News Roundup

  • Are Factory-Built Homes the Future of Affordable Housing?
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    The Biden administration wants to make manufactured housing a more conventional option for buyers and renters as part of a national strategy to address the housing crisis. “These [houses] can be built quickly, installed quickly. They are at a great cost point. And so it is a big part of the solution,” said US Housing Secretary Marcia L. Fudge. Last week, an Innovative Housing Showcase on the National Mall displayed factory-made homes to encourage familiarity with the concept. Next, the administration plans to create incentives for local jurisdictions to relax their zoning codes.

  • Average Rents Rise above $2,000 a Month
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    A new Redfin report found nationally listed rents for available apartments increased 15 percent since 2021, and for the first time, the average monthly rent for an apartment rose above $2,000. Mortgage applications are 21 percent lower than they were a year ago as rising interest rates and high home costs to price would-be homebuyers out of the market.

  • First-of-its-Kind Program Would Expedite Permanent Housing Subsidies for Head Start Families
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    On Monday, Connecticut announced the expansion of its first-in-the-nation cross-agency pilot program that connects Head Start families to permanent housing subsidies. “Stable housing is among the most important components of a child’s development and well-being, and by expanding this pilot program using federal housing vouchers, we will be able to connect more young families to a place they can call home,” said Governor Ned Lamont.
     
  • Wyoming Housing Provider Offers Stability for Formerly Incarcerated People
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    A supportive housing program in Casper, Wyoming, called Henrie’s House, is among the few housing options for formerly incarcerated people in the state. Finding safe and affordable housing can be difficult within a couple years of release, when research shows they are especially vulnerable to homelessness. Monte Henrie, who runs the house, provides services, such as connecting them to employment, helping them with sobriety, and finding them permanent housing.