Housing/Homelessness / Public News Service

Extremes of hot and cold weather have taken their toll on a concrete barrier along Binghamton's Riverwalk. Concrete crumbles between the stones of the wall in upstate New York. (Chet Wiker/Adobe Stock)

Thursday, November 30, 2023

Will big oil companies cover climate change costs in NY?

Some state and local lawmakers are on a long list calling on New York Gov. Kathy Hochul to require big oil companies to help offset the costs of …

Connecticut's Department of Energy and Environmental Protection finds 67% of nitrogen oxide emissions, a key component of smog, came from transportation. (Adobe Stock)

Highway changes could make Hartford a walkable city

A Connecticut Department of Transportation study has outlined plans to make Hartford a walkable city. The Greater Hartford Mobility Study proposes …

Aside from costing rural areas economic opportunities, a housing shortage is also creating population declines. A Rural Housing Coalition of New York report found rural counties saw 50,000 people leave in the last decade. (Adobe Stock)

NY housing organization seeks solutions to rural housing issues

Rural New York organizations are working to tackle issues with rural housing. Rural counties throughout the state are suffering from aging housing …

A report by Advocates for Children of New York found the highest rate of student homelessness was in The Bronx, where one in six students was homeless from 2022 to 2023. (Adobe Stock)

Report: NYC student homelessness continues to rise

A new report found a little more than 119,000 New York City students are homeless. The group Advocates for Children of New York said 61% were …

Eviction notices in some cities are 50% higher than the pre-pandemic average now that eviction moratoriums established during the COVID-19 pandemic have ended. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Programs help cut OH veteran homeless rate nearly in half

Advocates for the homeless in Ohio say effective and well-funded federal programs have helped cut the number of homeless veterans nearly in half over …

In 2018, Michigan became the eleventh state to enact a paid sick-time law. Michigan's law began as a citizen-initiative petition, enacted by the Legislature per the state Constitution.(Zerbor/Adobe Stock)

MI wage hike held up in controversial 'adopt and amend' legislation

Michigan groups advocating for a minimum wage hike and paid leave say they'll finally see their day in court next month. Petitioners are expected …

A 2023 point-in-time census found the number of chronically homeless people in Connecticut remained at 117 between 2022 and 2023 but youth homelessness increased by 7.06%. (Adobe Stock)

CT group seeks solutions to homelessness

A Connecticut group is holding several roundtable discussions about ways to end homelessness. The Connecticut Coalition to End Homelessness is …

Lack of housing is a critical issue in Washington state. (Kirk Fisher/Adobe Stock)

Housing, health care meet in innovative WA program

Having a home is critical to a person's health. Medicaid dollars in Washington state are helping bridge the gap between health care and housing…

Massachusetts residents in non-subsidized housing with heat included in their rent may be eligible for a 30% reimbursement of their monthly rent paid back to them, according to MASSCAP. (Adobe Stock)

Home heating aid program in MA keeps families safe, warm

Winter is coming, and the annual statewide campaign to inform Massachusetts residents about available heating assistance is underway. Advocates for …

Latino men in Arizona have higher labor force participation rates than men from other racial groups, according to the Latino Policy and Politics Institute at UCLA. (Roberto Vivancos / Adobe Stock)

Latinos in AZ struggle with closing the wealth gap

Latinos make up 32.5% of Arizona's population and a recent webinar looked at the important role Latinos play in shaping the U.S. economy. According …

Wages for low- and middle-income workers in Massachusetts have not risen substantially since the late 1970s, while wages for upper-income workers have increased fourfold, making it difficult for<br />people with low incomes to cover basic needs, according to to a study by MassBudget. (Adobe Stock)<br />

MA 'baby bonds,' expanded tax credits aim to end racial wealth divide

Legislation introduced in Massachusetts aims to reduce the racial wealth gap by creating a statewide "Baby Bonds" program. It is a publicly-funded…

Financial literacy fairs allow young people to make mistakes with their finances in a realistic but safe environment while developing problem-solving skills around their finances. (Adobe Stock)

