Housing/Homelessness / Public News Service

A new Oregon law requires the Housing and Community Services Department to create a public homeownership goal dashboard. It will track statewide progress as well as regional and racial disparities. (mavoimages/Adobe Stock)

Wednesday, June 18, 2025

OR passes homeownership goal, defunds homeownership programs

Advocates for homeownership in Oregon are celebrating a new bill which sets targets to boost the state's homeownership rate, currently at 64%…

In 2023, 6% of Ohio teens ages 16 to 19 were neither in school nor working, a rate unchanged since 2019. (Craig Adderley/Pexels)

Ohio urged to prioritize kids as education, poverty trends worsen

New national data show worsening outcomes for Ohio kids, especially in the areas of education and family economic stability, and state and national …

Advocates for rent stabilization rallied on the state Capitol steps in March. (Caleb Ewings Photography)

WA’s new rent stabilization law brings immediate relief

Gov. Bob Ferguson has signed Washington's first rent stabilization law and renters and advocates who fought for the bill are breathing sighs of …

A new report found more kids in Hawaii have parents lacking secure employment. (Adobe Stock)

Report: HI housing costs severely impact child well-being

Hawaii's housing cost burden is affecting child well-being, according to a new report. The state ranked 24th in this year's Annie E. Casey …

According to the 2025 Kids Count Data Book, nearly 1.4 million Texas children live below the poverty line. (WavebreakMediaMicro/Adobe Stock)

Report: TX has room for improvement in children's well-being

Texas has fallen to 44th place nationally in this year's 2025 Kids Count Data Book released Monday by the Annie E. Casey Foundation. The report …

Sixty-four percent of Colorado's fourth graders are not proficient in reading, and nearly 70% of eighth graders are not proficient in math. (Adobe Stock)

Colorado jumps up five spots to 12th nationally for child wellness

Colorado has moved up five spots to 12th among the states in the 2025 Kids Count Data Book released Monday by the Annie E. Casey Foundation, which …

The Sunshine State Ranks 35th in Child Well-being in the 2025 KIDS COUNT Data Book, which advocates say appears to be a concern as the state seems to be reversing previous Gains in fourth-grade reading proficiency. (Evgeniy Kalinovskiy/Adobe Stock)

Child well-being stagnates in FL amid education, housing challenges

Florida ranks 35th in child well-being - with notable declines in education and ongoing struggles with housing affordability, according to the 2025 …

More than 40% of senior citizens report feeling lonely on a regular basis. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Senior social isolation: A silent epidemic, as deadly as cigarettes

Senior advocates are sounding the alarm about the effects of social isolation on older people in Illinois, saying loneliness is comparable to smoking …

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development said one in every 435 people living in the United States is currently homeless, an 18% increase from last year. (Crystal Madsen/Adobe Stock)

Among OR's rising homelessness, sweeps continue

With rates of homelessness on the rise, advocates are decrying plans to remove a long-standing camp from the Sandy River Delta, also known as …

The global tiny-homes market was valued at approximately $21.93 billion in 2024 and is projected to reach $29.88 billion by 2033. (ckellyphoto/Adobe Stock)

Branson fights big housing crisis with tiny homes

Contractors have broken ground on a tiny-home village in Branson, where poverty is a growing concern. While tourists flock to Branson by the …

Albany County has the lowest homeownership rate of all counties in Wyoming, at just 51%, according to a 2024 statewide housing needs assessment. (Adobe Stock)

Local groups build toward workforce-attainable housing project in Laramie

Laramie, Wyoming is short on affordable housing but a new partnership aims to help. Albany County's population grew nearly 7% between 2010 and 2021 …

Montana Fair Housing receives the most requests for assistance from people with disabilities, including veterans. (Lightfield Studios/Adobe Stock)

Proposed cuts in GOP budget bill spur National Fair Housing Week of Action

Housing groups across the country this week have declared a National Week of Action, as federal lawmakers consider a budget eliminating all funding …

Housing policy experts said the U.S. has a shortage of 7.1 million rental homes affordable and available to people with extremely low incomes. They worry more people will experience homelessness based on HUD changes taking shape under the Trump administration. (Adobe Stock)

Housing aid, discrimination enforcement face disruptions in ND

North Dakota housing assistance offices helping with rent vouchers and discrimination cases are having to do more with less as federal changes take sh…

Rising insurance costs are adding another wrinkle to Minnesota's housing crisis. The Minnesota Housing Partnership said costs driven by increased weather risks and rebuilding expenses have pushed <br />insurance premiums in Minnesota to 12th highest in the nation. (Adobe Stock)

Despite budget constraints, MN gives affordable housing a bump

Minnesota's legislative session is hovering around its endpoint and lawmakers found extra room in the budget to expand affordable housing. Those …

The prohibition on rent increases of more than 10% on most units in fire-affected areas will be lifted when the state of emergency expires next January. (Andriy Blokhin/Adobe Stock)

Housing attorneys sue over rental price gouging in LA after the fires

Rents in Los Angeles were already high before the firestorm earlier this year, but now a coalition of housing groups is suing six landlords for price …

