October 26, 2023

Although the homeownership rate for Latino households remains 22 percentage points lower than white households, as of 2021, more than half of Latino families had achieved homeownership. But Latino households risk losing recent economic gains if new pathways to homeownership aren’t opened. UnidosUS and the Urban Institute are leading the HOME initiative, with the goal to empower 4 million new Latino homeowners by 2030, as part of a plan to help families build wealth and stability.

Rhino, a company offering a “security deposit alternative” is under scrutiny for charging vulnerable tenants more money. Companies like Rhino allow tenants to pay monthly nonrefundable fees in lieu of lump sums. Despite marketing itself as a solution for security deposits, the company doesn’t insure renters, only the landlord. Their algorithm-based pricing can disproportionately affect tenants with poor credit, and the lack of regulation raises concerns about fair credit reporting laws and tenant protection.

The Federal Communications Commission voted 3–2 to allow school districts to allocate E-Rate program funds for equipping school buses with Wi-Fi and supported devices. Greater access to Wi-Fi would help close disparities in homework completion and academic success, particularly for students with lengthy rural commutes.

To combat California’s severe housing crisis, Governor Gavin Newsom recently signed more than 50 bills aimed at reducing burdensome regulations that slow housing growth. Notable laws involve streamlining housing construction by addressing the Environmental Quality Act, making it harder for cities to misuse regulations and making it easier for nonprofit organizations to construct affordable housing on land they already own.