Housing/Homelessness / Public News Service

Roughly 150 cities in 32 states have passed homelessness ordinances, according to the National Criminal Justice Association. (Adobe Stock)

Monday, March 24, 2025

Morgantown residents will soon decide whether to veto camping ban

Next month, the city of Morgantown, West Virginia, will ask residents to vote on whether to keep or eliminate a city ordinance banning camping on …

Sean Brown, recovering from methamphetamine addiction, lost his housing in the Eaton Fire in January.

Monday, March 24, 2025

L.A. County has cut homelessness, but wildfires impede progress

By Angela Hart for KFF Health News.Broadcast version by Suzanne Potter for California News Service reporting for the KFF Health News-Public News Servi…

Homelessness among families with children in Colorado grew by 134% in 2024. (Adobe Stock)

Monday, March 24, 2025

Low-income Coloradans face severe affordable housing shortage

There are only 26 affordable housing units in Colorado for every 100 low-income households, according to a new report listing Colorado as the sixth …

Housing industry voices say actions by the Trump administration, from cuts to the Department of Housing and Urban Development to prolonged tariff hikes, could hinder efforts to build more affordable units. (Adobe Stock)

Tariff talk adds uncertainty to already stressed affordable-housing movement

Industry groups say Minnesota is short more than 100,000 affordable-housing units to meet demand, and project leaders have said the Trump …

Research shows there is a direct correlation between unstable housing and food insecurity. (FamilyWorks Food Bank)

Advocates say WA rent stabilization bill important for ending hunger

While affordable housing advocates across the state have been cheering on Washington's rent stabilization bill in Olympia, so have organizations …

Oregon's older population is becoming more racially and ethnically diverse, with more than 45% of older adults projected to be people of color by 2050. (moodboard/Adobe Stock)

Bill would offer a blueprint for an aging Oregon

Oregon's population, along with the rest of the country, is getting older. Within 10 years there will be more Oregonians age 65 and older than …

In Pennsylvania over the past two years, tax credits have helped launch construction on 2,000 new homes and apartments, and facilitated repairs for an additional 3,200 housing units. (Tupungato/Adobe Stock)

$50 million 'whole home repair' funding may address PA housing crisis

Gov. Josh Shapiro's budget includes a $50 million investment for repairs to older homes. A grassroots group supports the idea but said the dollar …

Mold produces allergens, which are substances that can cause allergic reactions, irritants and in some cases, potentially toxic substances known as mycotoxins, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. (Adobe Stock)

Bill looks to improve habitability standards for Nevada renters

Backers of legislation in Nevada said it would bring more balance to landlord-tenant relationships and help ensure rental homes are safe to live in…

In past deportation programs, for every half-million people the government deported, 44,000 U.S.-born workers lost their jobs. (Adobe Stock)

High moral stakes of proposed cuts to federal programs

A new report commissioned by faith leaders outlines the high moral stakes at play as the Trump administration pushes to cut federal programs to pay fo…

Nearly a third of working-age Washington households have earnings which do not meet the minimum<br />cost of living. (Johannes/Adobe Stock)

Bills aim to revamp WA's regressive tax codes

A package of legislation in Olympia aims to reduce growing wealth inequality by reforming Washington's tax code. With the nation's second-most …

In 2023, about $4.2 million in settlement funds were disbursed to U.S. communities affected by discrimination, according to the National Fair Housing Alliance. (Adobe Stock)

HUD pulls federal Fair Housing grants in Montana, across U.S.

