Document 3ezkO0vY0QkzbpGm8OGJ6LvKD

FW: <External Message> HUD Daily Briefing (3-17-25) From: To: Date: Attachments: "Lee, Jessica K. EOP/OMB" (b) (6) "Askew, Emil E. EOP/OMB" (b) (6) Belford, Sarah H. EOP/OMB"(b) (6) "Chase, Anthony N. EOP/OMB" (b) (6) "King, Kelly C. EOP/OMB" (b) (6 Kruse, Megan K. EOP/OMB" (b) (6) .(b) (6) (b) (6) , "Radzinschi, Lucas R. EOP/OMB" "Reynado, Kharl M. EOP/OMB" "Stoffers, Ryan E. EOP/OMB" .(b) (6) Mon, 17 Mar 2025 09:14:19 -0400 HUD Daily Briefing (3-17-25).docx (443.55 kB) Good morning! Hope folks had a nice weekend. From: Ballard, Daniel L (b) (6) Sent: Monday, March 17, 2025 7:41 AM To: Lee, Jessica K. E0P/OMB Subject: FW: <External Message> HUD Daily Briefing (3-17-25) From: HUD Daily (b) (6) Sent: Monday, March 17, 2025 7:34:37 AM (UTC-05:00) Eastern Time (US & Canada) To: b) (6) Subject: <External Message> HUD Daily Briefing (3-17-25) CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe. If you have concerns about the content of the email, please send it to phishing@hud.gov or click the Report Phishing Button on the Outlook ribbon or Phishing option within OWA. HUD DAILY BRIEFING Prepared for the Office of Public Affairs, U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development By TechMIS HUD.TechMIS.com Mobile User Copy 1 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000246 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0023342 TO: DATE: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development & Staff Monday, March 17, 2025 7:00 AM ET HUD News and Opinion Federal Land Can Be Home Sweet Home (Wall Steet Journal) - full text Judges rule that CFPB, HUD probationary employees still have jobs - for now (HousingWire.com) - full text HUD choked funding to enforce fair-housing laws. Legal aid groups may not survive (NPR) - full text Fair housing groups sue HUD, DOGE over grant cuts (HousingWire.com) - full text In effort to trim government, Trump targets media and homelessness agencies (WXYZ, MI) - full text A Viral Prayer, a Bold Mission--Inside Secretary Scott Turner's Fight for Change (Cissie Graham Lynch - Fearless Podcast) - full text Trump gets a cold shoulder from elite DC media (Politico) - full text [MA) Mass. fair housing group challenges DOGE cuts to nationwide program in court (MassLive. MA) - full text [MA) Mass. fair housing center says it can't take new cases after HUD funding cuts (WBUR. Boston, MA) - full text [NY) Trump administration issues funds to NYC housing nonprofits, with new strings attached (Gothamist, NY) - full text [NY) HUD approves then rescinds funds for NY housing groups (HousingWire.com) - full text [PA) Affordable housing project in limbo as new administration reconsiders $1B retrofit program (WPXI, Pittsburgh. PA) - full text [PA) Western Pa. fair housing organization loses $425.000 grant in DOGE cuts (90.5 WESA. Pittsburgh. PA) - full text [NC) Helene blew through nearly six months ago. North Carolina's recovery has barely begun. (Washington Post) - full text [TN) Some Serenity Towers seniors move, receive vouchers (WREG, Memphis, TN) - full text [KY) Redevelopment continues in Louisville's West End with Parkland Library, community center (Louisville Courier-Journal, KY) - full text [IN) DOGE slashes grant to Indiana's lone fair housing nonprofit, prompting class action lawsuit (Indianapolis Star. IN) - full text [IL) Feds pull grant funding from Illinois fair housing orgs that investigate discrimination (NPR Illinois 91.9 UIS, Springfield. IL) - full text 2 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000246 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0023343 JILL South Suburban Housing Center loins class action lawsuit to halt HUD and DOGE terminations of fair housing grants (HF Chronicle, IL) - full text 1OK1CNO Housing Authority receives award for Connect Home program (Paris News, TX) - full text JOK1 Our Housing Challenge is a Public Health Challenge (Native News Online) JMT1 Butte's Montana Fair Housing faces DOGE cuts: seeks local support to continue (KULR 8, MT) - full text WTI DOGE cuts $425,000 grant for Montana Fair Housing, wiping out 80% of non-profit's budget (KTVQ.com, MT) - full text IWAlSeattle housing, homelessness crisis would grow if Trump cuts HUD (Crosscut Seattle, WA) full text ICA) Sens. Schiff, Smith, Colleagues Urge HUD to Swiftly Distribute $3.6 Billion in Federal Funds for Vital Homelessness Programs (Santa Barbara Independent, CA) - full text fCA1 San Francisco city worker, partner accused of $500K welfare scam (CBS San Francisco, CA) full text J'HI1 $1.6B in federal recovery funding coming to Maui will focus on housing (Hawaii Public Radio, HI) - full text National Housing News Judges Have Ordered Federal Workers Back on the Job. Now What? (New York Times) - full text The Trump administration is taking steps to comply with court orders to reinstate tens of thousands of fired workers (Government Executive) - full text Federal agencies plan for mass layoffs as Trump's workforce cuts continue (NPR) - full text Trump moves to gut several agencies, targeting Voice of America, libraries (Washington Post) - full text Trump Signs Order Seeking to Reduce More Federal Agencies (Bloomberg) - full text Trump cuts funding for federal agencies with executive order - See list of what's affected (USA Today) - full text Trump Orders Gutting of 7 Agencies, Including Voice of America's Parent (New York Times) - full text Donald Trump Just Signed an Order Gutting Seven More Federal Agencies (Mother Jones) - full text Trump signs order to gut Voice of America, other agencies (NBC News) - full text Trump executive actions target federal agencies, 'harmful' Biden orders, and Paul Weiss law firm (Washington Examiner, DC) - full text Trump signs order to dismantle seven federal agencies focused on media, libraries, homelessness (The Hill) - full text 3 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000246 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0023344 Trump CFPB drops suit against Warren Buffett's mobile-home lender that "knowingly traps people" (Salon) - full text Former director Rohit Chopra sounds alarm over diminished CFPB (HousingWire.com) - full text With the CFPB weakened, could risky lending make a comeback? (CNN) - full text Trump scales back Treasury's CDFI Fund (American Banker) - full text Have mortgage rates dropped enough to spur homebuyers this spring? (Marketplace) - full text Bill Pulte pledges to scrutinize 'underperforming' Fannie and Freddie, root out mortgage fraud (HousingWire.com) - full text At Gridiron, journalists joke around but skip the presidential toast (Washington Post) - full text Mortgage lenders return to losses in Q4 despite high volume (National Mortgage News) - full text World's first Al real estate agent has already made $100M in sales (HousingWire.com) - full text At least 39 dead after tornadoes, wildfires and dust storms wreak havoc across multiple US states (APNews.com) - full text [DC] D.C. Is Becoming Another Hollowed-Out Company Town (New York Times) - full text [DC) D.C. for sale: The Trump administration is weighing the disposition of high-profile federal buildings in Washington. (Washington Business Journal, DC) - full text [DC) Washington. DC's economy is headed for a recession as Trump slashes federal workforce (CNN) - full text [MD] Judge pauses firings at CFPB. FDIC. Treasury (National Mortgage News) - full text [MD] Baltimore's attempt to halt CFPB defunding rejected by federal judge (HousingWire.comj - full text [MD] Court rejects Baltimore's hid to block CFPB funding cuts (National Mortgage News) - full text Broadcast (TV and Radio) HUD Secretary Scott Turner joins the Glenn Beck Program [Part One] (KFYI-AM Fox Phoenix, AZ) HUD Secretary Scott Turner joins the Glenn Beck Program [Part Two) (KFYI-AM Fox Phoenix, AZ) [NY) City Hall calls for change in leadership at Syracuse Housing Authority (WSTM-TV NBC Syracuse, NY) [PA) Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey focuses on future of public housing (WTAE-TV ABC Pittsburgh, PA) [PA] Some Prospect Community residents in Johnstown must wait a little longer to move back home (WJAC-TV NBC Johnstown, PA) [MD] Rockville residents plead for rent stabilization law (WJLA-TV DC) 4 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000246 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0023345 INC] Asheville forced to redraft disaster recovery plan to exclude DEI language (WCNC-TV NBC Charlotte, NC) [NC] Triad residents displaced after weekend fires (WXII-TV NBC Greensboro. NC) fGAi Homerville mayor being investigated by HUD for disability discrimination (WCTV-TV CBS Tallahassee, GA) [TX) Opportunity Home celebrates Bristol at Somerset affordable housing complex (KABB-TV Fox San Antonio. TX) [ID] Idaho's Intermountain Fair Housing Council and other housing nonprofits are suing HUD and DOGE (KTVB-TV NBC Boise. ID) [MT) Montana Fair Housing receives notice that funding has been terminated (KHBB-TV Fox Helena, MT) JUT) Ogden leaders will continue to look for homeless shelter outside the city (KSL-TV NBC Salt Lake City, UT) (HI) Maui County due to receive $1.6 billion for fire recovery (KHPR-FM NPR Honolulu, HI) Housing Supply Cooler permitting raises questions for homebuilding (National Mortgage News) - full text [CT) Day of reckoning' is coming for CT towns and their 'tired' malls. Is housing the answer? (CT Insider, CT) PAi Pa. isn't building enough housing, and that's hiking prices. Pew says (Philadelphia Inquirer, PA) - full text ITX1 On housing shortage, Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson is right on the money (Dallas Morning News, TX) - full text [CA) My View: Bay Area's Population Growth Is Back, It's Exacerbating the Housing Crisis -- And We're Not Ready for It (Davis Vanguard, CA) - full text Homeownership This Is Not Your Parents' Housing Market (Bloomberg) - full text The Importance of Flood Insurance Education (The Mortgage Point) - full text Black Homeownership Faces Persistent Barriers Despite Hard-Fought Gains (L.A Focus Newspaper, CA) - full text Benefits of Owning a Home: Why Homeownership Is Worth It (MSN News) - full text How urban environments present unique challenges for aging in place (HousingWire.com) - full text More Renters Rejecting the American Dream (The Mortgage Point) - full text The homeowner affordability crisis is about to explode due to 'TI' (Inman) - full text 5 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000246 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0023346 ITN] Nashville lawmakers introduce bill to stop corporate investors from buying up homes (WSMV, Nashville, TN) - full text [NE) This Nebraska town hopes to draw new residents with $50.000 down payment for house (Omaha World-Herald, NE) - full text [NEJ Nebraska city offering $50,000 in down payment aid to new residents (Lincoln Journal Star, NE) - full text [WA] Whatcom County helps Habitat for Humanity purchase Kulshan CLT land for 40-home project (Bellingham Herald, WA) - full text [CA] California insurance chief backs 22% State Farm rate increase (National Mortgage News) - full text ICA] Disney housing development turns into nightmare for displaced Calif. residents (SFGate, CA) full text Climate Resilience and Sustainability [CA) How the EPA's environmental about-face could upend California's climate efforts (Los Angeles Times, CA) - full text Disaster Recovery Officials scramble amid reported policy change that would have big impact on public safety 'Beyond our control' (The Cool Down) - full text [FL] Volusia County's $133.5 million Hurricane Milton Recovery Action Plan ready for review (Observer Local News, FL) - full text [LA] Stephanie Grace: This hurricane season, will the government agencies we count on be there? (Times Picayune / NOLA.com, LA) - full text [CAI 'Cash offers only' - After L.A. fires, scorched lots are selling fast (Washington Post) - full text [HI] First payment of $1.5 million is disbursed from $175 million One 'Ohana Fund (Honolulu StarAdvertiser, HI) - full text [HI] Fund for Maui wildfire deaths makes first payout with more to come (Hawaii News Now. Honolulu. HI) - full text [HIT Lava buyouts program is winding down A Hawaii County program offering to purchase Puna residents' lava-damaged pr... (Hawaii Tribune-Herald, HI) - full text Homelessness Judge Declines to Salvage Billions for Homelessness in Trump Win (Bloomberg Law) As congregations across the country shrink, churches offer space for homeless shelters (NPR) Commentary: The Trump Administration Is About to Make the Homeless Problem Worse (Davis Vanguard, CA) - full text 6 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000246 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0023347 [ME] Northern Maine's only homeless shelter may be forced to close (WMTW-FM 93.9, ME) - full text (MA] Lowell homeless shelter hit with scabies outbreak (Lowell Sun. MA) - full text (CT] Meriden committee recommends city allocate 550,000 for homeless center - 'Housing is a human right' (CT Insider, CT) - full text (NY] More homes for more N.Y.ers - Supportive housing to address the homelessness crisis (New York Daily News, NY) - full text jNYt NYC says it moved 3,500 people out of homeless encampments, but just 114 into shelter (Gothamist. NY) - full text (NJ] State pushes to end veteran homelessness (NJ Spotlight News, NJ) - full text (PA] Allegheny County to create crisis response teams to support vulnerable homeless populations (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, PA) - full text PA1 Heffley questions homeless directive (Times News Online, PA) - full text (NM Out of Sight. Out of Mind Homelessness in Washington - Just one life-changing event away (Washington Daily News, NC) - full text ITN] Bill to clear homeless encampments passes Tennessee senate (Chattanooga Times Free Press. TN) - full text (TN] Homeless services org no longer prioritizing Chattanooga for veterans community (Chattanooga Times Free Press, TN) - full text (TN] Nashville Homeless Services Take Action to Protect Funding Amid Trump DEI Orders (WZTVTV Fox 17 Nashville, TN) - full text (MI] First-of-its-kind homeless shelter in Michigan sees success after one year (Michigan Live, MI) full text [MI] Heartside Landings program supports women facing chronic homelessness (WZZM 13, MI) full text (IL] New facility for homeless people, veterans opens in Lincoln (WAND TV, IL) - full text [IL] Opinion: Veterans' homelessness a local crisis in Peoria, and the nation (PJStar.com. IL) - full text [WI] Former elementary school in Beloit being transformed to address homelessness (Milwaukee Spectrum News. WI) - full text (TX] 21 removed from southeast Austin homeless camp, but issues remain (KXAN-TV NBC 36 Austin. TX) - full text (TX] Houston's S70M plan aims to end street homelessness by 2026 (KTRK-TV ABC 13 Houston, TX) - full text (ND] Stepping Stone Ministries in Bismarck to offer homeless people medical respite after hospital discharge (KFYR-TV NBC 5 Bismarck, ND) - full text 7 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000246 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0023348 [CO] Springs Mayor highlights growing problem, promises enforcement after homeless arsonist arrested (KOAA, CO) - full text [ID] Idaho bill could halt new homeless shelters near homes in big cities (Idaho Press-Tribune. ID) full text [WA] Hope House transition forces community to find alternative shelters for women experiencing homelessness (KXLY. WA) - full text fWA1 Should Safe Stays stay? Vancouver officials, advocates for the homeless debate whether communities should be permanent (Bellingham Herald, WA) - full text [CA] Long Beach will spend $17 million to rehouse people living along the LA riverbed (Signal Tribune, CA) - full text ICA] San Jose Mayor Takes Dual Approach to Unsheltered Homeless Population (Planetizen) - full text ICA] Los Angeles Shelter Provides Mental Health Support to the Unhoused (WXII 12, NC) [CA] A work in progress: As Lodi tackles homelessness, challenges remain (Lodi News-Sentinel. CA) - full text [CA] Davis City Council to Review Homeless Services Expansion Amid Growing Needs (Davis Vanguard. CA) - full text [CA] Supervisors push to shift homeless funding from LAHSA to new LA County department (Los Angeles Daily News, CA) - full text [CA] Ventura Gets S9 Million Grant to Address Homelessness (Noozhawk.corn, CA) - full text [CA] With so many physically disabled people living on S.F. streets, what happens to wheelchairs during sweeps? (San Francisco Chronicle, CA) - full text Fair Housing Fair Housing Groups Challenge DOGE Orders to Cancel HUD Grants (Bloomberg Law) [PA] Judge orders stay in Clearfield landlord civil case (Altoona Mirror, PA) - full text [AL] Agreement forces company to make changes for apartment renters with disabilities (Montgomery Advertiser, AL) - full text [IN] Community Link: Fair Housing Center of Central Indiana (WISH-TV. IN) - full text Federal Housing Administration and Multifamily Housing This is why I'll never take out a reverse mortgage -- 5 hidden costs you need to know about (24/7 Wall St) - full text [TX] Truist Bank alleges Sherlin Norris defaulted on mortgage loan (Southeast Texas Record. TX) full text Public and Indian Housing 8 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000246 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0023349 fMA1 Housing authority seeks $900K for home rehabilitation program in Gill, New Salem (Athol Daily News, MA) - full text fRI1 Speaker wants more local support for low-income housing (Narragansett Times, RI) - full text [CT] CT proposing $1M for each of five state-recognized tribes. Here's why. (Hartford Courant, CT) - full text [NY) Glimmer of hope for reviving stalled Children Rising Center in Syracuse (WAER 88.3 Syracuse University, NY) - full text JNY1 NYCHA, Including Harlem River Houses, Wins Prestigious Moses Preservation Awards (Harlem World Magazine, NY) - full text INY] As construction costs rise particularly fast,' price tag for new Chelsea public housing jumps (Crain's NY Business, NY) - full text [NY] Dozens of tenants suing a Brooklyn landlord for neglect and badly needed repairs -- say Section 8 assistance cut off (Yahoo! News) - full text [NY] Crews respond to fire at Marine Drive Apartments (WGRZ TV, NY) [NJ] Housing authority goes beyond homes (Essex News Daily, NJ) - full text [NJ] Hoboken Housing Authority is 1st in N.J. to set wage & benefits for security officers (Hudson County View, NJ) - full text [PA] New Pittsburgh Housing Authority board nominees tour Manchester with Gainey (Pittsburgh Tribune Review, PA) - full text [DC] D.C. public housing officials drill deep to heat and cool new homes (Washington Post) - full text [AR1 Resilience and triumph - The journey of Stephenie and Dylan (Russellville Courier, AR) - full text [IL1 Lease rates plummet for Chicago housing voucher holders (Real Deal) - full text [IL] Former Sportsman's Lounge demolished to make way for apartment complex (Springfield Business Journal, IL) - full text [IL] KDBA students researching connection between poverty and crime, impacts of public housing on mental health (Commercial-News, IL) - full text JCO1 An 8-story apartment building with 86 affordable homes is the latest to rise in Sun Valley (Denverite, CO) - full text [NV] Southern Nevada leaders unite to tackle housing crisis through innovative collaboration (KSNV Las Vegas, NV) - full text MA] VHA wants blanket approval for housing projects outside of Vancouver from the rest of Clark County (Columbian.com, WA) - full text JCA] LA pauses new Section 8 applications amid funding cuts (Inman) - full text 9 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000246 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0023350 [HI] Housing Authority Seeks Faster Disposal of Belongings from Evicted Tenants (MagNews24.com) - full text Community Planning and Development JOH] A state investment to help Cleveland rid dwellings of lead paint poisoning will save many, many young lives: editorial (Cleveland.com, OH) - full text Affordable Housing [ME] How a Maine law blocks private buyers from mobile home parks (Bangor Daily News, ME) full text [CT] Face the Facts: Bill aims to combat affordable housing crisis (NBC Connecticut, CT) - full text [NY] Opinion: Putting NYC youth in foster care on a path to success with permanent housing (City & State, NY) - full text [NY) More homes for more N.Y.ers - How to build housing from the ground up in the city (New York Daily News, NY) - full text [VA] Rockville tenants demand rent control as prices soar, driving residents from community (VVJLA.com, Arlington, VA) - full text jGA1Gwinnett extended-stay hotel to become affordable housing (FOX 5 Atlanta, GA) - full text [FL] Apartment complex, affordable housing in protected rural Florida draw opposition (Tampa Bay Times, FL) - full text [FL] Florida Legislature considers 'granny flats' amid housing problems (NBC Miami, FL) - full text [IL] Rising rents aren't just a problem for those living in poverty (WBEZ 91.5 Chicago, IL) - full text [IN] New data shows Indiana is among the worse states for access to affordable housing (Indiana Public Media, IN) - full text fIN] Thousands struggle to afford housing in Indiana amid potential federal cuts (WRTV, Indianapolis. IN) - full text [IL) How DuPage County could expand affordable housing (Chicago Daily Herald. IL) - full text [WI] Affordable housing: 44-unit Gateway Apartments could finish construction by fall (SheboyganPress, WI) - full text [MN] St. Paul: Balsam on Broadway opens in Lowertown, one of several housing developments for downtown (TwinCities.com, MN) - full text [CO] A big house in Grand Junction, now home to 20 troubled men, tests Colorado's new affordable housing law (Colorado Sun, CO) - full text [CO] Denver jury awards tenants more than $10 million in lawsuit over neglected apartment complex (Denver Post, CO) - full text [WA] Hundreds rally at state capitol for rent control bill (KIRO-TV, Seattle, WA) - full text 10 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000246 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0023351 JWA1 Clark County eviction support program on shaky ground financially (Columbian.com, WA) - full text (CA) Pasadena has new rental protections in the wake of the Eaton Fire (LAist. CA) - full text (CA) Yuba City can't keep state funds for affordable housing unless it finds $7 million it doesn't have (Sacramento Bee, CA) - full text (CA) Affordable housing on Costa Mesa Senior Center lot could get green light from council (Los Angeles Times) - full text iCA1 City of San Diego to Transform Old Serra Mesa Library into Affordable Housing for Veterans and Families (Times of San Diego. CA) - full text (AK) Opinion: Affordable housing emergency threatens stability of over 1,000 households in Anchorage (Anchorage Daily News, AK) - full text Headlines The Washington Post The New York Times The Wall Street Journal ABC News CBS News CNN Fox News NBC News Washington Schedule President Vice President Senate House of Representatives Editorial Note: This Brief represents summarized content - click on the hyperlink to access full-text articles for these news summaries. Disclaimer: The information and views expressed in this News Briefing do not necessarily represent the views of HUD or the United States and do not constitute an endorsement by the Department. HUD News and Opinion 11 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000246 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0023352 Federal Land Can Be Home Sweet Home (Wall Steet Journal) - full text Wall Steet Journal [3/16/2025 3:48 PM, Scott Turner and Doug Burgum] America needs more affordable housing, and the federal government can make it happen by making federal land available to build affordable housing stock. The Interior Department oversees more than 500 million acres of federal land, much of it suitable for residential use. The Department of Housing and Urban Development brings expertise in housing policy and community development. Together we are creating the Joint Task Force on Federal Land for Housing to increase housing supply and decrease costs for millions of Americans. Under this agreement, HUD will pinpoint where housing needs are most pressing and guide the process by working with state and local leaders who know their communities best. Interior will identify locations that can support homes while carefully considering environmental impact and land-use restrictions. Working together, our agencies can take inventory of underused federal properties, transfer or lease them to states or localities to address housing needs, and support the infrastructure required to make development viable--all while ensuring affordability remains at the core of the mission. Streamlining the regulatory process is a cornerstone of this partnership. Historically, building on federal land is a nightmare of red tape--lengthy environmental reviews, complex transfer protocols and disjointed agency priorities. This partnership will cut through the bureaucracy. Interior will reduce the red tape behind land transfers or leases to public housing authorities, nonprofits and local governments. HUD will ensure these projects align with affordability goals and development needs. This isn't a free-for-all to build on federal lands, although we recognize that bad-faith critics will likely call it that. It's a strategic effort to use our resources responsibly while preserving our most beautiful lands. This is about more than building houses. We want to build hope. Overlooked rural and tribal communities will be a focus of this joint agreement. We are going to invest in America's many forgotten communities. As we enter the Golden Age promised by President Trump, this partnership will change how we use public resources. A brighter future, with more affordable housing, is on its way. Judges rule that CFPB, HUD probationary employees still have jobs - for now (HousingWire.com) - full text HousingWire.com [3/15/2025 2:03 PM, Neil Pierson, 354K] In separate rulings this week, federal judges in Maryland and California told the Trump administration that it must reinstate thousands of probationary employees who were let go without advance notice or cause. These include many at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). "When the federal government terminates large numbers of its employees, including those still on probation because they were recently hired or promoted, it must follow certain rules," Judge James K. Bredar wrote in a ruling issued Thursday in the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland. "In this case, the government conducted massive layoffs, but it gave no advance notice. It claims it wasn't required to because, it says, it dismissed each one of these thousands of probationary employees for "performance" or other individualized reasons. On the record before the Court, this isn't 12 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000246 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0023353 true. There were no individualized assessments of employees. They were all just fired. Collectively." The case involves 21 federal agencies, including the CFPB and HUD. Bredar determined that the government's actions are actually reductions in force (RIFs) that require notice to the states that will be impacted. The judge issued a temporary restraining order that "restores the status quo" for affected employees and will hold another hearing on March 26 to decide whether a longer pause is warranted. The Hill reported that the Trump administration plans to challenge the ruling. "The President has the authority to exercise the power of the entire executive branch -- singular district court judges cannot abuse the power of the entire judiciary to thwart the President's agenda," White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told the outlet. In a similar case filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, Judge William Alsup ruled Thursday that employees at six federal agencies must have their jobs restored, at least temporarily. The impacted agencies include the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), which run critical loan programs for the housing and mortgage industries. Alsup made similar remarks to Bredar in ruling that the government attempted to circumvent RIF mandates by tying the layoffs to employee performance issues. "It is a sad, sad day when our government would fire some good employee and say it was based on performance when they know good and well that's a lie," Alsup said, according to a report from Politico. But Alsup's ruling also included clear guidance that agencies can make cuts to their workforce if they follow proper protocol. This can be done through the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), which had previously implemented a deadline of March 13 for departments to submit their reduction-in-force plans. "The words that I give you today should not be taken that some wild-and-crazy judge in San Francisco said that an administration cannot engage in a reduction in force," Alsup said. "It can be done, if it's done in accordance with the law." The CFPB and HUD are just some of many agencies roiled by the Trump administration's actions to slash federal spending through cuts to programs and personnel. Although the CFPB can only be eliminated by an act of Congress. its future remains uncertain under the leadership of acting director Russell Vought. The administration has said its nomination of Jonathan McKernan to serve as the next fulltime director is a clear indication that the bureau will continue, albeit with a smaller footprint. HUD Secretary Scott Turner has also moved to transform his department. This included the elimination of the Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing (AFFH) rule that was a staple of the Biden administration's efforts to stop segregation and discrimination. HUD choked funding to enforce fair-housing laws. Legal aid groups may not survive (NPR) - full text NPR [3/15/2025 9:30 AM, Jennifer Ludden, 29983K] A few weeks ago, Brooke Kirkpatrick was panicked about being forced to leave her family's apartment in Willoughby, Ohio. Her younger child, who's 3, has nonverbal autism, and neighbors had repeatedly complained about him making noises -- a common behavior known as vocal stimming that people with autism use to calm 13 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000246 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0023354 themselves. Kirkpatrick said she'd told the landlord about her son's disability before they moved in, and explained the situation to some neighbors. But the 30-day notice came anyway, just days after her husband lost his job as a machine operator. "I was actually looking up homeless shelters in the area for my family," she said. That's when she found a local group that helps people facing housing discrimination. Kirkpatrick said she didn't even know she had a legal right to challenge the landlord. She met with a lawyer and "within 24 hours, it was resolved," she said. But the group that helped Kirkpatrick is now at risk of shutting down. Late last month, the Trump administration cut off the flow of federal funding to that organization and dozens of other fair-housing nonprofits across the country that are key enforcers of anti-discrimination laws. It's part of a larger effort to dramatically shrink HUD. "I've been doing this job for 25 years. Never have I ever seen anything like this before, and it was absolutely a punch in the gut," said Patricia Kidd, executive director of the Fair Housing Resource Center in Painesville, Ohio. Kidd doesn't know if this cut is temporary or permanent. But the HUD grants make up 85% of her budget. She's laid off most of her staff and is talking with a realtor about selling the organization's office building. "We're in a position now where we're trying to hang on to the cash that we have, and we have probably about six months until we close down," she said. For decades, federal policies contributed to making housing discrimination an entrenched problem. The practice of redlining effectively barred Black people, Jewish people and other people of color from certain neighborhoods and made it harder for them to get a mortgage. President Lyndon Johnson pushed Congress for years to address residential segregation, but it was considered too controversial. He was finally able to sign the Fair Housing Act in 1968, a week after the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. sparked riots around the country. "Of all the civil rights statutes that were passed in the '60s, the Fair Housing Act has some of the strongest language in terms of anti-discrimination," said Yiyang Wu, an attorney with the civil rights law firm Reiman Colfax. The law hasn't achieved its original goal of ending racial segregation. But over the years, it's been expanded and now bans discrimination on the basis of race or color, religion, national origin, sex, disability or family status. And people are making use of it. Last year there were more than 34,000 fair-housing complaints of all kinds, a record high for the third year in a row. Congress has formally recognized the key role of private nonprofits to enforce the law. They take on the vast majority of such cases, with funding through the Department of Housing and Urban Development. But last month, about two-thirds of those nonprofits -- 66 -- received letters from HUD terminating about half of the agency's fair-housing grants, some $30 million in all. The letters all said it was being done at the direction of the Elon Musk-led unit known as the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) because the funding "no longer effectuates the program goals or agency priorities." "HUD provided no explanation as to how that could be possible," said Lila Miller, another Reiman Colfax attorney. "The plaintiffs are just doing that bread and butter work that is consistent with the congressional mandate." Reiman Colfax and four fair-housing groups have filed suit against HUD and DOGE alleging the cuts are unlawful. The lawsuit accuses HUD of 14 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000246 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0023355 acting arbitrarily and capriciously, and asserts that the DOGE cost-cutting entity exceeded its authority. In a statement to NPR, a HUD spokesperson said, "The Department is responsible for ensuring our grantees and contractors are in compliance with the President's Executive Orders. If we determine they are not in compliance, then we are required to take action. The Department will continue to serve the American people, including those facing housing discrimination or eviction." The agency did not explain why it cut funding to some fair-housing groups but not others. HUD Secretary Scott Turner has said he is taking inventory of every program and process to become more efficient and will "cut and consolidate as necessary." Amy Nelson, who heads the Fair Housing Center of Central Indiana, said she's worked through multiple administrations and that changing priorities is nothing new. But "this is the very first time we've ever had a grant terminated without any sort of discussion," she said. "And it was a grant that we had high performance evaluations on." Several advocates also said the move does not make sense if cost-cutting is the goal. "We help people avoid homelessness," said Maureen St. Cyr, the head of the Massachusetts Fair Housing Center in Holyoke, Mass., which is a plaintiff in the lawsuit. "This work saves taxpayers money." She and others say they educate their communities about fair-housing law, investigate complaints and work hard to keep people from losing housing. "I would say 98% of the time we mediate and resolve an issue before it ever gets filed in court," said Kidd of the Ohio nonprofit. That can mean pushing a landlord to install a ramp or shower grab-bars for an aging tenant. In Indiana, Nelson put out a recent report on an uptick in foreclosures, noting that rising insurance rates may be a possible factor. In Massachusetts, St. Cyr's organization helps people with housing vouchers find a place to rent, since many landlords refuse to accept vouchers even in states where that's banned. These local advocates can also act as a kind of emergency rescue. Like a call one Friday night to Zoe Ann Olson, executive director of the Intermountain Fair Housing Council in Boise, Idaho. An older disabled woman had been evicted, "and it was illegal under both state and federal law," she said. Olson found her a shelter that night and then got the woman back into housing. Olson's group is the only fair-housing legal aid provider in Idaho. She and others worry what will happen if federal funding isn't restored and they're forced to shut down. HUD likely won't be able to pick up the slack. It currently handles only about 5% of housing discrimination cases, and the Trump administration aims to slash three-quarters of the staff in its fair-housing office, according to an internal document seen by NPR. Meanwhile, rent and housing prices are out of reach for many people across the country, and homelessness is at a record high. "The shelters are overwhelmed. There's not enough affordable housing," Olson said. "We're just seeing an extraordinary amount of evictions, like so many that we're getting on a daily basis. It's so disheartening to lose this money." 