October 31, 2019

On Monday, nonprofit organization Californians for Homeownership filed a lawsuit against the City of Huntington Beach under the Housing Accountability Act, alleging they unlawfully rejected a proposed development that complied with zoning laws. City attorney Michael Gates said that the city’s decision was not motivated by antihousing sentiments, but was instead informed by concerns over “public health and safety, including emergency access and other related issues.” Californians for Homeownership attorney Matthew Gelfand responded, “The city’s findings are internally inconsistent and don’t pass the most basic small test, let alone the high bar set by the Housing Accountability Act.”

To combat rapidly increasing homelessness, Austin passed an ordinance allowing public camping on some sidewalks. But the increase and greater visibility of people experiencing homelessness in Austin has prompted governor Greg Abbott to announce that the Texas Department of Transportation will begin removing encampments under state-owned roadways if the situation doesn’t improve by November 1. Last week, the Austin City Council voted to prohibit camping on sidewalks and near business doorways. 

As fires rage across Sonoma County, more than 180,000 residents have been ordered to evacuate. Wildfires pose significant concerns for farmworkers in Sonoma County’s wine country, as workers face conditions that endanger their health, wages, and housing. Emergency shelters have opened to support evacuated individuals and families, but aid and funding for shelter remain a concern because many immigrant workers are not eligible for federal aid and worry that their registration in these shelters will identify them as immigrant workers.

On Friday, the Minneapolis City Council approved the Minneapolis 2040 plan, which would shift the use of residential land now reserved for single-family homes to allow two- and three-family buildings, with the potential to triple the number of housing units in the city. Minneapolis mayor Jacob Frey noted, “When you have demand that is sky-high, and you don’t have the supply to keep up with it, prices rise.” The Minneapolis 2040 rezoning could affect housing supply and rents and includes other measures, such as an increase in housing density near transit spots and inclusionary zoning to require new apartment developments to set aside 20 percent of their units for moderate-income households. 

Officials at Advocates for Children of New York (AFC) found that the number of New York City students in district and charter schools who are considered homeless has increased every year since the 2014–15 school year. Last school year, 114,085 students across New York City were either living in shelters or doubling up with friends, affecting student well-being and education outcomes. Randi Levine, policy director at AFC said, “Children who are homeless often endure longer commutes to school, or transfer schools in the middle of the school year, so it’s not surprising that we see poorer educational outcomes for students who are homeless.”