Housing Mobility Programs in the US: In advance of next week’s national housing mobility conference, we have updated our directory of housing mobility programs, Housing Mobility Programs in the US 2018. We hope that this new directory will soon be outdated again, as more cities adopt housing mobility programs!
Developing Opportunity: Innovative Models for Strategic Housing Acquisition: In collaboration with the National Housing Trust, PRRAC has released a report highlighting models that create additional affordable housing in high-opportunity areas by acquiring market rate units and enabling access by assisted households. These models include NHT’s HOPE Initiative, which focuses on access to high-performing schools and strong local partnerships, as well as initiatives developed by nonprofits and public housing authorities in King County (Washington State), Texas, Baltimore, Chicago, and the Bay Area. As noted in the report: “These initiatives offer a number of practical benefits: they address the shortage of mixed-income housing in many communities, helping to diversify neighborhoods and schools; provide a direct conduit for voucher holders to access properties in high-opportunity areas.” Read the report here.
Support the AFFH Rule this weekend: Many national groups, including PRRAC, are submitting comments (due on Monday) in response to HUD’s “Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking” (ANPR) on the Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing Rule. This 2015 rule was working very well in helping jurisdictions analyze patterns of segregation and neighborhood disparities, and set fair housing goals – until it was suspended this past January. HUD is now signaling that it intends to “streamline” the rule, which could mean a significant weakening of the rule. It is important that HUD hear from as many voices as possible, so please feel free to submit your views about the rule to HUD – you can either input your comments directly on the regulations.gov website, or upload a letter to the site. The link for the AFFH rule comments is here, and for more information you can take a look at our “talking points” on the ANPR here.
Other resources and events
Raj Chetty’s Opportunity Atlas now online: This interactive map of all census tracts in the U.S. presents an alternative approach to identifying neighborhoods that present the best opportunities for long-term economic mobility for low-income children, based on Chetty & colleagues’ research on economic outcomes for young adults based on their neighborhood of residence as children.
AFFH state law in California: Congratulations to Public Advocates, the Western Center on Law & Poverty, and NHLP on a terrific legislative victory – a state law to reinstate the AFFH process recently suspended by HUD Secretary Ben Carson (and expanding the coverage of AFFH to additional jurisdictions)! Special kudos to bill author and sponsor Assemblymember Miguel Santiago of Los Angeles. Read the full bill here.
Evaluating Federal Civil Rights Enforcement: On Friday, November 2, the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights will hold a public briefing to evaluate federal civil rights enforcement, examining in particular Fiscal Years 2016 through 2018. With this evaluation, the Commission asks: what are the key elements for effective civil rights enforcement? Do federal agencies have sufficient resources to fulfill their enforcement responsibilities? Briefing (expert panels): 9:00 am-4:00 pm ET; Open Comment Session (public testimony): 5:00 pm-6:30 pm ET*. Live-stream will be here.
Applications for the Bill Emerson National Hunger Fellowship are now open. Join a cohort of passionate, motivated leaders and gain practical experience, enhance your leadership skills, and make a difference in the fight against hunger. Applications for both programs are open now through January 14, 2019.
