The nation's capital is hoping to increase the funding support offered to households through the Home Purchase Assistance Program to help more people afford the critical first step of buying a home.
Washington, D.C. is considering an expansion of its Home Purchase Assistance Program (HPAP). Elizabeth Falcom reports that the D.C. Council held a hearing on January 7, 2016 "to consider raising the maximum amount [HPAP] applicants, from $50,000 to $80,000."
The article includes a lot more detail about how the program works, including a discussion of how the award available under the program has fluctuated over years. The most recent fluctuations mean the program has some catching up to do:
In 2008, the award amount was capped at $70,000. But when the recession hit, federal and local resources shrank, and the award amount dipped to $40,000 per purchase. While that rose to $50,000 in 2014, that jump paled in comparison to the rapid increase in the cost of buying a home here.
According to Falcom, the proposed adjustment has a wide range of support, including from the Department of Housing and Community Development, which manages the program. Earlier this week, Aimee Custis reported that Washington, D.C is also considering an expansion of its inclusionary zoning policy to also help more people afford housing in the nation's capital.
FULL STORY: DC has a program to help first-timers buy a house, and it may start giving more aid

Analysis: Cybertruck Fatality Rate Far Exceeds That of Ford Pinto
The Tesla Cybertruck was recalled seven times last year.

National Parks Layoffs Will Cause Communities to Lose Billions
Thousands of essential park workers were laid off this week, just before the busy spring break season.

Retro-silient?: America’s First “Eco-burb,” The Woodlands Turns 50
A master-planned community north of Houston offers lessons on green infrastructure and resilient design, but falls short of its founder’s lofty affordability and walkability goals.

Test News Post 1
This is a summary

Analysis: Cybertruck Fatality Rate Far Exceeds That of Ford Pinto
The Tesla Cybertruck was recalled seven times last year.

Test News Headline 46
Test for the image on the front page.
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