To meet demand, US needs 4.3M more apartments by 2035

The nation lost 4.7 million affordable units between 2015 and 2020, and now faces a 600,000-unit deficit, according to a new study.

By Mary Salmonsen • Aug. 4, 2022

Grim picture of worsening US housing crisis presented in Senate hearing

While Republican lawmakers blamed the crisis on government regulations, experts and Democrats called for expanded rental protections and measures to expand the nation’s housing stock.

By Danielle McLean • Aug. 4, 2022

Explore the Trendline➔

Top 5 stories from Smart Cities Dive

From worsening climate change to a shifting transportation landscape and the housing affordability crisis, cities have their work cut out for them.

By Smart Cities Dive staff

$2.8B for homeless services available from HUD

Rapid re-housing and services for survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault, as well as programs that address youth homelessness, are explicit targets of this year's funding.

By Danielle McLean • Aug. 3, 2022

Incentive programs have lured thousands of remote workers from major metro areas to small cities

Nearly four years have passed since Tulsa Remote began promising $10,000 to workers who’d relocate to the Oklahoma city for at least one year. Here’s where that program and similar efforts stand today.

By Austyn Gaffney • Aug. 1, 2022

Electric heat pumps will be the cheapest clean option to heat most US homes by 2030: ACEEE

To advance the transition to carbon-free heating, a report calls for additional research and development, incentives and grants to support installation, minimum efficiency standards for heating equipment, and other policies.

By Robert Walton • July 28, 2022

The struggle to find a public toilet

U.S. cities don't have enough public toilets. Coupled with a homelessness crisis, the shortage brings health and safety concerns. Philadelphia and Washington, D.C., are among the cities working toward equitable hygiene.

By Adina Solomon • July 27, 2022

Rent hits new highs, but rent growth slows

Although the rate of rent growth is decelerating, the national average asking rent rose to $1,706 in June, according to Yardi Matrix. Florida cities Orlando, Miami and Tampa experienced year-over-year rent growth of over 20%.

By Mary Salmonsen • July 19, 2022

After leaving low-income housing tax credit program, many properties see modest rent increases

Generally, former low-Income housing tax credit apartment communities remain affordable to those making 60% of AMI, according to Freddie Mac.

By Leslie Shaver • July 14, 2022

San Francisco ranked the world's most expensive city for construction

The city overtakes Tokyo as inflation and supply chain snarls affect markets across the globe.

By Matthew Thibault • July 8, 2022

How cities can incentivize development of more housing for people experiencing homelessness

As homelessness continues to rise, incentives can help promote new units for low-income housing, panelists on an Urban Land Institute webinar said, while more restrictive policies can backfire.

By Danielle McLean • July 7, 2022

Sleeping pods: coming to a high-rent neighborhood near you?

The controversial concept that’s catching on in California could be a dystopian fantasy or a solution to the country’s severe housing shortage.

By Robyn Griggs Lawrence • July 6, 2022

15% of Americans behind on rent payments

1.2 million are at risk of eviction, according to the latest Census data, but market-rate property owners say their tenants aren’t feeling the pain — yet.

By Leslie Shaver • July 6, 2022

HUD announces $365M package to address unsheltered homelessness

In what the Biden administration described as “a first-of-its-kind” package, HUD will distribute millions of dollars in grants for homeless outreach and permanent housing and support services, plus 4,000 new rental assistance vouchers.

By Danielle McLean • June 23, 2022

Housing activists work to move the needle on affordability

In communities across the country, local groups aim to shed light on the housing crisis while fighting against the NIMBY movement.

By Robyn Griggs Lawrence • June 16, 2022

YIMBY: The making of a movement

Yes, In My Backyard groups have formed in communities across the country to fight zoning and development practices that make housing less affordable.

By Robyn Griggs Lawrence • June 15, 2022

Meet the YIMBYs

Housing advocates are changing the affordability conversation by standing up for denser development.

By Robyn Griggs Lawrence • June 13, 2022

Homeless encampment reports increase in Boulder, Colorado, after city bans downtown camping

Boulder has been sued for its anti-camping policies — which are becoming common around the country — as local service providers claim that unhoused individuals have no other shelter options and are told by police to leave the city.

By Danielle McLean • June 10, 2022

As more cities declare crises around climate and affordability, does change follow?

Declaring emergencies can unlock some new capabilities and foster accountability, but substantial government follow-through is necessary to separate them from mere speech, city leaders say.

By Adina Solomon • June 7, 2022

How cities can 'uncrack' zoning codes that fostered racial inequities

City leaders from Berkeley, California, and Louisville, Kentucky, are trying to roll back restrictive zoning policies that have caused inequities, they said during an Urban Institute webinar.

By Danielle McLean • June 3, 2022

The 'time-honored tradition' of opposing affordable multifamily housing in US cities

Shawnee, Kansas, city councilors recently passed a rule banning co-living groups. Similar policies and other opposition to local zoning reform are perpetuating the country's housing crisis, housing experts say. 

By Danielle McLean • May 31, 2022

Blame local zoning, not Wall Street, for this housing crisis

Local zoning laws and NIMBYism are preventing the growth of affordable housing and greater housing density and contributing to labor shortages in urban areas. 

By Atticus LeBlanc • May 24, 2022

As destructive wildfires increase, new model can calculate property risk

A nonprofit's online tool identifies a home's wildfire risk based on publicly available data and property details. Nearly 80 million homes are expected to face some level of risk by 2050 as climate change continues.

By Matthew Thibault • May 19, 2022

Biden administration addresses the affordable housing crisis with new plan

The plan proposes using federal grants to encourage cities to relax their zoning and land-use policies while providing new financing options for manufactured homes, accessory dwelling units and small-scale developments.

By Danielle McLean • May 16, 2022

Corporate housing is key to addressing tight housing market, relocating workers

As workers increasingly migrate to suburbs and smaller cities, high housing costs and limited supplies might delay a home purchase. Regulations aimed at vacationers shouldn't limit extended-stay rental options.

By Angela Healy • May 11, 2022

Governments clear a path for tiny homes to address housing crisis in cities

Accessory dwelling units and tiny homes that are constructed in factories off-site and installed in backyards are often subject to restrictive zoning rules, building codes and pushback from neighbors. That is starting to change. 

By Danielle McLean • May 9, 2022