August 17, 2023

The devastating wildfires in Maui underscore the severe housing crisis that’s existed since the pandemic. Efforts to develop affordable housing have been largely unsuccessful, and the island’s housing increased about 35 percent between 2019 and 2022 (with most housing catered toward tourists). The destruction in Lahaina worsens the problem and disproportionately affects Native Hawaiian families.

Michigan has gained around 90,000 affordable housing units via the Low-Income HousingTax Credit program. But because the program isn’t permanent, rent restrictions for thousands of units over the next decade are not guaranteed. “It’s a concern to us because a lot of renters living in tax credit properties are extremely low-income renters whose incomes are generally below poverty,” said Andrew Aurand, senior vice president for research at the National Low Income Housing Coalition.

After the pandemic-era eviction moratorium ended, New York City has carried out more than 10,000 evictions since January 2022. Evictions have gradually increased over the past 19 months and are now approaching prepandemic rates. They’ve been mostly concentrated in central Brooklyn, the central and South Bronx, and northern Staten Island.

Advocates worry Colorado’s tight and competitive housing market poses risks to domestic violence survivors’ safety. Survivors often face unique barriers to accessing permanent housing, such as low incomes, debt, credit challenges, health issues, child care needs, and difficulty accessing essential documents left behind when fleeing violence. These challenges make it more difficult to find affordable housing in a market already experiencing overwhelming demand.