December 2006

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Bayou Awarded $15.6M Housing GrantBayou La Batre has won a $15.6 million federal grant to build two affordable housing neighborhoods for hurricane victims within two years, city officials said … December 27, 2006
Mayor Blocks Affordable Homes ‘Cut’… planning policies.” Mr Livingstone also warned of “a grave danger that all over London borough councils are tearing up previous affordable housing policies and … December 27, 2006
Work-force Housing is Taking Money from the Poor… The city’s policy states that projects qualified to receive funding from the Affordable Housing Trust Fund must: (a) be located in one of the city’s target … December 27, 2006
County Overwhelmed by Demand for Subsidized Housing, Official Says… The commission is expected to extend the life of its Affordable Housing Ad Hoc Committee, which expires Dec. 31, for at least another year. December 27, 2006
Rockwood Apartments, Business Qualify for GrantsGresham urban renewal officials have awarded more than $60,000 worth of grants to two Rockwood apartment complexes and a local business. December 27, 2006
Real Estate Trends For 2007… parking lot, or office building would grow substantially in value, based on growing population density, rezoning pressures and continued gentrification trends. December 27, 2006
Life of Leadership, Civic Service Sets Jean Lacey Apart… That was in an era, Ogden noted, when “People thought that domestic violence was the woman’s … WORTH led to another transition program, YW Housing, Joshua said. December 27, 2006
Making Room for Community… And the Adirondack Community Housing Trust is also willing to work with developers who wish to incorporate plans for affordable housing in their mix of … December 27, 2006
Old West End Site Winds up in Default… enough customers at that branch. She said the Fair Housing Center, of which she’s a board member, tried to keep the bank there. December 27, 2006
Danville Housing Authority awaiting Approval of Policy Changes… Though preferences have been given to domestic violence victims, the housing authority is now following the guidelines of the Violence Against Women Act of 2005 … December 27, 2006
Housing Gap Costs All… 2006 National Low Income Housing Coalition report calculates a housing wage: the hourly income a family has to earn, working full time, to pay fair-market rent … December 27, 2006
Housing Costs Pricing Many Out of the Market… the rental housing market. These families, living on incomes at or below $24,827, can afford a monthly rent of only $621, well below the $1,062 statewide fair … December 27, 2006
Legal Aid Offers Assistance to Low-income Iowans… involve basic necessities, fundamental rights or safety, including protecting victims of domestic violence, protecting families from unsafe housing and illegal … December 27, 2006
City Must Address Elephant in the Room… the rising cost of housing compared to stagnated lower-income wages; a precipitous decline in federal support for low-income housing; gentrification, etc. … December 27, 2006
The Baltimore Disparity… since 2000. Condo living and gentrification account for a lot of this, according to a study by the University of Virginia. And it … December 27, 2006
M’ville Leader Still wants Talks with Gary… Town officials in October filed a complaint against Winslow with the US Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity office … December 27, 2006
Monroe Foreclosures Jump; First Rise in 3 Years… Some have pointed to predatory lending practices and deceptive sales practices, including the use of inflated appraisals to sell homes for more than they are … December 27, 2006
Anti-gang Injunction Polarizes a Town West Sacramento’s Experience …… Others think gentrification is harming longtime residents and refer to a wall that separates Broderick from a housing development called the Rivers as the … December 27, 2006
‘Shantytown’ Celebrates Holidays… The village was established in October to protest what activists call the “gentrification and the housing crisis in Miami-Dade County.”. December 27, 2006
Homelessness Catches Families Even Amid AffluenceThey’ve been living at a shelter since September. Fuller has a full-time job that pays her $23,000 a year but says she can’t afford an apartment in this affluent suburb of Washington, D.C., where a typical two-bedroom apartment rents for $1,225 a month. December 23, 2006
HUD Aprroves $700 Million Mississippi Plan to Help Lower-income, Eldery and Disabled HomeownersJackson also approves $500 million plan to stimulate recovery in 49 Mississippi counties… December 23, 2006
On the Street, Few Options and Many PerilsFairfax, Va killing illustrates grave risks accompanying the misfortune of homelessness December 22, 2006
New Jersey Vote Reflects Advance in Struggle for Transgender… people in employment, housing and public accommodations. New Jersey will become the ninth state in the country to pass non-discrimination laws inclusive of … December 22, 2006
