November 30, 2023

Buildings are a key pillar of public health. However, many multifamily buildings—such as the Summerdale apartments in Atlanta—are aging and in need of substantial improvements. The dilapidated state of Summerdale affected the well-being of its residents, especially children, many of whom developed health issues like asthma. The focus on new construction overshadows the urgent need for repairing existing housing, highlighting a persistent blind spot in US housing policy.

The Plus One ADU pilot program, offering financial incentives of up to $395,000 to 15 homeowners to build accessory dwelling units on their properties, was just launched in New York City. Aiming to address housing density and affordability, the initiative is part of broader reforms seeking to add 100,000 new homes in response to the city’s housing crisis.

Millions in the US face “doubled-up” homelessness, living temporarily with friends or family. Advocates argue these people face instability and lack access to support but are often overlooked in formal definitions of homelessness, making them ineligible for resources. A new ordinance in Chicago is expanding its definition of homelessness to include doubled-up situations and people leaving specific institutions to allocate resources more equitably.

Officials in Maui are exploring ways to encourage long-term rentals and transform short-term rentals into housing for survivors of the recent wildfires. With more than 6,700 survivors still in hotels or temporary housing, there are calls for a vacation rental moratorium. However, the county council is considering alternatives like tax exemptions to motivate property owners to lease to displaced people.