Federal agencies including the U.S. Forest Service said it can take months and even years to recover from the emotional, financial and ecological impacts of a wildfire. (Adobe Stock)

As MN wildfires burn, relief orgs ramp up for recovery

Large wildfires have ravaged parts of northeastern Minnesota and relief organizations are out in full force to assist displaced residents. They said …

Housing First programs provide rapid access to housing and care teams connect people to employment opportunities, medical and mental health care, and substance-use treatment but the services are not required or used as a punitive tool. (Adobe Stock)

Homeless advocates say Common Sense Institute report misses the mark

A new report on homelessness in Colorado released by the Common Sense Institute has come under fire for muddying the waters for lawmakers and other st…

The primary reasons for evictions in Utah are lease violations and nonpayment of rent, according to the Utah Housing Coalition. (Adobe Stock)

New Utah coalition aims to improve landlord-tenant relationships

Keeping more renters in their homes is one goal of a new Utah initiative. The Utah Housing Coalition has formed a Landlord and Community Partners …

Through its Supportive Services for Veteran Families program, Community Action Partnership<br />of North Dakota said it handled an additional 70 cases last year. Of those seeking help, all were either on the brink of homelessness or already without a home. (Adobe Stock)

ND commits new funding to prevent homelessness among military veterans

This spring marks the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War ending. In North Dakota, veterans from the war, along with others who have served, are in …

Experts say Wildfire Community Preparedness Day on Saturday is a good time to move fuels and flammable materials away from homes. (Adobe Stock)

Neighborhood action is more effective for wildfire prep, experts say

Montana's wildfire risk is 74% higher than other states, so experts are encouraging Montanans to think ahead Saturday on Wildfire Community …

In recent years, California created CARE Courts which can mandate treatment and has encouraged cities to dismantle homeless encampments. (Prime Look/Adobe Stock)

Trump administration rejects 'housing first' approach to homelessness

By Angela Hart for KFF Health News.Broadcast version by Suzanne Potter for California News Service reporting for the KFF Health News-Public News Servi…

About 500,000 children in the U.S. are exposed to lead, disproportionately on poor and Black and brown families. (Adobe Stock)

Experts say lead in Milwaukee schools is an environmental justice issue

As the city of Milwaukee continues to grapple with addressing unsafe levels of lead across public schools, experts are calling it an environmental …

Structures in Iowa, South Dakota, Nebraska, Illinois and Minnesota were battered by devastating straight line winds in 2020. (Adobe Stock)

Nebraska housing market hobbled by insurance price spikes

Nebraska is among the states with the sharpest increases in housing prices between 2021 and 2024, according to a new report. The hike has been …

The current Housing First program was instituted by President George W. Bush in 2004. (Aevan/Adobe Stock AI generated)

AR advocates concerned by cuts to programs for unhoused

It is estimated more than 2,600 people live on the streets across Arkansas. Since taking office, President Donald Trump has proposed a "treatment …

King County reported more than 16,000 people experiencing homelessness last year, which is more than half the state's unhoused population. (Mallivan/Adobe Stock)

Unique approach to helping WA homeless youth 'highly effective'

A unique approach to preventing youth homelessness in Washington is proving highly effective, with more than 93% of participants still housed one …

The average cost of a 2-bedroom apartment in Indianapolis is almost $1,200 per month, according to Apartments.com Rental Market Trend data. (Adobe Stock)

IN tenants have options when facing eviction

Housing that's both affordable and ready to rent is out of reach for many Hoosiers. The 2025 Indiana Housing Profile says for every 100 low-income …

The average American tax filer paid just under $3,000 to the Pentagon in 2024, with roughly 40 cents going toward

National tally shows military arsenal among OH taxpayers' top expenses

Ahead of Tax Day, a national receipt shows where some Ohio tax dollars were spent in 2024. War and weaponry remain top federal expenses, with the …

Two out three voucher recipients are seniors and people with disabilities, according to Nevada Rural Housing. (Adobe Stock)

Rural Nevada facing housing, transportation problem

Rural Nevada is facing a housing and transportation crisis. Advocates for those with disabilities say things are getting out of hand. Dee Dee …

Following a U.S. Supreme Court decision in 'Department of Education v. California,' the future of federal Fair Housing grants now sits with a Massachusetts district court. (Adobe Stock)

District court to determine future of MT fair-housing grants

Since February, 66 fair-housing groups across the country have been in limbo while their federal grants were cut, temporarily restored, then tied in …

American homeowners of single-family homes collectively paid an estimated $21 billion more in premiums in 2024 than in 2021. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Utah socked with high home insurance premiums

Insurance premiums have gone up substantially and according to a new report, Utah is the state where homeowners are being hit the hardest. The …

The proliferation of Airbnbs, luxury condos and barriers to homeownership contribute to the homeless crisis in the Black community, said Chama St. Louis of the National Black Worker Center. (Adobe Stock) <br />

Black residents in IL 8 times more likely to be homeless

Black residents in Illinois are almost eight times more likely to be homeless than white people, with lack of livable wages and affordable housing …

