Regional science

D.C. Housing Authority Offers Woebot to Employees and Residents

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, September 30, 2020
Mental health, Consumer electronics, Health, Technology, Other Health, Software, General Health, District of Columbia Housing Authority, Affordable housing, Regional science, Articles, Sustainable community, Economy, Zoning, The District of Columbia Housing Authority, Woebot Health

The District of Columbia Housing Authority (DCHA) today announced it has partnered with Woebot Health to offer Woebot , a smartphone-based general wellness program for stress and low mood, to all of DCHAs 800 employees and to a pilot group of 450 residents living in the authoritys affordable housing communities.

Key Points: 
  • The District of Columbia Housing Authority (DCHA) today announced it has partnered with Woebot Health to offer Woebot , a smartphone-based general wellness program for stress and low mood, to all of DCHAs 800 employees and to a pilot group of 450 residents living in the authoritys affordable housing communities.
  • DCHA employees include administrative, facilities management and security personnel who help provide quality affordable housing to extremely low- through moderate-income households, foster sustainable communities, and cultivate opportunities for residents to improve their lives.
  • The District of Columbia Housing Authority is an independent government agency whose mission is to provide quality affordable housing to extremely low- through moderate-income households, foster sustainable communities, and cultivate opportunities for residents to improve their lives.
  • For more information, please visit Woebot Health or follow Woebot on Facebook , Twitter , and LinkedIn .

$750K Grant to Help Build Affordable Housing in Hattiesburg, Mississippi

Retrieved on: 
Monday, September 28, 2020
Other Philanthropy, Construction & Property, Banking, Family, Professional services, Philanthropy, Consumer, Residential Building & Real Estate, Affordable housing, Regional science, Economic inequality, Hattiesburg, Mississippi, Articles, Public housing, BancorpSouth Bank, the Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas

The grant will help fund the $13.5 million project to provide new rental housing for low- to moderate-income families and individuals in Hattiesburg, Mississippi.

Key Points: 
  • The grant will help fund the $13.5 million project to provide new rental housing for low- to moderate-income families and individuals in Hattiesburg, Mississippi.
  • This Affordable Housing Program grant will help make a huge difference in these families lives.
  • FHLB Dallas awards AHP grants annually through members like BancorpSouth to support the creation or rehabilitation of affordable housing units, among other uses.
  • Of that, $4.6 million was awarded to Mississippi projects and will result in 466 new or rehabilitated housing units.

Freddie Mac’s Apartment Investment Market Index Slightly Down in Q2 Reflecting Pandemic Impact on Multifamily Market

Retrieved on: 
Monday, September 21, 2020
Mortgage industry of the United States, Economy, Loans, Mortgage loan, Freddie Mac, Affordable housing, Regional science, Finance

The second quarter index is the first to reflect the negative conditions created by COVID-19 on the market.

Key Points: 
  • The second quarter index is the first to reflect the negative conditions created by COVID-19 on the market.
  • This was the first time in index history where AIMI and NOI were negative together in the second quarter, said Steve Guggenmos, vice president of Freddie Mac Multifamily Research and Modeling.
  • AIMI is an analytical tool that combines multifamily rental income growth, property price growth and mortgage rates to provide a single index that measures multifamily market investment conditions.
  • Freddie Mac Multifamily helps ensure an ample supply of affordable rental housing by purchasing and securitizing mortgages on apartment buildings nationwide.

NAA Joins Lawsuit Challenging CDC National Eviction Moratorium

Retrieved on: 
Saturday, September 19, 2020
National Apartment Association, Eviction, Affordable housing, Moratorium, Articles, Regional science, Economy

ARLINGTON, Va., Sept. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The National Apartment Association (NAA) today joined the New Civil Liberties Alliance (NCLA) in their lawsuit challenging the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) national eviction moratorium.

Key Points: 
  • ARLINGTON, Va., Sept. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The National Apartment Association (NAA) today joined the New Civil Liberties Alliance (NCLA) in their lawsuit challenging the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) national eviction moratorium.
  • v. Secretary Alex Azar, et al., argues that rental housing providers have been irreparably damaged by the CDC order and its unwarranted overreach.
  • "A nationwide eviction moratorium without any kind of financial or direct rental assistance will exacerbate the nation's housing affordability crisis and reverberate into national, state and local economies," Pinnegar said.
  • The National Apartment Association (NAA) serves as the leading voice and preeminent resource through advocacy, education and collaboration on behalf of the rental housing industry.

Rent Collection in Affordable Housing Continues to Lag, Says Latest Report from MRI Software

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, September 17, 2020
Social programs, MRI Software, Affordable housing, Public housing, Regional science, Articles, Economy

SOLON, Ohio, Sept.17, 2020 /PRNewswire/ --Rent collection in affordable housing continues to lag as the pandemic wears on, according to the latest report from Proptech firm MRI Software ("MRI").