15 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000246 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0023356 Fair housing groups sue HUD, DOGE over grant cuts (HousingWire.com) - full text HousinqWire.com [3/14/2025 4:46 PM, Chris Clow, 354K] In the midst of aggressive cost-cutting measures, a coalition of fair housing groups with grant funding have filed a lawsuit against DOGE, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and Scott Turner in his capacity as HUD secretary. The groups allege an overstep that will hamper their ability to fight evictions and curb discrimination in housing. The suit was brought by law firm Relman Colfax and four members of the National Fair Housing Alliance (NFHA). Groups in the states of Massachusetts, Idaho, Texas and Ohio filed the suit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts, saying that the defendants "arbitrarily and without notice, reason, or sensible explanation terminated 78 Fair Housing Initiatives Program (FHIP) grants" which the groups say "immediately compromised" their work against housing discrimination and segregation. This is according to court documents reviewed by HousingWire. The 36-page complaint explains that the grants were terminated "at the direction of [DOGE]," citing an executive order from the president and HUD's own determination that the canceled programs "no longer effectuate the program goals or agency priorities.". But the suit contends that neither of these stated reasons make sense, since Congress determined the function that FHIP grants serve, including by giving the organizations autonomy to "identify and remedy" instances of discrimination. "Moreover, DOGE has no authority to direct HUD to cancel grants, nor does HUD have any authority for accepting DOGE's grant-related directives," the complaint said. The move constitutes "an arbitrary, capricious, and unlawful action by HUD and an ultra vires action by DOGE," referring to a term used to describe an entity operating beyond its authority. "In this case, brought on behalf of themselves and a class of similarly situated fair housing groups, the named plaintiffs seek to reverse the termination through the injunctive relief of reinstating the grants.". Local media in the jurisdictions of the plaintiffs gauged the immediate reactions of the named plaintiffs. Carrie Pleasants, executive director of the Cleveland-based Fair Housing Center for Rights and Research, told media outlet Signal Cleveland that the organization received about half of the impacted grant funding before the abrupt termination of the contract. The grants were slated to pay for radio, television and billboard ads in Northeast Ohio designed to inform tenants of their rights when fighting discrimination in housing. Zoe Ann Olson, executive director of the Boise-based Intermountain Fair Housing Council, said in a statement that the organization has served all 44 Idaho counties for more than 30 years. "FHIP funding has been critical for ensuring that individuals and families have access to the resources and advocacy they need," the statement said. "Without this support, thousands risk being left without protection or recourse. Losing these resources sends a dangerous message that fair housing protections for Idahoans and beyond are no longer a national priority.". A report in the Idaho Statesman pointed out that HUD has routinely praised the Idaho 16 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000246 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0023357 organization for its work in this area, as noted in the complaint. "[S]ince 2020, it has received exclusively 'excellent' grades from HUD for its performance under the grants. [. . .] The IFHC has never received any communication from HUD that its performance or compliance with the terms and conditions of the grant was anything less than satisfactory.". Rescission of the grants has a direct impact on these groups' ability to function, according to Yiyang Wu, a lawyer with Reiman Colfax. "It's how they pay their bills," Wu told the New York Times. "It's their bread and butter.". In effort to trim government, Trump targets media and homelessness agencies (WXYZ, MI) - full text WXYZ [3/15/2025 7:47 AM, Justin Boggs, 837K, MI] President Donald Trump signed an executive order late Friday night to dismantle multiple federal agencies in an effort to "save taxpayer dollars, reduce unnecessary government spending, and streamline government priorities." The agencies set to be gutted include the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service, the United States Agency for Global Media, the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, the Institute of Museum and Library Services, the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness, the Community Development Financial Institutions Fund, the Minority Business Development Agency, and the Arctic Research Commission. The U.S. Agency for Global Media is the parent agency of Voice of America, which is "the largest U.S. international broadcaster, providing news and information in nearly 50 languages to an estimated weekly audience of more than 354 million people," according to the organization's website. According to the National Alliance to End Homelessness, the Council on Homelessness is "the only agency at the federal level with the sole responsibility of ending homelessness. It works across 19 federal agencies and departments, and with partners in both the public and private sectors, to improve federal spending outcomes for homelessness." The Trump administration says cutting organizations like these will eliminate unnecessary governmental agencies. It is part of a broader effort by the White House to downsize the scope of the federal government. However, these organizations are relatively small within the scope of the federal government. Out of the $6.8 trillion spent by the government in 2024, the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness had an annual budget of $3.6 million. The U.S. Agency for Global Media had a much larger budget, however, at $950 million. The Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars receives about 30% of its funding from the government. From 2019 through 2024, the organization states it received about $41 million in federal funds. "The Wilson Center occupies a unique place in U.S. foreign policy--we are congressionally chartered, scholarship-driven, and fiercely nonpartisan. It is our mission to help policymakers and stakeholders make sense of global developments. We are driven to offer the insights and analysis that can inform decisionmaking and forge a stronger America and a more secure world," the organization said. A Viral Prayer, a Bold Mission--Inside Secretary Scott Turner's Fight for Change (Cissie Graham Lynch - Fearless Podcast) - full text Cissie Graham Lynch - Fearless Podcast [3/13/2025 6:03 PM, Cissie Graham Lynch] VIDEO. In this special episode of Fearless, we sit down with Secretary Scott Turner, the 17 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000246 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0023358 newly appointed Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Broadcasting from the Billy Graham Training Center in Asheville, North Carolina, this conversation dives deep into Secretary Turner's incredible journey--from his roots in Dallas, Texas, to his career in the NFL, and ultimately, to his calling in public service. Many may recognize Secretary Turner from his viral prayer at President Trump's first cabinet meeting, but this episode reveals the heart behind the headlines. With a deep faith and a commitment to servant leadership, Turner shares how his life experiences--including overcoming childhood adversity, his time in professional sports, and his service in the Texas House of Representatives--have prepared him for this moment. He also reflects on the importance of trusting in God's timing and persevering through challenges, citing the lessons he's learned along the way. A key focus of this conversation is the pressing issue of homelessness in America, which has reached historic levels. Turner provides a candid look at the challenges facing HUD and why he believes faith-based organizations and nonprofits must play a larger role in addressing the crisis. "The federal government is not the answer," he says, emphasizing the power of local communities and churches to bring meaningful change. As Turner prepares to meet with local leaders and visit disaster-stricken areas in North Carolina, he shares how faith informs his approach to governance. Cissie encourages listeners to pray for Secretary Turner, recognizing the weight of his responsibility and the need for God's wisdom in every decision. Trump gets a cold shoulder from elite DC media (Politico) - full text Politico [3/16/2025 1:16 PM, Adam Wren] For the first time in the 140-year history of the Gridiron Club Dinner, those gathered did not offer the traditional toast to the sitting U.S. president. Instead, leading members of the Washington press corps paid tribute to the First Amendment. The broken ritual, which came after President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance declined to attend, capped off a night of ominous signs about the state of the Washington media's fraught relationship with the Trump administration. At the annual white-tie, off-camera and bipartisan dinner, where the guidance for jokes is to "singe, not burn," a coldness marked the moment instead. Gridiron members drew applause for stating their support for the Associated Press, currently barred from covering official White House events, and the Voice of America, which the White House Saturday said would be stripped back by executive order to "ensure taxpayers are no longer on the hook for radical propaganda." Meanwhile, the White House recently kicked HuffPost out of the press pool for an event last month, the newswires Reuters and Bloomberg have been forced to share a spot, and the White House Correspondents Association is reeling after the White House took control of the pool from it. Planning for the event in the days before led to an evening unlike anyone in the room could recall, according to two people closely involved. By Friday before the dinner, Judy Woodruff, the PBS journalist, announced to club members that the Trump administration would not have a speaker at the dinner, and the toast would be to the First Amendment instead. The two people involved in the planning said Trump and Vance both declined invitations last month. "Nobody went because either we were busy working or we just don't care to be recognized by that crowd," one White House official said Sunday morning. A 18 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000246 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0023359 spokesperson for the vice president did not return a request for comment Sunday. The snubs were, in many ways, mutual. In addition to inviting Trump and Vance, the Gridiron Club also invited Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, Communications Director Steven Cheung, and National Security Adviser Michael Waltz, among others. The administration didn't send a representative to speak for the first time in recent memory. It's usually the president or the vice president: During Trump's first term, the duty fell to former Vice President Mike Pence in 2017, Trump himself in 2018, senior adviser Ivanka Trump in 2019, and would've included former National Security Adviser Robert O'Brien in 2020 before the dinner was canceled due to the pandemic. Trump's own remarks in 2018 are a time capsule of just how much the rift between him and the press has grown. Back then, he thanked the press "for all you do to support and sustain our democracy. I mean that. I mean that. Some incredible people in the press. Really, I don't get to say it often. But you have some incredible, brilliant, powerful, smart, and fair people in the press. And I want to thank you." Last night, that wasn't the case. Traditionally dozens of White House advisers fill the room, but there were scant few in attendance. The dinner still featured a Cabinet secretary-HUD Secretary Scott Turner -- as well as speakers and lawmakers from both parties, as well as skits skewering Democrats and Republicans -- maintaining a long tradition on each of those fronts since 1885. To substitute for an administration speaker, Woodruff went into the Gridiron archives to show a video featuring comments from the last four Republican presidents -- including Trump speaking to the importance of a press in democracy. Asked why Turner's presence at the event as a member of the administration wasn't enough to toast, Woodruff said the Gridiron Club was "delighted" to have him attend, but that he only RSVP'd a few days before the dinner and was not there to speak on behalf of the president. "At most of the Gridiron Club's Spring Dinners, the President of the United States has spoken. In some years, the Vice President has filled in, and on occasion a high-level Administration figure," she said in a statement. "I invited the President, the Vice President, the National Security Adviser, and the Interior Secretary -- all declined. I was told the Secretary of State would not be available. To close the evening -- when the sitting President usually speaks -- we showed video and audio excerpts of the past four Republican presidents, starting with President Trump in 2018. These demonstrated the good humor and fellowship this dinner is all about." A spokesperson for HUD said in a statement: "HUD's mission touches every American and the mainstream media need to recognize that. Secretary Turner took this opportunity to show up and show how the administration is committed to reaching the record number of Americans who voted for President Trump, including some who still read mainstream news." Rep. Lisa McClain (R-Mich.), who chairs the House Republican Conference, and Maryland Democratic Gov. Wes Moore were the headliners of the event. In her remarks, Woodruff thanked her predecessor, the Washington Post's Dan Balz. "Boy has this city changed. Last year, we were celebrating the accomplishments and leadership of Dan Balz," she said. "Today, we're trying to figure out just how our government came to be run by a 19-year-old who goes by `Big Balls,- she said of the now infamous DOGE 19 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000246 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0023360 staffer. Army Secretary Daniel P. Driscoll, a friend of Vance's, walked out during Moore's jokes, some of which included ribald punchlines at Vance's expense. "Speaking of couches," Moore said, after referencing Secretary of State Marco Rubio's Oval Office meeting with Trump, Vance and Ukrainian President Voldomyr Zelenskyy, "I hear JD Vance was supposed to be here tonight. But I heard he pulled out at the last minute." A spokesperson for the Army inside the Pentagon said they could not provide comment by the time of publication. The vibes inside the Grand Hyatt Washington were some of the weirdest anyone in the room could recall. Throughout the evening, journalists and their guests had uncomfortable conversations about the jarring environment in which they operate, with media organizations being blocked across the Trump administration. All of this comes just weeks ahead of the White House Correspondents Dinner on April 26, an event that Trump did not attend throughout his presidency -- breaking tradition from his predecessors. Already, Leavitt said on "The Sean Spicer Show" Friday that she will not attend. [MA] Mass. fair housing group challenges DOGE cuts to nationwide program in court (MassLive, MA) - full text MassLive [3/14/2025 6:38 PM, Namu Sampath, 2931K, MA] Four organizations from across the country who work on rooting out housing discrimination in their communities -- including one in Western Massachusetts -- have asked a judge to reinstate their grants that Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency suddenly ordered cut at the end of February. The lawsuit filed Thursday in the U.S. District Court in Springfield says DOGE lacked the authority to order the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to terminate the grants funding a group of 66 fair housing organizations across the nation, leaving their work in limbo. "This will have a wide range of impacts, from leaving elderly people who cannot navigate the steps into their apartments with no one to call, to forcing people facing eviction to stand up in court alone, uncertain of their rights, to sending families illegally excluded from housing into homelessness," the 36-page complaint reads. In addition to the complaint, attorneys for the fair housing organizations filed a motion for an emergency temporary restraining order. One of the groups suing DOGE and HUD is Holyoke-based Massachusetts Fair Housing Center, which was slated to receive $212,500 from HUD this year and next year, an additional $425,000. HUD acknowledged The Republican's request for comment but has yet to provide a more detailed response. The paper's attempts to contact DOGE were not immediately successful . On Feb. 27, the federal housing agency terminated the Fair Housing Initiatives Program (FHIP), which provides key financial support to organizations that assist people who believe they have experienced housing discrimination. These grants are the primary source of funding for fair housing organizations in 33 states, the complaint says. "The advocacy, enforcement, education and outreach, counseling, and training that has been a bulwark against housing discrimination and segregation for decades was immediately and suddenly compromised," the complaint says. 20 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000246 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0023361 Daniel Ordorica, a Springfield-based housing attorney, is representing the Massachusetts Fair Housing Center and the other fair housing organizations bringing the suit: the Intermountain Fair Housing Council in Boise, Idaho; the Fair Housing Council of South Texas; and the Fair Housing Center for Rights and Research, Inc., in Cleveland, Ohio. Lila Miller, who is a partner at Reiman Colfax, a Washington, D.C., firm that is also representing the plaintiffs, wrote in an email Friday that HUD failed to follow the law and reinstating the funding will prevent harm to the fair housing organizations and the people they work with. "Preliminary relief is merited here, not only because of this irreparable harm but also because the applicable law indicates that HUD's decision was improper and that DOGE has no authority to direct FHIP grant terminations," Miller wrote. The Fair Housing Act, which was signed into law in 1968, protects Americans from housing discrimination. "One of the primary shepherds of this priority policy has been the network of fair housing organizations guarding against housing discrimination and advancing equal housing opportunities in every state of the Union," the complaint says. Thanks to the cuts, combined, the four plaintiff organizations lost a total of nearly $1.3 million in funding that they were slated to receive later this year or in coming years, the complaint says. The complaint says the cuts had "an immediate and devasting impact" as organizations around the country have had to "shutter programs, terminate services, lay off staff members and shrink their core activities," as a result of the termination of funding, the complaint says. "Some face the likelihood of near-term closure." Earlier this month, Maureen St. Cyr, executive director of Massachusetts' oldest fair housing center, which employs nine full-time staff members and has an annual budget of less than $900,000, told The Republican she feared her organization may not be able to stay open come fall. The Massachusetts Fair Housing Center has received the FHIP grant for almost 36 years. The center, like the other plaintiffs, often works with veterans, people with disabilities, low-income residents and immigrants, the complaint says. Historically, HUD has said that the FHIP grant is successful and "adds enormous value" to the housing agency, the complaint asserts. A 2011 HUD study concluded that the recipients of the FHIP grant help to weed out complaints that lack merit and include investigative evidence to the cases that do. "These are the cases that are much more likely to end in a conciliation or cause finding than are other cases in which the complainant comes directly to HUD and state agencies," the complaint says. Of an estimated 34,000 fair housing complaints lodged in the U.S. in 2023, private nonprofits, like the four in this lawsuit, processed 75%, according to a report from the National Fair Housing Alliance. The rest were fielded by state and local governments, with HUD and the U.S. Department of Justice working on less than 6% combined. Moreover, the Massachusetts Fair Housing Center, which serves all four Western Massachusetts counties, said it had never received communication from HUD that its performance regarding the grant was "anything less than satisfactory," the complaint says. In addition to the loss of funds, the fair housing organizations said the letters they received from HUD were identical, all claiming that the organizations "no longer effectuate the program goals or agency priorities." The complaint asserts that "DOGE is 21 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000246 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0023362 not an agency and has no authority to direct any agency to do anything," which includes HUD. The complaint also says that even though grants can be terminated because they no longer serve the agency's priorities, "this is not a carte blanche; an agency making a final determination to cancel an award must explain the reasons for its decision, consistent with the law governing final agency action." The plaintiffs are requesting that a federal judge certify the lawsuit as a class action, declare the defendants' termination of the grants as unlawful, order the HUD defendants to reverse the termination and reinstate FHIP awards, and enjoin HUD from pausing, freezing, suspending or terminating grants based on directive from DOGE or Trump's Executive Office. About a week before the letters were sent out, Scott Turner, secretary of Housing and Urban Development, launched a DOGE taskforce at HUD, comprised of housing agency employees, to examine "how to best maximize the agency's budget and ensure all programs, processes and personnel are working together to advance the purpose of the department," according to a HUD press release dated Feb. 13. "We have already identified over $260 million in savings and we have more to accomplish," Turner said in a statement. The defendants have not yet responded to the complaint in court. [MA] Mass. fair housing center says it can't take new cases after HUD funding cuts (WBUR, Boston, MA) - full text WBUR [3/14/2025 12:34 PM, Anna Rubenstein, 887K, MA] Calls to the Massachusetts Fair Housing Center's main line have gone to voicemail since March 5. Clients are directed to dial the extension of the person they're working with, but those looking to open a new case with the nonprofit center -- which provides free legal services to people experiencing housing discrimination -- are told by the recording that the office won't accept new requests for assistance. It was a difficult message to put up, said Maureen St. Cyr, the executive director of the Holyoke-based center. But the Department of Government Efficiency, an entity formed by President Trump through an executive order, slashed the center's annual budget by more than half, she said, leaving her little choice. The office's $1.3 million contract with the Department of Housing and Urban Development was terminated Feb. 27, effective immediately. The contract had been Congressionally approved yet was cut in the midst of a three-year payment plan. "To have our funding terminated with no real reason while doing high-quality work," said St. Cyr, taking a long pause. "I don't have a word for what it is. It's devastating to the work that we do." DOGE's terminated contracts with 65 other fair housing organizations throughout the country on the same day. The Holyoke center and three organizations based in Idaho, Texas and Ohio filed a lawsuit yesterday to challenge the move in the U.S. District Court in Massachusetts. They're calling for a temporary restraining order to block the more than $30 million cut by DOGE to the Fair Housing Initiative Program, which issued the grants. Fair housing centers provide critical funding that helps educate communities, investigate complaints and remove barriers to housing based on discrimination. If someone believes they've been denied housing because of discrimination -- because they have children or a housing voucher, or need accommodations on the basis of a disability, for example -- they can reach out to local centers to help advocate for them. Marily Rosa spent years scouring the Massachusetts housing market for a better place 22 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000246 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0023363 to raise three young her children. When she applied for new units, she faced denial after denial. It was only when a real estate agent told her a landlord rejected her because she had a Section 8 voucher that her suspicions were confirmed. When her real estate agent connected her to the center, she felt like someone was finally on her side. "The guy that worked with me would call me every so often and let me know updates on the case," she said. "It was effortless for me after submitting the paperwork." Rosa decided to move to a different apartment, but the settlement from her case helped to pay for her younger kids' bunk beds, a new dresser for her oldest and a couch to replace the old, rat-infested one from their previous home. Without the Fair Housing Center, Rosa said her situation "would be hopeless." "I'm sad other people won't have the same advantage right now, she said. "These places that are helping the less fortunate matter." For Cyr, the priority now is helping existing clients, even over having a physical space. Once its lease is up in three months, the center's nine-person staff will leave the office and work remotely, saving "every last dollar for clients and staff." Other fair housing centers across the state are bracing for impact as the Trump administration terminates Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity grants. Of the 162 active grants going to private nonprofits that fight housing discrimination, which is prohibited under the 1968 Fair Housing Act, nearly half are slated for cancellation. "All these organizations are funded in this way," said Jamie Langowski, the executive director at Suffolk University's Housing Discrimination Testing Program. "If they terminate FHEO, they're really taking away the Fair Housing Act." Langowski said her program, which has been funded through HUD since it opened in 2012, hasn't lost any federal dollars. But two grant applications submitted in November haven't moved forward, she said, which would have been awarded by now in a typical cycle. That funding is necessary for her organization to continue serving the Boston area, she said. "We get asked all the time to do training with cities and towns across Mass. for community members, real estate, landlords," she said. "We've already had to start saying no to people." Nonprofits work in conjunction with both the state and HUD to provide fair housing services: state and federal offices act as neutral bodies to investigate legal complaints. Massachusetts has its own set of anti-discrimination laws, upheld by the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination, whose housing units are supported by HUD funding. "[Nonprofits] fill a role that MCAD can't fill -- testing, legal advice and representation, working to file complaints," said executive director Michael Memmolo. "It's a collaborative effort." Though the commission hasn't been notified of any federal cuts, it's actively planning for the "inevitability that contracts be eliminated," he said. There have been warning signs, Memmolo said. The commission received word from HUD that it's no longer able to file complaints that relate to gender identity under federal law; since those cases no longer receive federal rights protections, they'll be left to state protections only, he said. The commission has already begun discussions with Gov. Maura Healey's office and the Legislature, advocating that the state step in if the federal government cuts funding. About 80% of the commission's budget comes from the state, but the federal money is 23 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000246 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0023364 crucial, particularly for housing, especially if HUD and local nonprofits can no longer carry their weight, Memmelo said. In 2024, the commission received 439 complaints alleging discrimination in public housing, making up about 12% of its caseload. Mass. Fair Housing receives about 250 complaints each year and currently serves more than 50 clients. Beyond outside contracts, the Trump Administration is slashing HUD's Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity, cutting probationary workers and proposing a 77% staff reduction. Claire Bergstresser lost her job with Fair Housing Feb. 14 alongside three of her coworkers. "We were actually trying to head towards more folks covering an entire New England region rather than fewer," she said. "We're looking at numerous cases that are going to be reassigned." Smaller staff means people who call HUD will have to wait longer for answers, Bergstresser said. And she's worried about time-sensitive cases -- people who need disability accommodations, and domestic violence cases protected under the Violence Against Women Act. "You're taking out the ground floor," Bergstresser said. "At HUD, we have such a stretch as a federal agency that we really help to prop up the giant ecosystem of important players. And so when you take out the ground floor, everything comes down." Not every local fair housing nonprofit has been hit with federal funding cuts. SouthCoast Fair Housing, which serves Plymouth and Bristol counties and the state of Rhode Island, still has all of its federal funding, said executive director Kristina da Fonseca. But what's happened in Holyoke worries her. "For many years it's been a network of different actors playing different roles, all kind of working toward the same goal historically: that everyone has safe, affordable and fair housing," da Fonseca said. "When one of those pieces steps away from that, it's going to