Affordable Housing

Inclusionary Zoning Changes Near Final Approval in San Diego
The San Diego City Council is poised to give final approval to significant changes to the city's inclusionary zoning requirements,

Bernie Sanders Voices Clear Support for Rent Control
The United States should end homelessness, substantially increase funding for community land trusts, and support local rent control ordinances and inclusionary zoning requirements, according to an op-ed by the presidential candidate.

Housing Policy Preemption for Red States
While statewide efforts to loosen zoning restrictions have made news in (mostly) blue states like California and Oregon, (mostly) red states like Florida have been preventing local governments from passing their own housing policies.
Another 'Poor Door' in San Diego
The developers of a large residential development in the Seat Village neighborhood of San Diego is including a large number of apartments affordable to low-income residents, but in a separate building.

S.F. Bay Area City Says It Wants More Housing—But Votes Down Project
The project included everything San Bruno and residents asked for, and it would have helped the city make significant progress in addressing its growing housing crisis. Still, it was voted down.

The Urban Life of Spider-Man
Peter Parker used to struggle to pay the rent, and many people can relate to the superhero's precarious housing situation over the years.

A 20-Year To-Do List for Cities
Predicting the future of challenges facing cities isn't very hard when the future is already staring cities right in the face.

Low-Income Housing Tax Credits Lose Luster in the Post-GOP Tax Reform World
Fewer people investing in low-income housing tax credits means fewer affordable housing units being built—at a time when affordable units are in extremely short supply.

The 'Vanlord' Providing Shelter to L.A.'s Homeless
A creative rental industry has emerged in Los Angeles as the affordable housing crisis grows.

Helping City Workers Live in the City
Local municipalities are offering housing incentives to draw employees and help them live closer to their jobs.

On Rural America's Selective Housing Shortage
Counter to the usual narrative of population decline, some rural areas stand in serious need of housing.

The Four Kinds of Housing that Help the Homeless
Projects to add housing resources to help give homeless people a roof over the head have run into all sorts of public opposition—often times fueled by ignorance of how different kinds of homeless housing options work.

The Underappreciated Role of Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae in Access to Affordable Housing
A housing researcher formerly with the Obama administration's Treasury Department explains the role of government-sponsored enterprises in opening the housing market with more affordable options.

Bay Area Planners Acknowledge the Need for Regional Housing Solutions
While most Bay Area communities are pursuing housing solutions "individually," local planners acknowledge the need for strategies that address the regional as a unified whole.

Consensus on Changes to Property Tax Abatement Too Challenging for Philadelphia
Despite over a year of proposals, counter proposals, and heated debate, the city of Philadelphia has yet to broker a breakthrough on proposed reforms to the city's ten-year property tax abatement program.

An Affordable Housing Plan Takes Shape in Atlanta
The "One Atlanta Housing Affordability Action Plan" would protect or create 20,000 affordable homes in Atlanta.

Voluntary Inclusionary Zoning Scores Early Wins in Philadelphia
A compromise was necessary to enact inclusionary zoning in Philadelphia, and so far it eems to be working out for program supporters.

Crowdfunding for Affordable Housing
A new experiment in funding affordable housing is underway in Seattle.

'Yes in My Back Yard Act' Introduced in the U.S. Senate
U.S. Senator Todd Young (R-Indiana) has introduced a new law that picks sides in the housing debate, though the law is unlikely to produce structural change in the development process the near future.

The Complete Lack of Rental Housing Affordable to People Making Minimum Wage
Rents in 99 percent of counties in the U.S. are not affordable for residents making minimum wage, according to a recent report.
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