Key Points: 
  • SOLON, Ohio, Sept.17, 2020 /PRNewswire/ --Rent collection in affordable housing continues to lag as the pandemic wears on, according to the latest report from Proptech firm MRI Software ("MRI").
  • MRI's report compiles data from more than 1.5 million affordable and public housing units throughout the U.S. in January-August 2020 and January-August 2019.
  • The rates of rent collection in August 2020 remained relatively strong in public housing, at 94% of August 2019 levels.
  • Brian Zrimsek, Industry Principal at MRI Software, attributes the divergence between rent collection rates in affordable and public housing to the deeper rental subsidies provided in public housing.

Prop. 21 Both Supports and Is Endorsed by Local Rent Control Movements in California

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, September 15, 2020
Foundation, Elections, Campaigns, Philanthropy, State, Local, Public policy, Government, Affordable housing, Rent regulation, Economy, Housing, Economic rent, Regional science, Costa–Hawkins Rental Housing Act, Rent control in the United States

The two cities that will have local rent control measures on the November ballot alongside Prop.

Key Points: 
  • The two cities that will have local rent control measures on the November ballot alongside Prop.
  • On the flip side, Culver City and Mountain View housing advocates are mobilizing to preserve rent control ordinances already in place by opposing November ballot measures to weaken or disband those existing rent control laws in their communities.
  • "At a time when residents' incomes are most at risk, it's more important than ever that local rent control has a chance to stabilize communities.
  • It would allow local communities to:
    Expand rent control to more buildings while exempting newly constructed buildings.

AHF Renews Criticism of L.A.’s Homeless Housing Model as ‘Affordable’ Units Hit $531,000

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, September 10, 2020
Public policy, Government, State, Local, Public policy, Residential Building & Real Estate, Construction & Property, Urban planning, Homelessness, Housing, Affordable housing, Regional science, Homelessness in the United States, Articles, Economic geography

Two affordable housing developments cited in the audit even came in with per unit price tags well over $700,000.

Key Points: 
  • Two affordable housing developments cited in the audit even came in with per unit price tags well over $700,000.
  • The controllers audit underscores the futility of repeatedly relying on L.A.s current approach to the creation and construction of newly built affordable housing units as an effective model to address the regions homelessness crisis.
  • Half-a-million dollars for so called affordable housing under bond measures like HHH that voters overwhelming supported to help alleviate homelessness?
  • These eight buildings now provide 791 housing units at a fraction of the cost of the current affordable housing benchmarks.

$315K Grant to Help Refurbish 40 Affordable Rental Units in Jackson, Mississippi

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, September 2, 2020
Professional services, Philanthropy, Residential Building & Real Estate, Other Philanthropy, Construction & Property, Banking, Affordable housing, Articles, Regional science, Economic inequality, Public housing, Economic geography, Zoning, Howard County Housing and Community Development, Affordable housing by country, BancorpSouth Bank, the Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas

With this project, we will provide renovated, affordable housing to families in various areas of Jackson, said Timothy Collins, executive director of Mississippi Housing Partnership.

Key Points: 
  • With this project, we will provide renovated, affordable housing to families in various areas of Jackson, said Timothy Collins, executive director of Mississippi Housing Partnership.
  • It is our hope that these 40 rental units will help improve neighborhood stability by addressing economic and quality-of-life concerns of our low-income families.
  • Of that, $4.6 million was awarded to Mississippi projects, and will result in 466 new or rehabilitated housing units.
  • By partnering with BancorpSouth, we are able to help Mississippi Housing offer these renovated units to low-income families at affordable rents.

Rent Collections Dropped in Affordable Housing And Rebounded in Public Housing in July

Retrieved on: 
Monday, August 17, 2020
Affordable housing, Articles, Regional science, Public housing, Economic inequality

The results indicate growing challenges for tenants of affordable housing.

Key Points: 
  • The results indicate growing challenges for tenants of affordable housing.
  • For comparison, the National Multifamily Housing Council (NMHC)'s Rent Payment Tracker showed only a 2.1-percentage point decrease between rates of rent collections for professionally managed units in late July 2019 and late July 2020.
  • "It's clear that tenants of affordable and public housing are more vulnerable than those in market-rate units at this point in time," says Brian Zrimsek, Industry Principal, MRI Software.
  • Other notable findings of MRI's report include:
    Tenants in both affordable and public housing are generally staying in place.

Higher home prices and economic recession dampen California housing affordability in second-quarter 2020, C.A.R. reports

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, August 12, 2020
Economic inequality, Economy, Housing affordability index, Purchasing power, Affordable housing, Articles, Regional science, National Association of Realtors, Homelessness in the United States, In economics, Affordable housing in Canada

LOS ANGELES, Aug. 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ --Higher home prices and lower household income caused by the economic recession dampened California housing affordability in the second quarter of 2020, the CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS (C.A.R.)

Key Points: 
  • LOS ANGELES, Aug. 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ --Higher home prices and lower household income caused by the economic recession dampened California housing affordability in the second quarter of 2020, the CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS (C.A.R.)
  • California's housing affordability index hit a peak of 56 percent in the second quarter of 2012.
  • 's HAI measures the percentage of all households that can afford to purchase a median-priced, single-family home in California.
  • Key points from the second-quarter 2020 Housing Affordability report include:
    When compared to a year ago, housing affordability improved in 44 tracked counties and declined in one county.