Housing
Foreclosed and Disenfranchised?
Thousands of Americans who have lost their homes in the foreclosure crisis may find themselves ineligible to vote in November.
Suburbia and Pig Farms: It Stinks
The suburbs of Tewksbury, MA, a quaint New England town, have developed uncomfortably close to one of the largest pig farms in the state.
Bringing Energy Efficiency to Section 8 Housing
Seven very low-income housing complexes in New Mexico have been renovated to be more energy efficient. The work was made possible by a nonprofit partnership that works in part to put money back in low-income residents' pockets.
Suburbs The New Ground Zero For Homelessness
Homelessness is on the rise in metropolitan Vancouver, but the numbers are most significant in the suburbs.
In Wake of Hurricane, New Beachfront Property Faces Seizure
An obscure law in Texas outlawing buildings on public beachfront could be invoked to seize hundreds of properties. Hurricane Ike has pushed the tide line closer to many homes, making them subject to the law even if they weren't damaged.
HUD Says 'Too Many Houses on the Market'
HUD Secretary Steven Preston said this week that the U.S. is facing a 'fundamental oversupply' of houses, which will continue to weigh down the economy.
Tent Cities Sprouting Up All Over U.S.
Foreclosures and economic hardships have caused a proliferation of tent cities across the U.S.
Foreclosure Crisis Spawning Tent Cities
Across the country the growing ranks of people made homeless in the foreclosure crisis are generating tent cities.
Seattle's Housing Can't Handle Projected Growth
Seattle is growing, and it's going to have to start thinking about augmenting its single-family neighborhoods with more multi-unit housing if it wants to keep up with the pace of growth.
Baghdad's Troubling Real Estate Resurgence
Property values are up in Iraq's capital, but realtors there point out that sectarian divisions are the main reason why certain areas have become desirable.
Disabled Protesters Take On HUD
About 500 disabled Americans have erected a tent city just outside of HUD's Washington, DC office. The group has staged the sit-in to protest housing costs that cannot be met with the incomes of many disabled citizens.
Location Efficiency and the Metric of Affordability
On this episode of Smart City, Scott Bernstein of the Center for Neighborhood Technology discusses the Housing and Transportation Affordability Index.
Expanding HUD's Definition of Homelessness
Congress is in the midst of discussing whether or not more people ought to be eligible for homeless services. But without any additional funding to go with it, some argue that a broadened definition of homelessness may be unrealistic.
Housing Project May Close- Residents Dismayed
The Chicago Housing Authority is considering tearing down a 300-unit public housing project, with a vote expected Tuesday. Residents are understandably unhappy, and advocates say the demand for affordable housing is already greater than supply.
Fannie Mae Nationalized...Again
Most of the news coverage concerning the takeover of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac has failed to note the history: Until 1968, FNMA had always been nationalized.
The Seasonal Surge in House Prices, Explained
New research can serve to explain why it is more expensive to purchase a house in the summer--and why it might be worth it.
Fannie and Freddie Go Federal
The government takeover of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac will likely bring lower interest rates, but tighter eligibility requirements and stricter monitoring of underwriting.
Katrina's Homeless Still Searching for Housing
Housing -- or the lack of it -- remains a major issue in post-Katrina New Orleans.
Housing Bust Merciless to Merced
Merced California typefies the housing bust: speculation, foreclosures, and the construction of houses nobody can afford to buy.
Vancouver to House Homeless For Olympics Preparation
In an effort to clean up the poverty ridden area set to host the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, officials have announced plans to place homeless people into housing next summer.
Pagination
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
EMC Planning Group, Inc.
Planetizen
Planetizen
Mpact (formerly Rail~Volution)
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service