September 28, 2023

In at least five states, local agencies that distributed federal aid to renters during the pandemic are trying to recover millions of dollars in overpayments, primarily because of bureaucratic errors. Recipients are receiving letters demanding the return of portions of the relief money, causing confusion among landlords and tenants.

New York City’s American Musical and Dramatic Academy is receiving tens of millions of dollars from the city’s public health care provider to house asylum seekers in its dorms. Colleges in other states like Illinois and Massachusetts have also been enlisted to provide housing for asylum seekers arriving in the US, sparking debates over the use of college facilities for this purpose.

In Massachusetts, nearly 2,300 state-funded apartments have been vacant for months or even years, despite having a waitlist of 184,000 people. The vacancies stem from issues like a flawed online system, inadequate funding for staff and repairs, and apartments being repurposed for nonhousing purposes. They have exacerbated the state’s housingcrisis, with family shelter stays nearly doubling in the past year.

San Diego County is facing a homelessness crisis among older adults. Recent data show that despite nearly 8,500 people age 55 or older seeking support, only 190 found housingin the past month. Nonprofits and officials are actively seeking ways to help older residents keep their homes, including expanding rental assistance programs and providing suitable shelter options.