Housing/Homelessness / Public News Service

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

Thursday, February 6, 2025

WA rent stabalization 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 …

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

Wednesday, February 5, 2025

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)

Wednesday, February 5, 2025

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 …

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

Wednesday, February 5, 2025

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 …

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)

Tuesday, February 4, 2025

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 />

Monday, February 3, 2025

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)

Monday, February 3, 2025

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…

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…

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…

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…

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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…

In the small but popular New Mexico community of Taos, entry level homes are in short supply for purchase by first-time homebuyers. (KristinaBlokhin/Adobe Stock)

NM nonprofit aims to broker affordable housing solutions in Taos

By Anya Petrone Slepyan for The Daily Yonder.Broadcast version by Roz Brown for New Mexico News Connection for the Public News Service/Daily Yonder Co…

The Continuum of Care Rapid Re-Housing program offers temporary financial support for housing and case management to eligible unhoused Mississippians and families known as the Mississippi Balance of State.<br />(Tom Nast/Adobe Stock)

Mississippi group working in 71 counties to end homelessness in Mississippi

Cities and states, including Mississippi, are grappling with rising homelessness. In Mississippi, 982 people experience homelessness daily…

Agriculture contributes $42 billion to Oregon's economy each year, while the average farmworker earns less than $25,000 a year. (Alessandro Biascioli/Adobe Stock)

Breaking ground on affordable housing for OR farmworkers

Construction will begin early next year on new affordable housing dedicated to low-income Oregon farmworkers. This project is the latest by the …

Approximately one in every 1,250 individuals in North Carolina is unhoused. (Adobe Stock)

Organization helps NC woman advocate for housing, awareness

One life-altering situation turned a North Carolina woman's stability into homelessness and now, she is sharing her journey to humanize homelessness …

A $275,000 grant awarded to the Montana Legal Services Association will help streamline legal aid to low income residents. The information will be integrated into the organization's LegalServer case management system. (Adobe Stock)

Grant bolsters legal services for low-income Montanans

Low-income Montana residents are getting help accessing legal aid online. In some cases, updates to automated legal forms could help residents …

The Coastal Credit Union Foundation's grant cycle for the fourth quarter of 2024 supported more than a dozen organizations dedicated to improving access to resources and strengthening financial well-being programs in local communities. (Adobe Stock)

NC foundation grants help local nonprofits expand community services

North Carolina nonprofits are increasing their reach and enhancing services with nearly $1 million in grant funding provided this year by the Coastal …

New York State is allocating $35.3 billion in total school aid, an $825 million increase from 2024. It also includes a $507 million increase in foundation aid. (Adobe Stock)

Study charts updates needed for NYS school funding formula

A new study provides New York State with an outline of necessary updates to its school funding formula. The Rockefeller Institute study called for …

In the United States, one in three households facing eviction is the target of a

MI group pushes for laws to protect tenants from unjust evictions

A new report from the Michigan League for Public Policy reveals that eviction injustice is locking many Michigan families out of safe, stable housing…

The total number of children in foster care has decreased annually since 2017. (ibreakstock/Adobe Stock)

Support available for AR kids aging out of foster care

Nonprofits working with foster care children want them to know services are available to help them navigate life once they are out of the system…

A 2022 study of evictions in Lancaster County by the University of Nebraska College of Law found a high level of non-compliance in moving forward with such proceedings when tenants lacked counsel. (Adobe Stock)

NE public housing legal case touches on quality of life for vulnerable renters

The public housing agency serving Nebraska's largest city faces legal action amid claims of poor living conditions for a tenant with disabilities…

Elizabeth Friedland, founder of Safe Park Indy, poses for a portrait at the first lot she secured. (Mirror Indy)

Indiana-based Safe Park expands for people living in cars

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

The familiar red kettle started in San Francisco in 1891 as a crab pot for out-of-work seamen and longshoremen due to the Depression. By 1990, the buckets were used nationwide to collect donations. (Adobe Stock)

IN Salvation Army chapters see donation decrease

Donations to charities are down this year, including to the Salvation Army. The longstanding organization acknowledges people are not giving their …

ALICE families say while wages have increased, it hasn't been enough to keep up with inflation and is sometimes hard to put food on the table. (Konstantin Yuganov/Adobe Stock)

'ALICE at Work' on paycheck-to-paycheck struggle

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

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development helps low-income apartment tenants afford reduced rents in Montana. (Adobe Stock)

Montanans threaten 'rent strike' over black mold, safety issues

More than two dozen members of a tenant's union in Bozeman are threatening a rent strike if their landlord doesn't address maintenance and other safet…

Randi Atwell packed up all her belongings last July and left Lucky Turn Apartments, located in Beech Grove. (T Fenwick/Mirror Indy)

Agency failures push Indy families toward homelessness

By Emily Hopkins and Tyler Fenwick for Mirror Indy.Broadcast version by Joe Ulery for Indiana News Service reporting for the Mirror Indy-Free Press In…

Some 72% of those benefiting from the programs of United Methodist Churches are not members of those congregations. In effect, says a new report, rural Methodist churches are de facto community centers, much like urban congregations. (Adobe Stock)

NC church becomes hub for disaster relief, community resilience

Churches are often seen as cornerstones of their communities in North Carolina and elsewhere, but Swansboro United Methodist Church in Onslow County …

Easy Estates, put together by NDSU architectural student Noah Boen, was one of the winning designs in a North Dakota competition to spur more age-friendly housing. An AARP survey found 55% of state residents prioritize living independently as they age if they were to consider moving out of their current residence. (Photo courtesy AARP)

ND project lays out new 'age-friendly' housing vision

Recent surveys show a majority of North Dakotans want housing that allows them to live independently as they age. But there aren't a lot of suitable …

A report released this year by the state's Department of Human Services found homelessness is up by 24-percent compared to 2021. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Report: Evidence-based strategies to help WV address homelessness

Cities and states are struggling with mounting homelessness, and West Virginia is no exception. A recent report points to potential solutions and …

After immigrating to the U.S. many immigrants and their families encounter challenges, including low-paying jobs, language barriers and navigating complex systems. (artiom.photo/Adobe Stock)

Immigrant families in northwest AR struggle to make ends meet

By Antoinette Grajeda for The Arkansas Advocate.Broadcast version by Freda Ross for Arkansas News Service reporting for The Arkansas Advocate-Winthrop…

Research has found the stability of parents' home ownership contributes to their kids' higher standardized test scores in math and reading. (Rawpixel.com/Adobe Stock)

New coalition aims to address Oregon home ownership 'crisis'

With housing prices nearly doubling in the last 10 years, the number of Oregonians who can afford to buy a home without assistance has dwindled and a …

According to Environment Illinois, residential rooftop solar grew nearly 2,300% between 2017 and 2022. (Adobe Stock)

IL solar energy demand remains strong, boosts job growth

By Kari Lydersen for Energy News Network.Broadcast version by Terri Dee for Illinois News Connection reporting for the Solutions Journalism Network-Pu…

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