cause disruption through the whole system." [NY] Trump administration issues funds to NYC housing nonprofits, with new strings attached (Gothamist, NY) - full text Gothamist [3/14/2025 3:58 PM, David Brand, 2180K, NY] After a nearly two-month delay, the Trump administration said this week it will release millions of dollars in federal grants to organizations that house formerly homeless New Yorkers with a string of added conditions. But federal officials abruptly rescinded the agreements less than an hour after Gothamist first reported on the development Friday saying the language used in its agreements may violate court orders. That initial agreement required funding recipients to pledge they wouldn't promote what federal officials call "gender ideology," diversity initiatives or sanctuary immigration policies. The federal Department of Housing and Urban Development issued the terms of the contract to housing groups in New York City on Thursday. On Friday afternoon, though, within minutes of Gothamist publishing the news, staff from the federal agency's local field office informed city officials that it had "rescinded" the agreement because the language around the new restrictions was "not consistent with" court orders, according to an email shared with Gothamist. A federal Housing and Urban Development spokesperson confirmed that the agency would issue new grant agreements before releasing the funds, meaning the recipients may still receive the funding once the federal government fixes its language. The directive issued Thursday by HUD also informed 24 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000246 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0023365 nonprofits they no longer have to adhere to the "housing first" model, which allows homeless individuals to secure permanent housing without first meeting other conditions like sobriety or employment. The initial restrictions and the abrupt change to the contract agreement Friday are fueling uncertainty among groups addressing a dire homelessness crisis in New York City, where more than 140,000 people lacked stable housing during the most recent one-day count. Advocates for homeless New Yorkers said the language could lead to future penalties and the loss of federal funds. Officials from some local organizations that receive the grants said they are reviewing what effects the new conditions could have on their programs. Fred Shack, the CEO of the homeless services provider Urban Pathways, called the new language "disconcerting." but said his organization's "commitment to providing services that are in the best interests of the folks who are our clients is unchanging." Shack said Urban Pathways receives a $271,000 grant from the federal government to help run an apartment building with on-site social services for 55 formerly homeless adults in Midtown. He said the organization has received the funds for 18 years and he was glad to receive notice of its renewal on Thursday. "If that money were to go away, it is going to have a significant impact on our ability to provide the same level of service," he said. HUD attached the conditions to contracts specifically awarded through its Continuum of Care program, which helps fund housing for homeless adults and families nationwide. New York City's Continuum of Care organizations use the funding to house about 11,000 people in short-term apartments, buildings with on-site social services and units owned by private landlords who are paid through the programs. The federal agency provides more than $163 million to New York City nonprofits to supplement city and state funding. The newly released funds will go to New York City programs with prior federal contracts that have expired since January, including the Urban Pathways program. There are 26 programs with contracts that have expired or are expiring this month, according to the city's Continuum of Care coalition. The Trump administration in January froze the funding that was previously awarded under President Joe Biden. In a post on X on Thursday, Housing and Urban Development Secretary Scott Turner said the Continuum of Care program had been "used as a tool by the left to push a woke agenda at the expense of people in need." Turner also referenced how the federal government will issue the grants to faith-based organizations, which he said have faced discrimination. The "funds will now be used for their intended purpose -- they will not promote DEI, enforce `gender ideology,' support abortion, subsidize illegal immigration, and discriminate against faith-based groups," Turner added. "HUD will use all available resources to fight homelessness." Nicole Branca, the CEO of the New York City nonprofit New Destiny Housing, said her organization has always devoted its federal funding to housing and rental assistance. New Destiny builds homes, finds apartments and provides services for domestic violence survivors. "100/0 of the federal funding goes toward keeping people housed, so I have no concerns about meeting the conditions," Branca said. She said New Destiny uses the funds to pay private landlords, who would also be affected by any cuts. 25 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000246 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0023366 Officials from four organizations that receive federal funding declined to talk about the potential impact of the new directives without first speaking with their attorneys. Other leaders in New York City homeless services say the new conditions could be used to justify future penalties of funding cuts to specific organizations. "It's difficult to even know how to interpret [the directive] because it's so broad," said Kate Barnhart, executive director of the organization New Alternatives for LGBTQ+ Youth. "If they want to come after an organization, they will find something they can jam in under that rubric." Barnhart said she could speak freely about the new directives because New Alternatives doesn't receive federal funding. Her organization runs a dropin center in Midtown for homeless young people, including teens and young adults she said have left other parts of the country as a result of measures like bans on genderaffirming care. "The destabilizing influence of all this is causing our clients to suffer in terms of anxiety and mental health," Barnhart said. In a joint statement, Department of Social Services spokesperson Neha Sharma and Department of Housing Preservation and Development spokesperson liana Maier said their agencies were reviewing the new rules. "We will be closely monitoring any impact on access to care, housing or services for at-risk individuals and the broader safety net for housing-insecure New Yorkers," they said. "We will always stand ready to support our most vulnerable communities in keeping with the city's mandate to provide shelter to any New Yorker in need and our mission to tackle the homelessness and housing crisis." The Continuum of Care is one of several federal housing programs affected by the Trump administration's efforts to root out what it considers wasteful spending or examples of diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives. The Department of Housing and Urban Development has canceled affordable housing contracts over DEI concerns, Bloomberg reported Tuesday. The agency has also weighed laying off 84% of the employees in the division that oversees homeless services grants, NPR reported. A spokesperson for the Department of Housing and Urban Development said the figure was not accurate. The directive around diversity has raised some questions among New York City social service providers. Shack, from Urban Pathways, said his organization hires people who have experienced homelessness and who play a key role in operations and social services. He said that won't change. "We hire people based on their ability to do the job and their ability to engage with the population they serve," he said. "I could hire someone with a clinical degree, but if they don't have the ability to connect with the individual who's been living on the street for five years, it doesn't do us any good." Many of the federally funded organizations have also faced chronic payment delays from the city, adding to the anxiety when it comes to covering costs. Uncertainty surrounding the federal funding had led some organizations to stop working with new clients, officials from the city's Continuum of Care coalition said earlier this week. At a public meeting Tuesday, Department of Social Services Associate Commissioner Kristen Mitchell advised those organizations to continue taking on new clients. "I know it's difficult in this climate. Not-for-profits have very thin margins, and so it's difficult," Mitchell said. "But all of our Continuum of Care providers and projects should be continuing operations." 26 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000246 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0023367 [NY] HUD approves then rescinds funds for NY housing groups (HousingWire.com) - full text HousingWire.com [3/16/2025 2:56 PM, Jonathan Delozier, 354K] The Trump administration was set to release millions in federal grants to New York City organizations that house formerly homeless individuals on Friday, but recent court orders are delaying the effort, according to a report from Gothamist. To get the funding, the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) initially required grant recipients to pledge they would not support "gender ideology," diversity programs, or sanctuary immigration policies. HUD reportedly had just issued these terms on Thursday. But the agency rescinded those agreements Friday, just after news of the funds being released was reported by the Gothamist, citing potential violations of court orders. A HUD spokesperson later confirmed with Gothamist that new agreements would be issued before funds are distributed. Also on Friday, an appeals court lifted a block on executive orders seeking to end government support for DEI programs, allowing the orders to be enforced while a lawsuit against those orders works its way through the courts. It's not clear how that will affect these particular program payments. The funding, part of HUD's Continuum of Care program, supports housing for homeless individuals and families. In New York City, the program funds housing for about 11,000 people through short-term apartments, supportive housing, and rental subsidies paid to private landlords. The city's Continuum of Care coalition reported that 26 programs had their contracts expire or are set to expire this month. The delay in federal funding, combined with the shifting conditions and now new court orders, has added uncertainty for local organizations already struggling to address a growing homelessness crisis. More than 140,000 people in New York City lack stable housing, according to most recent one-day counts. Fred Shack, CEO of Urban Pathways, a nonprofit that houses formerly homeless adults, said the changing language in HUD's agreements is concerning. His organization receives a $271,000 federal grant to operate an apartment building in midtown New York City, he told Gothamist. "If that money were to go away, it is going to have a significant impact on our ability to provide the same level of service," Shack said. HUD also informed nonprofits that they are no longer required to follow the Housing First model, the Gothamist added. This model had allowed people to obtain housing without first meeting conditions like sobriety or employment. Critics say this shift could make it harder for organizations to maintain funding and continue their work. In a post on X Thursday, HUD Secretary Scott Turner argued that the Continuum of Care program had been used to promote "a woke agenda at the expense of people in need." He emphasized that federal grants would now be open to faith-based organizations and would not be used to promote diversity, abortion access or policies supporting undocumented immigrants. Last week, fair housing groups with grant funding in Massachusetts, Idaho, Texas and 27 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000246 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0023368 Ohio filed a lawsuit against HUD, the U.S. DOGE Service, and Turner in his capacity as HUD secretery, alleging that sweeping cuts will hurt efforts to fight evictions and housing discrimination. Nicole Branca, CEO of New Destiny Housing, which helps domestic violence survivors in New York secure housing, told Gothamist that her organization has always used federal funds exclusively for rent and housing support. "100% of the federal funding goes toward keeping people housed, so I have no concerns about meeting the conditions," Branca said. New York City officials say they are reviewing HUD's new requirements. [PA] Affordable housing project in limbo as new administration reconsiders $1B retrofit program (WPXI, Pittsburgh, PA) - full text WPXI [3/14/2025 9:45 AM, Tim Schooley, 728K, PA] Michael Polite can look back now with newly fraught nostalgia to all the rituals that came with applying for and being awarded federal grant money for an affordable housing project downtown. In this case, Polite, a senior vice president for affordable housing developer Beacon Communities, recalls the time in November 2023 when his company received a more than $5 million federal grant through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) in the first round of a new Green and Resilient Retrofit Program seeded with $1 billion in funding from the Inflation Reduction Act, legislation signed by former President Joe Biden in 2022. "The action was already approved. The building was picked," recalled Polite, who has applied for various subsidies of all kinds to pursue affordable housing projects in his career. "The cardboard check had already been photographed." Fast-forward about 16 months and with the new administration of President Donald J. Trump, working closely with Elon Musk overseeing the Department of Government Efficiency, Polite has reason to wonder if the federal funding is coming. "Now, you have the new administration that has to figure out how is it going to proceed," he said. While there has been no direct announcement by HUD yet of any changes to the Green and Resilient Retrofit Program, the Associated Press is reporting, using unnamed sources and internal documents, that DOGE and the Trump Administration are halting the $1 billion GRRP, a move that if formally decided, announced and approved will throw plenty of plans and capital stacks into a state of uncertainty. The more than $5 million award to Beacon was expected to be used for such upgrades as new windows, insulation and HVAC at the May Building, located at 111 Fifth Ave. downtown. [PA] Western Pa. fair housing organization loses $425,000 grant in DOGE cuts (90.5 WESA, Pittsburgh, PA) - full text 90.5 WESA [3/17/2025 5:31 AM, Kate Giammarise, PA] A Washington County-based organization that enforces an anti-discrimination law in Western Pennsylvania has lost a $425,000 annual grant -- part of a wave of federal spending being slashed by billionaire Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) effort. The Fair Housing Law Center, based in Washington, Pa., has received funds from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development since 2009 to enforce the fair housing provisions in the 1968 Civil Rights Act. The landmark Civil Rights law, passed by Congress in the aftermath of the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr., prohibits discrimination in housing based on race, religion, and other factors. It 28 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000246 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0023369 was updated to also prohibit discrimination based on disability and family status. The Fair Housing Law Center covers more than 30 counties in Western Pennsylvania and four in West Virginia. Center staff learned last month the agency would be losing its grant immediately. A letter from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, citing President Donald Trump's executive order creating DOGE, and "at the direction of said Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE)," stated the grant award was over. "HUD is terminating this award because it no longer effectuates the program goals or agency priorities," according to a letter the center received. The center was in the first year of a three-year grant. An official there said the loss of the funds is completely unjustified. "There was nothing that we did, in terms of our work product and our work relationship, or responses to the federal government, that gives them any reason to have done this," said Brian Gorman, executive director of Summit Legal Aid. The Fair Housing Law Center is a project of the nonprofit Summit Legal Aid. Musk and Trump have portrayed the DOGE cuts as rooting out waste and fraud, though critics have said the initiative seems more focused on spending that, while already authorized, has been opposed by conservatives. The Fair Housing Law Center collects complaints about potential housing discrimination via a 1-800 number and email, and it conducts tests to check for potential landlord bias. Attorneys with the center can file complaints with HUD, the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission, or in court. It screens close to 800 cases a year, pursuing about 100 of these a year as cases of potential discrimination. Gorman said his agency is a good steward of the funds. "In terms of efficiency, we are extremely efficient," he said, with the vast majority of funds supporting the center's staff, which in turn provide services to clients. "You know, for lack of a better way of saying it, we work our butts off," Gorman said. The loss of the funds means the center will have to draw on reserve funds, at least one vacant position will not be filled, he said, and work will likely have to be shifted within the organization to continue to cover fair housing issues. "It certainly is going to impact the work by ... having less staff on fair housing, having less financial resources for fair housing." The center is part of a federal lawsuit filed by more than 60 fair housing groups seeking to have the funds restored. HUD did not respond to a request for comment. [NC] Helene blew through nearly six months ago. North Carolina's recovery has barely begun. (Washington Post) - full text Washington Post [3/16/2025 7:00 AM, Brady Dennis, 31735K] The state representative was not pleased. "North Carolina cannot afford another failed disaster recovery program," Rep. Brenden Jones (R) said inside a Raleigh hearing room on a recent morning, referring to the state's troubled and ongoing rebuilding effort from hurricanes Matthew and Florence, the latter of which struck in 2018. Now, nearly six months had passed since the remnants of Hurricane Helene ravaged western North Carolina, and the first home had yet to officially be rebuilt. Jones insisted he and other lawmakers wanted to see shovels in the ground and construction crews at work -- and soon. "We want to see some people being made whole," he told two officials from Gov. Josh Stein's newly created Recovery Office for Western North Carolina. 29 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000246 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0023370 The recent hearing encapsulated the tensions surfacing after Helene barreled through North Carolina, claiming more than 100 lives, destroying or damaging more than 185,000 homes, knocking out thousands of bridges and roads, wiping out businesses and farms and leaving an estimated $60 billion of economic ruin in its wake. The specter of a drawn-out recovery looms large in the state, where officials seem determined to move quicker after Helene and avoid the mistakes of the past, even as North Carolina faces the most massive disaster recovery in its history. For all the desire to get western North Carolina back on its feet, the shared goal to move quickly is colliding with the reality that disaster recovery is almost always frustrating, tedious and too costly for most states and localities to bear without a significant assist from the federal government. Lawmakers in Raleigh continued last week to hash out the final details of the state's most recent -- thought almost certainly not its last -- Helene aid package. If passed, it will include more than $500 million to help struggling farmers, jump-start a home building program and repair private roads and bridges. While significant, that amounts to only about half of the $1.07 billion that Stein (D) sought from lawmakers in this latest round of funding -- not to mention the $19 billion he has requested in federal assistance. At the recent hearing on the fledgling recovery efforts, Stein's deputies made clear they share the sense of urgency, but also underscored that serious hurdles remain. Among them: the staggering damage Helene inflicted, the lack of data in some counties about the actual number of damaged and destroyed homes and the difficulties posed by rebuilding amid mountainous terrain. And perhaps above all, the ongoing uncertainty about when federal disaster dollars will ultimately arrive and in what quantity, even amid President Trump's promises to speed help to the region. "It's going to be a slower process than I had hoped it would be," Stephanie McGarrah, who Stein tapped to help lead the disaster response in western North Carolina, said in detailing some of the challenges. McGarrah, who led the state's response to the coronavirus pandemic, said state officials are doing everything they can to lay the groundwork for a steady, robust rebuilding program in the hardest-hit communities. But she noted that it takes time to staff a new office, work through the requirements of applying for federal aid, line up contractors, vet residents who apply for help and ensure that funding is not wasted. "We're doing everything we can," McGarrah said As of Thursday, FEMA has helped more than 157,000 families and distributed $402.5 million to storm victims in North Carolina, according to an agency spokesperson. Much of that money went to immediate needs, such as hotel stays, rental and unemployment assistance and initial repairs and debris removal. But the larger sums of funding meant to fuel long-term rebuilding, such as disaster grants from the Department of Housing and Urban Development that often follow large-scale disasters, historically takes months, if not years, to be fully implemented. In early January, HUD announced it would send an initial $1.4 billion in disaster recovery funds to the state to help rebuild homes, develop affordable housing and repair roads and other key infrastructure. "I think realistically, it could be late summer or early fall," Jonathan Krebs, a Stein adviser and disaster recovery expert, told lawmakers when asked when the first dollar of HUD funding could show up in North Carolina. "I'm hopeful that it's different, but obviously 30 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000246 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0023371 many of the changes at the federal level are causing some questions about how they will actually execute a grant agreement to us." HUD did not respond to a request for comment. During the last days of the Biden administration, HUD also had announced a $225 million block grant for Helene relief for the city of Asheville. That funding was cast into doubt last week when the Trump administration threatened to reject Asheville's plans for the money unless the city scrapped a proposed small business program that would prioritize minority- and women-owned businesses. That reference on page 76 of the 125-page document was unacceptable," HUD Secretary Scott Turner said, and would violate an executive order to eliminate any federal support for diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives. Asheville quickly modified its proposed action plan. The updated document says the program is "intended to support all businesses." Mayor Esther Manheimer said in a statement that the city will ensure it meets current federal standards to facilitate approval of critically needed funding." In his State of the State address Wednesday evening, Stein implored lawmakers to finalize the latest bill, even as he and other state officials try to secure more federal funding. "We need that money now," Stein said. "Heck, we needed it yesterday." The latest Helene funding package also is likely to include money intended to complete the widely criticized recovery effort in eastern North Carolina after Hurricane Matthew hit in 2016, followed by Hurricane Florence two years later. ReBuild NC, a program overseen by the North Carolina Office of Recovery and Resiliency, has been a source of frustration for hurricane victims and lawmakers alike, with a history of budgeting failures, missed deadlines and construction backlogs. As of March 5, the agency said in an email, it had completed the rebuilding of more than 3,300 homes. Another 500 homes had been awarded to contractors or were in the process of being awarded to contractors, while 456 were either under active construction or awaiting final approval to begin construction. "You're inheriting a hornet's nest," Jones, the state representative, told Stein's two Helene recovery officials at the recent hearing, referencing the skepticism that remains given past recovery efforts. McGarrah and Krebs said they understood the demands to move swiftly, but also wanted lawmakers to understand the daunting task ahead. McGarrah said she recently had driven along the Linville Gorge on her way to Boone, and still marveled at the destruction. "There are just going to be some folks, I don't know how we are going to get to them," she said. "We still have a lot of things we have to work out." They told lawmakers that they plan to build a more nimble operation than that of the past -- one that relies less on state employees and more on outside contractors and vendors who can move briskly and specialize in certain tasks during each phase of recovery. But they acknowledged it will never be swift enough for those grappling with the loss and suffering that Helene wrought. "Even if we were building houses tomorrow, it's not fast enough," Krebs told lawmakers, saying that he thinks as much about hastening the end of the recovery as he does about getting it started. "We're talking [today] about building the first house," he said. "The reality is somebody is going to be last -- that's the one that keeps me up." [TN] Some Serenity Towers seniors move, receive vouchers (WREG, Memphis, TN) - full text 31 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000246 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0023372 WREG [3/14/2025 4:55 PM, Zaneta Lowe, 546K, TN] VIDEO. After years of problems and substandard living conditions, WREG has learned that some seniors have finally moved. The WREG Investigators spoke with the Memphis Housing Authority, and they confirmed that 14 tenants who pay market-rate rent are in the process of relocating, and four of those seniors have already moved. This week, more than 70 of all 145 residents have received vouchers. On Mar. 6, a spokesperson for the Memphis Housing Authority told NewsChannel 3 that out of the 145 seniors that must be moved, nine have currently identified units and submitted applications for approval. Those nine residents who are further along in the process pay market rate rent for their apartments at Serenity, which is primarily government subsidized. The spokesperson further explained, "The remaining residents are shopping for housing with the assistance of the relocation team." There are 95 residents who receive assistance from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and 50 residents who pay market rate. After years of violations that left residents in unsafe conditions, as exposed by the WREG Investigators, and a recent push from the city, the property was declared a chronic nuisance by the Shelby County Environmental Court. The judge also deemed the property uninhabitable and required all residents to be relocated by May 23rd. The MHA spokesperson told WREG that seniors will get assistance with "temporary" housing if they haven't found a permanent new home by then. "We are going to stay on a 30-day reset until we can continue to see the move-out completed," said Judge Patrick Dandridge, Environmental Court. HUD canceled its Housing Assistance Payment contract with Serenity's owner, Millennia, and that money will now go to the residents in the form of vouchers. MHA took over the day-to-day operations at Serenity and is also assisting HUD with the relocation. Cheiktha Dowers, the Director of the Housing Choice Voucher Program for MHA, said that their goal is for all residents who qualify to have vouchers next week. "So by the end of the by the end of this month, in March, we anticipate having all of the families relocated," said Dowers. "We have deployed significant resources to assist these families. As you know, the city is a partner, and we have many landlords around the city that's assisting us." There will be a housing fair at Serenity Towers next Tuesday from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. Dowers says they want it to serve as a one-stop shop for residents to connect with landlords. The next court date is scheduled for April 3. [KY] Redevelopment continues in Louisville's West End with Parkland Library, community center (Louisville Courier-Journal, KY) - full text Louisville Courier-Journal [3/13/2025 5:00 AM, Killian Baarlaer and Marina Johnson, 1707K, KY] Two developments recently unveiled in Louisville's West End are showcasing the city's push to revitalize the cluster of historically disadvantaged neighborhoods. An ongoing renovation and expansion at the Baxter Community Center and the reopening of the Parkland Library are some of the latest West End redevelopment projects in a growing portfolio, coming after Norton West Louisville Hospital in the Parkland neighborhood and 32 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000246 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0023373 the Stellar Snacks bakery facility in the Park Hill neighborhood both opened in November. The Parkland Library is now open to the public after a $6.6 million investment to revive the branch that has been closed since 1986. It's now 3,000 square feet bigger and offers more than 17,000 books and other materials, computers, spaces dedicated to teens and children and free programming that began March 1. While the opening of the Baxter Community Center is expected to open later in 2025 as its $11.6 million renovation nears completion, local officials are eager about how these developments and others will improve West End communities. "The people of Parkland deserve a library that builds on the momentum that we're seeing all across our community, here in West Louisville and in every part of Louisville," Mayor Craig Greenberg said. "This library is going to serve the needs of this neighborhood and surrounding neighborhoods for years to come now after years of being closed." Louisville Metro Housing Authority shows off Baxter Community Center renovations The renovation and expansion of the Baxter Community Center is just one piece of Louisville Metro Housing Authority's years-long effort to redevelop Beecher Terrace, a former public housing development in the Russell neighborhood built in 1939 that's bordered by Muhammad Ali Boulevard, Jefferson, 9th and 12th Streets. Louisville received a $29.6 million Choice Neighborhoods grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development in 2016, setting in motion a fresh start for the onceaging housing complex. The development is now on track to becoming a 640-unit mixedincome housing complex when the final construction phase ends late Summer 2025. The Baxter Community Center, which has served as the recreational and social hub for Beecher Terrace residents for decades, is now getting a multi-million dollar makeover thanks to a mix of funds from the Choice Neighborhoods Implementation Grant, the city and the American Rescue Plan grant. The renovated community center will be expanded by 4,525 square feet to accommodate an ADA-compliant entrance and feature several new elements, including enhanced Wi-Fi, a new park, basketball court, kitchen, music studio and educational spaces for various after school and summer programming, officials said. Louisville Metro Housing Authority Executive Director Elizabeth Strojen said the project, in partnership with Louisville's Parks and Recreation Department, is intended to preserve as much history of the original building as possible while also prioritizing accessibility and Americans with Disabilities Act compliance. "What we're trying to do here is to preserve what this place has meant to the community for so long but also make sure its a place where people can make new memories in this neighborhood," she said. "I think that this building is a perfect example of needing to preserve history and remember where we've come from and remember the rich history of this neighborhood and this new addition here is an example of why we need to modernize sometimes." Louisville Parks and Recreation Executive Director Michelle King said programming will look similar to other city community centers with recreational opportunities for all ages 33 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000246 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0023374 while some partnerships will be unique to the location like AMPED Louisville with the music studio. "Folks that are growing up in this neighborhood are coming here to make memories that they'll carry forward and then hopefully we'll see their kids coming back and enjoying the community center for just generations to come," King said. "This was an important investment. It was really needed." Parkland neighborhood's long-shuttered library gets new life A few miles southwest of the Baxter Community Center, Greenberg and a mass of other