Since the Fair Housing Act was established in 1968 to make discrimination in housing illegal, nonprofits around the country have helped investigate …

Montana Senate Bill 243, to amend zoning regulations to allow taller buildings, passed a second reading in the Senate on Friday. (Roman Babakin/Adobe Stock)

Virtual training helps young Montanans weigh in on housing legislation

Legislative bills on housing have seen mixed results in Montana so far this session. A state nonprofit group held an online training on how to …

Volunteer lobbyists next Tuesday will encourage legislators to improve the infrastructure needed to address homelessness across the state. (Adobe Stock)

Volunteer lobbyists to press Colorado lawmakers on homelessness

Coloradans who want to help move the needle on homelessness can still sign up for a lobbying day next Tuesday at the State Capitol. Cathy Alderman…

Miranda Johnson and her family received the keys to their new home, thanks in part to the Homeownership Development Incubator Program. (McMinnville Area Habitat for Humanity)

Funds sought to help address OR housing shortage

Groups working to address Oregon's shortage of affordable housing are backing a bill to fund the state's Homeownership Development Incubator Program…

A total of 195,972 Arkansas households are impoverished and another 366,907 are defined as ALICE. (Andrii/Adobe Stock)

More AR families rely on Child Tax Credit

By Wesley Brown for the Arkansas Delta Informer.Broadcast version by Freda Ross for Arkansas News Service reporting for The Arkansas Delta Informer-Wi…

According to state data, as of February 2025 there were 8,262 children in Kentucky's foster care system. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Kentucky foster kids with nowhere to go are sleeping in DCBS offices

Foster children with nowhere to go are spending up to a week or more in Kentucky office buildings, according to a preliminary report from the state…

Nebraska proposal would fund housing for domestic abuse survivors

The Nebraska Legislature is considering a bill that would provide nearly $1 million to help survivors of domestic abuse and sex trafficking pay for em…

A home burns in a Los Angeles neighborhood during recent wind-driven wildfires spreading throughout several Southern California communities. (Adobe Stock)

CA towns, cities must adapt as dangers of bigger wildfires loom

By Amy McDermott for the Proceedings of the National Academy of Science.Broadcast version by Mark Richardson for for California News Service reporting…

According to the National Advisory Committee on Rural Health and Human Services, rural children under 5 years old make up 24% of children eligible for child care services in the country, yet 55% of the children live in a child care desert. (Adobe Stock)<br />

In rural east KY, communities find ways to boost kids early learning

Kentucky's Appalachian counties are expanding efforts to help ensure kids are off to the right start educationally. Research shows attending a high-…

A new ordinance allows Accessory Dwelling Units, often called

La Crosse uses AARP grant to inspire housing solutions

The city of La Crosse is hoping a new online design library of Accessory Dwelling Units will help inspire residents to build one. The units have …

NV Conservation League sets 2025 policy priorities

The Nevada Conservation League says its policy priorities for this year's legislative session reflect what Nevadans value - protecting the state's uni…

Seniors on fixed incomes are more at risk of homelessness compared to other age groups. (and.one/Adobe Stock)

WA rent stabilization bills have huge public support

New legislation in Olympia aims to ease the burden of skyrocketing rental rates by limiting yearly rent increases to 7%. Chris Walker lives in a …

According to the Maryland Center on Economic Policy, 99% of renters face eviction proceedings without the assistance of a lawyer. (Adobe Stock)

Bill could protect MD tenants from ‘no cause’ evictions

A bill making its way through the Maryland General Assembly could protect renters from unjust evictions. House Bill 709 would create what is known …

There is a shortage of more than 78,000 rental homes deemed

Advocacy groups tee up their priorities for NV Legislature

The Nevada Legislature has kicked off this week and progressive groups are sharing their top priorities. Many are asking Gov. Joe Lombardo to work …

Service organizations in North Dakota said affordable housing developments can be harder to come by in rural areas. They hope pending legislation gives smaller communities more resources to expand less costly housing stocks. (Adobe Stock)

Possible funding for ND's housing crisis comes into focus

Economists warn affordable housing is harder to come by in North Dakota, putting more people at risk of not having a roof over their heads but some …

Rental application fees alone create $276 million in profits for landlords each year, far above the actual cost of background checks and processing applications, according to a Biden-era report. (Adobe Stock)

