PA 320 Housing and Community Development
Housing and Urban Development Act of 1968
"HUD" under the EPA. - Goal was to reach national goal of building 26 million housing units over 10 yr period. - 6 million designated to low and moderate income families.
Faith-based organizations
- George W. Bush called for them to receive federal $ for their programs. - Idea that they are already doing work in communities and we should support them.
Housing Inadequacy
- Lacking complete plumbing facilities - Overcrowded - 3 or more people sharing a bedroom - Lacking complete kitchen facilities - Bedrooms lacking privacy - Signs of mice and rats - Leaks in roof
Housing Act of 1949
- Major piece of federal housing legislation - President Truman was concerned about meeting housing needs of people - Started "urban redevelopment" program. Then changed to "urban renewal" under 1954 Housing Act under President Eisenhower.
Conditions for purchase of Urban Homestead housing
- Upgrade unit to meet building code - Pay property taxes - Live in unit for a minimum # of yrs - Once conditions are met - property title is received.
Importance of Housing
1. Housing is a major use of land in cities. 2. Location influences over land uses 3. Major part of family income 4. Related to jobs, transportation, open space, and infrastructure.
Affordable Housing - Supply
Affordable housing is in short supply due to - high land costs - reduced federal $ available - lengthy and complex permitting process - opposition from some of the public
Section 8 Housing Allowance
Allowed low-income residents to find their housing and get federal support based on income and rent.
Housing Act of 1937
Created the Public Housing Program - passed under Pres. Franklin Roosevelt, was temporary at first.
Model Cities
Demonstration Cities and Metropolitan Act of 1966 - Sought to reinvigorate our cities - Inner cities were struggling to survive - Civil rights protest in cities around the US - Phrase "demonstration cities" not popular with people - changed to "Model Cities"
Community Development Block Grants - Gerald Ford
Established under the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 - More flexibility in setting own priorities (funds could be used for a variety of things) - Created Section 8 housing allowance
Pruitt-Igoe Housing Project
Failed public housing - St. Louis - 2,762 apartments - Pruitt buildings were to house blacks - Igoe buildings to house whites - White residents moved out and became only 1% white. Failed due to: - Residents failing to have a sense of pride, high-rise building made monitoring difficult, buildings isolated residents from the community, failure to maintain the property. - Demolished in 1974
Choice Neighborhood Program - Obama initiative 2010
Goal #1 - Housing: The transforming of distressed neighborhoods into viable and sustainable mixed-income neighborhoods Goal #2 - People: Emphasis on access to high-quality educational opportunities Goal #3 - Neighborhood: Create conditions necessary for public and private reinvestment in distressed neighborhoods. Including the offering of good schools, safety, and commercial activity important to families' choice about their community.
The "American Dream"
Homeownership for every American family. Benefit: US tax laws favor homeownership with mortgage interest deductions, and property tax deductions.
Sub-prime mortgages
Sub-prime lending problems: - targeting of low-income and high risk loans - bad credit scores - people underwater on mortgages; owing more than property is worth.
Affordable Housing Definition
When a household pays no more than 30% of gross monthly income on housing. This varies by size of household. Now: Transportation costs + housing costs = true measure.
Urban Homesteading
When people leave an area and housing becomes a non-producing property tax unit - Houses vacant, no property tax paid - Local government owns the housing - Individual then purchases housing for a nominal fee