officials and community members celebrated the grand reopening of the Parkland Library after nearly 40 years in late February. Budget cuts led to the library's closure in the 1980s, but in 2022, investments from the Louisville Metro Government and Library Foundation put its renaissance in reach. The library is now reopened after a renovation that enlarged the facility, added a makerspace and improved accessibility with the installation of an elevator. "I'd like to thank everyone for showing up to this great occasion to be able to see a dinosaur come back to life," said Darrell "Dr. Dunkenstein" Griffith, a former University of Louisville and NBA basketball player. "I grew up on 41st and Hale, came to this library a lot as a kid. My parents would make sure that we were into books, and we were so amazed by the books that were in here." It was a full circle moment for him and many other residents in attendance who remember going to the library as a child and got to see a group of Maupin Elementary students cut the ceremonial ribbon Thursday. District 1 Metro Councilwoman Tammy Hawkins said the library's completion is the product of years of collaboration between local lawmakers and the mayor's administration to heed "what the people want." She thanked previous and current councilmembers and Greenberg for seeing the project through despite power changing hands multiple times since calls for the library to reopen began in 2016. "We may not all agree all the time, but guess what? We stick together at the end of the day," Hawkins said. "We make things happen that our colleagues want to see and that their constituents want to see in their district." The improvements are part of the Library Foundation's "One Louisville-One Library" campaign -- an initiative that has raised $44 million from a blend of private, local, state and federal sources for improvements at four Louisville Free Public Library branches. Of those, the Parkland and Portland libraries are in the West End. A $10 million renovation of the Portland Library is currently underway and expected to wrap up in Spring or Summer 2025, according to the campaign's website. The developments Louisville officials touted Thursday are just two of a string of West End developments announced in recent years, including the Norton Healthcare Sports 8, Learning Center in the Russell neighborhood and the Goodwill Opportunity Campus in the Parkland neighborhood. [IN] DOGE slashes grant to Indiana's lone fair housing nonprofit, prompting class action lawsuit (Indianapolis Star, IN) - full text Indianapolis Star [3/17/2025 5:30 AM, Jordan Smith, IN] Indiana's lone fair housing nonprofit may lose federal money as part of sweeping cuts ordered by the Trump administration, prompting similarly slashed organizations around the country to file a class action lawsuit. In late February the Department of Housing and Urban Development cut what remained of a roughly $139,000 grant to the Fair Housing 34 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000246 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0023375 Center of Central Indiana, an Indianapolis nonprofit formed in 2011 to enforce the antidiscrimination statutes of the 1968 Fair Housing Act. A Feb. 27 letter says the grant "no longer effectuates the program goals or agency priorities" of HUD under President Donald Trump's newly formed Department of Government Efficiency, led by billionaire Elon Musk. Two weeks later, fair housing nonprofits in four states banded together to sue HUD on behalf of 66 organizations in 33 states that stand to lose millions in federal grants. The cuts are unlawful because Congress already approved the money to aid victims of housing discrimination under the Fair Housing Initiatives Program, the March 13 lawsuit argues. HUD's Feb. 27 announcement would cut 78 of 162 FHIP grants. Losing that money would shut down groups advocating for residents facing discrimination because of their race, age or disability, among other protected classes, and for people forced to live in unsafe housing, according to the lawsuit. "This will have a wide range of impacts, from leaving elderly people who cannot navigate the steps into their apartments with no one to call," the lawsuit states, "to forcing people facing eviction to stand up in court alone, uncertain of their rights, to sending families illegally excluded from housing into homelessness." Central Indiana's fair housing nonprofit could lose nearly $28,000 because it has already spent about 80% of the annual grant meant to last through June, FHCCI Director Amy Nelson told IndyStar. The money paid for in-depth reports on rising foreclosure rates in Marion County, the growing presence of investor-owned rental homes and the mortgage lending disparities that contribute to lower rates of homeownership among Black and Hispanic Hoosiers in Allen County. If the HUD cuts are upheld, Nelson said, the FHCCI may scrap a planned report on soaring homeowner insurance costs. Worse than the slashed grants, Nelson said, are media reports that the Trump administration planned to fire half of HUD's workforce, some 4,000 employees, under Musk's cost-cutting push. HUD said those plans aren't yet final. The uncertainty and delayed funding are leading some fair housing groups to stop taking new clients. Nelson fears her organization could lose part of its HUD funding for 202526, which Congress approved last year but the Trump administration has yet to grant. Federal dollars account for about 80% of FHCCI's $1 million annual budget, Nelson said, paying for nine full-time staff who educate tenants on Indiana's housing laws and file lawsuits against problematic landlords and lenders. "Facing this type of devastating loss of funds, we don't have many options," Nelson said. "It would mean that people are not being served who might be experiencing housing barriers, including housing discrimination." [IL] Feds pull grant funding from Illinois fair housing orgs that investigate discrimination (NPR Illinois 91.9 UIS, Springfield, IL) - full text NPR Illinois 91.9 UIS [3/14/2025 6:10 PM, Lily Carey, 49K, IL] John Petruszak opened his email Feb. 27 to find a message he called "shocking": the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development had rescinded two grants it had awarded to his advocacy organization, the South Suburban Housing Center. The grants, which represent 37% of the center's budget, hadn't been rescinded through any misstep by the organization. Rather, at the order of the Trump administration's newly established Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, the grant was being terminated 35 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000246 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0023376 because it "no longer effectuates the program goals or agency priorities," the letter read. The message came as a surprise to Petruszak, the center's executive director. Fair housing organizations like his offer legal services and support to anyone facing discrimination in the housing market on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, familial status or disability, receiving hundreds of complaints each year. In 2023, private fair housing nonprofits across the country handled over 75% of all housing discrimination complaints. "Fair housing is really a fundamental right," Petruszak said. "It's a check and balance on the housing market, just like democracy is a check and balance on our governing systems." But a drastic reduction in these organizations' capacity or a mass shuttering of fair housing nonprofits could leave renters and prospective homebuyers with fewer avenues for justice if they face discrimination from landlords, real estate agents or neighbors. Petruszak said the South Suburban Housing Center will have to cut its housing enforcement team down from five full-time staffers to one or fewer. The Homewoodbased organization typically investigates up to 250 complaints each year but won't be able to keep up with this demand after these cuts are made, he said. Since 1987, the federal government has helped fund private organizations that investigate cases of housing discrimination through its Fair Housing Initiatives Program, or FHIP. The South Suburban Housing Center is one of at least 60 fair housing groups nationwide, including at least four in Illinois, that saw their FHIP grant funding suddenly pulled last month. The organizations represent about half of all of the fair housing grant recipients. Advocates said they heard from the National Fair Housing Association that some organizations saw all of their grants terminated, while others saw only partial cancellations. The groups all received the exact same message, which consisted of about three sentences and provided little detail other than attributing the grant rollback to President Donald Trump's executive order establishing the Department of Government Efficiency. In response, four fair housing groups, backed by the National Fair Housing Alliance and law firm Reiman Colmax, sued HUD and DOGE in Massachusetts' federal court on Thursday. The lawsuit, filed on behalf of all of the groups that had their grants terminated, alleged the government's decision to rescind the grants was unlawful, and noted the funding had already been authorized by Congress. In a statement provided to Capitol News Illinois, a HUD spokesperson said that "the Department is responsible for ensuring our grantees and contractors are in compliance with the President's Executive Orders," citing only the Trump order that established DOGE. "If we determine they are not in compliance, then we are required to take action," the spokesperson said in an email. "The Department will continue to serve the American people, including those [who] are facing housing discrimination or eviction." Dominic Voz, director of fair housing for the Evanston-based fair housing nonprofit Open Communities, said the cancellations "felt like an attack on civil rights in housing." "All of our work is about justice, and it's not about one group, it's for everybody," Voz said. "We're on the side of the law, so we are not a political group." The 1968 Fair Housing Act outlawed discrimination in any housing-related transactions. According to HUD, the law also requires that "all federal programs relating to housing and urban development 36 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000246 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0023377 be administered in a manner that affirmatively furthers fair housing." "This is something that has continued for decades upon decades, including under the last Trump administration," said Emily Coffey, director of equitable development and housing for the Chicago Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights. "It's shocking, at this stage, that the administration would sidestep the longstanding bipartisan appropriation of this funding." The lack of federal grant funding, which many fair housing groups have depended on for over 30 years, could be an "existential threat" for advocates and renters alike, Voz said. The Chicago area has a well-documented history of redlining, the practice of withholding financial services or loans from people who live in neighborhoods with higher numbers of racial minorities. While the south suburbs, where Petruszak's work is based, were once heavily redlined, shifts to affordable housing policies in Chicago led many Black residents to move to the area from the city in the late 20th century. That history continues to impact the area's housing market today, making fair housing work "essential," Petruszak said. "There's a great deal of historical documentation of discriminatory practices in the housing market that led to the south suburbs changing from a predominantly white area in the 1970s and 80s, to a predominantly Black area by 2000," he said. "It's an area where monitoring for discrimination in housing is most crucial, because of the historical nature of this discrimination." Though the federal grants to the South Suburban Housing Center represent more than a third of its overall budget, they funded 92% of its housing enforcement and education programs annually. The two grants that were terminated amounted to $550,000 combined. Open Communities' canceled grants amounted to 25% of its annual budget, according to Voz. The group, based in the northern suburbs of Cook County, dedicates these resources to investigating landlords accused of discrimination and filing human rights complaints. One of its lawsuits, filed in the U.S. District Court of Northern Illinois in 2023 helped prevent landlords from using artificial intelligence to reject rental applications. The Chicago Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights saw a three-year grant rescinded two years into its implementation, Coffey said. The grant comprised approximately 15% of the group's annual budget. The group focuses primarily on filing lawsuits in federal courts, pursuing "high impact" cases related to large housing providers or local governments, Coffey said. In Illinois, the Human Rights Act, passed in 1979, prohibits discrimination in housing and real estate against the same seven federally protected classes. The Illinois Department of Human Rights also helps intervene in instances of housing discrimination. However, IDHR has struggled to keep up with the number of discrimination cases it has received over the past two years. A 2022 expansion to the Illinois Human Rights Act added source of income as a class protected against housing discrimination. When this expansion took effect in 2023, IDHR began to see a "steady increase" in complaints, according to agency spokesperson Addie Shrodes. It can sometimes take a few months for IDHR to address complaints when they're filed, Shrodes said. But she said the department is also adding new staff to its fair housing division next week and is hoping to support private fair housing organizations in any way possible. Petruszak said it's the responsibility of the state government to step up and assist fair 37 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000246 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0023378 housing groups impacted by funding losses. "We're not talking about a great deal of money -- to the government, the FHIP grant is like a grain of sand in the Saharan desert," he said. For Coffey, though, it seems unlikely that the state would be able to fill the gap created by the federal government's decision to rescind these grants. "The state budgetary landscape is just as decimated by what's happening at the federal level," Coffey said. "But without having access to lawyers to be able to push forward claims of housing discrimination, this discrimination is allowed to go unchallenged." [IL] South Suburban Housing Center joins class action lawsuit to halt HUD and DOGE terminations of fair housing grants (HF Chronicle, IL) - full text HF Chronicle [3/16/2025 3:48 PM, Staff, 12K, IL] Four member organizations of the National Fair Housing Alliance filed a Class Action Complaint against the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) in the Federal District Court of Massachusetts on Thursday, March 13. The action was taken to challenge HUD's sudden and unlawful termination on Feb. 27 of Fair Housing Initiatives Program (FHIP) funding to 60 organizations across the country and jeopardizing over $30 million in congressionally authorized funding for local programs to enforce fair housing laws. Notices sent to all effected organizations directly stated that HUD was acting at the direction of DOGE claiming the grants "no longer effectuate the program goals or agency priorities" of HUD. The lawsuit is brought on behalf of a proposed national class of the 60 FHIP recipient groups impacted, including South Suburban Housing Center (SSHC), located in Homewood, and four other Illinois private fair housing NFHA member organizations. A copy of the filing can be found here. SSHC has been a fair housing grant recipient in good standing, receiving fair housing enforcement, education, mortgage distress and recently special American Rescue Plan grants for over 25 consecutive years with its performance rated as "excellent" by monitoring HUD staff. The cancellation notice received for two current multi-year enforcement, education and outreach grants would reduce $550,000 from SSHC's next 12-month budget period representing 92% of Fair Housing Program funding and 37% of its entire current budget. These funds had already been committed by HUD through grant agreements. If these funds are not recovered, SSHC would be forced to reduce fair housing enforcement staffing from the current five full-time positions to one part-time equivalent. These resource reductions will have dire impacts on SSHC's ability to assist its sixcounty south metro Chicago and central Illinois service region, with 3.2 million inhabitants including: Providing full service to individuals in fair housing protected classes with intake evaluations, investigations, assistance with legal representation, informal resolutions, and the filing of formal complaints involving surging race, disability, source of income, and national origin violation issues; Implementing community relief damage programs obtained by the resolution of fair housing cases, that have been used in recent years by SSHC to help stabilize 38 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000246 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0023379 economically struggling communities by funding downpayment assistance awards to owner-occupying home buyers; Reacting to housing crisis situations such as getting emergency housing and real estate tax arrearage relief to COVID-related income disruptions of families in our service areas; Conducting systemic violation monitoring of appraisal, tax assessment, mortgage lending and homeowners' insurance practices for redlining and other discriminatory practices. SSHC Executive Director John Petruszak said in reaction to the grant terminations and the necessary class action challenge taken: "South Suburban Housing Center's mission to address housing discrimination and to foster diverse, inclusive communities, is based on foundational principles taken directly from the federal Fair Housing Act. "Throughout its 50-year history, SSHC's programs have partnered with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) as well as state and local government agencies to enforce fair housing laws, ensuring individual rights are protected and addressing discriminatory activities that threaten housing market diversity. "The actions of HUD and DOGE are aimed at destroying this efficient local partnership and more importantly violate HUD's legal obligations and congressional responsibilities to enforce the Fair Housing Act.". About South Suburban Housing CenterSSHC is the private, non-profit, regional fair housing and housing counseling agency primarily serving over 100 communities in southern Cook, Will, and Kankakee counties of Illinois since 1975. SSHC's mission is the promotion and fostering of long-term diversity by working to eliminate all forms of discrimination and exploitation in the housing markets. SSHC's Fair Housing Enforcement Services extend to Grundy and Iroquois Counties in Illinois, Lake County, Indiana, and several underserved central Illinois cities. Find out more at >https://southsuburbanhousingcenter.org< [OK] CNO Housing Authority receives award for Connect Home program (Paris News, TX) - full text Paris News [3/16/2025 7:00 AM, Staff, 20K, TX] The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) presented the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma Housing Authority (HACNO) Connect Home program with the Trailblazer Award at its annual ConnectHomeUSA Summit. The Trailblazer Award recognizes communities with exceptional commitment to ensuring that all people and communities have the skills and technology needed to benefit from a digital economy. HACNO was one of two organizations to receive this award. HACNO's Connect Home was launched in 2015 to address the digital divide faced by residents on rural reservations. The program offers internet access, devices, and digital literacy training to individuals in over 1,000 properties, including those within its lease-to-own program, Affordable Rentals, and Independent Elder homes. In January 2025, the program was expanded to include Choctaw Nation employees. "Connect Home is honored to be recognized by HUD for our success in expanding internet access within our reservation communities." said Josh Raper, HACNO's Connect Home Program Manager. "Our program is dedicated to providing residents with essential resources they need to succeed in an increasingly digital and interconnected 39 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000246 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0023380 world. This award is a testament to our dedicated team and the strong partnerships we have developed with our Internet Service Providers and HUD partners," said Raper. Connect Home will continue to expand its efforts to link tribal members, employees, and communities on the reservation, in line with Choctaw Nation Chief Gary Batton's 20202025 strategic plan emphasizing broadband implementation and expansion. The Choctaw Nation is the third-largest Indian Nation in the United States with more than 230,000 tribal members and 12,000-plus associates. This ancient people has an oral tradition dating back over 14,000 years. The first tribe over the Trail of Tears, its historic reservation boundaries are in the southeast corner of Oklahoma, covering 10,923 square miles. The Choctaw Nation's vision, "Living out the Chahta Spirit of faith, family and culture," is evident as it continues to focus on providing opportunities for growth and prosperity. [OK] Our Housing Challenge is a Public Health Challenge (Native News Online) Native News Online [3/16/2025 12:34 AM, Chuck Hoskin Jr., 61K] We are in the midst of the largest period of housing investment in the history of the Cherokee Nation. If we think of our housing challenges as public health challenges, we can go even further. Our massive housing investment is due to the historic Housing, Jobs and Sustainable Communities Act of 2019. We began with a $30 million investment in housing rehab for elders in 2019 and in new community buildings where our elders often gather. We went further in 2022, injecting $120 million across existing and new housing programs. Last year we made the law permanent, with a commitment of $40 million every three years for the cause of housing and community facilities, all paid for by profits from Cherokee Nation Businesses and on top of federal funding. Progress on housing takes time, and building lasting change isn't easy. Together, we have made meaningful milestones through the Housing Authority of the Cherokee Nation. Since 2020, we've started or completed more than 500 new homes, 2,500 housing rehabilitation projects and our team answered over 1,300 emergency after hours calls. Additionally, our $34 million investment into a special program for first language fluent Cherokee speakers funded over 1,700 individual home repair and replacement projects and an expansion of our innovative village for Cherokee speakers in Tahlequah. Deputy Chief Bryan Warner and I believe in facts and transparency, so that we can all face challenges head on. Last year, our own housing study revealed that we have $1.75 billion in unmet housing needs across the reservation. Our study shows we have more work to do. HJSCA, with its $40 million commitment that renews every three years, will be at the core of how we address housing gaps over time. We will continue to invest federal funds as well. But, sadly, Congress funds federal Indian housing programs at the same level as it did 25 years ago when adjusted for inflation. Still, we are on a path to make serious progress. As I visit Cherokee communities where housing needs are obvious and I listen to stories of citizens who struggle to pay rent or find a path to home ownership, I realize we need to go even further than the historic effort we have already mounted. We need to treat our housing challenges as a public health challenge. In doing so, we can tap into even more resources -- and think even more deeply -- about Cherokee Nation's role in building community. 40 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000246 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0023381 A lack of housing or housing that is substandard impacts health. A recent review of research by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services revealed what most of us know: Housing affordability, stability, quality and safety -- as well as those qualities in homes across one's neighborhoods -- can either negatively or positively impact a person's health and in turn a community's health. Fortunately, we have another landmark tribal law that can help us go further on housing, in the name of health: the Public Health and Wellness Fund Act. Enacted in 2022, PHWFA earmarks 7% of our third-party health insurance collections for behavioral health and public health programs and initiatives. The PHWFA fund has a surplus, and we need to invest some of it into housing and outdoor recreation. We can build affordable housing, small parks and community buildings (including some with public safety substations) in communities that, in many cases, have not seen any such investment for generations. We will not only add more to our housing stock, but we will also create a sense of community, safety, belonging and hope. By tapping at least $30 million of the PHWFA surplus over the next few years, we can make a big impact. We are still early in orienting our thinking about "housing as public health," but we are already finding wonderful opportunities. Recent land acquisitions in Keys and Lost City mean we can work with those communities to eliminate blight and replace it with housing, community buildings and outdoor recreation space. Along with Keys and Lost City, we have designated land we have long owned in South Coffeyville, Vinita, Jay and Sally Bull Hollow as "housing and wellness reserves," laying down a marker that these sites are perfect for similar investments. We continue to assess communities across the reservation for similar designations. This much is clear: We have a lot of work ahead, and we are just warming up. With the Housing, Jobs and Sustainable Communities Act and the Public Health and Wellness Fund Act on the books, we have the tools and resources to forge ahead, boldly. [MT] Butte's Montana Fair Housing faces DOGE cuts; seeks local support to continue (KULR 8, MT) - full text KULR 8 [3/14/2025 4:34 PM, Bobby Lee, 59K, MT] Montana Fair Housing in Butte has announced a recent termination of its funding by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). This decision, effective February 27, 2025, comes under the direction of President Trump's Executive Order 14158, establishing the Department of Government Efficiency. The organization received the notice in an email on the evening of February 27, 2025. According to the email, HUD is ending the award because it "no longer effectuates the program goals or agency priorities." This decision came without prior notice to Montana Fair Housing. Montana Fair Housing expressed the impact of this decision, stating, "This action is a big loss for our organization and we have been forced to review our services and revise our staffing plan," Montana Fair Housing said. Despite the setback, Montana Fair Housing plans to continue offering services, though on a more limited basis. For those needing assistance or information, Montana Fair Housing can be contacted at 1-406-782-2573, Montana Relay at 711, or via email at inquiry@montanafairhousing.org. Montana Fair Housing has served the community for 37 years and is now reaching out for support during this challenging time. 41 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000246 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0023382 [MT] DOGE cuts $425,000 grant for Montana Fair Housing, wiping out 80% of nonprofit's budget (KTVQ.com, MT) - full text KTVQ.com [3/14/2025 7:52 AM, John Emeigh, 111K. MT] VIDEO. Cuts made by the Trump administration's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) are going to affect the Montana Fair Housing organization headquartered in Butte, which will slash its annual budget by about 80 percent. "I was quite taken aback to see an email, open it up and find out everything stops this minute," said Montana Fair Housing Executive Director Pam Bean. In a Feb. 27 email from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Bean was informed that a grant that provides Fair Housing with $425,000 in funding each year was immediately terminated per executive order requiring DOGE cuts. "Oh, it was quite a shock. We were preparing--we had interviews scheduled to hire a couple folks, cases in the midst," said Bean. Montana Fair Housing is a non-profit that intervenes in discriminatory housing practices, settles tenant and landlord disputes, and other matters in the federal Fair Housing Act. Bean said she gets about 180 inquiries a month. "Services are going to be markedly cut back, so we've had to really scale back what we're going to be able to do and in what time frame," she said. DOGE is an effort headed by Elon Musk at the direction of President Trump to reduce the federal workforce and trim what it sees as wasteful government spending. Bean agrees that there's a need to cut back on federal spending, but she says some of DOGEs methods, like cuts to fair housing, are going too far. "There is a way to approach scaling back government and addressing abuse without across-the-board harming millions and millions of people," said Bean. The fair housing office has three employees and plans to continue by seeking funds through other grants and donations. [WA] Seattle housing, homelessness crisis would grow if Trump cuts HUD (Crosscut Seattle, WA) - full text Crosscut Seattle [3/14/2025 10:50 AM, Josh Cohen, 7K, WA] The angst comes amid reports that the Trump Administration and Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency want to cut HUD's 9,600-person workforce by half and close many regional and field offices across the country. Seattle's office is one of 11 HUD regional facilities and serves Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Alaska. Bloomberg, The Washington Post and the Associated Press have all reported that HUD plans to close the Seattle office entirely and that its more than 100 workers will likely be laid off, along with about 50 based in Portland. The agency also has smaller field offices in every state but is planning to close most of them, leaving field offices in just Alaska, North Carolina, Hawaii, Florida, California and Puerto Rico, according to Bloomberg News. HUD is likely best known for its work on public housing, but the agency also oversees grants for affordable-housing construction and homelessness outreach, Section 8 housing vouchers, enforcement of antidiscrimination fair-housing laws, housing policy research and housing for Native American tribes. HUD also manages the Federal Housing Administration, which insures private mortgage lending to help working-class Americans access home loans. The Seattle HUD employee told Cascade PBS at least five probationary employees were laid off already along with seven people from the Field Policy Management program, which serves as the go between for HUD and local and state governments. The employee said several other staff in Seattle were told they must relocate to other offices to keep their jobs. 42 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000246 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0023383 Perry Casper is Region 10 regional vice president with American Federation of Government Employees Council 222, the union that represents HUD workers. He said while some employees have been offered early retirement, many are not old enough to qualify at all or qualify for the full benefit. "We have a lot of people that have kids in high school, junior high. They have homes, they have families," Casper said. "People are just flat-out scared about getting another job in this economy that's not producing enough jobs now." He continued, "[Employees] deserve a lot of credit for continuing to help others in the midst of their own fears and concerns. Readers should know just how dedicated people have been to keep up the work when their own lives have been disrupted so badly." Kasey Lovett, HUD's head of public affairs, wrote in an email that no decisions have been finalized about office closures: "We understand the important role of field offices in carrying out HUD's mission. The department is exploring consolidation while continuing to prioritize service." The potential closure of the Seattle regional office and broader cuts at HUD have local housing and homelessness advocates scared. "I can say with confidence that none of this is about efficiency," said Alison Eisinger, Seattle/King County Coalition on Homelessness executive director. "None of this is about housing Americans. None of this is about ensuring that the federal government does its part to end homelessness. This is all about destroying the infrastructure that provides benefit and service to the American people." Some Seattle-area affordable-housing and community development nonprofits are already feeling the pinch from frozen HUD funds. HUD's Section 4 grant program is meant to help small nonprofits expand their capacity to build affordable housing or do economic development work that benefits low-income residents. The money is used for things like helping a small affordable-housing developer get through the environmental review and permitting process, hire a site surveyor or get legal assistance on a project. Section 4 grants get distributed through intermediary nonprofits including Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) and Enterprise Community Partners. Section 4 uses reimbursable grants, meaning nonprofits that receive funds must submit receipts to the intermediary for reimbursement. In February, LISC and Enterprise learned their Section 4 grants were being terminated. Nationwide at least $60 million in Section 4 grants have been frozen, the Associate Press reported. Lauren McGowan, LISC Puget Sound's executive director, said the organization had about $225,000 in contracts committed to Seattle-area nonprofits that it can no longer pay, and another $380,000 that were awarded but not yet under contract. LISC's local awardees include the YWCA, the Financial Empowerment Network, Urban League, United Way Pierce County and Workforce Snohomish, most of which were using the funds for jobs training and economic development projects. According to an Enterprise spokesperson, four nonprofits in Washington were expecting about $154,000 in Section 4 reimbursements that the organization may not be able to pay. Enterprise was also about to announce another $890,000 in grants for Washington and Oregon that have been cancelled. The Associated Press reported that HUD is also halting a $1 billion program that helps preserve aging affordable-housing projects that are in need of repairs and upgrades. "We're deeply concerned about the overall 43 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000246 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0023384 affordable-housing system," LISC's McGowan said. She argued there could be a ripple effect if things like Section 8 housing vouchers and food-assistance benefits get cut until people can't keep up with their rent. That would, in turn, strain affordable-housing providers, who will almost certainly be getting less federal financial support in the coming years. If they go bankrupt and close their doors, their tenants would likely end up homeless. Dan Malone echoed McGowan's fears about the impacts of layoffs and deep funding cuts at HUD. Malone is executive director at Seattle's Downtown Emergency Service Center (DESC), a homelessness services and permanent supportive housing provider. "The housing crisis would get even worse," Malone said. "State and local governments are not going to have enough of their own resources to backfill any federal funding cuts. And even if the federal money technically isn't cut, not having the ability to process the money because they don't have enough staff will have the same effect." Malone said DESC's funding hasn't yet been impacted by the new administration, but he and other housing providers are watching closely to see what happens with $67 million in HUD Continuum of Care program funding that's been awarded to housing and services providers in King County but not yet disbursed by HUD. Continuum of Care money funds organizations working on homelessness issues and providing housing for the region's lowest income residents. Losing it would result in "many more desperate folks on the streets," Malone said. The King County Regional Homelessness Authority (KCRHA) is the intermediary agency that distributes Continuum of Care money. Lisa Edge, KCRHA chief of external affairs, confirmed that the agency is still waiting for FY2024 Continuum of Care funding but that it's typical for HUD to take months to disburse grants so it's "too soon to say" if the money is at risk. "This is an evolving situation involving numerous challenges," wrote Edge in an email. "We're focused on continuing the important work of addressing homelessness in the region while supporting service providers and the staff during this turbulent time." Asked about the potential impact on affordable housing and homelessness, HUD spokesperson Lovett wrote: "HUD is following direction from the administration while also ensuring the department continues to deliver on its critical functions, mission to serve rural, tribal and urban communities and statutory responsibilities." U.S. Sen. Patty Murray from Washington has joined several other Democratic leaders in urging HUD Secretary Scott Turner to not go through with the planned cuts. In a letter to Turner signed by Murray and Senators Elizabeth Warren, Kirsten Gillibrand, Tina Smith and Chuck Schumer, the officials said frozen funds and a gutted HUD workforce will make the country's housing crisis worse. "It's frankly unbelievable that the Trump administration is even considering shuttering HUD's Region 10 office in Seattle," said Murray in a statement to Cascade PBS. She continued, "This could cause widespread uncertainty in our state's housing market and make it harder for organizations to close deals and get the financing they need to build more affordable housing. And it is just another example of Trump and Elon creating new problems and ripping the rug out from under people instead of doing a single thing to lower the cost of housing as the affordable housing crisis grows increasingly dire in Washington state." Murray's office said they have not received a response from Turner about the senators' letter. 