Renee Rojas’ Post

In City Limits, Adolfo Carrión Jr., commissioner of the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development, and Eric Enderlin, president of the New York City Housing Development Corporation, penned an op-ed on the dire need for more housing. They cited the Low Income Housing Tax Credit (#LIHTC) program as a critical tool for financing the development of affordable homes. One additional tool that we should consider is the New Market Tax Credit (#NMTC) program. By leveraging NMTCs for affordable for-sale housing, we can continue to support the proliferation of homes—and work to mitigate the ongoing impact of the housing crisis. Read more here in City Limits and click the link in the comments to learn more about NMTCs and affordable housing: https://lnkd.in/gZTGcWWN #housingshortage #housingsupply

Happy to see 22 Town's and Villages across Long Island apply for the NYS Pro Housing designation that documents the work these municipalities have done to create housing options in recent years. The municipalities also can outline what they have planned and move ahead of the line for infrastructure funding and other NYS financial support. This incentive based approach is radically preferable to NYS mandates that have been proposed from 2020 - 2024 that started with developers and moved to State policies on ADU's, TOD zoning and religious properties as well. Some of these proposals had as many as 200 elected officials mobilized against them and created regionally based anti development sentiment. Public hearings in recent years have had far more opposition to projects than we have seen over the last 15 years as a result of the mandate proposals coming from NYC and NYS. Thankfully the Governor's Pro Housing program can bring us back to the most successful approach to land use decisions and building housing which is Planning Locally that helps build up trust in the process. Hopefully more municipalities that have not applied yet can see the benefits and follow in the next year. Newsday's Jonathan Lamantia did a story with an update on the Pro Housing program. Vision is also quoted as we have encouraged and worked with many of these municipalities in moving towards this incentive approach. Check it out...... https://lnkd.in/eqVgtAi5

Happy to see 22 Town's and Villages across Long Island apply for the NYS Pro Housing designation that documents the work these municipalities have done to create housing options in recent years. The municipalities also can outline what they have planned and move ahead of the line for infrastructure funding and other NYS financial support. This incentive based approach is radically preferable to NYS mandates that have been proposed from 2020 - 2024 that started with developers and moved to State policies on ADU's, TOD zoning and religious properties as well. Some of these proposals had as many as 200 elected officials mobilized against them and created regionally based anti development sentiment. Public hearings in recent years have had far more opposition to projects than we have seen over the last 15 years as a result of the mandate proposals coming from NYC and NYS. Thankfully the Governor's Pro Housing program can bring us back to the most successful approach to land use decisions and building housing which is Planning Locally that helps build up trust in the process. Hopefully more municipalities that have not applied yet can see the benefits and follow in the next year. Newsday's Jonathan Lamantia did a story with an update on the Pro Housing program. Vision is also quoted as we have encouraged and worked with many of these municipalities in moving towards this incentive approach. Check it out...... https://lnkd.in/eCUj9SQn

https://lnkd.in/ek8P5bhB 🏘️ Affordable housing is a hot topic in Arizona and across the country. As the cost of living continues to rise, many families are struggling to find a place to call home. But the good news is, solutions are being deployed nationwide to address this pressing issue. From government initiatives to private sector partnerships, efforts are being made to make housing more accessible and affordable for everyone. One solution is the expansion of affordable housing programs, such as the Low Income Housing Tax Credit, which provides tax incentives for developers to build affordable housing units. Another approach is the use of inclusionary zoning, where developers are required to allocate a certain percentage of their units for affordable housing. In addition, community land trusts and cooperative housing models are gaining traction as alternative ways to provide affordable housing. These models involve community ownership and management, allowing for long-term affordability and community involvement. We must continue to push for more solutions and support for affordable housing. It's a vital issue that affects not just individuals and families, but the entire community. Let's work together to ensure that everyone has a safe and affordable place to call home. #AffordableHousing #HousingCrisis #CommunitySolutions

Insightful and interesting piece re: affordable housing from Sacramento Business Journal https://lnkd.in/g_rG8P_4 "Unlike California, Azhar said, Texas law forbids the kind of linkage fees on new development to pay for affordable housing, and also any kind of inclusionary zoning to incorporate affordable units in with market-rate ones. There's also no state affordable housing funding, Azhar said. Even so, since 2006, Austin's bonds have built more than 6,700 homes, including 5,475 rental homes for people making $88,250 or less, 477 ownership homes for that income category and 794 permanent supportive housing units. Given the constraints in Texas law, Azhar said, the best way to increase the impact in Austin would probably come from the federal government, either through expanding the availability of low-income tax credits or more direct federal funding of affordable housing."

