Habitat for Humanity Northwest Harris County’s Post

Where is the funding for affordable homeownership for low income families? How can you talk about affordable housing and not talk about home preservation? The increasing homeless population can be attributed to many sources, one of which is the fact that low-income homeowners have no one to help them, with little to no protections. We need to do better California! Yes, we need rapid, permanent and supportive housing for low-low and poverty level households, but we also need to provide financing for low-income homeownership. California Housing Partnership

It has now been more than a month since the 2024 general election, which led to a change of government. In that time, there have been a flurry of developments relevant to the work we do. Here are some of the key ones: ➡️ The name of the government department responsible for housing and homelessness was changed from the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) ➡️ The new government reiterated its commitment to building 1.5 million homes and detailed some of the ways it hopes will make this possible, including through re-introducing local house-building targets, reforming the planning system and hiring new planning officers ➡️ A Renters’ Rights Bill was included in the King’s Speech, with key provisions including an end to Section 21 no-fault evictions, empowerment of tenants to challenge rent increases and measures intended to improve the quality of private rented accommodation ➡️ Angela Rayner promised “a council housing revolution” and “the biggest growth in social and affordable housebuilding in a generation”. Her proposed reforms to the National Planning Policy Framework include a “golden rule” that housing built on Green Belt land should be “at least 50% affordable […] with an appropriate proportion being Social Rent, subject to availability”, and she also indicated that the government would review the Right to Buy scheme ➡️ There are some promising aspects to what has been announced so far, but more information is needed before we can confidently pass judgement. We are keen to know more about how exactly the Renters’ Rights Bill will ensure security for renters and limit unreasonable rent increases, and how much the government plans to invest into social housing. We will continue to keep a close eye on potentially welcome developments from the point of view of our work/our guests, as well as where there is room for improvement. Stay tuned for more!

In June, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) issued new guidance allowing public housing agencies to increase utility assistance, aimed at helping residents cover the costs of air conditioning during extreme heat waves. This move could potentially ease the burden of soaring temperatures on nearly 1.6 million residents nationwide, including tens of thousands in Georgia. However, many public housing agencies in Georgia are finding themselves too financially strained to provide the needed assistance. Atlanta Volunteer Lawyers Foundation Executive Director Michael Lucas shared insights on the compounded challenges that rising utility rates and escalating temperatures could pose for local renters, especially seniors who face severe, potentially life-threatening risks. Learn more in the latest by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution at https://lnkd.in/eS3eDk8w

The Kentucky Legislative Session is Almost Over...But Wait There's More! MHC April eNewsletter —— As the 2024 Kentucky Legislative Session winds down, we should all enter a period of reflection on how legislators chose to change the housing landscape. Thanks to the well organized efforts of the Coalition for the Homeless (Louisville), Homeless & Housing Coalition of Kentucky, and other coalition partners, we know a lot about a lot of bills introduced, current status, and where each bill stands as we near the end of the session. For example, HB5 and the additional policies to criminalize homelessness, residential rental damages, and expanding 'Stand Your Ground' to include justifiable violence against homeless people. Also, the Kentucky Resources Council and a broad coalition have pushed back against SB349 because "it will raise electricity bills for Kentucky ratepayers by stacking the Public Service Commission process against renewable energy, and in favor of keeping uneconomic, aging, and polluting fossil fuel power plants." The list goes on and on with bills that could have an impact or have passed and will have an impact on housing policy, energy affordability, and ultimately housing stability for people in our communities across the Commonwealth. Enter HB388. A bill that was 25 pages quickly expanded to 39 pages due to a Senate Committee substitute and several floor amendments. In that 14 pages of additional legislative language, HB388 creates a one-year moratorium on all land development code changes, until April 15, 2025, that affect "(a) Residential units per acre or any other unit describing land size; or (b) Inhabitants of any residential units," and require the mayor of consolidated governments to conduct further review (they removed the reporting requirement, which leads to further the confusion). This one-year moratorium delays/pauses/prevents further Land Development Code (LDC) Reform efforts in Louisville through April 2025. Numerous studies have already been conducted at the local level here in Louisville and there has been a two-year period of public engagement with residents across Louisville/Jefferson County, leading up to the release of the language on creating opportunities for Middle Housing. The process to pass Middle Housing reforms will take several months as we move through 2024, but this ultimately delays the implementation of any reforms by 4-5 months. Still, this is a delay to much needed diverse types of housing in our community. This is unfortunate and creates another barrier to fair, accessible, and affordable housing. And, the kicker, no one knows (or will admit) where the idea of including this provision on a moratorium on land development code changes emanated. I think someone knows and the public is due an explanation. We are in a housing crisis and LDC reforms are needed to address this crisis--unfortunately Louisville citizens are will have to wait at least a year to see this come to fruition. (Cont.)

