• Suburban Blight & the Affordable Housing Conundrum
• BY: Liz Farmer   |   March 13, 2013
• As urban revival pushes more lower-income earners to the suburbs, many are struggling to provide services and redefine their identity.
• 1 Comments

• HUD Secretary Asks Local Leaders to Lobby for CDBG and HOME
• BY: Dylan Scott   |   Nation   |   March 12, 2013
• Local officials must lobby their congressional representatives to restore funding to key programs, particularly the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program and the HOME Investment Partnerships Program, says U.S. Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Shaun Donovan.
• 2 Comments

• Fingerprinting Helps Homeless Shelters Provide Faster Service
• BY: Brian Peteritas   |   New Jersey   |   March 6, 2013
• New Jersey is expanding a local program that helps human services agencies get a more accurate picture of where and when aid is most needed.

• Will the Next NYC Mayor Continue Bloomberg's Urban Planning Legacy?
• BY: Ryan Holeywell   |   March 2013
• Under Bloomberg, the cityscape has been reshaped in unprecedented ways.
• 6 Comments

• Veterans Seek Help from States and Localities
• BY: Dylan Scott   |   March 2013
• Some states and localities are stepping in to fill the void left by federal aid. One successful model is emerging in Utica, N.Y.

• Landmark S&P Lawsuits Mark Improved State-Fed Relations
• BY: Liz Farmer   |   February 11, 2013
• The lawsuits, which are the first against a credit ratings agency in connection with the economic meltdown, were a coordinated effort between states and feds who have historically clashed over who fights financial fraud.

• In Sandy's Wake, New Jersey Also May Buy Flood-Prone Neighborhoods
• Source: Newark Star-Ledger   |   New Jersey   |   February 8, 2013
• Gov. Chris Christie said he wants the state to use a portion of the federal Sandy aid money coming to New Jersey to buy up whole neighborhoods prone to flooding.

• Cuomo Hopes to Buy Homes Wrecked by Sandy But Not Rebuild
• Source: New York Times   |   New York   |   February 4, 2013
• Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo is proposing to spend as much as $400 million to purchase homes wrecked by Hurricane Sandy, have them demolished and then preserve the flood-prone land permanently, as undeveloped coastline.

• Tax Credits for Hiring Homeless Proposed in Utah
• Source: Salt Lake Tribune   |   Utah   |   January 31, 2013
• The measure cleared its first hurdle but created a heated debate among the public, probably signifying a tough battle the bill will face when it receives full debate on the House floor.

• Affordable and Luxurious Housing Come Hand in Hand in Vienna
• BY: Ryan Holeywell   |   February 2013
• Vienna has figured out how to offer high-quality apartments with low-cost rent and renters' rights that would be unheard of in the United States. Advocates say it's a model worth examining.
• 5 Comments

• Jersey Shore Residents Forced to Raise Homes to Ward Against Another Sandy
• Source: Philadelphia Inquirer   |   New Jersey   |   January 25, 2013
• Gov. Christie announced that the state would adopt the Federal Emergency Management Agency's new floodplain maps, which are likely to face challenges from local officials.

• Kansas Governor Wants to Eliminate Property Tax Deduction
• Source: Kansas City Star   |   Kansas   |   January 24, 2013
• The governor wants to wipe away the income deduction claimed by Kansans for property taxes they pay on their homes. Nixing that deduction would raise revenue, at least partially offsetting the lower state income tax rates Brownback wants to adopt.
• 2 Comments

• Winning Micro-Apartment Design Aims to Address New York City's Housing Shortage
• Source: New York Times   |   New York City   |   January 23, 2013
• The city unveiled the winner of a competition to design and build an apartment tower on city-owned land composed entirely of micro-units, 55 homes the size of hotel rooms that Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg hopes will be the first in a wave of tiny apartments aimed at addressing the city’s shortage of studio and one-bedroom apartments.

• Massachusetts Gov. Patrick to Propose Consolidating 240 Housing Agencies into 6
• Source: Boston Globe   |   Massachusetts   |   January 10, 2013
• Patrick’s proposal would consolidate public housing management — including budgeting, planning, and administrative functions — into six central ­offices, while leaving a corps of managers and maintenance workers at local housing author­ities. Local boards would be cut, eliminating the need for more than 1,000 politically appointed commissioners.
• 1 Comments