Households that include people with disabilities are more likely than others to have very low-incomes, pay more than half of their income for rent, and have other housing problems, such as living in inadequate or overcrowded housing, according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's recent report "Worst Case Housing Needs of People with Disabilities — Supplemental Findings of the Worst Case Housing Needs 2009: Report to Congress."
Publications
Housing/wages report in Stowe Reporter, Herald/Argus
The Stowe Reporter published a story today about last week's "Between a Rock and a Hard Place: Housing and Wages in Vermont."
The article, "Poverty in Vermont: Housing costs put squeeze on poor," is the second in a three-part series devoted to challenges of the poor. Read the article online.
Reports: Income loss drives today's foreclosures
Three reports from the Center for Community Capital conclude that job and income losses are driving today's foreclosures, and suggest solutions.
The first wave of foreclosures were mostly the result of bad mortgage products and policy, according to the Center. Since the first quarter of 2009, however, the driving factors have been the loss of jobs and income.
The Center concludes, "In the long run, foreclosures that result because borrowers lose their jobs require new solutions that focus on the underlying issues of unemployment, such as the Hardest Hit Fund, and are flexible and targeted.
Report: Renters face record high affordability problems
The recent recession pushed the number of renters who pay more than half their income for housing to record levels, according to a report released today by the Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies (JCHS).
The report, “America’s Rental Housing: Meeting Challenges, Building on Opportunities," finds even prior to the recession, long-term increases in rents and utility costs combined with falling renter incomes put strain on many renters’ budgets.
The recession made matters worse, increasing the cost burden on working and middle class Americans.
Photos: Housing report release event
Some photos from this morning's press event to release the 2011 edition of "Between a Rock and a Hard Place: Housing and Wages in Vermont."
We held the event in the Statehouse's Cedar Creek Room, with about 50 people attending.
You can download a press release about the event (PDF).
Save the date: Housing/wages report release event
VHFA will release the 2011 update of "Between a Rock and a Hard Place: Housing and Wages in Vermont" at a press event Thursday, April 21 at 12 noon, in the Statehouse's Cedar Creek Room.
The 2011 update is the 10th edition of the annual report first published in 2002. It will show, despite a long-term recession, that rental prices have continued to escalate making the gap between Vermonters’ wages and their cost of housing larger. Furthermore, the future of Vermont’s affordable housing is in jeopardy as federal subsidies are set to expire, and pressure grows to reduce national debt by cutting the federal budget.
Scheduled to speak at the April 21 event:
Report: Frequent moves adversely affect children
A report released today by the Center for Housing Policy shows involuntary, unplanned and frequent moves — such as those caused by eviction or foreclosure — can have negative impact on children and family welfare.
With low-income families more susceptible to such moves, the report provides yet more evidence of the importance of housing assistance and counseling programs that help
low-income families maintain affordable, high-quality housing.
MacArthur-funded housing reports published
Vermont Housing & Conservation Board (VHCB) has published two new reports to help affordable housing in Vermont.
Authors and contributors to "A Roadmap for Housing Energy Affordability" (34.6 MB; PDF) and a "Mechanical System Mechanization Guide" (5.3 MB; PDF) presented the reports at a workshop event held yesterday by VHCB and Vermont Green at Vermont College.
Approximately 60 people attended, representing housing funders, property managers, local and state government officials, weatherization and energy professionals, housing developers, and engineers.
HUD publishes Burlington area housing market profile
The U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD) has published its Housing Market Profile for Q4 2010 for the Burlington/South Burlington area.
Some highlights: