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Policy
The rules of the game—and the attitudes of the players—have an enormous effect on community development work at all levels. Here we look at some of the conversations about how to shift that policy for the better.
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Airbnb’s Lobbying Campaign Meets Resistance Across World Cup Host Cities
As the World Cup arrives in 11 American cities, Airbnb is spending millions lobbying to loosen short-term rental regulations. Here's how cities are responding.
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Avoiding Evictions: How State and Local Policy Can Keep Tenants in Their Homes
At a time when support for housing homeless people is under attack, preventing unnecessary evictions—which are costly as well as cruel—is more important than ever for local governments. Here are some of the approaches being tried.
States Can Put the Brakes on Landlord Collusion and Junk Fees
States can pursue legal remedies under anti-trust laws when landlords collude to raise rents or use deceptive practices to institute extra fees, even if the federal government backs away from these cases.
How States Can Build Housing Together: A Proposal to Create Joint Authorities
Housing markets don’t stay within state boundaries. Why should housing finance agencies?
Making Money for Housing Go Further
Housing funding programs are notoriously fragmented. One way to make limited housing dollars go further is to improve the systems that distribute them.
“A Grim March Toward Death”: What HUD’s New Homeless Policy Looks Like on the Ground
Administrators from 55 Continuum of Care sites share their views on how proposed cuts, rapid changes to funding guidelines, and delays are affecting their work.
Breaking Down the Numbers: The 2027 White House Budget Proposal Explained
The president’s proposed plan would slash billions from federal housing and community development programs. While Congress may reject many cuts, they still merit attention. Here we look at the numbers, how they differ from last year, and why it all matters.
Are Dedicated ‘Sin Taxes’ a Useful Path for Affordable Housing Funding?
In the hunt for ways to fund affordable housing, taxes on controversial activities from gambling to short-term rentals are often appealing. Here’s how that’s been working in four communities.
How Public Banks Can Meet Public Needs
As federal funding streams face cuts, the idea of public banks is gaining ground as a tool for states and localities to finance community development.
How We Rewrote a Tax Incentive to Encourage More Affordable Housing
Chattanooga, Tennessee, aligned its housing tax incentive with the actual cost of charging more affordable rents. Developers are participating.
Property Taxes Aren’t the Cause of Our Housing Crisis, They’re a Solution to It
Taxing land and buildings at different rates can discourage land speculation and encourage housing development.
Free Land, Retail Rents, and Other Ways Cities Are Cutting Reliance on Federal Housing Funds
Though the federal role will always be necessary, local governments, and developers themselves, are looking for ways to develop affordable housing with less federal subsidy. Here are some of the approaches they are trying.
Acting Locally: States, Counties, and Cities on the Front Lines
Even in challenging times, there are many actions that state and local governments can take to improve housing access and look out for their residents.