44 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000246 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0023385 Trump is not the first Republican president to go after HUD. During Ronald Reagan's administration, the agency's budget was cut from $33.4 billion in 1981 to $14.2 billion in 1987. In that same period, the number of employees dropped from 16,343 to 11,470, according to a 1989 report from The Washington Post. Murray's letter to Turner said that between 2012 and 2019, HUD's staffing levels fell by more than 20% and the department had just started to rebuild its workforce. "The work doesn't go away. It just increases," said Casper, the HUD union rep, who experienced the loss of thousands more employees during his more than 30 years working at the agency. If the cuts and office closures go ahead as reported, he said everyone from the Dakotas to the Pacific Northwest will be served by the regional HUD office in Denver. "The distances are so much more vast," Casper said. "Then you cut travel and in-person contact . . . it's not going to be the same relationship. They're creating a situation where all you are is big government that's far away. You're not creating a government that's able to deal with issues when they arise." On Thursday, a federal judge ordered the Trump administration to rehire thousands of probationary employees who had been unlawfully terminated. The order extends to the Departments of Veterans Affairs, Agriculture, Defense, Energy, Interior and Treasury. The order did not apply to HUD employees, but the judge said he may extend the injunction to other agencies in the future, according to reporting by Government Executive. [CA] Sens. Schiff, Smith, Colleagues Urge HUD to Swiftly Distribute $3.6 Billion in Federal Funds for Vital Homelessness Programs (Santa Barbara Independent, CA) - full text Santa Barbara Independent [3/14/2025 3:35 PM, Office of Senator Adam Schiff, 235K, CA] U.S. Senators Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) and Tina Smith (D-Minn.) led a letter to U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Scott Turner urging the agency to distribute $3.6 billion in congressionally appropriated funding to support vital local programs aimed at curbing homelessness across the country, including in California. In the letter, the lawmakers call out the Trump administration for this funding hold and for the chaos created from the administration's recent federal funding freezes. The lawmakers also express deep concern regarding HUD's sudden cancellation of technical assistance contracts and plans for sweeping staff cuts at HUD and how this will exacerbate the nation's housing crisis and efforts to combat homelessness. "We urge you to take action to ensure the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) will finish processing FY2024 funding and comply with the two-year funding cycle. We further urge you to restore HUD's technical assistance contracts that are vital to CoC recipients in smaller communities," the Senators wrote. "Most CoC awards are needed for existing projects rather than new projects, and hundreds of projects have already started their program years without any clarity on when and if HUD funds will be available. To keep the lights on, providers are now being forced to draw on lines of credit at significant cost and risk to their organizations. These projects enable homeless service providers to help veterans, families with children, youth, seniors, and vulnerable individuals access permanent and temporary housing, crisis counseling, and other supportive services," continued the Senators. 45 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000246 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0023386 "Though the OMB memo is now rescinded, its publication created panic and uncertainty among CoC funding recipients actively providing critical homeless services in their communities. Large and small homeless service providers alike -- across rural, suburban, and urban communities -- are largely funded by the Continuum of Care program, and this lack of financial certainty is actively causing them to reevaluate their ability to provide services to their communities," concluded the Senators. The letter is also signed by Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), and Senators Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawai'i), Ben Ray Lujan (D-N.M.), Edward J. Markey (DMass.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.). The letter is also endorsed by the National Alliance to End Homelessness. Full text of the letter is available here and below: We write to you today to express our concern that Continuum of Care (CoC) funding recipients, the regional bodies responsible for the direction and coordination of local homelessness response systems, may not receive funding already appropriated by Congress. We urge you to take action to ensure the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) will finish processing FY2024 funding and comply with the two-year funding cycle. We further urge you to restore HUD's technical assistance contracts that are vital to CoC recipients in smaller communities. As you know, the CoC program is the core federal funding stream to help communities address homelessness. On January 17, 2025, HUD announced $3.6 billion in CoC program awards for nearly 7,000 projects across the country. Most CoC awards are needed for existing projects rather than new projects, and hundreds of projects have already started their program years without any clarity on when and if HUD funds will be available. To keep the lights on, providers are now being forced to draw on lines of credit at significant cost and risk to their organizations. These projects enable homeless service providers to help veterans, families with children, youth, seniors, and vulnerable individuals access permanent and temporary housing, crisis counseling, and other supportive services. Additionally, HUD is required by law to obligate these funds no later than 45 days after the issuance of award letters, a deadline which passed on March 4, 2025. The deadlines established by 42 U.S.C. 11382(d) are intended to prevent lapses in funding and service, for renewal projects in particular, and it seems HUD has now missed the statutory obligation deadline. The statute is extremely clear, which reads "OBLIGATION.--Not later than 45 days after a recipient or project sponsor meets the requirements described in paragraph (1), the Secretary shall obligate the funds for the grant involved.". In the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Memo M-25-13, the authors made clear that grant awards that have not yet been obligated were at risk of reversal or withdrawal by the Administration. Although the memo on the federal funding freeze was later rescinded, it is evident that the Trump Administration is still withholding funds. On February 10, a federal judge in Rhode Island acknowledged that the Administration failed to comply with a January 31-issued Temporary Restraining Order (TRO)2 and that funding pauses persist.3. 46 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000246 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0023387 Further, in FY2024 Appropriations, Congress granted HUD the authority for a two-year Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for CoC funding to enhance efficiency in the program. Previously, CoC funding recipients engaged in an annual funding process. Because an annual funding process can take over six months, requiring extensive community input around funding priorities, reallocation processes, and renewal evaluations, funding recipients lose critical time and resources that could otherwise be used to implement housing solutions in our communities. A two-year NOFO cycle more efficiently and effectively utilizes taxpayer dollars and staff resources. We are concerned that HUD, following the OMB memo's direction, will withdraw the two-year funding commitment in the middle of the FY2024/FY2025 funding cycle. This would create an undue burden on funding recipients and would directly work against the Trump Administration's stated goal of increasing the impact of every federal taxpayer dollar and promoting efficiency in government. In addition, we are deeply concerned by the reports that HUD intends to slash the Office of Community Planning and Development (CPD) staffing levels by a whopping 84 percent. CPD has responsibility for managing the Continuum of Care and Emergency Solutions Grants Programs that help homeless families and individuals, as well as other programs that all communities across the country depend on. On top of these devastating staffing cuts, HUD has arbitrarily and suddenly ended contracts with several technical assistance consultants without any remedial efforts to offset the loss of these valuable services for CoCs. This will have adverse impacts on a wide range of important HUD functionsfrom helping people who were homeless during and after natural disasters to helping communities systematically improve how they serve homeless youth. As you know, HUD technical assistance complements the experience and expertise of its federal workforce, and is designed to provide resources, tools, and support for recipients of HUD funding, such as state and local government grantees, public housing authorities, tribes and tribally-designated housing entities, CoCs, and nonprofits. Technical assistance for CoCs had been provided on a regional basis, but after the recent eliminations, 240 of the nation's more than 400 CoCs are no longer covered by any provider. The most adverse impacts will be felt by smaller to mid-size communities who need additional help to stand up programs, ensure compliance with grant requirements, and successfully and efficiently deploy federal funds. For example, Mississippi, Louisiana, Alabama, and Arkansas will no longer have access to any technical assistance. Coupled with planned reductions in HUD's workforce, without staff to process these grants or technical assistance to support program execution, there will inevitably be delays, reduced services, and ultimately, more individuals, families and children who end up on the streets. Though the OMB memo is now rescinded, its publication created panic and uncertainty among CoC funding recipients actively providing critical homeless services in their communities. Large and small homeless service providers alike -- across rural, suburban, and urban communities are largely funded by the Continuum of Care program, and this lack of financial certainty is actively causing them to reevaluate their 47 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000246 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0023388 ability to provide services to their communities. The recent cancellation of HUD's TA offerings puts further strain on CoCs. The funding uncertainty and cancelled TA, in turn, has the potential to increase homelessness across the country. We urge HUD to finish processing FY2024 homelessness funding, to comply with the two-year funding cycle authorized by Congress, and to restore HUD technical assistance contracts that support CoCs. We look forward to hearing from you on this matter. [CA] San Francisco city worker, partner accused of $500K welfare scam (CBS San Francisco, CA) - full text CBS San Francisco [3/14/2025 2:03 PM, Tim Fang, 51661K, CA] A San Francisco city employee and her partner are facing multiple charges for allegedly defrauding public agencies out of $500,000 in welfare, including Section 8 housing and childcare benefits, prosecutors said. San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins announced that 49-year-old Maggie Pasigan and 47-year-old Daisy Avalos were arraigned Thursday on charges of grand theft, welfare fraud, money laundering and conspiracy. Both Pasigan and Avalos pleaded not guilty. In a statement, Jenkins thanked multiple agencies, including the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, the city's Human Services Agency and Housing Authority, along with local law enforcement, in helping with the two-year investigation. "My office will take action to ensure the integrity of our benefits systems and seek to hold those accountable who would defraud the system for their own personal gain," Jenkins said. Court records show the city's Human Services Agency began investigating Pasigan in 2023 for alleged fraud, saying she did not disclose that Avalos was her domestic partner and Avalos' income as a city employee. The income would have disqualified their household for public benefits. "The defendants' fraudulent actions diverted over $375,000 in taxpayer funds from multiple federal programs, including HUD-assisted housing programs designed to provide safe and affordable housing for low-income families," said Special Agent-In-Charge Robert Lawler of the HUD Office of Inspector General. In addition to the housing benefits, Pasigan and Avalos are accused of receiving more than $30,000 a month in childcare benefits from a nonprofit contractor that stewarded public dollars for childcare and early education. Investigators said the women claimed to have provided childcare to as many as 17 children. Surveillance over several months showed there was no evidence of drop-offs, pickups or any other signs of children under their care. Prosecutors said the pair's next court appearance is Apr. 22, to set a date for the preliminary hearing. Anyone who may have a report of welfare fraud is asked to contact the San Francisco Human Services Agency hotline at (415) 557-5771. [HI] $1.6B in federal recovery funding coming to Maui will focus on housing (Hawaii Public Radio, HI) - full text Hawaii Public Radio [3/14/2025 11:30 AM, Catherine Cluett Pactol, 61K, HI] AUDIO. If all goes as planned, $1.6 billion in recovery funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development will help the Lahaina community get back on its feet. 48 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000246 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0023389 It's known as Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery funding, and it comes with strict requirements. "It's intended for vulnerable communities. It's intended for low-to-moderate income," said Mayor Richard Bissen at a community meeting this week about the county's plans for the CDBG-DR funding. HUD defines the low-tomoderate income guidelines as those having an annual income of less than 80% of an area's median income. "We have about $7.7 billion of damage that occurred out in Lahaina, and we did receive some funds to maybe bring that down a little bit," Bissen explained. "However, we have over $6 billion remaining in unmet needs, and so these funds are intended to help us get to our recovery." A majority of it -- more than $900 million -- is earmarked for housing. The funds will rebuild qualified single-family homes destroyed in the fire through an application process. It will also reconstruct some multi-family rental housing and new housing to give displaced former renters a chance at home ownership. Other programs include critical infrastructure repairs and upgrades, fire mitigation efforts, and public services such as health care resources, job training and case management support. John Smith of Maui County's Office of Recovery said funds are expected to be available this summer, and implementation will begin in the fall. "We actually are on a timeline from HUD," he explained. "So it may feel like this is moving really fast, but we want to move fast, because the faster we move, the faster that we actually are able to get funding to you folks." The first $82 million for administrative costs is already on its way to being released. County officials say they're working closely with HUD staff and are confident that federal cuts will not affect the rest of the funding authorized by Congress. Bissen says they have asked the Maui County Council to amend this year's budget and accept the entire CDBG-DR amount this year to expedite funds. "We have the support of the HUD staff that we're working with right now," he explained. "So I think they're also encouraging us now. Of course, if we don't move quick enough, and we don't receive the funds, and they decide to change, I believe we will have the right to appeal those kinds of decisions in the courts... because this was a congressional order. This didn't come from the administration, this came from Congress who authorized [the CDBG-DR funds]." Community organizations have been rallying residents to offer input on the plan. Eric Arquero is executive director of Kaibigan ng Lahaina, working to address the needs of the large Filipino community affected by the fires. The nonprofit surveyed more than 120 households representing the 4,000 impacted Filipino Lahaina residents to better inform the CDBG-DR planning process. "I think the survey really highlighted primarily that there is a need for rental inventory that's occurring concurrently with owner-occupied rebuilds." Arquero says more than 70% of survey respondents were renters prior to the fire, yet he notices a recovery focus on rebuilding owner-occupied homes. "I think there's a bit of a fear that if things are not being rebuilt to address the larger population of renters in Lahaina, a lot of people may have to make a difficult decision to relocate." Autumn Ness of the Lahaina Community Land Trust worries Lahaina families might experience long-term displacement from the homes built with the disaster funding. It's a scenario she's seen in other communities on the continent. "We can, right now, put guardrails on that money that says we're going to rebuild these homes for our current 49 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000246 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0023390 longtime Lahaina families, and while we're at it, we're going to put these homes into an inventory of residential properties that are not ever going to be accessible to investors or Airbnb operators," she said. County officials say they're working with HUD on language that could protect portions of housing from this scenario. Some fire survivors say they just barely exceed HUD income limits for the funding but struggle to hold down multiple jobs to pay their expenses. Bissen urges those who may not qualify for this funding to keep going. "Please don't give up hope," he said. "There are other programs, other funding that we are actively seeking." Smith reminds the community that this particular funding can only go so far. "I think generally, when you hear the $1.6 billion number, it's like, `Oh, that can solve everything.' But the reality of it is, it really can't. So we have to be disciplined in how we apply this to housing." The third public hearing on the county's CDBG-DR Action Plan will be held on Friday, March 14 at 5:30 p.m. at the Cameron Center in Wailuku. Community members have until March 26 to submit feedback online or by email. National Housing News Judges Have Ordered Federal Workers Back on the Job. Now What? (New York Times) - full text New York Times [3/14/2025 9:12 AM, Eileen Sullivan and Zach Montague. 145325K] Last month, thousands of employees with probationary status across the federal government were fired by the Trump administration in an extraordinary and coordinated move. On Thursday, a pair of court rulings called for agencies to reinstate an untold number of them. What happens now isn't so clear cut. Agencies are sorting out how to bring back these employees and give them the back pay ordered by the courts. Some of the fired workers may indeed return to their jobs. Others may be placed on administrative leave until their agencies undergo a round of large-scale layoffs, the planning for which is already underway. The mass firings of probationary workers were just one early phase of President Trump's aggressive plan to shrink the federal government. His administration appeared to target probationary employees because they do not have the same civil service protections as employees who have been in their job longer. But a flurry of challenges to the legality of how Trump officials went about ordering up the personnel changes have resulted in some reprieves, at least temporarily or on paper. In interviews and on social media, fired employees expressed excitement about being reinstated and getting paid for the days since they were fired. Still, many employees are in the dark, learning details about their livelihood through media reports. Here is what we know about the reinstatements, and what we don't. What did the judges order? The rulings, in federal courts in California and Maryland, call for a pause in the firings and reinstatement of probationary employees across 19 agencies. The cases themselves will continue to move forward, with the government planning to appeal. But the plaintiffs' goals were to at least temporarily stop the administration from firing more probationary workers and obtain relief, such as back pay, 50 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000246 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0023391 for the employees already out of work. The judges ruled that the firings were carried out unlawfully in accordance with orders from the Office of Personnel Management, the government's human resources office. Only the agencies themselves have the authority to direct those personnel changes, one of the judges wrote. Judge James Bredar of the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland restricted the government from firing any more probationary workers for two weeks. Judge Bredar said the employees covered in the lawsuit, who are from 18 different agencies, must be reinstated by March 17. Judge William H. Alsup of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California ordered the government to pause firings and reinstate probationary employees at six agencies while the case continues. His order applied to the Pentagon, the Treasury, and the departments of Agriculture, Energy, Veterans Affairs, and the Interior. Lawyers representing those groups estimated at least 10,000 people were affected across those agencies, numbers more or less consistent with data collected by The Times. The judge's orders follow a similar decision handed down by the Merit Systems Protection Board, an independent administrative body that reviews government personnel decisions. It ordered on March 5 that certain probationary employees, mostly from the Department of Agriculture, be reinstated for at least 45 days. What have the fired employees heard? It depends on who you ask. There does not appear to be a uniform way that agencies are going about reinstating fired probationary employees. Tim Kauffman, a spokesman for the American Federation of Government Workers, which is involved in one of the cases, said the union does not know how many of its members will be offered their jobs back. Mr. Kauffman said agencies had denied union requests for the number of fired probationary employees. The union representing workers for the Internal Revenue Service sent an email to probationary employees who were fired, informing them that they were in the process of speaking with agency management about the next steps. In the email, shared with The New York Times, the National Treasury Employees Union said employees with one agency -- the Energy Department -- have started receiving reinstatement notifications after the court orders on Thursday. "We are pressing other agencies to issue reinstatement notices as quickly as possible," the email stated. The Energy Department did not respond to a request for comment. Some employees from the National Institutes of Health were notified of their reinstatement through an email Thursday from the agency's human resources division. "Upon further review, the agency has determined to rescind the letter sent to you on 2/15/2025," the email stated, adding that the National Institutes of Health will work with them on a return to their jobs. The agency did not respond to a request for comment. Some fired probationary employees from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau have heard from the agency's human resources division that reinstatements are underway, according to Cat Farman, the president of the local chapter of the employee union. The agency did not respond to a request for comment. Other fired employees, however, are still getting "off-boarding" messages from the agency, Ms. Farman said, such as reminders to turn in their government-issued equipment. Does this mean employees will immediately be back at work? Not necessarily. The Department of Agriculture, for example, said in a statement this week that it had returned 51 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000246 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0023392 all its fired probationary workers to "pay status" as of Wednesday. The statement did not say how many, or if any, workers would be returning to their jobs. "The department will work quickly to develop a phased plan for return to duty, and while those plans materialize, all probationary employees will be paid," the statement said. But it was not clear that similar information was communicated to all of the fired employees at the agency. The agency did not respond to a request for comment. "I'm getting really frustrated," said Jacob Bushno, one of the probationary employees fired. He said he has not received any communications from the agency, and that he had reached out to his human resources department and his managers. "Zero. No guidance," he said on Friday. Mr. Bushno, a veteran who did two tours in Iraq while he was in the Army's air assault division, was fired just seven days before he completed his one-year probationary period at the Forest Service. "When will we get paid/back pay? Do we get to come back to the office?" he asked. A probationary employee who was fired from Housing and Urban Development last month similarly has not heard from the agency. The employee spoke on condition of anonymity out of fear of retribution. The housing agency did not respond to a request for comment. Ashaki Robinson, a representative for the union that represents workers at the agency, said the union has not heard of any fired employees hearing from the agency as of late Friday afternoon. Can the Trump administration still move forward with other layoffs? Yes. The judge's rulings do not protect anyone from mass firings through other methods in the future. As the rulings came down on Thursday, federal agencies were finalizing plans to cut an even larger swath of the federal work force. In the Maryland case, the judge told the government that it couldn't carry out future mass firings without prior notice as required by law. In the case in California, the judge made plain that agencies planning to conduct large-scale layoffs, known as a "reduction in force," can still proceed in accordance with the laws that govern such processes -- meaning that the reprieves for workers may only be temporary. The Trump administration is taking steps to comply with court orders to reinstate tens of thousands of fired workers (Government Executive) - full text Government Executive [3/15/2025 9:00 PM, Eric Katz, 819K] The Trump administration appears to be preparing to comply with multiple court orders to quickly place tens of thousands of federal workers fired during their probationary periods, according to officials at three agencies briefed on the plans. The recently hired, or in some cases recently promoted or transferred, employees will not immediately go back to their jobs, but instead be placed on paid administrative leave. The employees are impacted by two separate court rulings issued on Thursday, which could lead to different outcomes for different workers. All told, more than 30,000 federal employees were fired in recent weeks after the Trump administration directed a mass purge of probationary staff. In the U.S. District Court for Northern California, Judge William Alsup issued an injunction on the firings and ordered employees at the departments of Veterans Affairs, Agriculture, Defense, Energy, Interior and Treasury to be reinstated. Alsup directed agencies to act immediately and did not include a timeline for sunsetting the order. 