April 27, 2023

Denver, Colorado, is building a 187-unit apartment complex for Native Americans at risk of homelessness. The development will house the city’s Indian Health Services clinic and provide cultural programming. “Finally, after a hundred years, it’s an opportunity in Denver for American Indian people to live together like historically, we always did,” said Bill Ziegler, the principal housing consultant for Native American Housing Circle.

As cities grapple with housing affordability issues, advocates are promoting more family-sized apartments to provide better living options for families. Though some cities have already loosened their zoning rules and authorized new housing construction, most new units are still studios or one- and two-bedroom apartments.

Cities across the US are repurposing vacant downtown office spaces into affordable housing units to address the housing crisis and revitalize urban areas. But the process comes with challenges like financing, zoning regulations, and extensive renovations. “We’re taking a vacant building and pouring life not only into this building, but this entire neighborhood,” said Joey Chilelli, managing director of real estate firm Vanbarton Group.

In Marin County, California, a line of RVs, trucks, and trailers stretches for nearly two miles along Binford Road, highlighting the severe housing affordability crisis in the area. The county provides services every month for the vehicle encampment residents, including free groceries, housing case management, medical assistance and more. Using recent state funding, Marin also plans to hire a full-time social worker to assist encampment residents directly.