofit affordable housing developers as rates rise around the country.

December 18, 2023 - Marketplace

Vacant commerical parking lot in front of shuttered strip mall.

Opinion: Strip Malls Are a Huge Untapped Source for Housing

Redeveloping just the best-suited 10 percent of America’s strip malls could result in 700,000 new affordable homes nationwide.

December 17, 2023 - Next City

View from above of wood-frame multifamily housing under construction next to green trees.

Federal Bank Awards $28M in Affordable Housing Funds

The bank’s annual subsidy funds new housing and upgrades to existing affordable housing stock.

December 15, 2023 - Financial Regulation News

Above-ground downtown Plano train stop in front of red brick multifamily housing building.

New Guidance to Repurpose Transit Properties for Affordable Housing

No-cost land transfers of underused transportation assets to develop transit-oriented affordable housing could be a game changer for local governments.

December 14, 2023 - Urban Institute

View of Washington D.C. Capitol dome through high-rise buildings in various states of construction.

DC ‘Vacant to Vibrant’ Properties Remain Vacant

The city auctioned off 58 lots at low prices to stimulate housing development. Half are still vacant.

December 14, 2023 - The Washington Post

View of residential neighborhood with large homes with tall mountains and cloudy sunset sky in background in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Will Salt Lake City’s Zoning Reforms Create More Affordable Housing?

The city’s new rules allow for more flexibility in housing development, but other market forces could limit production.

December 13, 2023 - KUER

Aerial view of mobile home community in rural area with homes lined up diagonally next to small road.

Report Highlights Housing Issues in Rural America

Rising costs and an aging housing stock are squeezing rural households, with the impacts felt unevenly across ages and ethnicities.

December 13, 2023 - The Daily Yonder

Top Books

An annual review of books related to planning.

Top Websites

The best of the Internet—since 2002.

Top Apps

Planning apps for a brave new world.

Top Schools

The definitive ranking of graduate planning programs.

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.