Creative Housing Ideas For An Aging Population… in urban areas,” said Susan Boddington, deputy director of the Rhode Island Housing and Mortgage Finance Corp., the state’s affordable-housing agency. December 22, 2006
Domestic Violence Continues to be a Problem for Native Communities… Any woman who declares herself to be a victim of domestic violence is offered … Many times the women have issues with housing, income and the custody of her … December 22, 2006
Study Suggets Residents Can Not Afford Watauga County… to be in difficult housing situations are those with disabilities, single-earner households, and people who are in a crisis such as domestic violence. December 22, 2006
HUD Announces Nearly $10 Million in Funding to Bring Jobs, Economic Independence to Public Housing ResidentsThe U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development awarded $9,675,050 in grants today to public housing authorities across the U.S. The housing agencies use this funding to hire service coordinators who connect public housing residents with resources in the community to lead them to economic independence. December 22, 2006
Report Warns of Rising ‘Islamophobia’… and religious bias across the 25-nation EU, said Muslims routinely suffer acts ranging from physical attacks to discrimination in the job and housing markets. December 19, 2006
Former Miles City Hospital being Turned into Affordable Housing… As an affordable housing complex, the old hospital building - vacant for the past 11 years - will again help people who are struggling to get their footing … December 19, 2006
Mo. Housing Commission Awards $6M in GrantsThe MHDC administers the Missouri Housing Trust Fund (MHTF), which is designed to increase affordable housing opportunities and homelessness assistance for … December 19, 2006
More Affordable Housing Now Available in TruckeeSpring Creek opened its doors Saturday to show off its new batch of affordable housing in Truckee. As many as … December 19, 2006
Portsmouth, ME: Housing Plan sent Forward… affordable-housing advocates attended Monday night’s public hearing on an ordinance that would provide incentives for developers to create affordable housing. December 19, 2006
UK: Safe rooms for victims of domestic violence… The aim of the scheme is to allow victims of domestic violence to remain in their own homes, instead of fleeing to refuges or temporary housing. December 19, 2006
League of Women Voters to Study Work Force Housing… has about 180 members, intends to make recommendations to the Collier County Commission before commissioners vote on significant affordable housing issues next … December 19, 2006
NY: New Bills — The 421-a and Affordable Housing Debate… is to shift the plan away from simply encouraging real estate development — as was its original intention — and towards the creation of affordable housing. December 19, 2006
Is Building Housing for Gay and Lesbian Couples Discrimination?… of south Boston tells The Boston Herald city officials up to now have refused to allow developers to build seniors-only facilities because of fair housing laws … December 19, 2006
Region Will Continue to Falter without Affordable Housing… They fail to note, however, the dubious though certainly regionwide movement to eliminate affordable housing in the New Orleans area. December 18, 2006
Mobile, Alabama Report: Affordable Housing Harder to Find… who wrote the report’s preface, said during the teleconference that “the federal government should be assisting in building and preserving affordable housing.” December 18, 2006
Tallahasse, FL: Affordable-housing Grant Raises Eyebrows… Their concern: Almost half of the city’s $2.69 million match, or $1.2 million, would come from the city’s Affordable Housing Trust Fund. December 18, 2006
Coldwell Banker Files Lawsuit Against New Orleans Broker… trouble. Last year they made headline news in Georgia for Fair Housing violations complaints which were filed against them. However … December 18, 2006
Enough is Enough — Working People Need to Organize to Stop …… In the past 10 years we’ve witnessed the explosion of gentrification throughout the city in every borough, displacing tens of thousands of working people and … December 18, 2006
Australia: Black mark for White Man’s Justice… In March 2001 Ms Brennan was interviewed by a domestic violence officer, Constable … Accepting her fears were justified, the Department of Housing found her a … December 18, 2006
Dellums’ Team Tours Gritty West Oakland… in West Oakland and walked by the tour group just as it was setting out, said Just Cause’s billboard on Seventh Street denouncing gentrification has caused … December 18, 2006
Tulsa: City Council Should Acquire Towerview Building… Yet TDA is operating under urban renewal laws designed to clear blighted areas to be replaced with new structures. Further, the … December 18, 2006
Speculators Pan for Real Estate Gold… Gentrification often occurs slowly, leaving investors with homes they can’t sell, even as mortgage payments, taxes and insurance premiums pile up. December 18, 2006