Cost of living tops Denver lawmaker’s priorities

Addressing Colorado's rising cost of living and protecting clean air and water are priorities for Democratic Representative Emily Sirota of Denver in …

Community action agencies are celebrating 50 years of the Earned Income Tax Credit. On average, eligible taxpayers received $2,743 from the credit in tax year 2023, according to the Internal Revenue Service. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Expanded tax credits, free tax service help MA families get ahead

Community action agencies in Massachusetts called the state's expanded tax credits "powerful antipoverty tools" and they are offering free tax prep se…

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development reported Maine experienced the greatest decline in homelessness nationwide in 2024. But local organizations said homelessness in rural counties is difficult to track, with many people sleeping in cars or 'couch-surfing' with family or friends. (Adobe Stock)

Rural Mainers struggle to find recovery housing

More than half of rural residents with substance use disorder have experienced homelessness in the past six months, according to a new study…

According to the Montana Budget and Policy Center, about 21% of Montana renters, about 27,985 households, are severely cost-burdened. (Adobe Stock)

Advocate: Federal grant freeze would shake fair housing in Montana

The Trump administration has rescinded a Monday memo to freeze federal grants. A week of confusion over fiscal policy has left some groups uncertain …

Extreme weather reduces volunteer numbers, increasing challenges for shelters. Volunteers saved the St. Louis Loaves and Fishes shelter $65,000 in overhead costs last year. (kuarmungadd/Adobe/Stock)

St. Louis shelters face higher demand and fewer donations during cold snap

The recent cold snap in St. Louis has led to a surge in demand for homeless shelters, while donations have dwindled and shelters are calling on the …

Less than a third of Oregonians could afford to buy a typical home in 2023. (dechevm/Adobe Stock)

Gov. Kotek's budget supports first-time homebuyer assistance

More than half of all renters in Oregon and a third of homeowners experience a housing cost burden, according to new research. Housing advocates say …

Accessory Dwelling Units are seen as a solution to affordable housing shortages in many places across the country. In Iowa, permitting for such units is often mired in bureaucracy, an impediment a bill supported by AARP Iowa seeks to eliminate. (Adobe Stock)

AARP Iowa focuses on housing options for seniors

Increasing housing options for the state's seniors is at the top of AARP Iowa's priority list for the new legislative session and the group is pushing…

Montgomery, home to a population of 200,603 as of 2020, stands as the second-largest city in Alabama, following Birmingham. (Adobe Stock)

Montgomery mayor seeks housing solutions at U.S. Conference of Mayors

More than 250 mayors from cities in Alabama and across the country gathered this weekend to tackle the nation's most prominent issues at the 93rd annu…

With a 2020 population of 56,795, Brookhaven ranks as the second-largest city entirely within DeKalb County, trailing only Stonecrest. (Marcus Jones/Adobe Stock)

Brookhaven mayor focuses on sustainability at national mayors conference

John Park, mayor of Brookhaven, joined more than 250 mayors at the 93rd annual winter meeting of the U.S. Conference of Mayors in Washington, D.C…

Michigan House Rep. Carrie Rheingans, D-Ann Arbor, represents Michigan's 47th District, covering parts of Jackson and Washtenaw counties. She was elected in Nov. 2022 and began her term in Jan. 2023. (Rep. Carrie Rheingans)

Lawmaker fights for better health, housing for Michiganders

More Michigan residents need access to affordable housing and health insurance, according to a lawmaker pushing for change. Rep. Carrie Rheingans…

The latest damage and economic estimate for the fires burning in Southern California surpasses the damage and economic loss numbers for the entire 2020 wildfire season, according to AccuWeather. (Adobe Stock)

Wildfires could affect NV housing market, UNLV expert says

People are increasingly moving into the wildland-urban interface areas, where human development meets wild vegetation, like forests, according to a …

The majority of land owned by faith-based organizations is in southwest and southern Virginia. (Adobe Stock)

