February 29, 2024

Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison’s lawsuit against a dairy farm revealed widespread substandard housing conditions for immigrant dairy workers, shedding light on how few legal protections they have. The lawsuit targets Evergreen Acres Dairy, highlighting “squalid” living conditions, including lack of heat and mold infestations. Although it focuses on one farm, similar conditions exist nationwide because of exemptions in housing regulations for dairy workers.

A new initiative, Every Day Counts, aims to boost school attendance among Birmingham, Alabama, public housing households. The program began after Birmingham City Schools reported that nearly 25 percent of students are chronically absent. In collaboration with the Birmingham City Housing Authority, the initiative offers transportation support, homework help, and includes a raffle for perfect attendance that provides financial support for housing expenses.

The Boston Housing Authority will help Section 8 tenants become first-time homeowners with programs offering up to $75,000 in grants for down payments. These initiatives aim to combat displacement amid rising home prices and gentrification, providing critical down payment support for residents, particularly those with lower incomes.

New York City’s housing agency reports a significant drop in vacant low-cost, rent-stabilized apartments, challenging estimates from landlord and tenant groups amid a heated debate over housing regulations. Landlords argue state rent regulations make the units unprofitable, meanwhile, tenant groups accuse owners of exacerbating the housing shortage. Some advocates, however, argue debates over the magnitude don’t help address the negative impact of keeping units off the market.