Rental Rates on the Rise… shelter for women and children who have been the victims of domestic violence. … there are practically no rental units outside of subsidized housing available at … December 18, 2006
Critics Rap Housing Panel’s Makeup… The other members represent an affordable housing advocacy group, a carpenters union, an entity that finances housing development, three community development … December 18, 2006
Mo. Commission Funds 39 Affordable Housing ProjectsThe Missouri Housing Development Commission (MHDC) decided Friday during its meeting in Jefferson City to fund 39 development proposals for affordable housing. December 18, 2006
Former Rep. Billy Robinson dies at age 64… In the 1990s, Robinson revamped the state’s fair housing laws — which his father had written during his terms in the legislature. December 18, 2006
D.C.: City to Pay $700,000 in Settlement With Hispanic TenantsThe District has agreed to pay $700,000 to settle a civil rights suit filed by tenants who said they were forced to move from largely Hispanic neighborhoods in Columbia Heights and Mount Pleasant after the city unfairly condemned their apartment buildings. December 14, 2006
More Homes are Going, Going, GoneThe percentage of Americans who fell behind on mortgage payments rose to 4.7% in the third quarter, up from 4.4% in the same quarter last year. December 14, 2006
Lending Law Gets a Late ReviewWhen enacted in May, Ohio’s anti-predatory-lending law was hailed by lawmakers and consumer advocates for its toughness in curbing greed in the mortgage … December 14, 2006
Local Housing Crunch Cries Out for Statewide SolutionSan Mateo County is losing its middle class, and its young adults, as they flee an unbalanced housing market. December 14, 2006
Homeless Count: 12,000 in Colorado… in areas too secluded to be counted and women in domestic violence shelters. … said Kathi Williams, director of the Colorado Division of Housing, which conducted … December 14, 2006
Collier OKs First Public-Private Affordable HousingSummit Lakes has become the first affordable housing project successfully negotiated between Collier County leaders and a developer since county commissioners … December 14, 2006
IL: Sout Elgin Settles Rehab Center’s SuitSouth Elgin will pay $55,000 in civil penalties and fees as part of a settlement with the U.S. Justice Department for refusing to permit a drug rehabilitation center to operate, federal officials said Wednesday. December 14, 2006
High-Cost Mortgages Putting Many Homeowners at Risk… were subprime, said Keith Ernst, senior housing counsel at the Center for Responsible Lending, a nonprofit group that works against predatory lending practices … December 14, 2006
Montana: Record Number Apply for Teton County Affordable HousingA record 223 applications for a 36-home affordable housing development have been submitted to the Teton County Housing Authority. December 14, 2006
San Francisco: CalHFA Partners with Habitat for Humanity for Affordable Housing… Habitat for Humanity International is a nonprofit organization that builds affordable housing in partnership with families in need of a simple, decent place to … December 14, 2006
New Jersey Study: Rental housing too high for many… Jon S. Corzine’s call for the creation of 100,000 affordable housing units to be produced over the next 10 years, but some say just making the housing … December 14, 2006
Maryland: Disabled Man Sues Towson U. Over Dorm Access… Hall apartments - a privately owned student residence hall on university land - meets the handicap-accessibility requirements of the federal Fair Housing Act. December 7, 2006
Queens, NY: Council’s Proposal Creates More Affordable Housing Than Mayor’s…construction of more affordable housing units for middle and low-income families while still giving tax breaks to developers. December 7, 2006
California Affordable Housing: Arcata’s Most Vexing Challenge… Arcata’s status as the host to the county’s tightest housing market continues but so does the City’s push for affordable housing, and strategies hatched … December 7, 2006
New Mexico: City Council Meets with Housing Developers… from UniDev LLC, the Bethesda, Md. company selected as the master developer for a proposed affordable housing project in Portales. December 7, 2006
Rochester, NY: Honeoye Falls to Get HousingMonroe County Executive Maggie Brooks on Wednesday announced plans for a 40-unit affordable housing complex to be built in the village … December 7, 2006
London: The Dark, Dirty Blight on Society… If a woman is living in social housing and her partner is coming to the property and inflicting domestic violence, the housing provider could take out an anti … December 5, 2006
Indiana: County Wants Racism Lawsuit Tossed Federal Courts: Feds sued over …… filed by the government alleging that Richard Hucker and Charles McInturf lost their jobs because of retaliation for their support of fair housing rights for … December 5, 2006
