Reydel Santos’ Post

Housing is a pressing concern communities across Michigan (and beyond) are facing as they navigate their own local contexts and complexities. Our state leaders continue to identify practical yet creative solutions to meet this grand challenge, like the expansion of tax increment financing, or TIF, to include housing development. Learn more about this important funding tool and what it might mean for your community in the informative MSU Extension article below by my colleague, Tyler Augst!

A future where no one hoards housing for profit is possible. We Can All Be Housed. No one deserves to be exploited for their basic needs. Housing can be a right, not a profit-maker. This article explores how restoring rent control in Saint Paul is the first step to decommodifying housing and making homes abundant. https://lnkd.in/gn4WG_cC

Don't Mourn, Organize Like many housing advocates, I was heartbroken to see RM4, a $20 billion bond measure for affordable housing, delayed at Wednesday's MTC special meeting. Communities across the nine counties of the Bay Area will have to wait longer to get the resources to confront the housing crisis head-on with this significant investment. A small, backward-looking, extremist group of people—who are already safely and affordably housed thanks to decades of tax and government policies meant to benefit them—decided to deploy frivolous lawsuits, misinformation campaigns, and obstructionist tactics to derail this measure. Their actions will lead to more displacement, more struggling families, and a less vibrant, diverse, and soulful Bay Area. Though the measure was delayed, we still have a huge opportunity to move the needle on housing justice. Proposition 5, which will lower the threshold for revenue measures from a 2/3 majority to 55%, will allow local governments to raise the resources needed to meet the demand for affordable housing and other priorities. We now must focus our efforts on ensuring this proposition passes. NCLT will be working with partners to advocate for Prop 5. As they say, there's simply not much time for mourning; we have a lot of organizing ahead of us. Onwards! #AffordableHousing #HousingJustice #BayArea #Prop5 #CommunityOrganizing #SocialEquity #UrbanPlanning #HousingAdvocacy #CommunityDevelopment #PublicPolicy #RM4

There are many media reports this morning 4/4/24 that a housing deal is getting close in Albany. The reports indicate that Good Cause Eviction (GCE) is part of the deal. But GCE can mean many things. The reports imply that Senator Salazar’s three percent 2019 bill is not the basis for the deal. Among the keys to watch for are: Is the annual increase more like CA’s ten percent? Or, is the NJ unconscionable increase standard used? Is new construction carved out? How are vacation homes addressed? How are coops and condos addressed? How are buildings owned by non profits addressed? Must those claiming GCE protection be primary residents? The devil is truly in the details that will emerge. @belkinburdengoldman LLP #goodcauseeviction

It is important to recognize the fundamentals of what is happening in the building industry as it pertains to affordability. It is equally as important to build with resilient and sustainable systems. #buildingmaterials #buildwithstrength #resilience #affordability #designbuild #buildingsystems

Great overview of critical LIHTC reforms that are needed to expedite affordable housing development in the U.S. My two adds - How can we pair federal funding for rental and/or operating subsidies that make these projects feasibility for the lowest income households? How can we assure that projects are underwritten with the capital improvement resources that keep these buildings in good shape for the long-haul? #affordablehousing #housingfinance #lihtc #federalpolicy

agreed. the devil is in thr details. however, the larger argument must go to the fact that this is a taking away of owners rights. with a housing crisis and banking crisis caused by the 2019 rental law, to put more regulations in place and expect roses is the definition of insane. only the private sector can build housing, and it has to be unregulated. always remember, the devil is the one that was exiled.

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

Concerned about housing costs? Today, the Vice President announced a crucial infusion of funds to address the country’s critical housing needs: $5.5 billion in grants to 1,200 communities through more than 2,400 grants to states, cities, DC, Puerto Rico, and local organizations across the country. These grants build on ongoing efforts by the Administration, the White House Housing Supply Action Plan and the Blueprint for a Renters Bill of Rights, boost housing supply, lower housing costs, expand rental assistance, enhance renter protections, and invest in stronger, more resilient communities for all. #housing U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Fannie Mae Freddie Mac Federal Housing Finance Agency USDA The White House https://lnkd.in/gar65Ytp

This is a great step forward, and I am glad the Administration is sounding the alarm on whats about to be the biggest financial meltdown in US history. The problem we are facing is the post-recession consolidation of corporate home builders now control over 90% of the US housing supply, and have pushed back on all legislation that is pro-affordable housing. Here in CA, we have a statewide mandate that no city is in compliance with. Huntington Beach recently lost their lawsuit against the state which will hopefully lead to more municipal compliance. We have what I call a "cycle of greed" going on in that these builders announce low-prices to get land deals with cities, then charge up to 3X the price because the market demand is so high. Constricting housing supply, driving up prices, and manipulating the housing market is a low blow. I am very proud to say our business is working directly with some of these municipalities on public/private land partnership deals where we get land at an affordable price, but contractually agree to keep our price points within the Affordable Housing Indexes. This has proven to be a very popular approach to the problem at all levels, and we are rightfully getting a lot of support for it.