CO students get bites of reality in financial planning

Credit unions in Colorado and across the Mountain West are helping high school students tackle money challenges through "Bites of Reality" fairs…

New maps and data are giving communities, planners and people who live in Colorado's wildland-urban interface best-in-class models to help them prepare for wildfire. (Adobe Stock)

More than 1 million Coloradans live in areas with elevated wildfire risk

A warming planet and decadeslong drought are expected to spark bigger and more destructive wildfires across the Mountain West, and new data from the …

In 2023, Connecticut's General Assembly considered legislation to establish a winter eviction moratorium, making it illegal to evict anyone from December through March. However, the bill failed to come to a vote. (Adobe Stock)

CT group hosts community forum addressing housing

A Connecticut group is holding a community policy forum to discuss housing. The state is facing a severe affordable-housing shortage with soaring …

Over one 24-hour period in March 2022, domestic-violence hotlines in Nebraska received 182 calls, an average of eight per hour, and 523 adults and children received services. (Fizkes/Adobe Stock)

Domestic Violence Awareness Month: Help available in every NE county

It is National Domestic Violence Awareness Month, calling attention to an issue affecting up to 12 million men, women and children in the nation …

According to the Homeless and Housing Coalition of Kentucky, the city of Louisville currently has around 1,600 people who are experiencing homelessness, and only 750 beds are available in shelters. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Proposed KY law criminalizing homeless camping 'will make our work harder,' advocates say

A lengthy proposal aimed at reducing crime recently unveiled by Kentucky lawmakers has housing advocacy groups concerned about the impact on the homel…

KFF reported in 2021 the state saw 2,230 opioid overdose deaths, which accounted for 85% of drug overdose deaths in Virginia. (Adobe Stock)

VA group sets record straight on substance-use disorder

During National Substance Abuse Prevention Month, a Virginia group is working to help those dealing with substance abuse. The state's Department of …

In a new survey, respondents from all eight regions served by Community Action Agencies in North Dakota cited housing as the most pressing community need. (Adobe Stock)

With emerging data, ND housing needs come into focus

More than 65% of North Dakotans say housing is the state's biggest overall need. That's according to new community-level survey data. The findings …

According to data from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey program, about 29% of Montana households pay more than 30% of their income for rent. (Adobe Stock)<br />

MT housing advocates take aim at cost disparity

New U.S. census data show nearly a third of Montanans spend at least 30% of their income on housing. Advocates for affordable housing said it mostly …

The Fort Lyon campus has a long history in Colorado, dating back to 1860 as a military post, veterans hospital, neuropsychiatric facility, and state correctional facility. (Alexis Whitham)

Fort Lyon celebrates 10 years of recovery-based housing

It's been ten years since Fort Lyon, a 19th century military post in rural Bent county, opened its doors to people experiencing homelessness with …

The Arrowhead Economic Opportunity Agency is in the process of readying its

Shortages persist, but low-income housing projects in MN are surfacing

Estimates show Minnesota is short 100,000 housing units for low-income populations. To help meet demand, some poverty-fighting offices are playing a …

NM observes 35 years of 'National Coming Out Day'

Unlike more conservative states, New Mexico has seen prominent advances in lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender rights in recent decades; a good …

The United Way of Connecticut's ALICE report found 39% of people in Connecticut live below the threshold of $33,120 per year. In some communities, it could be as high as 68% of households. (Adobe Stock)

Report: CT 'unaffordable' for many, despite state intervention

A new analysis found financial hardship is growing in Connecticut. United Way of Connecticut's ALICE Report focuses on those who are Asset Limited…

Montana fair housing laws prohibit discrimination based on someone's protected class status, including age, race, creed, familial status, national origin, religion, color, sex, marital status or disability. (Adobe Stock)

Fair housing advocates concerned over changes to MT tenant law

A key change to Montana's Landlord Tenant Act is causing concern among people who advocate for affordable housing. The Legislature shortened the …

When looking beyond racial gaps, North Dakota's overall homeownership rate lags behind all three of its neighboring states. (Adobe Stock)