Chicago: South Elgin Settles Housing Suit… Village trustees Monday also overwhelmingly agreed to pay the roughly $15,000 legal bill to prosecute South Elgin for violating the Fair Housing Act, said … December 5, 2006
Howell Township Council to Complete Housing PlanThe Township Council at its meeting today is expected to put the final touches on an affordable housing plan that will leave room for nonprofit … December 5, 2006
Report to Parliament tells of Persistent Racism and DiscriminationMigrant and ethnic minorities are suffering unchanged levels of discrimination in housing, education and jobs across the EU. That … December 5, 2006
Nigeria, Philippines, Greece Slammed Over Housing… In European Union member Greece, COHRE said Roma communities faced segregation, discrimination in accessing housing services and forced evictions by local … December 5, 2006
Israel: Changes in the Air for Ajami… City walls. Today the area is seeing the effects of gentrification, but for the most part it is still rundown and neglected. Some … December 5, 2006
Alabama: Rep. Davis Decries Predatory Lending… Department of Housing and Urban Development, AARP and the Center for Responsible Lending, a North Carolina-based nonprofit that researches predatory lending. December 5, 2006
VALLEJO COUNCIL TO DISCUSS INCLUSIONARY HOUSING ORDINANCE… City Council Tuesday evening will begin discussion on a proposed ordinance requiring developers to provide a specified percentage of affordable housing in new … December 5, 2006
Vermont: Recycler Awards $5K for Affordable Housing… The business is also committed to affordable housing and green building, and showed its support by giving five $1,000 grants to the Brattleboro Area Community … December 5, 2006
Durham, NC: Council OKs Rezoning of Hayti Center… and Denise Hester — who own two nearby shopping centers — and other critics of the project said Rothschild’s development would trigger gentrification up and … December 5, 2006
Houston: HomeAid Housing Project Set for Katrina Evacuees… Village, at 5031 Allum Road, is a 48-bed transitional housing project that … women in crisis, including those who are victims of domestic violence in need of a … December 5, 2006
Japan: Shelter Reaches Out to Abuse Victims… who come to the office do not need housing, but rather education and support in order to make a change to an abusive situation. Domestic violence has only … December 4, 2006
Two Steps Forward, One Step BackIn recent years, many cities have enacted strong anti-predatory lending ordinances in the face of state and national inaction. At least that’s a start, right? … December 4, 2006
Washington, DC: HFA Announces Winner of 6th Annual Affordable Housing Development …The DC Housing Finance Agency (HFA) has awarded its 6th Annual Affordable Housing Development Award of Excellence to Golden Rule Apartments … December 4, 2006
Oregon: Pilot Loan Program to Help Some Glenwood ResidentsThe agency, which oversees urban renewal efforts in Glenwood, is launching a home improvement program that offers zero-interest loans to low-income residents. December 4, 2006
U.K.: Millions More for Tayside HousingA development programme addressing the need for affordable housing across Tayside received a £12.7 million funds boost today (writes Steven Bell). December 4, 2006
Gardeners Fight Sarasota’s Move to Build New Housing… friends from all walks of life. Soon, it could be uprooted and replaced with affordable housing. The Rosemary gardeners will dress in … December 4, 2006
HIV Discrimination in UK Causing Poverty… substandard housing and were unable to afford basic food and clothing. … arises from government policy decisions and from continuing discrimination in society. December 4, 2006
Project Seeks to Save Housing… “There’s a lot of gentrification pressure,” said Andrew Vincent … “I’m very upset about gentrification,” she said. “All of sudden, people are coming in.” December 4, 2006
Child Poverty Continues to Rise Throughout Texas… We have some women who must relocate due to domestic violence situations, so we work with transitional housing programs throughout the US to find them housing … December 4, 2006
Caribbean Faces Domestic Violence Challenge… poverty eradication as a first measure in support of laws against domestic violence. … Proper housing and education also need to be addressed by governments to … December 4, 2006
St. Louis: Agency Closing Ends Era in U. City Era Ends with Closing of Agency… And in a short time, University City was at the forefront of combating “white flight.” The city banned “for sale” signs and adopted fair-housing ordinances. December 4, 2006
Pittsburgh: Umbrella Group Expands Outreach in Region… world of people who work for neighborhoods they don’t necessarily live in and whose nonprofit work is sometimes criticized as sowing the seeds of gentrification … December 4, 2006
New Hampshire: Citizens Bank Helps Heat Homeless Shelters… Land Trust Transitional Housing Program in Laconia, Merrimack County Rape and Domestic Violence Crisis Center in Concord, Monadnock Area Housing Coalition in … December 4, 2006

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