Annual insurance premiums in rural ZIP codes were $3,317 on average in 2024, compared with $3,299 in urban and suburban areas. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Arizonans experience some of the highest insurance premiums

Insurance premiums have gone up a lot and according to a new report, Arizona is one of the states where homeowners are being hit hardest. The …

Smoke hovers above Los Angeles as seen on January 8, 2025, as a result of wildfires. (Zack Hughes)

Report: Wildfires inch closer to California health care facilities

Wildfires are creeping closer and closer to health care facilities in California, including hospitals and nursing homes, according to a new study…

Boonville's downtown historic district is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. (Adobe Stock)

IN small town grants spur growth, development projects

By Mitzi S. Morris for the Indiana Capital Chronicle.Broadcast version by Terri Dee for Indiana News Service reporting for the Indiana Capital …

Food banks in New Mexico and across the country were informed Wednesday that federal food shipments meant for distribution to needy residents had been suspended. (rrfb.org)

Federal funding freeze affects NM's food, farms, housing

A federal funding freeze affecting a broad swath of U.S. programs has left many organizations in limbo, with new fallout coming every day. Court …

Between 2023 and 2024, more than 30,000 military veterans around the United States experienced some form of homelessness. (Adobe Stock)

To reduce homelessness among military vets, ND tinkers with funding plan

The North Dakota Legislature is considering bolstering funding to help military veterans facing homelessness. Key voices say more details need to be …

Homelessness among families with children in Colorado grew by 134% in 2024. (Adobe Stock)

Low-income Coloradans face severe affordable housing shortage

There are only 26 affordable housing units in Colorado for every 100 low-income households, according to a new report listing Colorado as the sixth …

Roughly 150 cities in 32 states have passed homelessness ordinances, according to the National Criminal Justice Association. (Adobe Stock)

Morgantown residents will soon decide whether to veto camping ban

Next month, the city of Morgantown, West Virginia, will ask residents to vote on whether to keep or eliminate a city ordinance banning camping on …

Sean Brown, recovering from methamphetamine addiction, lost his housing in the Eaton Fire in January.

L.A. County has cut homelessness, but wildfires impede progress

By Angela Hart for KFF Health News.Broadcast version by Suzanne Potter for California News Service reporting for the KFF Health News-Public News Servi…

Housing industry voices say actions by the Trump administration, from cuts to the Department of Housing and Urban Development to prolonged tariff hikes, could hinder efforts to build more affordable units. (Adobe Stock)

Tariff talk adds uncertainty to already stressed affordable-housing movement

Industry groups say Minnesota is short more than 100,000 affordable-housing units to meet demand, and project leaders have said the Trump …

Research shows there is a direct correlation between unstable housing and food insecurity. (FamilyWorks Food Bank)

Advocates say WA rent stabilization bill important for ending hunger

While affordable housing advocates across the state have been cheering on Washington's rent stabilization bill in Olympia, so have organizations …

Oregon's older population is becoming more racially and ethnically diverse, with more than 45% of older adults projected to be people of color by 2050. (moodboard/Adobe Stock)

Bill would offer a blueprint for an aging Oregon

Oregon's population, along with the rest of the country, is getting older. Within 10 years there will be more Oregonians age 65 and older than …

Mold produces allergens, which are substances that can cause allergic reactions, irritants and in some cases, potentially toxic substances known as mycotoxins, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. (Adobe Stock)

Bill looks to improve habitability standards for Nevada renters

Backers of legislation in Nevada said it would bring more balance to landlord-tenant relationships and help ensure rental homes are safe to live in…

In past deportation programs, for every half-million people the government deported, 44,000 U.S.-born workers lost their jobs. (Adobe Stock)

High moral stakes of proposed cuts to federal programs

A new report commissioned by faith leaders outlines the high moral stakes at play as the Trump administration pushes to cut federal programs to pay fo…

In Pennsylvania over the past two years, tax credits have helped launch construction on 2,000 new homes and apartments, and facilitated repairs for an additional 3,200 housing units. (Tupungato/Adobe Stock)

$50 million 'whole home repair' funding may address PA housing crisis

Gov. Josh Shapiro's budget includes a $50 million investment for repairs to older homes. A grassroots group supports the idea but said the dollar …

Nearly a third of working-age Washington households have earnings which do not meet the minimum<br />cost of living. (Johannes/Adobe Stock)

Bills aim to revamp WA's regressive tax codes

A package of legislation in Olympia aims to reduce growing wealth inequality by reforming Washington's tax code. With the nation's second-most …

In 2023, about $4.2 million in settlement funds were disbursed to U.S. communities affected by discrimination, according to the National Fair Housing Alliance. (Adobe Stock)

HUD pulls federal Fair Housing grants in Montana, across U.S.

Since the Fair Housing Act was established in 1968 to make discrimination in housing illegal, nonprofits around the country have helped investigate …

Montana Senate Bill 243, to amend zoning regulations to allow taller buildings, passed a second reading in the Senate on Friday. (Roman Babakin/Adobe Stock)

Virtual training helps young Montanans weigh in on housing legislation

Legislative bills on housing have seen mixed results in Montana so far this session. A state nonprofit group held an online training on how to …

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