Data show home-ownership disparities in ND

As the U.S. navigates a prolonged housing crisis, a North Dakota organization is highlighting data showing significant homeownership disparities…

Many of Missouri's working parents have limited and often unaffordable access to quality child care, resulting in

MO loses $1.35 billion annually due to child care issues

Among Missouri parents surveyed, 30% reported they have limited their working hours or stopped altogether because of unreliable child care. The …

Proponents of banning medical debt from credit reports makes the system more fair, since low-income people and people of color are disproportionately burdened by medical bills. (Adobe Stock)

Medical debt could be banned from credit reports

In response to a growing medical debt crisis in Wyoming and across the nation, the U.S. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has proposed banning …

Cynthia, Tatum and Damareus, with other members of the True Up Peer Network. (Kentucky Youth Advocates)

Preventing homelessness among KY foster youth

A lack of housing options, mental-health challenges and a lack of connections and support have combined to drive an uptick in the number of foster …

Only 546 of the tenants in the the 5,563 eviction cases filed in Nebraska in the first half of 2023 were represented by legal counsel. (tab62/Adobe Stock)

As evictions rise, NE renters need to know their rights

High rent prices are draining the budgets of many Nebraska renters, who are paying between 30% and 50% of their income on rent. In some parts of the …

After decades of cuts to investments in affordable housing at the federal level, rural areas across the U.S. face shrinking, and aging, housing stock. (Adobe Stock)

Race for new affordable housing money could leave Western Slope behind

By Ilana Newman for The Daily Yonder.Broadcast version by Eric Galatas for Colorado News Connection for the Public News Service/Daily Yonder Collabora…

Older and disabled adults have received more than $7.6 billion in property tax and rent relief since the start of the Property Tax and Rent Rebate Program in 1971. (Lordn/AdobeStock)

PA Expands Property Tax, Rent Rebate Program to Aid Older Adults

Pennsylvanians will soon see some financial relief with their property taxes and rent. Gov. Josh Shapiro recently signed House Bill 1100 into law…

Nine thousand homes in 13 counties were destroyed or significantly damaged in the July 2022 eastern Kentucky floods, in which 40 people died. (Wikimedia Commons)<br />

KY’s Rural Housing Trust Fund Plays Critical Role in Disaster Recovery

The Kentucky Housing Corporation has received applications for housing funding from the state's Rural Housing Trust Fund requesting more than $18 mill…

While evictions declined dramatically during the COVID-19 pandemic, they have since reached pre-pandemic levels. The first quarter of 2023 saw around 35,000 eviction filings in Virginia, a slight decline from the last two quarters of 2022. (Adobe Stock)

Today: Richmond Candidate Forum to Focus on 'Housing Crisis'

Advocates for affordable housing in Virginia are holding a forum today for Richmond region candidates to speak with local residents about the state's …

Regulation 28 is a result of a Colorado law aiming to reduce climate pollution from buildings by seven percent by 2026, and to reduce energy use by 20% by 2030. (Adobe Stock)

CO Targets Apartment, Commercial, Industrial Building Climate Pollution

Colorado wants to reduce climate pollution from apartments and commercial buildings 50,000 square feet and larger, but there is growing concern …

The City of San Bernardino recently agreed to a settlement requiring that the city update its plans to build more affordable housing and scrap its Crime-Free Multi-Housing Program. (Matt Gush)

Two CA Cities Repeal Crime-Free Multi-Housing Programs

In the past week, two California cities - Riverside and San Bernardino - have repealed most of their "Crime-Free Multi-Housing" programs, which were …

Water Equals Life is a coalition of water justice advocates, environmental groups and social justice groups who have come together in a statewide campaign to ensure everyone's basic human need for access to clean, safe, and affordable water is met, regardless of income. (Bovart/Adobe Stock)

Michigan Residents Pay Among Highest Water Bills in U.S.