52 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000246 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0023393 Later on Thursday night, a second federal judge, based in Maryland, ordered probationary employees at 18 federal agencies to be reinstated by March 17, either to their jobs or to be placed on administrative leave. Employees at the departments of Agriculture, Commerce, Education, Energy, Health and Human Services, Homeland Security, Housing and Urban Development, Interior, Labor, Transportation, Treasury and Veterans Affairs, as well as the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, Environmental Protection Agency, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, General Services Administration, Small Business Administration and U.S. Agency for International Development are slated to rejoin the payroll. That ruling came only through a temporary restraining order, which is set to expire March 27 at 8 p.m. unless the court takes further action to extend it. Officials briefed on the matter at two agencies said individuals there were working over the weekend to comply with the order and bring employees back on the payroll, likely to administrative leave. At GSA, which was impacted only by the second judge's order, employees have already received notices that they will be reinstated. "By this memorandum, your trial period termination notice issued on [redacted] is rescinded," one such notice, obtained by Government Executive, read. "You will be placed on administrative leave during the reinstatement period until notified otherwise." The notice mentioned the action was a result of the court order and said the rescission would last at least through March 27. It remains unclear whether employees impacted by the first court order, which did not include a set end date, will receive any indication of the length of their reinstatement. USDA previously reinstated the 6,000 employees it fired after the Merit Systems Protection Board ordered it to do so, though those employees were also placed on administrative leave. MSPB's order will expire next month, and plaintiffs in the federal court cases suggested the department was hoping to run out the clock on that ruling without ever placing the workers back into their duty stations. Both federal judges and MSPB said the firings were unlawful as they did not consider employees' performance or conduct and improperly relied on directives from the Office of Personnel Management. The Trump administration has appealed both court rulings. Neither the White House nor OPM responded to requests for comment. Federal agencies plan for mass layoffs as Trump's workforce cuts continue (NPR) - full text NPR [3/15/2025 9:18 AM, Stephen Fowler, 29983K] Federal agencies have begun to announce plans to implement President Trump's request for large-scale job cuts and the elimination of government functions. Already, the Department of Education is moving forward with a proposal to get rid of nearly half its workforce, the Department of Veterans Affairs is targeting a reduction of 80,000 employees and the Social Security Administration has offered voluntary buyouts ahead of a reduction in force. The outlined changes are in service of Trump's vision of drastically reducing the size and scope of the federal government -- an effort that has been led so far by Elon Musk and his Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). Tens of thousands of employees on probationary status -- typically those new to government or who have recently started in a new role -- have been fired, though these terminations have been challenged in court and the administration has been ordered to 53 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000246 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0023394 issue sweeping job reinstatements. But the firings of probationary workers, DOGE's cuts and a broad hiring freeze are just initial elements of an effort to stop spending on people and programs that the president does not want to be part of the future of the federal government. In the coming months, agencies are directed to continue restructuring their programs and personnel, canceling contracts and consolidating government buildings -- while also increasing productivity and delivering "better service for the American people." Here's what to know about the restructuring plans: What are agencies supposed to do? A Feb. 26 memo from the leaders of the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) spelled out how to meet Trump's demand for a "workforce optimization initiative." Federal agency plans, according to the memo, should focus on identifying "statutorily mandated" functions and seek to achieve five things: Better service for the American people; Increased productivity; A significant reduction in the number of full-time equivalent (FTE) positions by eliminating positions that are not required; A reduced real property footprint; and Reduced budget topline. Agencies were also encouraged to cut back on layers of management and the use of consultants and contractors, and to consider consolidating field offices. As NPR has previously reported, the General Services Administration and DOGE made plans to shed up to 25% of the government's 360 million square feet of real estate, including closing Social Security buildings, IRS taxpayer assistance centers and Bureau of Indian Affairs offices across the United States. Agencies were supposed to submit initial reorganization proposals by Thursday, as well as timelines for implementing each part of their plans to eliminate positions and functions. Federal agencies have some leeway in how many employees they let go and when they do, but federal law is specific about the process that must be followed. OPM has a 119page handbook that details how a reduction in force (RIF) and other workforce restructuring must be done. On Thursday, both federal judges who reinstated fired workers emphasized that the government has the right to reduce its workforce, but it has to follow the law in doing so. The first step in a RIF is identifying positions and areas that may be affected, which OPM in this case says should have been done by Thursday. From there, agencies are supposed to consider other strategies, like voluntary early retirement authority (VERA) and voluntary separation incentive payment (VSIP), to find employees who choose to leave, before a RIF takes place. VERA allows agencies to temporarily lower age or years-of-service thresholds to qualify for retirement, while VSIP is a buyout of up to $25,000 for employees who choose to leave. For agencies that move forward with a RIF, they may need to notify unions or Congress, and then they must draft official notices to send to affected employees. These notices must include certain information like the reasons for the RIF and the effective date. Employees must be given 60 days' notice of their end date, unless OPM grants a waiver to shorten that period to 30 days. Certain agencies have been targeted early by the Trump administration for dismantling. Some have been revealing details about their reorganization plans in broad public pronouncements; others have been obtained by NPR. Some plans will affect tens of 54 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000246 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0023395 thousands of employees; others are smaller, so far. Here's some of what's known, as of Friday afternoon: The U.S. Agency for International Development has been effectively shuttered by the DOGE initiative, and Trump officials said most of its contracts have been canceled. The Education Department will cut nearly 50% of its staff. More than 1,300 positions will be eliminated through the RIF -- plus about 600 people took the "Fork" deferred resignation offer or the department's VSIP offer. Affected employees will be placed on administrative leave starting March 21 and will receive full pay and benefits until June 9, 90 days after the department announced its RIF plans. The VA aims to "return to our 2019 end-strength numbers of 399,957 employees," according to an internal memo obtained by NPR, which would be a reduction of roughly 80,000 employees. A specific RIF plan will be developed soon, the memo says. A Defense Department memo, obtained by NPR this week, calls for the elimination of probationary positions that are "non-mission critical" in an effort to reduce the civilian workforce by 5% to 8%, targeting at least 55,000 jobs. The Pentagon has some 780,000 civilian employees. The memo says it will start by seeking job cuts through early retirement and voluntary separations, "which must be fully realized by June." Managers are expected to provide their plans no later than March 20. The Social Security Administration announced Feb. 28 that it would aim to slash 7,000 jobs. In recent weeks, the General Services Administration's Public Buildings Service has fired more than 1,000 permanent and probationary employees and has sent RIF notices to eliminate nearly the entire staff in three of 11 regions across the country. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is planning to cut more than a thousand employees, according to information shared with NPR by a NOAA employee who was not authorized to speak publicly. In another memo on Friday, the White House named seven additional government entities that will be affected: The Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service, a small federal agency that provides "mediation and other conflict resolution services" to prevent work stoppages and labor disputes. The United States Agency for Global Media, a network of broadcasting groups that spreads U.S. news and information to the rest of the world. The agency supports Voice of America, Radio Free Europe, Radio Free Asia, and others. The Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars in the Smithsonian Institution, a think tank that offers nonpartisan analysis and research on national and global affairs. The Institute of Museum and Library Services, which supports libraries, archives and museums across the country, largely through grant or funding opportunities. The United States Interagency Council on Homelessness, a federal agency whose sole mission is to end homelessness in the U.S. It is responsible for coordinating with other federal agencies to develop and implement a national response against homelessness. The Community Development Financial Institutions Fund, a bipartisan initiative established in 1994 to bolster investment in underserved or lowincome communities. The Minority Business Development Agency, which focuses on helping minority business through programs and advocacy. As agencies move forward with eliminating positions, they must submit another set of plans by April 14 outlining a "positive vision for more productive, efficient agency operations," according to the OPM/OMB memo. This includes proposed relocations of people and offices outside the Washington, D.C., area, changes to regulations or agency policies to help facilitate downsizing and more details about the implementation of RIFs. 55 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000246 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0023396 For agencies that provide direct services to citizens, they must also include explanations of why the reduction in staff and resources will "have a positive effect on the delivery of such services." Agencies will deliver monthly progress reports and are expected to wrap up the process by the end of the fiscal year, Sept. 30. Trump moves to gut several agencies, targeting Voice of America, libraries (Washington Post) - full text Washington Post [3/15/2025 7:34 PM, Brianna Tucker, Emily Davies, 31735K] President Donald Trump has signed an executive order seeking to eliminate several additional federal agencies, including one that oversees the federally funded media outlet Voice of America (VOA), testing the limits of his authoritative power as he seeks to shrink the size and scope of the federal bureaucracy. One order signed Friday night calls for the agencies - some of which are focused on minority business enterprises, museum and library services, and homelessness prevention -- to "be eliminated to the maximum extent consistent with applicable law." A second executive order revoked 19 executive actions signed by President Joe Biden that promoted clean energy and environmental goals. The order terminates proclamations of national monuments created by Biden and ends the use of the Defense Production Act to expand the U.S. manufacturing of clean energy technology, such as for electric heat pumps and solar panels, among other Biden-era policies. The White House claimed the rules stem from "radical ideology" and were wasteful. One of the regulations that Trump canceled was a Biden order that raised the minimum wage to $15 an hour for federal contractors. The orders fulfill a longtime campaign promise from Trump: to erase signature labor and climate policy achievements by his predecessor by repealing dozens of Biden-era environmental rules and protections, which the president argues created more regulation and increased America's dependence on foreign nations. But the moves also reverse pro-labor executive actions such as those that protected workplace safety and boosted income for those low-wage sectors. Taken together, these reversals would directly hurt many of the rank-and-file blue-collar workers who supported Trump in the November election. Since his return to office, Trump has signed a dizzying array of executive actions to enact his agenda and reduce the size of government, many of which have been challenged by opponents in court or reversed. Others test the boundaries of presidential power by potentially exceeding executive authority and bypassing congressional authorization. The U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM) -- the parent of VOA, Office of Cuba Broadcasting, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty and Radio Free Asia -- is an independent agency established by Congress. In 2020, Congress passed a law intended to limit the power of the agency's presidentially appointed chief executive. More than 1,300 journalists, producers and staff at VOA received an email saying they were placed on administrative leave Saturday, VOA Director Michael Abramowitz wrote on his private Facebook page. The targeting of USAGM is not new, but concern around the media organization's fate was renewed this year when Trump appointed Kari Lake, a loyalist who ran unsuccessfully for governor and Senate in Arizona, to serve as a special adviser at the agency. Trump and other Republicans have long criticized VOA, whose mission is to counter authoritarian propaganda for foreign audiences with independent news. During his first 56 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000246 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0023397 administration, Trump chastised VOA's coverage of the coronavirus pandemic, derisively called the outlet the "voice of the Soviet Union" and accused the independent news service of promoting Chinese government propaganda in its reporting about the outbreak. He also declined to renew visas of dozens of foreign journalists who work for the agency. In early February, tech billionaire Elon Musk, who spearheads the U.S. DOGE Service tasked with reducing the size of government, had also called for the closure of VOA and other outlets at USAGM. The Trump administration also terminated a grant for the Open Technology Fund, an internet freedom nonprofit that helped create Signal, the popular encrypted messaging app. The fund was slated to receive roughly $43.5 million annually in government funding through the USAGM, according to a person familiar with the matter who spoke on the condition of anonymity to describe private discussions. The new orders follow the administration's ongoing efforts to shut down foreign policy and aid organizations -- many of them established by congressional mandate. On Friday, several members of DOGE, which stands for Department of Government Efficiency, showed up at the U.S. Institute of Peace accompanied by FBI agents, according to a statement from the institute on Saturday. After the institute officials informed them of the group's status as a private and independent "non-executive branch agency," the DOGE representatives departed, the statement said. Similar DOGE interventions this month at the U.S. African Development Foundation and the InterAmerican Foundation were successful in at least temporarily closing down those agencies. They were among the agencies listed in an executive order on Feb. 19 that called for their elimination. Other entities targeted Friday also make broad impacts in Washington, such as the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, a nonpartisan global policy think tank. Also affected were the Institute of Museum and Library Services, which supports and funds libraries, archives and museums in every state; the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service, which focuses on labor disputes; the Community Development Financial Institutions Fund, which centers on economically distressed communities; and the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness. The nonprofit EveryLibrary Institute decried the order and outlined that IMLS is statutorily required to send federal funding to state libraries. "Congress created this federal block grant program to support and extend library services in all the states through the state libraries," a statement said. The American Library Association similarly criticized the order. The money that could be saved by Trump's latest actions is not even a blip in the government's $1.7 trillion budget. The U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness, for example, requested $4.3 million in this fiscal year's budget. The Wilson Center, whose operations also depend on private donations, requested $14.1 million in government funding. The Wilson Center, a think tank with a slogan "fiercely nonpartisan," is run by Mark Green, a former Republican congressman from Wisconsin who is affiliated with experts who have held leadership positions in the Republican National Committee. The center was created in 1968 through an act of Congress to be a living memorial to former president Woodrow Wilson, with the idea that it would serve as a nexus between scholarship and policymaking. A spokesperson with the Wilson Center declined to comment on the order. 57 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000246 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0023398 Hope Harrison, a historian who completed two fellowships at the Wilson Center and serves as a co-chair of one program's advisory board, described the organization as "a shining center of the open arms of the U.S. to scholars and to independent thought." The Nuclear Proliferation International History Project, for example, studied cases and wrote policy briefs about the dangers of the spread of such weapons, using historical context to advise on how to interact with countries including Iran and North Korea. "One of the things at stake with this, but with so many other of the executive orders, is our standing in the world as a place of research and, in this case, policy-relevant research," Harrison said. "I just have to think that Ronald Reagan would be rolling in his grave at the idea that this institution that has done so much to elucidate the history of the Cold War and its relevance would be at risk." Trump Signs Order Seeking to Reduce More Federal Agencies (Bloomberg) - full text Bloomberg [3/14/2025 9:00 PM, Romy Varghese] President Donald Trump on Friday signed an executive order aimed at reducing the scope of eight federal agencies as part of his campaign to downsize the US government. The action eliminates non-statutory functions and reduces others for these entities called "unnecessary" in a White House fact sheet. Groups affected are the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service, the US Agency for Global Media, the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, the Institute of Museum and Library Services, the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness, the Community Development Financial Institutions Fund, the Minority Business Development Agency and the Arctic Research Commission. The US Agency for Global Media oversees Voice of America, Radio Free Europe, Radio Free Asia and other news organizations. The move is the latest from the administration that's working with the Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, to carry out mass firings of federal workers and wholesale elimination of agencies such as the US Agency for International Development and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Opponents are turning to the courts to lay down restraints on the effort, spearheaded by Elon Musk, with mixed results. "Cutting these governmental entities will save taxpayer dollars, reduce unnecessary government spending, and streamline government priorities," according to the fact sheet Friday. Trump also signed an order to suspend security clearances held by some lawyers at Paul Weiss, according to a social media post from a White House official. That's the third prominent law firm the president has singled out over its work for Democrats. Trump cuts funding for federal agencies with executive order - See list of what's affected (USA Today) - full text USA Today [3/15/2025 7:14 PM, Greta Cross, 75858K] President Donald Trump is making more federal cuts, this time targeting an international media organization, public libraries, and homelessness reduction. An executive order signed by the president on Friday March 14 slashes funding to seven federal agencies: the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service, U.S. Agency for Global Media, Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars in the Smithsonian Institution, Institute of 58 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000246 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0023399 Museum and Library Services, U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness, Community Development Financial Institutions Fund and Minority Business Development Agency. In protest of the order, the American Library Association released a statement that encourages the president to reconsider his "short-sighted decision." "By eliminating the only federal agency dedicated to funding library services, the Trump administration's executive order is cutting off at the knees the most beloved and trusted of American institutions and the staff and services they offer," the statement reads, citing examples of summer reading programs for kids, braille books for readers with visual impairments and small business support for entrepreneurs. Why is Trump cutting funding for these agencies? As outlined by the executive order, Trump selected these seven agencies as he determined them "unnecessary." A White House Fact Sheet outlines that the Department of Government Efficiency, the federal advisory agency led by billionaire Elon Musk, identified the agencies worth slashing. "Cutting these governmental entities will save taxpayer dollars, reduce unnecessary government spending, and streamline government priorities," the fact sheet states. The Trump administration did not immediately respond for comment about the order when contacted by USA TODAY on Saturday. What is the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service? The Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service provides conflict management services for enhancing labor-management relationships. The independent federal agency provides training, mediation, facilitation, dispute systems design and other resolution services to federal agencies, according to its website. An example of the agency's work includes, if an agency and union have negotiated over a particular subject and have been able to reach a mutual decision, the parties may seek assistance from the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service, according to the U.S. Federal Labor Relations Authority. The Mediation and Conciliation Service was established in 1947. What is the US Agency for Global Media? The U.S. Agency for Global Media oversees all U.S. non-military, international broadcasting. The agency operates six networks: Voice of America, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, the Office of Cuba Broadcasting, Radio Free Asia, the Middle East Broadcasting Networks and Open Technology Fund. Across these six networks, the agency provides news in 64 languages to more than 427 million people, according to its website. "President Trump is delivering on his promise to make our government more efficient. American taxpayers should not be funding anti-American propaganda in the name of journalism," White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told USA TODAY about the cut. The Agency for Global Media was established in 1994 by President Bill Clinton. At the time, the agency was known as the Broadcasting Board of Governors, according to the agency's website. The agency's name was changed in 2018. What is the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars in the Smithsonian 59 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000246 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0023400 Institution? The Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars in the Smithsonian Institution, commonly known as just the Wilson Center, conducts research and provides nonpartisan counsel on global affairs to policymakers internationally. The center operates more than 20 programs that aim to bridge the gap between the U.S. and other countries and specialize in various topics to address global issues. Countless events are also held by the Wilson Center throughout the year to educate citizens about global history and provide spaces for communal discussion. The Wilson Center was established in 1968 to honor President Woodrow Wilson. What is the Institute of Museum and Library Services? Through grants, research and policy development, the Institute of Museum and Library Services supports museums, libraries, archives and other similar organizations through the United States. During the 2024 fiscal year, the institute was budgeted more than $294 million, according to the Institute of Museum and Library Services' fiscal year budget for 2023-2025. In 2024, the institute awarded $266.7 million to museums, libraries and archives throughout the country. The Institute of Museum and Library Services was established in 1996. What is the US Interagency Council on Homelessness? The U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness coordinates a federal response to homelessness, working to create partnerships with government agencies and in the private sector, according to the agency's website. The council works with 19 federal organizations in an effort to end homelessness, including the Department of Education, Department of Defense, Department of Transportation and Department of Labor. The U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness was established in 1987 by the Stewart B. McKinney Homeless Assistance Act. What is the Community Development Financial Institutions Fund? Part of the U.S. Department of Treasury, the Community Development Financial Institutions Fund promotes economic revitalization and community development in underserved communities throughout the country. For example, the fund's Community Development Financial Institutions Program provides loans, investments, financial services and technical assistance to institutions in these communities. The Community Development Financial Institutions Fund was established in 1994 under the Riegle Community Development and Regulatory Improvement Act. What is the Minority Business Development Agency? The Minority Business Development Agency aims to promote growth among Minority Business Enterprises, or MBEs, by providing technical assistance programs. An MBE is a for-profit business that is at least 51/0 owned or managed by a qualifying minority group. To be qualified, a person must be a U.S. resident who is Asian-Indian, AsianPacific, Black, Hispanic or Native America, according to the National Minority Supplier Development Council. 60 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000246 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0023401 During the 2023 fiscal year, the Minority Business Development Agency facilitated $1.5 billion worth of capital to MBEs and helped create 19,000 jobs, according to the agency's website. The Minority Business Development Agency was founded in 1969 when President Richard Nixon established the Office of Minority Business Enterprise. Trump Orders Gutting of 7 Agencies, Including Voice of America's Parent (New York Times) - full text New York Times [3/15/2025 1:52 AM, Tyler Pager, 145325K] President Trump signed an executive order on Friday seeking to dismantle seven additional federal agencies, including the one that oversees Voice of America and other government-funded media outlets around the world. Mr. Trump directed the heads of the agencies, which address issues like labor mediation and homelessness prevention, to eliminate all functions that are not statutorily mandated. The leaders should also "reduce the performance of their statutory functions and associated personnel to the minimum presence and function required by law," the order said. Like many of the president's moves in his wide-ranging effort to shrink the government, the order appears to test the bounds of his authority. Voice of America's parent, the U.S. Agency for Global Media, for example, is congressionally chartered as an independent agency, and Congress passed a law in 2020 intended to limit the power of the agency's presidentially appointed chief executive. Some of the Trump administration's moves to slash agencies have been halted by federal judges, including on Thursday, when a pair of court rulings called for agencies to reinstate likely thousands of federal employees who were fired last month because they had probationary status. In an opinion issued Friday evening, a federal judge in California made clear he did not believe the administration's claims that federal agencies were acting of their own accord when they fired those probationary employees. Judge William H. Alsup of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California listed more than a dozen examples of officials telling employees that the mass firings had been carried out at the behest of the Office of Personnel Management. In addition to Voice of America, the Agency for Global Media funds Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty and Radio Free Asia. The organization, with a budget of roughly $270 million and more than 2,000 employees, broadcasts in 49 languages. It has a weekly estimated audience of more than 361 million people. By Saturday morning, many journalists and other employees at Voice of America were informed they were being placed on administrative leave, according to an email reviewed by The New York Times. Journalists there said the cuts were so widespread that they would effectively shut down the international broadcaster. Michael Abramowitz, the director of Voice of America, wrote in a post on social media that "virtually the entire staff' had been put on administrative leave, including him. "VOA promotes freedom and democracy around the world by telling America's story and by providing objective and balanced news and information, especially for those living under tyranny," he wrote. Mr. Abramowitz added: "For more than 80 years, Voice of America has been a priceless asset for the United States, playing an essential role in the fight against communism, fascism, and oppression, and in the fight for freedom and democracy around the world." The media outlets are intended to provide unbiased news to audiences around the world, but Mr. Trump has criticized its editorial decisions since his first term. Mr. Trump had already stirred fears at the agency by tapping Kari Lake, a 61 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000246 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0023402 fierce loyalist who ran unsuccessfully for governor and Senate in Arizona, to serve as a special adviser there. The other agencies Mr. Trump targeted Friday are the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service, which works to prevent and resolve work stoppages and labor disputes; the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, a nonpartisan think tank; the Institute of Museum and Library Services, which funds and supports museums, libraries and archives; the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness, which works to prevent and end homelessness; the Community Development Financial Institutions Fund, which provides financial assistance to struggling communities; and the Minority Business Development Agency, which aims to bolster minority-owned businesses. Within seven days, the heads of the entities are required to submit to Russell Vought, the director of the Office of Management and Budget, their plans for complying with the order and outline which of their functions are statutorily required. Since Mr. Trump took office, the billionaire Elon Musk and his Department of Government Efficiency have sought to drastically reshape the federal government by cutting staff and programs. On Tuesday, the Education Department announced it was firing more than 1,300 workers, and after hundreds accepted separation packages, the agency is set to be left with roughly half the number of employees that it started the year with. Mr. Musk's group has trumpeted saving taxpayers billions of dollars, though its claims have been undermined by posting error-filled data. Donald Trump Just Signed an Order Gutting Seven More Federal Agencies (Mother Jones) - full text Mother Jones [3/15/2025 1:52 PM, Anna Merlan] In an executive order signed late Friday, Donald Trump effectively dismantled seven more federal agencies, this time with cuts that will impact work on homelessness, libraries, support for minority-owned businesses, and the US Agency for Global Media, which funds Voice of America (VOA) and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty and Radio Free Asia. The cuts are expected to leave thousands more federal workers unemployed; in the case of VOA, it furthers a specific vendetta Trump has had since his first term. The order will affect the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service, the United States Agency for Global Media, the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars in the Smithsonian Institution, the Institute of Museum and Library Services, the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness, the Community Development Financial Institutions Fund, and the Minority Business Development Agency. It instructs the head of each agency to