Author Archive
Molly Bolan
Management
Want to reform housing? Take a look at parking.
When a single parking space adds tens of thousands of dollars to a residential development, those costs get passed on to residents.
Management
What makes a top performing city?
The tech and hospitality industries drive sustainable economic performance, but broadband access, affordability and resilience also play key roles, according to the Milken Institute.
Management
Housing crisis comes to Capitol Hill
While lawmakers acknowledge the national shortage of affordable housing, experts testifying before a Senate panel disagree over how to solve it.
Management
Why it’s tough to stamp out housing voucher discrimination
In many places, it's illegal for landlords to discriminate against tenants using Section 8 vouchers. Enforcing those rules is difficult, but governments are forging ahead.
Management
Rent growth cools, but affordability is still out of reach
Even though rents aren’t rising as quickly as they were last year, they’re still too damn high for an increasing number of households.
Management
How tech can democratize community engagement
In contentious city planning meetings, the louder voices in the room often control the narrative, but technology can reframe the conversation and streamline the engagement process.
Management
Can cities clear homeless camps without offering an alternative?
The Supreme Court will hear a case on how far local governments can go to enforce bans on sleeping and camping in public spaces.
Management
It’s easy to lose sight of the root cause of the housing crisis
It’s not big investors, luxury developers or federal mortgage programs that are most responsible for driving up housing costs.
Management
States increasingly join the land use reform rodeo
For a long time housing-related land use issues have been primarily dealt with at the local level, but that’s changing as a case in Montana shows.
Management
Do land-use reforms spur housing development? You betcha.
After years of adjusting land-use regulations, Minneapolis boosted its housing stock by 12%, while rents grew at just 1%. Meanwhile, the rest of Minnesota increased its stock by 4% as rents rose 14%.
Workforce
Teachers can’t afford housing, so school districts are building homes
When potential teachers are considering a position, they often want to know what’s available for affordable housing. “If I don’t have an answer for that, I lose that applicant,” one school district superintendent says.
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Management
These pandemic-era relief programs expired in 2023
As the federal government rolled up its pandemic-era social safety net, state and local governments stepped in to fill the gaps in housing, child care and food assistance.
Management
What HUD’s annual homelessness count misses
Rather than relying on a single metric, communities need to develop a data infrastructure they can use to track, reduce and end homelessness.
Management
Homelessness is increasing nationwide, but some cities see significant declines
Many believe they are seeing more people experiencing homelessness than ever before. But in three major cities, the data contradicts that perception.
Workforce
2023 Rising Star: Chris Polack
Strategic initiatives program manager, New York City Emergency Management
Workforce
For homeless services staff, fulfillment doesn’t pay the bills
A survey of more than 5,000 U.S. homeless services workers found that 12% qualify for food stamps and 9% for housing vouchers.
Management
No wrong doors: Making benefits easier to access
When applying for benefits is too hard, families don’t get the support they need. Learning how users actually work through submitting an online application underscores how important user-centered design is to a program’s success.
Management
Housing and care costs leave aging Americans with limited options
With adults over 65 already 17% of the U.S. population, communities need to prepare for the growing number of older adults who need both affordable housing and care, experts say.
Management
The housing policies residents want to see
It may seem like housing policies that allow granny flats or multifamily homes on single-family lots are pretty contentious, but a new survey shows that most people support state and local policies that boost housing stock.
Management