January 25, 2024

In a bipartisan tax reform proposal, the US Congress plans to boost affordable housing by increasing allocations for the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit. The proposed legislation aims to restore a 12.5 percent increase in tax credits and makes changes in bond requirements, which could lead to financing for 200,000 more units in the next two years.

In Bryan, Ohio, Pastor Chris Avell faces criminal charges for allowing people experiencing homelessness to stay overnight in his church, Dad’s Place. Pastor Avell opened the church 24 hours a day to support community members amid a housing crisis, occasionally hosting guests rejected by the nearby shelter or brought in by the police. The city has filed several zoning complaints against the church.

A University of California, San Francisco, Benioff Homelessness and Housing Initiative study reveals a heightened risk of homelessness for domestic violence survivors, notably in high-cost states like California. Of survivors experiencing intimate partner violence in the six months before homelessness, 40 percent left their last housing because of violence, and 42 percent continued to face domestic violence while experiencing homelessness.

The Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde, in collaboration with the Energy Trust of Oregon, have built 24 energy-efficient and climate-resilient single-family homes for tribal elders. These single-family homes boast solar panels, energy storage batteries, electric appliances, heat pumps, and electric vehicle chargers. With a focus on climate resilience and affordability, the homes integrate hidden energy-efficient features, such as triple-pane windows and efficient insulation. As Oregon attempts to address a severe affordable housing shortage and climate challenges, the partnership between the tribes and Energy Trust is an example of a potential path forward.