submit a report to the Office of Management and Budget "explaining which components or functions of the governmental entity, if any, are statutorily required and to what extent." In practice, as has happened with other federal agencies in recent weeks, it's expected to leave these agencies a shell of themselves and fundamentally nonexistent; in the case of the US Interagency Council on Homelessness, it destroys the only federal agency solely focused on addressing the homelessness crisis. The move against the US Agency for Global Media has attracted the most attention. and could have the largest implications abroad. VOA specifically has been active since the 1940s, where it broadcast stories into Germany that were meant to counter Nazi propaganda. During his first term, Trump called VOA's reporting "disgraceful." This time 62 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000246 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0023403 around, he placed Trump loyalist and 2020 election denier Kari Lake as a "special advisor" to the agency. In December, he wrote that she would "ensure that the American values of Freedom and Liberty are broadcast around the World FAIRLY and ACCURATELY, unlike the lies spread by the Fake News Media." Lake made it immediately clear that she wouldn't respect VOA's editorial independence, telling a crowd at the Conservative Political Action Conference, "VOA has been telling America's story to the world for 83 years this Monday. Sometimes the coverage has been incredible, and sometimes it's been pitiful. We are fighting an information war, and there's no better weapon than the truth, and I believe VOA could be that weapon." VOA made other efforts to appease Trump, including placing leading journalist Steve Herman on leave for supposedly anti-Trump comments. Under Lake, the organization also canceled millions of dollars in contracts with other news agencies, including the Associated Press, Reuters, and Agence France-Presse. Some of the seven agencies that were just gutted could challenge the order in court; the US Agency for Global Media, for instance, was founded by a congressional charter and could argue that it can't be dismantled by an executive order. The authority of Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency to make the staggering cuts they've already made to government agencies is also being challenged in numerous lawsuits. Trump signs order to gut Voice of America, other agencies (NBC News) - full text NBC News [3/15/2025 10:08 AM, Staff, 44742K] President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Friday aimed at gutting the parent of U.S. government-funded media outlet Voice of America and six other federal agencies, his administration's latest step to shrink bureaucracy. The order instructs the agencies -- largely little-known entities including one that provides funding for museums and libraries and one tackling homelessness -- to reduce their operations to the bare minimum mandated by the law. "This order continues the reduction in the elements of the Federal bureaucracy that the President has determined are unnecessary," the order, disclosed late on Friday, says. Trump, who clashed with the Voice of America during his first term, picked former news anchor Kari Lake to be its director for his second. Lake, a staunch ally of the president, has often accused mainstream media of harboring anti-Trump bias. VOA, an international media broadcaster that operates in more than 40 languages online and on radio and television, is overseen by the U.S. Agency for Global Media. The agency also funds Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty and Radio Free Asia. In addition to the Agency for Global Media, Trump's order also targets the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service, the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, the Institute of Museum and Library Services, the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness, the Community Development Financial Institutions Fund, and the Minority Business Development Agency for cuts. The order says those agencies should eliminate all operations not codified in statute as well as "reduce the performance of their statutory functions and associated personnel to the minimum presence and function required by law." The order represents the latest step by Trump to remake the federal bureaucracy, a task he has largely put in the hands of tech billionaire Elon Musk and his Department of Government Efficiency. So far, the DOGE effort has produced potential cuts of more than 100,000 jobs across the 2.3 million-member federal civilian workforce, the freezing 63 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000246 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0023404 of foreign aid, and the cancellation of thousands of programs and contracts. Some Republicans have accused VOA and other publicly-funded media outlets of being biased against conservatives. Last month, Musk called for VOA and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty to be shut down in a post to his X social media platform. In a speech at the Conservative Political Action Conference, Lake said that while she understood calls to completely dismantle VOA, she believed it could be improved. Trump executive actions target federal agencies, `harmful' Biden orders, and Paul Weiss law firm (Washington Examiner, DC) - full text Washington Examiner [3/15/2025 10:11 AM, Ross O'Keefe, 2296K, DC] President Donald Trump took further steps toward reforming the federal government on Friday with a flurry of executive orders eliminating federal agencies, canceling numerous Biden administration orders, and targeting a Paul Weiss law firm. Trump took apart seven federal agencies, terminated 18 Biden executive actions, and suspended the security clearances of Weiss and Mark Pomerantz. Friday's moves dismantled these federal agencies: the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service, the United States Agency for Global Media, the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars in the Smithsonian Institution, the Institute of Museum and Library Services, the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness, the Community Development Financial Institutions Fund, and the Minority Business Development Agency. Trump targeted the agencies because he deemed them "unnecessary," according to the order, which states that the move "continues the reduction in the elements of the Federal bureaucracy that the President has determined are unnecessary." One of the agencies, the United States Agency for Global Media, oversees American broadcast company Voice of America. Trump chose former Arizona Senate candidate Kari Lake to direct the agency, but she did not get confirmed before the order. Lake currently serves as a special adviser to USAGM, and it is unclear what will happen to her position. If VOA is disbanded, it will topple a news company that has been broadcasting state media since 1942. The 18 executive actions rescinded by Trump add to the 78 he revoked on his first day in office in January. Trump wrote that the "following additional rescissions are necessary to advance the policy of the United States to restore common sense to the Federal Government and unleash the potential of American citizens." The executive actions Trump is pulling include pro-LGBT memorandums, several manufacturing orders, an order to increase the minimum wage of federal contractors, and several climate-related actions, among others. Trump's decision to revoke the security clearances of Weiss and Pomerantz follows their involvement in a New York case against him and a case against Jan. 6 protesters. Weiss' firm brought a pro bono case against the protesters in 2021 and hired Pomerantz in 2022, who, according to Trump, manufactured "a prosecution against me and who, according to his co-workers, unethically led witnesses in ways designed to implicate me." The order also restricts any government contracts with Weiss' law firm. "Government contracting agencies shall, to the extent permissible by law, require 64 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000246 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0023405 Government contractors to disclose any business they do with Paul Weiss and whether that business is related to the subject of the Government contract," the order says. The moves are in line with Trump's past actions. His administration has dismantled USAID and erased most traces of Biden from the executive branch. The order targeting Weiss matches his push to purge the FBI and DOJ of those who investigated or prosecuted him under Biden. Trump signs order to dismantle seven federal agencies focused on media, libraries, homelessness (The Hill) - full text The Hill [3/15/2025 8:36 AM, Alex Gangitano, 12829K] President Trump on Friday signed an executive order that aims to eliminate seven federal agencies, including ones that focus on media, libraries, museums and ending homelessness. The president directed the government entities "be eliminated to the maximum extent consistent with applicable law," insisting they "reduce the performance of their statutory functions and associated personnel." It ordered the heads of each entity submit a report to the Office of Management and Budget confirming full compliance within seven days. The president targeted the U.S. Agency for Global Media, which is the parent company of Voice of America's (VOA), as well as the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars in the Smithsonian Institution, which is a think tank, and the Institute of Museum and Library Services, which is an agency that supports libraries, archives and museums in every state. He also dismantled the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness, which aims to prevent and end homelessness in the U.S., the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service, which focuses on preventing, minimizing, and resolving work stoppages and labor disputes, the Community Development Financial Institutions Fund, which aims to expand economic opportunity for underserved communities, and the Minority Business Development Agency, which promotes growth of minority-owned businesses. Amid questions over the future of VOA, Trump had picked former Arizona gubernatorial and Senate candidate Kari Lake to lead the outlet. The Trump ally said at the Conservative Political Action Conference last month the international state media broadcaster won't be "Trump TV" under her watch. While the president doesn't directly appoint the head of VOA, Trump had nominated conservative activist L. Brent Bozell III to lead the U.S. Agency for Global Media, which would make the decision. Bozell needs to be confirmed by the Senate to take his post and then could select Lake. The Trump administration has been focused on an overhaul of the federal government, with tech billionaire Elon Musk tasked with finding ways to cut spending and workers. That work has been met with challenges in the courts- federal judges in both Maryland and Northern California district courts issued orders Thursday halting the mass dismissals. The White House on Friday vowed to appeal the federal court rulings, which have required the Trump administration to reinstate probationary government employees. Trump CFPB drops suit against Warren Buffett's mobile-home lender that "knowingly traps people" (Salon) - full text 65 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000246 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0023406 salon [3/16/2025 5:15 AM, Cara Michelle Smith, 2815K] The lawsuit read like a fable of American capitalism. It accused the nation's biggest mobile-home builder - owned by one of the world's wealthiest men and servicing the most financially vulnerable homeowners - of giving loans to borrowers who clearly wouldn't be able to make the payments. Filed by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau - the federal watchdog agency created after the Great Recession to prevent these types of practices - the suit took aim at Vanderbilt Mortgage and Finance, a Tennessee-based lender owned by Clayton Homes, part of billionaire Warren Buffett's empire. In one instance, the suit alleged that a disabled Army veteran making $700 a month was approved for a loan with a $673 minimum payment. Within a year and a half, she'd fallen behind and Vanderbilt was trying to foreclose on both her home and the family-owned land she used to secure the mortgage, the suit said. In another instance, a family with two children and 33 outstanding debts was approved for a mortgage; within eight months, they'd fallen behind on payments, the suit said. "Vanderbilt knowingly traps people in risky loans in order to close the deal on selling a manufactured home," Rohit Chopra, director of the CFPB under the Biden administration, said in a Jan. 6 statement. The agency formally dropped the suit on Feb. 28, weeks after the Trump administration fired Chopra and named Russell Vought acting director until Jonathan McKernan is confirmed. Vanderbilt said the suit "is unfounded and untrue, and is the latest example of politically motivated, regulatory overreach." The company said it complies with lending regulations that require it to consider borrowers' incomes and living expenses. The "risky loans" represent 0.8% of 70,000 loans reviewed by the CFPB, according to Vanderbilt. The company told Salon it loses an average of 23% of a loan's value if the borrower defaults, which in 2024 represented $21.9 million in losses. "Vanderbilt Mortgage does not want anyone to buy a home they cannot afford - when a loan defaults, Vanderbilt incurs significant financial losses," the company's statement said. The CFPB - one of the first agencies to be targeted in Trump's federal government purge -remains alive, but just barely, The New York Times reports. Vought, an author of Project 2025 who serves as White House budget director, initially shuttered the agency's D.C. headquarters, froze work at the bureau and fired dozens of employees before a judge ordered them temporarily rehired. Without CFPB oversight, mobile-home owners representing roughly 22 million people in rural areas across the South and West who earn less than $40,000 per year - are left with few institutional watchdogs advocating for their interests, Esther Sullivan, a nonresident fellow at the Urban Institute, told Salon. The CFPB is "doing so much of the work not only to protect owners and residents of manufactured housing, but also to understand the nature of the marketplace, which I think in many respects has been kind of a black box," Sullivan said. Oversight of the homes' construction, and ensuring it complies with federal building standards, falls under the purview of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. But outside of the CFPB, no agency is tasked with monitoring the industry specifically for violations against consumers. "Even though HUD regulates manufactured housing ... in terms of actually, like, not just regulating, but overseeing the industry and understanding it and collecting data and making it public ... the CFPB has been the major player," Sullivan 66 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000246 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0023407 said. Affordable housing, limited lending regulations Mobile homes, which cost around half as much to build compared to a site-built home, represent a vital source of affordable housing. The CFPB has called manufactured housing "the largest source of unsubsidized affordable housing in the country." "Manufactured housing is a primary way that the lowest-income Americans break into homeownership, because it's just so affordable," Sullivan told Salon. In 2023, the average sale price of a new mobile home was around $124,300, compared to $409,872 for a newly built single-family home. The average mobile-home owner's annual income is roughly $38,000 - less than half the median income for single-family homeowners, which is around $79,800, according to the Urban Institute. In a 2022 survey of mobile-home owners published by the CFPB, one in four reported not having enough food to eat and not being able to afford more food, compared with one in 10 single-family homeowners reporting the same experience. "We have to understand that manufactured homeowners are, really, our nation's lowestincome homeowners," Sullivan said. But mobile-home lending is a uniquely regulated industry, mostly because mobile homes aren't legally classified as "homes." In most states, mobile homes are automatically titled as personal property, rather than personal real estate - a historical hangover from many decades ago, when manufactured homes were mostly used to house temporary workers. Legally speaking, this makes owning a mobile home more akin to owning a motorcycle or sailboat than a single-family home. Unless it's titled as real estate and secured with a mortgage loan, mobile homes can be repossessed by the lender even if the borrower is barely behind on payments. An estimated 70% of America's mobile homes aren't titled as a house, Sullivan said. This is despite the fact that just as many mobile homes - around 70% - are used as the owner's sole residence. "The home can be repossessed if the person falls behind, and that's usually a quicker process than in default and foreclosure," Rachel Siegel, a senior officer with Pew Charitable Trusts' housing policy initiative, told Salon. It's technically possible to get a manufactured house re-titled as a home, but the process can be time-consuming and expensive, and most states require that the borrower also owns the land the mobile home occupies, ruling out many residents of trailer or RV parks. As such, most mobile homes don't qualify for traditional mortgage loans. Around 43% of mobile homes are secured with personal property loans, or "chattel" loans, in which the only collateral used against the loan is the asset itself. In 2019, when Vanderbilt was servicing roughly 12,600 mobile home loans, an estimated 9,000 were chattel loans, according to a comprehensive report on the mobile-home lending industry published by the CFPB in 2021. "There's very little regulation in this space compared to a mortgage," Sullivan said. "What that means is that they get riskier, more expensive loans, with higher interest rates, higher financial costs, fewer protections - and oftentimes the asset can be repossessed like a car." Mobile-home owners can't even call themselves homeowners until their last loan payment; borrowers don't legally own the home until the final payment 67 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000246 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0023408 clears. "That titling process is, really, the gatekeeper to access to mortgages," Siegel told Salon. Mortgage loans typically offer lower interest rates than chattel loans - around 6%, versus as much as 10% or 15% for personal property loans - and offer the borrower longer repayment terms. "Because of those two things, they're more affordable for the same dollar amount," Siegel said. Industry crash leads to Buffett takeover Mobile-home borrowers' losses aren't likely to trigger the stock market collapse that captured the attention and resources of the federal government in 2008. Wall Street banks aren't holding the loans for America's lowest-income homeowners. Instead, the lending market is mostly privately financed and dominated by a handful of companies in and outside of Buffett's empire. Around 75% of mobile-home chattel loans come from the industry's five biggest lenders, according to the 2021 report from the CFPB. We also know that such a crash wouldn't reverberate through Wall Street, in part because such a crash has already happened. Throughout the '70s, '80s and '90s, an average of 240,000 mobile homes were sold in the U.S. But that figure plummeted in the late '90s - the result of "overproduction and loosened financing standards," according to the Urban Institute, resulting in "credit being extended to borrowers who could not afford the units." By 1999, foreclosures and repossessions were skyrocketing, and used mobile homes ones whose owners, in most cases, had lost their only home - "flooded the market, reducing demand for new units." Lenders tightened their purse strings, and new housing production plummeted. Between 2000 and 2005, around 170,000 mobile homes were sold each year. So when Buffett, head of Berkshire Hathaway, bought Clayton Homes for $1.7 billion in 2003, manufactured housing loans "had been defaulting at alarming rates, and investors had grown wary of them," according to an investigation by The Center for Public Integrity. The founder's son, Kevin Clayton, called Buffett that year in search of "a new source of cash" to issue new loans to mobile-home buyers - and knew that "Berkshire Hathaway, with its perfect bond rating, could provide it as cheaply as anyone," according to the investigation. In the decades since, Buffett has poured billions of dollars into making Clayton Homes the dominant manufacturer and lender of mobile homes in America, scooping up competitors, failing loans and factories, the investigation found. It described Clayton Homes as "a many-headed hydra" that builds almost half of the nation's mobile homes, then sells those homes through its retailers. It also sells financing through Vanderbilt and several other companies. In 2013, Clayton Homes issued 39% of new mobile home loans in the U.S., The Center for Public Integrity found. The second-biggest lender, Wells Fargo, issued 6%. Former director Rohit Chopra sounds alarm over diminished CFPB (HousingWire.com) - full text HousingWire.com [3/14/2025 3:23 PM, Chris Clow, 354K] Following a series of moves by key White House leaders at the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and the U.S. DOGE Service that are ostensibly designed to limit or dismantle the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), its former director appeared Friday morning on CNBC to discuss the upheaval while warning consumers about the risks of a diminished bureau. 68 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000246 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0023409 During the interview, Rohit Chopra was asked about the bureau's oversight authority he most hopes can be preserved. Chopra immediately identified the mortgage market as one with the greatest need. "To me, a key piece is always having your eyes on the mortgage market," he said. "The mortgage market is the biggest piece of consumer credit, and also has a lot of intersections with the financial system.". This means that instability in the mortgage market can lead to broader economic impacts, he said. "If there [are] problems in the mortgage market, they can quickly translate into the broader capital markets, and the CFPB was the only one looking at the mortgage servicers [and] the big, nonbank mortgage lenders. So there could be problems, and I personally feel, 'Why bait a financial crisis?". While not explicitly warning about the prospect of a crisis, he said that "anytime you take cops off the Wall Street beat, you just add some more risk. Every time you delete this basic oversight, you distort competition in favor of those who cheat rather than compete.". Chopra was asked about whether he would characterize the agency as "hobbled" or if it would go away entirely. He responded by saying it was difficult to tell. "Who knows? What we're seeing is that all of the investigators have been benched. The lawsuits, including against Capital One [and] Rocket Mortgage have essentially been pardoned.". While Chopra acknowledged that state regulators have aimed to "jump in" due to the bureau's changed posture, he added that their actions may not be enough or would create "real complications" as they go after some of the nation's largest firms. "You would ideally want the federal agency being able to prosecute for consumers who've been aggrieved across the country, not one-by-one lawsuits fought in courthouses all over," he said. "But I really think if you don't turn the CFPB back on, there will be costs to people who are borrowing for mortgages, using their credit card and much more.". When asked about these costs, Chopra said that the CFPB was a facilitator of innovation. It ensured that larger companies with a market foothold did not use their positions to stifle upstarts and smaller companies from adding to the number of players or offered services. "I think what you see is you really have a lot of innovation and competition with new players getting in," Chopra said. "But we found all sorts of ways in which bigger firms could squeeze them out, in which bigger firms could bully or use their own power to stop them from gaining entry. "So I think at the end of the day, we want lots of players offering lots of services, and we found a lot of wrongdoing in the past few years.". When asked if the agency paid for itself, Chopra said it's a "great investment" in terms of billions of dollars returned to consumers. But he also cautioned people to remember what gave rise to the agency in the first place. "We can't forget that one of the reasons why the agency was started was because of a financial crisis," he said. "No one [was] actually looking at some of these nonbank companies that were part of predatory mortgage lending for years, and it blew everything up.". Some recent media reports have indicated that larger banks -- longtime opponents of 69 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000246 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0023410 the CFPB in courtrooms and regulatory disputes -- may not actually want the bureau to be dismantled. "If you're the big banks, you certainly don't want a world in which the nonbanks have much greater degrees of freedom and much less regulatory oversight than the banks do," David Silberman, a banking attorney who lectures at Yale Law School, said in an interview with CNBC. When asked about this perspective, Chopra appeared skeptical of its veracity. "I don't know, I think they have always wanted to see the CFPB go away, but there are costs of having no one there," he said. "There are costs when it comes to fair competition. This is a choice. I think it is heavily driven by some of the big tech companies.". Major tech companies including Apple, Google and Meta have become more involved in credit, lending and banking with their own apps and other payment functionalities on their platforms. Scrutiny by the CFPB scrutiny gave these companies serious concerns, Chopra said. "They were very worried when the CFPB started looking under the hood on how they were getting into payments, banking and lending," he explained. "So I think this is not a good situation. For investors, I think it's going to make it much trickier to figure out what some of the risks are when it comes to the state lawsuits and more. So, we are where we are, and I really hope that they reverse course on this.". Chopra was also asked if there was an "Elon Musk effect" at play in terms of the regulation of tech companies. "It was strange to me that he got so fixated with a relatively small agency, and particularly fixated on the fact that the CFPB was looking hard at tech's entry into payments," Chopra said. "There is a lot -- Google Pay, Apple Pay, Venmo, PayPal -- and certainly Twitter/X has expressed its desire to move money and payments through the economy.". When a CNBC anchor asked if there were other agencies that might be able to pick up some of the investigatory slack created by the pullback of the CFPB, Chopra said no. "The law is clear that the CFPB has exclusive enforcement and oversight authority when it comes to large banks on these consumer issues," he said. "So, maybe there could be someone at the state level who steps up a little bit, but this is a pretty big, gaping hole and I think it's a big mistake.". With the CFPB weakened, could risky lending make a comeback? (CNN) - full text CNN [3/16/2025 10:00 AM, Samantha Delouya, 22131K] The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, the banking watchdog created after the subprime mortgage meltdown and the 2008 global financial crisis, has been thrown into chaos as the Trump administration works to drastically limit its operations. Last month, workers at the CFPB were told to stop working, effectively shutting down the agency, though that order has since been challenged by a federal judge. Although the CFPB, which is tasked with ensuring banks, lenders and other financial companies play fair with consumers, is severely weakened, Americans shouldn't be too worried about a repeat of the subprime mortgage crisis that led to its creation, experts told CNN. Lenders and banks are currently more stringently regulated than they were in the years leading up to the crisis, and Americans who borrow money are more protected. 70 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000246 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0023411 Still, with the hobbling of an agency that often acts as a safety net for consumers, Americans may need to become their own consumer advocates when dealing with lenders of all types. "The CFPB's mission is to protect individuals. After the financial crisis, we saw there were a lot of individuals who had been taken advantage of," said John Griffin, a finance professor at The University of Texas at Austin who has argued that rampant fraud played a role in the financial crisis. "But I don't think the CFPB would be able to stop another financial crisis.". The agency, which was a brainchild of Democratic Sen. Elizabeth Warren when she was a Harvard Law professor, was created as part of Dodd-Frank, a 2010 federal law passed in an attempt to correct the financial vulnerabilities that contributed to the global financial crisis. The CFPB has since delivered $19.7 billion in consumer relief, with 195 million people eligible for that relief, according to the agency. "Gutting consumer protections while simultaneously permitting financial firms to take on greater risk is a dangerous combination," Warren said in a statement to CNN. "Working families cannot afford for policymakers to repeat the mistakes of the past.". The CFPB did not respond to a request for comment on the impact of its recent changes. Buying a home is usually the biggest purchase Americans make in their lifetimes. Although it's always been important to fully understand the terms of a loan when taking out a mortgage, that may take on even greater importance if the CFPB is diminished. Still, the home loan market is safer now than it once was, said Ira Rheingold, executive director of the National Association of Consumer Advocates. "When Dodd-Frank passed, it included mortgage reform," Rheingold said. "The types of loans that were being made that created the subprime crisis really can't be made anymore, because they would be violating the law.". The housing meltdown of 2008 occurred partly because banks and lenders gave out risky home loans to people who couldn't afford them. Those mortgages were then bundled into complex financial products that collapsed when homeowners started defaulting on their loans. The meltdown led to a crash in home prices and millions of foreclosures. Home loans that required little-to-no proof of income were common before 2008, but today, such loans are rare, said Laurie Goodman, founder of the Housing Finance Policy Center at the Urban Institute. "Prior to the financial crisis, income wasn't adequately documented, you sort of took the borrower's word for it," she said. "Today, a 'no doc. loan would be extremely foreign.". Housing market protections codified into law in the years after the financial crisis also include stronger lending standards and clearer disclosures for loan holders. However, the defanging of the CFPB would still strip away vital protections for consumers, said Griffin. "Gutting an organization like the CFPB does hurt investors on smaller financial transactions where they can get taken advantage of," he said. "The CFPB has played a role to provide additional scrutiny to go after unjust fees or unjust financial transactions.". When borrowing money for a home, Americans should pay close attention to the terms of the loan, ensuring there are no hidden fees or relationships. At a time when mortgage rates hover just under 7%, borrowers should shop around to multiple lenders to ensure 71 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000246 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0023412 the most favorable terms. The agency protects consumers from more than just predatory mortgage loans, though. Its broad purpose is to protect from financial abuses in general, including those from credit card companies, auto loans and student loans. Rheingold recommended that consumers continue to file complaints with the CFPB when they have issues with financial products or services. If the CFPB doesn't take immediate action, your state's attorney general or legal services programs may still file a lawsuit against a badbehaving company if you raise the issue to them, he said. Some fear that financial companies could grow increasingly emboldened to engage in predatory practices like hidden fees and unfair loan terms, though it's hard to predict exactly what those abuses would be. "Will we go back and make the exact same mistakes as we have in the past? We probably won't. But we'll make a different set of mistakes," said Goodman. Last month, after Russell Vought, an author of Project 2025 and Trump's Office of Management and Budget Director, became acting director of the CFPB, he promptly ordered the agency's workers to stop all tasks. After a federal judge blocked the stoppage, that order has since been reversed for some employees. Under Vought, the agency has recently dropped enforcement actions against several firms accused of ripping off Americans, including Capital One and Rocket Homes, a unit of Warren Buffet's Berkshire Hathaway. Vought has said that consumer protection was "weaponized" under the CFPB and exceeded the agency's legal