Barbara Graves-Poller’s Post

As Inside Housing turned 40 last week, we are taking this opportunity to reflect on four decades of housing history, spanning housing scandals, policy changes, and tragedies that defined the sector.   Take a look down the housing sector's memory lane through the video below and discover some of the landmark moments for the sector in the past four decades.   Discover the in-depth timelines of each decade by subscribing to Inside Housing.   https://lnkd.in/empScYcQ   #Ukhousing #housinghistory #affordablehousing

So interesting to learn how various communities are addressing the affordable housing issue!

Check out our affordable experts’ insights on how a few Midwest cities are addressing their affordable housing needs. It’s great to learn about the variety of ideas different municipalities are utilizing, as we all look to address this crisis in every market across the country.

Here's Premier Doug Ford's update on Hamilton's housing target revolves around Ontario's broader initiative to build at least 1.5 million new homes to keep housing costs down and help rebuild the province's economy. Ford emphasizes collaboration rather than overriding municipal planning to force high-density housing in every neighborhood, highlighting the importance of working together with mayors and councils to meet housing needs tailored to each community. In his approach, Ford stresses the importance of setting clear targets, holding municipalities accountable, and rewarding their success. He mentions providing municipalities with necessary tools, including strong mayoral powers and significant funding, to support housing development, referencing a three-year, $1.2 billion program aimed at rewarding municipalities for progress against their annual housing targets. Hamilton, in particular, has exceeded its 2023 housing target by breaking ground on 4,142 new homes, leading to the presentation of a Building Faster Fund check of more than $17.5 million to the city. This fund is intended for community development and infrastructure projects that facilitate more housing. Furthermore, Ford underscores his belief in local decision-making over provincial imposition in planning and development, arguing that municipalities are best equipped to decide the appropriate mix and placement of housing in their areas. He contrasts this with the idea of imposing uniform high-density housing solutions, such as four to eight-story buildings, in residential neighborhoods, which he believes could lead to issues such as parking congestion and community disruption. Ford's narrative aligns with the principle of localized decision-making, leveraging partnerships with municipal governments to achieve housing targets while respecting community character and infrastructure capacity. This approach underscores the emphasis on collaboration and shared goals between provincial and municipal levels of government to address Ontario's housing challenges. #hamilton #hamiltonrealestate #buildinghomesfaster #BuildOntarioTogether #HamiltonHousingSuccess #MunicipalPartnership #CommunityFirstDevelopment #AffordableHomesForAll #LocalSolutionsOntario #BuildingFasterFund #RespectOurNeighborhoods #OntarioHousingTargets #SustainableCommunitiesON https://lnkd.in/gUZjv9T6

Learn about MD BEPS related to multifamily properties on 3/15 at 12pm.

I'll be presenting on MD BEPS for the Maryland Affordable Housing Coalition (MAHC) during a webinar in March. We will discuss the energy requirements for multifamily buildings, including what we currently know, what's on the horizon, and what's still being decided. We'll explore the practical implications and share actionable steps you can take to ensure your portfolio is compliant and eligible for incentives before they expire. Buildings currently in design will be "existing buildings" some day soon, and they will also be subject to BEPS. This broad regulation will impact almost all buildings over 35,000 sqft in the state. Friday, March 15, 2024, 12-1:30pm: https://lnkd.in/e4ZQxGyC

In this episode of This is the GSA Way, we tackle the pressing issue of GreenSquareAccord’s (un)affordable housing and the recent service charge increases affecting residents. Residents have received alarming letters outlining how their housing provider has exceeded budget limits, resulting in unexpected costs being passed on to them. We break down the shocking figures, including: Lift Repairs: £28,000, Ongoing Day-to-Day Repairs: £16,000 & Emergency Lighting: £9,000 (totalling £25,000), Management Administration Costs: £7,000 for poor communication and record-keeping, Communal Cleaning: £5,000, raising questions about service efficiency, Refuse Charges: £322, despite reports of fly-tipping due to inadequate bin storage! We discuss the implications of not receiving a Section 20 Notice, which legally mandates prior consultation for costs exceeding £250 per tenant . We also cover the quickest response from GreenSquareAccord yet and the lack of feedback from our MP and local Labour councillor, but highlight the support from independent councillor! As more residents across the GSA network come forward with similar concerns, we encourage anyone affected to get in touch. A new support page will be available soon on the GSA Resident Support site, alongside resources from SHAC. Additionally, we address comments from Ruth Cooke and the absence of apologies following the Housing Ombudsman’s findings. Remember, complaining is essential for holding housing providers accountable. As major stakeholders, residents must demand accountability and transparency to prevent the costs of mismanagement from being passed onto us. Tune in for a detailed discussion and stay informed! Don’t forget to like, share, and subscribe for more updates on social housing issues. https://lnkd.in/eFkNQG3x #GSAWay #GreenSquareAccord #ServiceCharge #AffordableHousing #ServiceChargeStrike #HousingOmbudsman #SocialHousing #TenantRights #HousingCrisis #Accountability #ResidentSupport #CommunityAction #Transparency #HousingProvider #DampIssues #LiftRepairs #MaintenanceConcerns

In a compelling article by Conor Dougherty in The New York Times, we're reminded that the affordable housing crisis is a widespread challenge across the United States, not just localized to specific cities like Seattle. Read more about what is being done to help increase affordable housing in our latest blog post.

After decades of failed housing policy decisions that have lead us to the edge of a cliff with our housing crisis in many parts of the country, my concern today is that the perspective from some leaders may be sit tight and wait for the effects of minor policy changes to play out to determine whether or not they have an impact. As we saw with major downzoning efforts in Massachusetts in the 70s, it took decades for the impacts of those decisions to fully play out. We’re not being nearly aggressive enough to counteract 50+ years of failed housing policy. We need to more aggressively investigate all the available policy levers we can pull from the state government side (including zoning, financing AND building codes, something we have not discussed much here in MA) and investigate creative private sector funding models that can better support more robust housing production in communities across Massachusetts, not just in the urban core. Decisions we make today need to address our regional housing crisis we all face in 2024, but ensure we're setting ourselves on a course for a more sustainable, equitable, abundant housing future for 2124.

The deliberate work of the #HousingOpportunitiesCommission is needed now more than ever to meet the ever-increasing demand for affordable housing in #MontgomeryCountyMD. Over the next five years we will work to expand our reach and impact. Our new Five-Year Strategic Plan outlines how we will make that a reality. Learn more--->https://lnkd.in/e5N7f4aD #AffordableHousing