VA faith groups seek to help fix housing crisis

Virginia has a housing shortage of more than 200,000 units, and one legislative effort backed by a coalition of faith-based groups is trying to fill …

Rural communities have been significantly impacted by opioid misuse, with higher rates of opioid-related overdose deaths compared with urban areas. (monticellllo/Adobe Stock)

Drug users in rural MO more likely to face homelessness

As urban homelessness and drug use grab the spotlight, rural areas such as Branson are left in the shadows, with critical needs going unmet. But …

According to the National Alliance to End Homelessness, more than 3,400 people are unhoused in Alabama on a given night. (Adobe Stock)

North Alabama warming centers prepare for winter storm

A winter storm is headed for north Alabama and southern middle Tennessee, and warming stations are working to provide a safe space for the unhoused…

Students at the University of Nebraska are designing and constructing small, single-family homes to be erected on vacant lots in Omaha for seniors. Omaha's zoning laws restrict multifamily housing on 80% of currently vacant lots. (Adobe Stock)

Nebraska university students address affordable housing shortage

Some University of Nebraska students are gaining career skills as they work to address the state's affordable housing shortage by making small…

Lawmakers head back to Olympia for a 105-day session on Monday. (Russell/Adobe Stock)

WA legislative session preview: Lawmakers look to reduce budget deficit

The next legislative session is approaching in Olympia and Washington state's budget shortfall will be one of the biggest topics. A gap of $10 …

Colorado lawmakers are hoping better coordination between state agencies, local governments and nonprofits can prevent and reduce homelessness. (Adobe Stock)

Number of CO homeless families up by 134% in single year

The number of Colorado families experiencing homelessness rose by 134%, from 3,600 in 2023 to more than 8,500 families in 2024, according to new …

In 1984, former President Jimmy Carter and his wife Rosalynn started a tradition of volunteering one week a year to Habitat for Humanity. Carter had last volunteered at age 95, just five years before his passing on Dec. 29, 2024. (Milwaukee Habitat for Humanity)

Jimmy Carter’s lasting impact on Milwaukee

As the world continues to reflect on the life and legacy of former President Jimmy Carter during the nation's memorial observation, his influence has …

A study by the Veterans Administration of Iraq or Afghanistan veterans found that those who experienced sexual trauma during their military service were twice as likely to become homeless. (Adobe Stock)

Lack of transportation leaves Maine women veterans stranded

A lack of reliable transportation for some women veterans in Maine is preventing them from getting the services they need. The Sisters in Arms …

Team Rubicon has grown to over 180,000 registered volunteers, with over 50% being military veterans. (Courtesy of Team Rubicon)

Veterans bring Hurricane Helene relief to GA’s overlooked communities

Months after Hurricane Helene tore through Georgia, rural communities are still grappling with its devastating impact. With limited access to …

In 2024, over 771,000 people in the U.S. faced homelessness, meaning about 23 out of every 10,000 residents lived in shelters, transitional housing, or unsheltered spaces, according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. (Adobe Stock)

AL expands housing support for people with mental illness

Housing help is on the way for people in Alabama with mental health issues. A legislative committee has approved a new contract to help secure …

Alabama's maternal mortality rate is 36.4 deaths per 100,000 live births, which is more than double the national average of 17.4. (Adobe Stock)

Alabama Arise prepares to tackle poverty, health issues in 2025

With the 2025 legislative session around the corner, the nonprofit advocacy group Alabama Arise said it plans to take aim at poverty and systemic …

Hoosiers can call 211 to learn about eviction aid programs from Indianapolis' Office of Public Health and Safety and local legal providers. (Adobe Stock)

Winter aid available for Indiana’s rent, bills and basics

By Dwight Adams for Mirror Indy.Broadcast version by Joe Ulery for Indiana News Service reporting for the Mirror Indy-Free Press Indiana-Public News S…

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