September 16, 2021

A new NPR investigation found the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) sold flood-prone homes at nearly 75 times the rate of all homes sold nationwide between 2017 and 2020. There is no federal regulation requiring HUD to disclose to buyers that the homes are in federally designated flood zones, so most buyers find out late into the homebuying process, when it is too late for them to back out of the purchase. “It only bolsters the reality that a lot of homes that have provided shelter to low-income households are in areas of greater risk. These homes are in really vulnerable areas, and it puts households at risk,” said Laurie Schoeman, the resilience director for the national housing nonprofit Enterprise Community Partners.

Although street medicine is not new to the Los Angeles area, COVID-19 marked the first time the LA County Department of Health Services deployed its team of health care professionals to homeless encampments. The program is funded through the end of this year and uses money tied to COVID-19 relief, but the public health department hopes it won’t end with the pandemic. Research shows the mortality rate for people experiencing homelessness is nearly 10 times higher than the broader population, so the department would like the program to continue so it can provide non-COVID-19 related health care services. “These guys are lifesavers,” said Lisa Massey, who has lived along La Canada Verde Creek for three years.

The US has a shortage of 6.8 million affordable housing units nationwide as of March 2021. With more than 100,000 Afghan refugees expected to arrive over the next year, refugee resettlement agencies are already struggling to find them suitable homes. The Biden administration has made a $6.4 billion emergency funding request to Congress to support Afghan resettlement, but resettlement agencies need immediate space and funds, as hotels and Airbnbs are used in place of more permanent options. “Our clients are coming in with very limited means, and additionally, they don’t have a history here. So you’re scrambling in a housing market that’s tight for all Americans and really tight for low-income people,” said Alicia Wrenn, senior director for resettlement and integration at the refugee resettlement agency HIAS.

Culdesac Tempe, a new housing development in Phoenix, Arizona, will prohibit tenants from parking on the premises and will instead include, as part of their monthly rent, a discounted bundle of transportation options. Along with 761 apartment units, the complex will also have a grocery store, restaurant, cafe, and coworking space. The developers hope it will help reduce emissions because it lowers reliance on cars, and affordable housing advocates say eliminating mandatory parking could reduce the cost of new apartment construction.