October 05, 2023

A new study found that young children, especially those under age 5, are the largest age group experiencing eviction filings. Black children face an acute risk, with about a quarter of Black children under 5 experiencing eviction filings yearly. These findings highlight how housing instability disproportionately affects children, especially children in families with low incomes, which may negatively affect their development and well-being.

The increasing frequency and severity of flooding events in New York City poses a growing risk to residents of basements and cellar housing units, which are more likely to be found in communities of color. A recent report predicts that one in three of these units will be at high risk of flooding by 2050. Advocates have called for legalizing and regulating these often-illegal often-illegal units to make it possible to evaluate and address the existing need for renovations and safety updates.

Maine is tackling its housing crisis and growing student homelessness with a first-of-its-kind program that provides financial assistance for rent, utilities, and household expenses to families facing homelessness. The program will allow school liaisons to use up to $750 to assist families with housing expenses and could serve as a potential model for other states dealing with similar challenges.

A looming climate insurance bubble could devalue more than 39 million properties, according to a First Street Foundation study. Rising climate-related risks—such as hurricanes, wildfires, and flooding—may cause insurance payouts to surpass premiums, which has prompted insurers to raise rates or leave local markets. Fewer affordable insurance options for homeowners combined with the high costs of homeownership will likely lead to deflated property values.