The current housing crisis impacts Americans nationwide, cutting across diverse backgrounds. At the Terwilliger Center, we believe that housing is a bipartisan issue, requiring bipartisan cooperation for effective solutions. The Bipartisan Policy Center’s American Congressional Exchange (ACE) facilitates this collaboration, pairing members of Congress from opposite parties for visits to each of their respective districts. Last month, Rep. Pete Stauber (R-MN) visited Rep. Mike Quigley (D-IL) in Chicago. Their trip focused heavily on the housing affordability challenges both representatives encounter in their districts and explored local initiatives offering potential solutions. https://lnkd.in/e9RNArT5 #Bipartisanship #HousingCrisis

Subject: Request for Assistance and Support for Inner Detroit City Residents Dear Mayor and City Council Members, I hope this message finds you well. As a resident of inner Detroit City, I am writing to express the thoughts and concerns of many citizens in our community who are in need of assistance and support. Firstly, I want to acknowledge the efforts that the city has made to improve our neighborhoods and infrastructure. We have seen positive changes, and we appreciate the hard work that has gone into making Detroit a better place to live. However, despite these efforts, there are still many challenges that residents of inner Detroit City are facing. One of the most pressing issues is the lack of access to basic services such as healthcare, education, and public transportation. Many residents struggle to afford these services or have limited access to them, which affects their quality of life. Additionally, there is a need for more affordable housing options in our area. Many residents are being priced out of their homes due to rising rents and property taxes, forcing them to move away from the communities they have called home for years. Furthermore, there is a need for more job opportunities and economic development in inner Detroit City. Many residents are unemployed or underemployed, and there are few options for them to improve their economic situation. In light of these challenges, we are calling on the city government to provide more support and resources to inner Detroit City residents. This includes increased funding for social services, affordable housing initiatives, and job training programs. We also urge the city to work with local businesses and organizations to create more job opportunities in our community. Additionally, we ask that the city government prioritize the needs of inner Detroit City residents when making decisions about future development and infrastructure projects. It is important that our voices are heard and that our community is not overlooked or marginalized. In conclusion, we believe that with the support of the city government, we can overcome these challenges and build a brighter future for inner Detroit City. We are ready to work together with you to make our community a better place for all residents. Thank you for your attention to this matter. Sincerely, Ms. Valerie Bryant Inner Detroit City Resident

The Orange County Affordable Housing Coalition, of which CHT is a member, is circulating a petition to Chapel Hill Town Council to put a $50 million affordable housing bond on this year's ballot. If you want to learn more about the bond goal and consider adding your name to the petition, please visit https://lnkd.in/dUD9Qcvn and share with your friends and neighbors, too! Whether you live, work, play, or pray in Chapel Hill, if you have an interest in making sure folks can afford to live here, you can sign the petition (resident or not)! A comment from one person who signed yesterday really sums up the need: "The only reason I'm able to own my home in Chapel Hill is because I happened to buy it several years ago. I would not be able to afford to live here if I were looking for a place to rent or buy now. Without living near people from all backgrounds and incomes, our community is impoverished and my children grow up without knowing and playing with people who are different than them. In addition, affordable housing is important for the environment---to reduce the greenhouse gases that come from folks who work in this community commuting." Learn more and sign online now: https://lnkd.in/dzVDahue

Great messages in this piece. While a majority of Americans believe affordable housing is an issue, many running for office don’t run on a housing platform as it’s also true that while Americans support the concept of affordable housing, most don’t want it in their neighborhood. One will likely not win at the ballots if they want to put affordable options in every neighborhood. I live in an historic neighborhood and we have old homes and old duplexes and old 4plexes. Today, those duplexes and 4plexes aren’t being built as they were in my neighborhood- mixed in with single family homes because single family zoning is prevailing. My neighborhood hasn’t imploded because of this mixture of housing type that provides an affordable option and a rental option. This isn’t rocket science but affordable housing definitely comes with a “fear factor” that isn’t warranted.

MEDIA STATEMENT April 22, 2024   FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE   To: Greater Utica Area Media Outlets From: Chief Executive Officer & Executive Director, Susan Litera   UNITED WAY OF THE MOHAWK VALLEY CONGRATULATES GOVERNOR HOCHUL ON INNOVATIVE NEW YORK STATE HOUSING PLAN   “As CEO & Executive Director of the United Way of the Mohawk Valley, I would like to congratulate the Governor and her staff. As part of the FY2025 Budget, Governor Kathy Hochul has achieved what many said was impossible — a transformative deal to reverse the downward spiral on housing stock and unlock New York’s housing potential while protecting tenants. Governor Hochul's plan delivers on her commitment to addressing the housing crisis by building the housing that New Yorkers deserve, strengthening tenant protections, and combatting housing discrimination.    With this plan, the Governor is doubling down on her efforts to reduce costs for New Yorkers and taking a giant step toward a more affordable and more livable New York. A New York where teachers and first responders can afford to live in the communities where they work. A New York where young families can buy homes in the cities and towns where they grew up. A New York where seniors can age in place, near friends and family, without having to leave the neighborhoods they love.   This agreement marks a turning point in New York’s housing crisis, but there is still more that we can do to give New Yorkers relief. That’s why Governor Hochul will continue to fight for solutions to increase the housing supply and help families across our state achieve their New York Dream,” stated Litera.   XXX

The dream of stable housing is fading for too many Michigan families. Rents and homeownership costs are soaring, leaving wages in the dust. This struggle isn't confined to cities; it's gripping suburbs and rural areas alike. At Habitat for Humanity of Michigan, we know families shouldn't have to choose between a roof and necessities like food or healthcare. The reality is unacceptable: 1 in 8 Michigan households spends half or more of their income just on housing. We believe everyone deserves safe, affordable housing, and that homeownership is a pathway to stability and wealth building. Yet, systemic barriers prevent many from achieving this dream. That's why we're fighting for change. Through the Cost of Home campaign, we along with Habitat for Humanity International, are advocating for anti-racist housing and land-use policies at all levels, pushing for increased investment in affordable housing and fair housing practices that dismantle discriminatory barriers. To learn more about Habitat International's Cost Of Home Campaign, visit: https://bit.ly/3utnJRu