🏠 As Delaware faces a critical shortfall of over 19,000 affordable housing units, a commendable legislative effort led by Sen. Russell Huxtable and cosponsored by Rep. Bill Bush is underway to address the multifaceted housing crisis head-on. The introduction of a package of seven comprehensive bills represents a strategic and multifaceted approach to not only expand but also protect affordable housing options for Delawareans. These initiatives include: - Establishing a workforce housing program to leverage private capital for residential development. - Introducing protections for manufactured homeowners. - Reducing the realty transfer tax for affordable housing developments. - And more innovative measures aimed at bridging the housing affordability gap. This legislative package, underpinned by the Delaware State Housing Authority's 2023 Housing Needs Assessment, marks a pivotal moment in our pursuit of accessible and affordable housing for all residents. We extend our deepest appreciation to Sen. Huxtable, Rep. Bush, and all advocates for their visionary leadership and commitment to ensuring a brighter, more secure housing future for Delaware. #AffordableHousing #DelawareLegislation #HousingCrisis #LegislativeLeadership

This is a really important topic that affordable housing stakeholders need to stay out in front of. When advocates talk about affordable housing today we tend to emphasize how supply constrained the market is and how we need to build 3 million new homes to meet demand. While we absolutely need to build more housing, it is also essential that we ensure there are adequate resources available to preserve and extend the affordability of the existing affordable rental portfolio. We owe it to the residents of these communities to reinvest in their homes as the age so they are maintained at a high level of quality and remain affordable in the long-term. Compared to building replacement housing preservation also an efficient use of scarce government resources. I commend The Associated Press and Jesse Bedayn and Arushi Gupta for their thoughtful coverage of this issue. As you can see from their data the scale of the challenge is large and so we will need a big solution. This includes Congress expanding existing resources like the LIHTC and PABs for preservation and I also urge my friends at the state housing finance agencies and National Council of State Housing Agencies (NCSHA) to consider to invest in a long-term strategic preservation plan to ensure that they have identified their most high value community assets and their most at-risk communities so that they can plan accordingly. During my time at National Housing & Rehabilitation Association I developed a series of metrics to evaluate the preservation risk of a portfolio. Ping me if you are interested in learning more.

"State and local governments are exploring ways to take a more direct role in financing, preserving, and developing housing to address the nation’s housing shortage with an array of public development models, according to a new policy brief by the NYU Furman Center and its Housing Solutions Lab. Researchers examined nine cases spanning eight states – from Idaho and Illinois to Maryland and Massachusetts – to assess the variety of emerging government-led models where state or local governments act as developers, investors, or long-term owners to drive government-led housing development. In their analysis, they found that city and state agencies are leveraging a mix of federal, state, and local funding streams to take a more aggressive, and potentially riskier, position in affordable housing development than they do in today’s conventional models, aligning with their local markets while taking advantage of local expertise and resources.  "We examine the potential benefits, risks, and challenges of these approaches, along with the cost considerations, and offer insights on how policymakers can expand public development to address housing shortages—especially for lower-income households—while ensuring responsible stewardship of public resources,” write the authors of the policy brief, “The Emerging Spectrum of Government-Led and Publicly-Owned Housing Development Models.”" https://lnkd.in/gUJGMWMk

🏡 News from the Biden-Harris Administration! 🌟 The Biden-Harris Administration announces groundbreaking actions to boost the housing supply and make housing more affordable for all Americans. 🏗️🏠 Key Highlights: Expanding Affordable Housing: Enhancements to federal programs are set to create tens of thousands of affordable homes. 🛠️ Manufactured Homes: Boosting supply and affordability, with a new $225 million funding opportunity to support communities. 🏡 Fairer Rental Markets: Initiatives to promote transparency and fairness in rentals, ensuring a more equitable housing market. 📋 Major Developments: Funding for Low-Income Seniors: $115 million in grants announced for supportive housing, emphasizing intergenerational living. 👵👶 Disaster Relief: Clarification on reallocating low-income housing tax credits for disaster-struck areas. 🌪️ Promoting Manufactured Housing: New measures to preserve communities and improve financing options. 🏘️ Tenant Protections: Clarifying policies on non-rent fees and enhancing rights during the tenant screening process. 🛡️ This all-of-government approach is part of the The White House Housing Supply Action Plan and the Blueprint for a Renters Bill of Rights, aiming to ensure every American has access to quality, affordable housing. 📢 The Administration calls on US Congress to further support these efforts, highlighting the necessity for comprehensive investment in America's housing future. Stay tuned for more updates on how these actions will unfold and impact communities across the nation! 🇺🇸 #HousingForAll #BidenHarris #AffordableHousing #ManufacturedHomes #RentalRights

Exciting news alert! A package of bills aimed at enhancing housing affordability for Arizonans has successfully passed the state Senate today, marking a significant step forward in addressing housing challenges across the state. These bills, which include the groundbreaking Arizona Starter Homes Act, received bipartisan support in the Senate after similar proposals faltered last year. This act prohibits cities from mandating homeowners to form HOAs or purchase certain items related to home aesthetics, while also enabling residents in smaller counties to build homes on smaller lots of at least 1,500 square feet. The passage of these bills holds promising implications for our community's future. Increased housing affordability means more families and individuals experiencing hardship will have access to safe and stable housing, providing them with the foundation they need to rebuild their lives. This not only strengthens our community's resilience but also fosters a more vibrant and thriving future for generations to come A New Leaf is truly delighted to see these bills pass, as they represent tangible progress towards our shared vision of a community where everyone has a place to call home. We believe that stable housing is a fundamental human right, and these legislative decisions bring us one step closer to achieving that goal. https://lnkd.in/gYMuzS2n