Week of April 1, 2024

Soaring Property Insurance Rates Threaten Affordable Housing Development?

Franklin Schneider,?Shelterforce

Rapidly rising insurance premiums are forcing affordable housing developers to cut back on programming, lay off staff, and even sell. To add insult to injury, some insurers also seem to be adding penalties or withdrawing coverage for housing voucher holders. Read Full Article?or Listen

Targeting First-Generation Homebuyers Is a Great Way to Direct Downpayment Assistance—And It Could Be Better

Miriam Axel-Lute, Shelterforce?

The proposed program could shrink the racial homeownership gap while serving a wide cross-section of people. But it only addresses some of the results of past discrimination. Read Full Article or Listen

Which U.S. Laws Require Accessibility in Housing—And How Well Do They Do?

Meir Rinde, Shelterforce

Activists have been fighting for decades to expand accessible housing for disabled residents. They’ve made progress, but say that current regulations and enforcement don’t go far enough. Read Full Article?or Listen

In Case You Missed It

• Blockbusting the Big Boys: Bill Would Ban Hedge Funds from Owning Single-Family Homes
• A Catalyst for Change in Oakland: Annette Miller
• Tenant Protections Undone: How Florida Organizers Are Moving Forward

Events

Townhall to Make Housing a Constitutional Human Right in California | Thurs., April 11, 2024, 4–5:30 p.m. | Virtual and In-Person | Do you believe housing should be a constitutional human right in California? Join Alliance of Californians for Community Empowerment (ACCE) Action and special guests as they explore how international human rights principles can inform our housing justice work in California, how a human rights framework applies to housing policy at the state and local levels, as well as the status of the campaign to pass ACA 10—a bill to enshrine the human right to housing in the state constitution. Register

Industry News

Cielo Contreras is joining Grounded Solutions Network in April as their vice president of development. Contreras most recently served as the senior director of development for CityWorks DC and comes with a tremendous track record of building, maintaining, and growing relationships with institutional funders.

Doug Ryan is joining Grounded Solutions Network policy team as their vice president of housing policy. Ryan formerly worked as vice president of policy and applied research at Prosperity Now where he served for 11 years. He has written several stories for Shelterforce focused on housing policy and homeownership.

Dave Smith is joining Grounded Solutions Network as their first-ever chief program officer. Smith previously served as the head of resident, community and stakeholder engagement at Eastlight Community Homes. Prior to that role, he was the director of client services and new business at CDS Co-operatives in London.?

You Said It!

On “Bill Would Ban Hedge Funds From Owning Single-Family Homes”

Dan Hoffman: Great report. Congrats to all involved. Via LinkedIn

On “What’s Driving Homelessness? It’s Not Immigration and It’s Not Opioids”

Donna Marchand: Addressing homelessness requires us to focus on the root causes rather than quick fixes or misguided attributions. This insightful post reminds us to look beyond surface-level explanations like immigration and opioids . . . Via Twitter

Rick Rybeck: The relationship between wages and housing prices is discussed in another article from ShelterForce along with an important, achievable but overlooked solution . . . Via LinkedIn?

Paige Warren: Truth! Via LinkedIn

Amal(lina) B.: From the loss of naturally occurring affordable housing and exclusionary rental screening practices, to stagnant wages and increasing rental prices, more of our friends, families and neighbors are at risk for or in the midst of navigating precarious housing environments . . . Via LinkedIn

Thomas Booth, LCSW: Exactly. The prevalence of mental health and substance misuse are relatively flat with minor increases/decreases over time but not at a substantial enough rate to explain huge increases in homelessness in most major cities . . . Via LinkedIn

Connie Tout-Puissant: Housing solutions are desperately needed. Working on being part of the solution. Via LinkedIn

Thomas Hospod: As an inclusive housing developer, it's imperative to delve into the underlying causes of the alarming 12% rise in homelessness reported recently. While factors like opioid use disorders and immigration garner attention, we must recognize the systemic issues at play: stagnant wages, a severe lack of affordable housing, and systemic racism . . . Via LinkedIn

On “How Are LIHTC Rents Set—And Why Can’t So Many Renters Afford Them?”

Sarah Saadian: @Shelterforce has been doing some great work exploring why reforms are needed to ensure LIHTC properties are actually affordable to the lowest-income households who live there . . . Via Twitter

On “Soaring Property Insurance Rates Threaten Affordable Housing Development”

Frank Woodruff: This week Shelterforce tackled a big problem hitting community developers, dramatically increasing insurance costs for affordable housing. The problem is complex but the story is as old as America. When times get tough, the poor feel it first. Via LinkedIn

Mickey Northcutt: Scary times for affordable housing. North Shore CDC has faired reasonably well on insurance, at least compared with what folks are experiencing throughout the country . . . Thanks to Shelterforce for capturing this trend and communicating our industry’s challenges to policymakers. Via LinkedIn?

Jobs

Project Manager - Real Estate Development, SquareOne Villages, Eugene, OR ● SquareOne Villages is seeking to expand their capacity to take on more affordable housing developments.?Working closely with the Deputy Director, this position will serve in the Project Manager role to advance all aspects of SquareOne’s housing developments from concept through stabilization . . . Read Full Listing

Vice President of Finance, Rocky Mountain Communities, Denver, CO ● Rocky Mountain Communities seeks a Vice President of Finance who will report directly to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and serves in a key organizational leadership role by managing the organization’s finance, accounting, and operations responsibilities . . .?Read Full Listing

Community Organizer, Fenway Community Development Corporation, Boston, MA ● Fenway Community Development Corporation seeks a community organizer to join their planning and organizing team. The team collaborates with non-profit organizations, issue-specific coalitions, local institutions, elected officials, and resident activists with the goal of securing a more inclusive and sustainable future . . . Read Full Listing

More Jobs

Director of Rent Stabilization, Pasadena, CA ● City of Pasadena

Program Manager, Climate Initiatives, Brooklyn, NY ● Pratt Institute

RFP: Evaluation Consultants, Remote ● NeighborWorks America

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