Michigan water rates have surged more than 40% since 2010, and it is a trend that's expected to continue as cities and utilities work to upgrade …

According to a new report, pay differences based on workers' gender, race and ethnicity all contribute to persistent wage inequality in the state. (Adobe Stock)

Report: CT Economic, Job Growth Lags Behind U.S.

A new report found Connecticut's economic growth is lagging, post-pandemic. The data showed, using the pandemic-induced recession as a baseline…

New Hampshire is currently short more than 23,500 housing units. State housing officials estimate nearly 90,000 additional units will be needed between 2020 and 2040 as the population grows. (Adobe Stock)

Affordable Housing Crisis in NH Alters Voter Support for Legislative Action

The affordable housing crisis in New Hampshire is widespread and a new survey found a majority of voters support legislative action to fix it…

Around the country, surprise rental fees for things like trash removal, have garnered more attention amid the affordable housing crisis. (Adobe Stock)

'Move Out' Fees for Immigrant Renters in ND Draw Scrutiny

As refugees and immigrant families try to carve out new futures in North Dakota, aid groups said some people are having their lives upended by …

Intimate-partner violence includes violence, abuse and controlling behavior committed by a partner or former partner. It can result in long-lasting adverse mental-health outcomes, and is a leading cause of homelessness and housing instability. (Adobe Stock)

Housing First Model Helps Domestic-Violence Survivors

Victims of domestic violence who are able to access housing -- at their own pace, and with support for as long as the survivor needs help -- …

Some 70% of Michigan residents are either currently providing care or have provided care in the past for an adult relative or friend. (Studio Romantic/Adobe Stock)

Michigan Adults Strive to Stay Mentally Sharp as They Age

AARP Michigan's Vital Voices survey results are in, and more than 700 Michigan adults 45 and older say they are most concerned with staying mentally …

The Human League says factory farming causes significant damage to rural communities, surrounding environments, and the farmed animals themselves. (zhang yongxin/Adobe Stock)

Rural Advocacy Groups: Corporate Farming Infringing on MO Family Farms

Despite the goal to unite Missourians around a common cause, rural advocacy groups have been pushing the EPA for more regulation from the Clean …

Rent in Ohio is higher than in any year on record other than 2021 when adjusted for inflation, according to the Ohio Housing Finance Agency. (Adobe Stock)

Lack of Affordable Housing Could Impede Ohio’s Economic Growth

Congress has a looming end-of-September deadline to complete funding legislation, and federal housing vouchers remain up in the air. Recent data …

According to an Indiana University Public Policy Institute study, nearly 68% of the state's unhoused population identifies as male, 32% as female, and less than 1% as transgender. (Adobe Stock)

Extreme Heat Creates Dangerous Conditions for Unhoused in IN

An excessive heat warning and an air quality alert are making life challenging in Indiana and across the Midwest this week. For those who are …

Greenhouse gas emissions from homes and buildings are responsible for an estimated 20 percent of the nation's total energy-related climate pollution, and are the third-largest contributor of emissions in Colorado. (Adobe Stock)

Xcel Plan to Reduce Emissions Includes Untested Technologies

In 2021, Colorado lawmakers required utilities supplying natural gas for heating homes and businesses to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 4% by 2025…

Beneficial State Bank supports affordable housing, calling it a human right. (Dennis M. Swanson/Adobe Stock)

Bank Helps Bring Affordable Housing to WA

A new program in Washington state will provide homes to people who are most in need in the region. The project, known as Madrona Highlands in south …

In the 2018-2019 academic year, the Indiana Dept. of Education identified 16,380 unhoused students enrolled in Indiana schools, or about 1.5% of the total student population. (Adobe Stock)

A New Resource for Indiana Youth Facing Homelessness

The number of homeless adults in Indiana was at a troubling level even before the pandemic, and today, another demographic is facing the same …

This summer, the Twin Cities region broke an 18-month slump in year-over-year growth for housing construction permits. (Adobe Stock)

Could Retooling Zoning Cure MN's Affordable Housing Woes?

New data show promising news in closing Minnesota's housing supply gap, with home construction shaking off its slump. However, there are calls to …

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