April 18, 2024

The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) reports that race-based appraisal gaps have decreased since the announcement of the Interagency Task Force on Property Appraisal and Valuation Equity action plan. The FHFA explains there has been increased awareness and regulatory focus on discriminatory appraisals, but cautions against assuming causation, noting the need for further analysis.

A new Washington law allows the Department of Natural Resources to lease state-owned land for development, providing a tax exemption to developers if properties house residents with low and moderate incomes for at least 20 years. It could accommodate 500 to 800 new homes across 37 sites throughout the state. This has the opportunity to build sustainability by limiting the conversion of forests, wildlife habitat, and farmland into residential land.

New York City’s new pilot program, Project Home, will provide rapid housing assistance to 100 domestic violence survivors and their children. With 245,000 domestic violence reports filed in 2023, advocates emphasize the urgency of such programs to provide a lifeline for survivors seeking safety and stability.

In Minneapolis’s Cedar-Riverside neighborhood, the Mino-Bimaadiziwin Apartments, owned by the Red Lake Nation, blend tradition with modernity. The development serves residents earning under 30, 50, or 60 percent of the area median income, with community-focused amenities, including a wellness clinic, child care center, and social services hub. “It’s about reflecting the contemporary identity of the people we’re serving, and part of that contemporary identity is cultural revitalization,” said Sam Olbekson, the project’s architect.