mandate. "CFPB RIP," Elon Musk, who leads Trump's Department of Government Efficiency, posted on X last month. DOGE had been granted administrative access to CFPB's internal systems. a source told CNN last month. This week, the CFPB's chief operating officer, Adam Martinez, testified in court that the engagement of Vought and Mark Paoletta, a top legal adviser, has led to a "slower" pace of decision-making that started in mid-February. However, Martinez also testified that the agency is still operating. Trump scales back Treasury's CDFI Fund (American Banker) - full text American Banker [3/15/2025 9:50 PM, Ebrima Santos Sanneh, 135K] President Donald Trump issued an executive order Friday night scaling back the Community Development Financial Institutions Fund, a key Treasury Department program that supports underserved areas and that has enjoyed bipartisan support in Congress. Trump directed various federal agencies to eliminate a number of economic development, cultural, and social service programs -- including the CDFI Fund -- to the extent allowed by law, deeming them "unnecessary." "The non-statutory components and functions of the following governmental entities shall be eliminated to the maximum extent consistent with applicable law," the order states. "Such entities shall reduce the performance of their statutory functions and associated personnel to the minimum presence and function required by law." In addition to the CDFI Fund, the order applies to the Federal Mediation and Conciliation 72 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000246 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0023413 Service, the U.S. Agency for Global Media, the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, the Institute of Museum and Library Services, the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness and the Minority Business Development Agency. The order also directs agency heads to report their compliance with the mandate to the Office of Management and Budget within seven days. The CDFI fund - established by the Riegle Community Development Regulatory Improvement Act of 1994 - supports financial institutions that serve economically distressed communities. The fund certifies financial institutions that focus on financial inclusion as CDFIs, among them banks, credit unions, nonprofit loan funds, microloan funds, and venture capital funds. CDFIs rely on a mix of public and private funding to provide capital to underserved areas, offering financial services to individuals and businesses that traditional banks often overlook due to higher risk. By using targeted lending and financial counseling, CDFIs help bridge gaps in access to capital, though their performance is difficult to measure due to the complexities of serving high-risk borrowers. The Trump administration proposed eliminating or significantly reducing the CDFI Fund's budget in the past in its annual budget proposals, citing concerns about the federal government's role in subsidizing financial activities that could be handled by the private sector. Trump issued a directive to executive agencies last month instructing them to identify positions not mandated by law as an initial step toward future job cuts, and the administration has more aggressively worked to shutter the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. The CDFI program enjoys bipartisan support in Congress, particularly among lawmakers representing rural and economically struggling districts, who have repeatedly called for preserving federal support for the program. At his January 2025 confirmation hearing, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent expressed strong support for CDFIs. In response to a question from Senator Mark R. Warner, DVa., Bessent reaffirmed his commitment to collaborating with lawmakers to expand the role of CDFIs. He highlighted his background as a financial services analyst and stressed that the inclusion of CDFIs in underserved areas is vital to the U.S. financial system's strength and global distinction. "The early part of my career was as a financial services analyst, I believe that the breadth of the U.S. financial services industry is what differentiates the U.S. economy from the rest of the world," Bessent said at the hearing. "The addition of these CDFIs into these underserved communities is very important." Over the weekend, Senators Warner and Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, -- co-chairs of the Senate Community Development Finance and influential members of the Senate Banking committee -- reaffirmed the strong bipartisan support for the fund and its mission. "Since 1994, the CDFI sector has grown to over 1400 institutions, located in every state and territory in the nation -- and leveraging at least $8 in private sector investment for every $1 in public funding received," the Senators wrote in a statement. "As co-chairs of the Community Development Finance Caucus, a group which has grown to 28 members, 14 Democrats and 14 Republicans, we are proud to reaffirm our bipartisan commitment to support the CDFI Fund's mission." Harold Pettigrew, President and CEO of the Opportunity Finance Fund -- a group that works with and advocates for CDFIs - said CDFIs play a vital role in directing capital to 73 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000246 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0023414 underserved areas and that the group would fight the order. "We can't have America First without putting our communities first," Pettigrew said. "For decades, CDFIs have been a driving force in bringing capital to communities that traditional financial institutions have left behind. We are fighting to ensure that federal support continues for the vital work that community development financial institutions deliver to Main Street." Have mortgage rates dropped enough to spur homebuyers this spring? (Marketplace) - full text Marketplace [3/14/2025 6:31 PM, Mitchell Hartman, 505K] AUDIO. Mortgage rates have fallen in seven of the last eight weeks. The downwardtrending graph for interest on new home loans has got to be at least a little encouraging for buyers and sellers heading into spring. This week, the average 30-year fixed-rate mortgage did edge up marginally to 6.65%, according to Freddie Mac. Still, that's down from the most recent peak of just over 7% in mid-January. Remember, the rate topped 7.75% in 2023 as inflation spiked and the Federal Reserve hiked short-term rates. What's behind the latest easing of mortgage rates? And how's that -- along with other market dynamics, like high home prices -- likely to impact the spring housing market? Depends whom you ask. "When we asked people to describe their local housing market: 'doomed,--inflated,' 'crazy,- said Erika Giovanetti at U.S. News & World Report, which just released its spring homebuyers survey. "The disconnect between where homebuyers want rates to be and where rates actually are," she said. "It is just simply unaffordable to buy at current rates and home prices for many, many people." Mortgage rates have edged down lately, said Zillow economist Orphe Divounguy. Plus, "buyers have more options than they had a year ago -- and it's the most homes for sale of any February since 2020," he said. But, remember, all real estate is local. "What we're seeing here: a frenzy of activity, very limited inventory and multiple offers, said Israel Hill, a broker in Portland, Oregon. "Those that can afford it are just saying, 'OK, you know what, I'm going to make my move, I've been waiting for too long." But at the national level, the U.S. News survey found 4 out of 5 buyers won't act until rates fall further. "A quarter of those who are waiting want to see rates below 5%. That is not forecast to happen at all in 2025," said Giovanetti at U.S. News. "It's challenging, to say the least, to figure out what direction mortgage rates will move in," said Guy Cecala at Inside Mortgage Finance. He said right now, mortgage rates are falling for a not very favorable reason: "The stock market tanking, as a result of the Trump administration's economic moves, particularly the tariffs." He said any improvement in the economic outlook could push mortgage rates up again. His best guess is that rates settle close to 6% later this year. And as for holding out for the rates we saw a few years ago? "Three or four percent mortgages? I don't think we're going to see that," Cecala said, in the foreseeable future. 74 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000246 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0023415 Bill Pulte pledges to scrutinize `underperforming' Fannie and Freddie, root out mortgage fraud (HousingWire.com) - full text HousingWire.com [3/14/2025 11:35 AM, James Kleimann, 354K] Bill Pulte, the newly confirmed director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA), is wasting no time in making a splash with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, suggesting they too might receive the DOGE treatment that other government entities have already experienced. In a series of messages posted to his X account on Friday morning, he wrote: "Fannie and Freddie generate over $30 billion in earnings per year. The Fannie & Freddie Management Teams and I will immediately review their 2025 budgets (like business does!) to help restore the American Dream for Americans who have been crushed these last 4 years.". "Eliminating mortgage fraud and fraud in general will be a main focus at Fannie, Freddie, and the Federal Home Loan Banks.". These comments follow others made on Thursday in which he suggests that Fannie and Freddie's workforce of 15,000 people have been "underperforming as companies and in safety and soundness. But now, thanks to President Trump and his Golden Age of Housing, we will fix it, Effective Immediately.". The Trump administration is widely expected to attempt the removal of Fannie and Freddie from their conservatorships, a complicated process that will result in questions about the government's role in the mortgage markets. Mortgage policymakers and industry trade groups expect the government-sponsored enterprises (GSEs) -- which support about half of the mortgage market in America -- to have a smaller footprint under the Trump administration. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has tied any exit from conservatorship to lower mortgage rates. And this week, Pulte wrote that the Trump administration was responsible for the decline in rates in recent weeks. Regarding the GSEs' oversight of loan quality, Fannie Mae in particular has been cracking down on mortgage fraud in the multifamily sector for the better part of a year. The GSE earlier this month published updated guidelines to better identify mortgage fraud. The document cited loans underwritten to a higher occupancy rate than the true occupancy at the time of purchase. It also mentioned appraisals that fall short of the property's historical record and broker-prepared financial statements. Following a series of high-profile multifamily fraud cases, Fannie has also instituted blacklists on sponsors and commercial real estate brokerages. Pulte has not mentioned loan buybacks in the single-family space, a bugaboo for originators who regularly complained to Pulte's predecessor, Sandra Thompson, that the GSEs were too aggressive in making them repurchase loans that were performing but had minor defects. At Gridiron, journalists joke around but skip the presidential toast (Washington Post) - full text Washington Post [3/16/2025 1:19 PM, Kara Voght, 31735K] For as long as anyone can remember, the Gridiron Club and Foundation dinner has ended the evening with a toast to the president of the United States. But, on Saturday night, after hours of gallows humor about the state of the media under the second Trump 75 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000246 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0023416 administration, Gridiron President Judy Woodruff, the former anchor of PBS NewsHour, raised her glass to something else. "A toast to the First Amendment," she said. A knowing look passed between attendees as they clinked their glasses. For 14O years, D.C's political and media elite have attended the annual white-tie affair for an evening of comedy and comity -- of breaking bread and breaking tension in the face of whatever heaviness might be unfolding in the nation's capital. Journalists perform sketches to lightly roast politicians; Democratic and Republican officials return the fire in stand-up routines. This year, with relations between the presidency and the press at a nadir, lawmakers, ambassadors and journalists sat in the basement ballroom of the Grand Hyatt to pick at Chilean sea bass and find out whether there's anything in Washington worth laughing about anymore. Their verdict: Yes, actually. The first sketch of the night, featuring Jeff Bezos and a chainsaw-clutching Elon Musk, got a rise from the crowd. As did a pair of leaf-covered Democrats who sang, "No one cares about your pronouns when you're lost in the woods." A pair of dancing viruses, bopping alongside Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., elicited some nervous chuckles. President Donald Trump didn't attend this year's dinner. Nor did any senior administration officials, save for Housing and Urban Development Secretary Scott Turner -- or, as CBS's Margaret Brennan called him, "whatever the opposite of 'designated survivor' is." She and Jeffrey Goldberg, the editor in chief of the Atlantic, went onstage to deliver punch lines about the dignitaries in the room, who, as Brennan said, were "brave enough to be seen in public with us." She gave a shout-out to Maine Gov. Janet Mills (D), who had "not yet self-deported" in light of her clash with Trump over transgender athletes, and described the European ambassadors in attendance as "all of America's enemies." Goldberg introduced the coterie of ambassadors from Denmark, Mexico, and Canada as the "rebel alliance" and called David Rubenstein, who recently stepped down as chairman of the Kennedy Center, the "former manager of the Kennedy Center's all-drag-queen employee softball team." (In recent weeks, Trump has moved aggressively to take over the center.) "Obviously, there's much about this that's archaic," Goldberg said, once he'd returned to his seat, about the Gridiron event. "But I like tradition, and I think these traditions have a civilizing purpose." "There's a cloud hanging over all of this right now," said former congressman Daniel Kildee (D-Michigan) between sketches. "It feels like we're still trying to maintain the pretense of normality." Kildee had been seated with employees of Voice of America, who were attending the dinner the day after Trump signed an executive order to reduce their operations to the bare minimum. There was a long standing ovation for Oksana Markarova, the Ukrainian ambassador -- and an even longer one for the mother of Austin Tice, an American journalist who went missing in Syria in 2012. Throughout the evening, speakers landed punches on Bezos's stewardship of The Washington Post in light of his decision to focus the paper's opinions section on the support and defense of "personal liberties and free markets." "He's proven his commitment to those philosophies by letting the free market exercise their personal liberty to unsubscribe from The Washington Post," joked Maryland Gov. Wes Moore, the evening's Democratic speaker. Moore, a rising star widely seen as a 76 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000246 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0023417 viable Democratic presidential contender, took a dig at another potential torch-taker in his party, California Gov. Gavin Newsom. Newsom, he said, had missed a call "because he was busy wrapping up an interview with the January 6th prison choir," a reference to Newsom's new podcast, which has played host to far-right guests. Moore acknowledged that his appearance at the Gridiron would be cited as evidence of his own aspirations. "If I actually wanted to be president, I wouldn't do any of this," he said. "Instead, I would take my case directly to the people who are in charge of our democracy: the Kremlin." During her turn at the mic, Rep. Lisa C. McClain (Michigan), the Republican speaker, teased the Trump administration. Pam Bondi had been chosen as attorney general, she said, because "the Menendez brothers were unavailable." She joked that Kennedy was going to come to the dinner but couldn't make it because "he got the measles." "I realize Democrats like Governor Moore here think the president is taking the country backwards, but I look forward to the next four years. I mean. after all, the Stone Age did have a lot of positives," she said. This got a laugh from the crowd. "Think about it," she continued. "A simpler life, all-natural foods and traditional gender roles. In the words of JD Vance, what's not to like?" Just a few polite chuckles. In Trump's absence, organizers had assembled a montage of past presidents' monologues at the dinner. It began with Trump's 2018 appearance, when he called members of the press "quality people" and joked that he'd delighted at the "invitation to come here and ruin your evening in person." Clips from Presidents George W. Bush, George H.W. Bush and Ronald Reagan followed, each portraying a convivial moment between the president and the press. The mood took a mournful turn. After Woodruff's toast, everyone linked arms and swayed to "Auld Lang Syne," a closing ritual to underscore the evening of fellowship. It's a song synonymous with the new year and its attendant promise of renewal. But it's really a song of farewell -- of fondly looking backward at, as its ancient Scottish title roughly translates, "times long past." Mortgage lenders return to losses in Q4 despite high volume (National Mortgage News) - full text National Mortgage News [3/14/2025 1:17 PM, Brad Finkelstein, 28K] Despite strong loan origination in the fourth quarter, mortgage lenders slipped back into the red. losing money on every loan they produced, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association. Independent mortgage bankers and bank mortgage subsidiaries lost $40 on a pretax basis on every loan they originated during the period. This ended two consecutive quarters of profitability, including $701 in the third quarter and $693 in the second quarter. For the fourth quarter of 2023, mortgage lenders lost $2,109 on production, while for the same period in 2022, it was $2,812 on every loan. Higher production costs, particularly application-related expenses carried over from the previous quarter, were a key driver of the shift to losses, according to MBA. However, lenders who generate larger volume benefitted from scale, as their fixed costs were spread over more volume. Thus they were able to generate an average production profit in the fourth quarter, Marina Walsh, the MBA's vice president of industry analysis, said in a press release. 77 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000246 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0023418 IMBs swung from an 18-basis-point profit in Q3 to a 4-basis-point loss in Q4--though this was still an improvement from the 73-basis-point loss in Q4 2022. Total loan production expenses -- commissions, compensation, occupancy, equipment, and other production expenses and corporate allocations -- increased to $11,230 per loan compared with $10,716 in the third quarter. While expenses rose, revenues declined. Lenders earned $11,190 per loan in the fourth quarter, a drop from $11,417 in Q3. Total production revenue, which includes fee income, net secondary marketing income and warehouse spread, decreased to 339 basis points from 341 basis points during the time frame. Mortgage originators of all types produced $475 billion in the fourth quarter, up from $455 billion in the prior quarter. Refinancing volume rose by $50 billion, while purchase activity fell by $30 billion. But the MBA report found average production volume to be $540 million per IMB in the fourth quarter, down from $542 million for the period ended Sept. 30, 2024. The servicing business, on a net basis, made money for IMBs in the fourth quarter, $142 per loan, up from a third quarter loss of $25. But servicing income--excluding changes in servicing rights value and hedging adjustments--declined from $93 per loan in Q3 to $84 in Q4. "With the slowing in prepayments in the fourth quarter, net servicing financial income improved and helped the bottom line," Walsh said. "Across both production and servicing operations, 61% of mortgage companies in MBA's sample were profitable, compared to 71% in the previous quarter.". While mortgage lenders faced rising costs and shrinking profits, the servicing business helped offset some of the losses. However, with declining revenues and a tougher mortgage market, the industry remains in a challenging position heading into 2025. World's first Al real estate agent has already made $100M in sales (HousingWire.com) - full text Housinovirescorn [3/14/2025 5:43 PM, Jonathan Delozier, 354K] Israeli startup eSelf Al has developed a technology that provides interactive Al real estate agents capable of answering questions and guiding prospective buyers through listings at any time. "We are not only a face that is moving and speaking while the agent responds to the user, but we also have sharing video and image capabilities," eSelf Al co-founder and CEO Alan Bekker told Fox Business. Bekker explained that the company's technology integrates large language models into a visual and interactive experience, comparing its impact to how "movies did for books" by making information more accessible. The customizable Al bots created with eSelf Al's platform have been adopted across various industries, including education, customer service, and real estate. One of the companies utilizing the technology is Portugal-based real estate brokerage firm Porta da Frente Christie's, which has reported $100 million in sales generated from leads provided by the Al agent. Porta da Frente Christie's CEO Joao Cilia told Fox Business that the firm has seen great 78 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000246 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0023419 results since live-testing the Al agent about a year ago. "We have more than 5,000 properties currently in our portfolio. It is impossible for a physical person to know all of the information regarding these 5,000 properties, but it's not impossible for an Al agent to do so," Cilia said. "So, you as a customer are going to get, probably and most likely, a much better service right away than you will have with a physical commercial consultant because she knows -- the Al agent knows -- everything about all the properties.". When customers engage with the Al agent, they provide basic details such as location preferences, budget, and the number of bedrooms. From there, the Al can filter listings and conduct virtual tours, offering detailed descriptions of available properties. The Al assistant has also helped bridge time zone gaps for Porta da Frente Christie's, which serves international clients, particularly from the U.S. and Brazil. Cilia said the Al ensures buyers can receive immediate responses despite the five-hour time difference, improving customer experience without requiring around-the-clock human staffing. "In a certain way, it replaces the search that they have online," Cilia told Fox Business. Looking ahead, Cilia believes Al agents could significantly alter real estate sales by reducing reliance on human agents and cutting operational costs. "If we can use it on a large scale in the long-term future or in the medium-term future, I would say, it can replace a lot of the physical commercial consultants, and in this sense make the operation of selling these properties much cheaper," he said. At least 39 dead after tornadoes, wildfires and dust storms wreak havoc across multiple US states (APNews.com) - full text APNews.com [3/16/2025 2:03 PM, Sara Cline and Rebecca Reynolds, 48304K] Unusually vicious and damaging weather across multiple U.S. states spawned violent tornadoes, blinding dust storms and fast-moving wildfires over the weekend, leaving at least 39 people dead. In the latest tally of the destruction. the Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management said Sunday evening that more than 400 homes were damaged as wildfires swept across the state Friday. At least 74 homes in and around Stillwater were destroyed by wildfires, Mayor Will Joyce said Sunday night on Facebook. The emergency management department also said the Oklahoma Office of the Chief Medical Examiner confirmed four fatalities related to the fires or high winds. The National Weather Service said weekend tornado watches had mostly expired, but dangerous winds were still possible in the Carolinas, east Georgia and northern Florida through Sunday. In Mississippi, Halley Hart and her fianc Steve Romero hunkered down with their three huskies inside their 1994 Toyota Celica as a tornado ripped apart their home Saturday in Tylertown. Romero said he prayed out loud and hugged Hart as the car rolled onto its side, windows shattering, before it landed on its wheels again. After the twister passed, they could hear people nearby screaming for help. "It was a bad dream come true," Romero said. Next door, Hart's grandparents crawled out from the rubble of their destroyed house after they sought shelter in a bathroom as falling trees collapsed the roof. "Everything was coming down on us," said Donna Blansett, Hart's grandmother. "All I could do was pray to God to save us." They escaped with just a few scratches and aches. Family members, friends and volunteers spent Sunday removing debris and salvaging anything they could find, including some damp clothes, a photo album and a 79 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000246 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0023420 few toiletries. "I'm so happy you're alive," Hart said through tears, as she embraced her grandmother on Sunday. Forecasters warned of dangerous conditions that turned deadly The dynamic storm that began Friday earned an unusual "high risk" designation from weather forecasters. Still, experts said it's not unusual to see such weather extremes in March. President Donald Trump said in a post on his social media network that his administration is ready to assist affected communities. "Please join Melania and me in praying for everyone impacted by these terrible storms!" he posted Sunday. At least three people, including an 82-year-old woman, were killed in central Alabama when multiple tornados swept across the state. In Troy, Alabama, parks officials said the recreation center where many residents had taken refuge had to be closed due to damage from overnight storms. No one was injured. "We are thankful the Lord provided protection over our community, and over 200 guests at the Recreation Center storm shelter on Saturday night," the parks department said in a statement. Fatalities from twisters in battered Missouri reach 12 Missouri resident Dakota Henderson said he and others rescuing trapped neighbors found five bodies scattered in rubble Friday night outside what remained of his aunt's house in hard-hit Wayne County. Scattered twisters killed at least a dozen people in the state, authorities said. "It's really disturbing for what happened to the people, the casualties last night," Henderson said Saturday, not far from the splintered home he said they rescued his aunt through a window of the only room left standing. Coroner Jim Akers of Butler County, Missouri, described the home where one man was killed as "just a debris field." "The floor was upside down," he said. "We were walking on walls." Deaths in Mississippi and Arkansas In Mississippi, Gov. Tate Reeves announced that six people died and more than 200 were displaced after tornadoes sowed devastation across three counties. And in the northern part of the state, roads were inundated and some people were stranded by flood waters. One of the deaths occurred in Covington County, where Seminary resident Traci Ladner said she watched a tornado knock down trees and power lines and destroy a house Saturday as she drove home from Ward's Restaurant. The twister touched down briefly, traveled over Highway 49 and then went back up before making another quick descent, she said. "I was crying. My legs were shaking. It was pretty scary," she said. In Arkansas, officials confirmed three deaths. Wildfires and dust storms drive up the death toll Wind-driven wildfires caused extensive damage in Texas and Oklahoma and officials warned Sunday that parts of both states would again face an increased risk of fire danger in the coming week. More than 130 fires were reported across Oklahoma, Gov. Kevin Stitt said. "Nobody has enough resources to fight fires when the wind is blowing 70 mph," said Terry Essary, the fire chief of Stillwater, Oklahoma. "It's an insurmountable task." Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management spokesperson Keli Cain said Sunday that two people were killed as a result of the wildfires and weather. Meanwhile, dust storms spurred by high winds claimed almost a dozen lives on Friday. Eight people 80 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000246 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0023421 died in a Kansas highway pileup involving at least 50 vehicles, according to the state highway patrol. Authorities said three people also were killed in car crashes during a dust storm in Amarillo, in the Texas Panhandle. [DC] D.C. Is Becoming Another Hollowed-Out Company Town (New York Times) full text New York Times [3/16/2025 8:00 AM, Alec MacGillis, 330K] In 2008, as the Great Recession was starting to take hold, my reporting on Barack Obama's presidential campaign took me to one American city after another that was reeling from major layoffs. I visited places such as Kokomo, Ind., which was losing so many jobs at its Chrysler and Delphi plants that by year's end it was labeled one of America's fastest-dying towns, and Lorain, Ohio, where Mr. Obama visited a National Gypsum plant that closed four months later. After each trip, I would return to my home in Alexandria, Va., in the metro Washington, D.C., area, and be struck by how removed the nation's capital seemed from the pain being felt in so much of the country. Not only was it insulated because of its high proportion of government employment: it actually prospered as a result of the recession, since so much of the federal economic stimulus ended up staying with the Beltway contractors who administered the spending. When my growing family started looking for a larger home in 2009, we left our corner of Alexandria. As prices in every other metro area in the country were declining, they were still rising in the inner suburbs of Northern Virginia. The situation now is sharply reversed. As a result of Elon Musk's relentless scythe, the so-called Department of Government Efficiency, the big layoffs are in and around Washington. In the week ending Feb. 22, unemployment claims in the District of Columbia rose 25 percent from the week before and were four times as high as one year earlier -- and that's only the beginning. The district's chief financial officer has predicted that the city, where the federal government accounts for roughly a quarter of wages, could lose as many as 40,000 jobs over the next few years, more than a fifth of its total, which he estimates would cost the city more than $1 billion in revenue. The fallout is spreading through the D.M.V. -- D.C., Maryland and Virginia -- a region where nearly a tenth of jobs are with the federal government, not to mention the tens of thousands of people working for contractors dependent on federal spending. The losses are already manifest beyond the numbers: in the rsums from highly educated professionals flooding Linkedln, in pleas from laid-off young people seeking others to take over their apartment leases, in hushed discussions about this or that family pulling up stakes and leaving town. It is also manifest in the very landscape of the city. The Trump administration briefly placed the headquarters of many government departments on a list of noncore properties that are marked for offloading because they are vacant or underused -- among them the Departments of Justice, Labor, Agriculture, Health and Human Services, Energy and Housing and Urban Development. This conjures the prospect that those hulking Brutalist and Classical Revival buildings constructed in the 20th century could one day stand vacant, just like the abandoned 19th-century factories looming over so many of the country's postindustrial cities. All of this raises a question that was unfathomable until recently: Is the nation's capital, so long blessed by being the government's company town, at risk of a fate resembling that of so many other company towns through the years? And if it is, why aren't people 81 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000246 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0023422 beyond metro Washington more concerned about it? When Detroit was in free fall, Mr. Obama intervened to bail out the auto industry, deciding a great American city needed help. But now the administration in power is itself driving the fateful blow to a major city. It is hard not to detect in this turnabout some resentment on the part of Trump allies and supporters from regions that have not been faring well in recent times. By 2012, when the country was finally emerging from the recession, seven of the 10 wealthiest counties were in metro Washington; the area's number of high-net-worth households, with investable assets of more than $1 million, had risen by 30 percent since 2008. While Midwestern communities such as Vice President JD Vance's hometown, Middletown, Ohio, were being crushed by the opioid epidemic, the Aston Martin dealership in Tysons Corner, Va., was selling hundreds of the bespoke James Bond car for about $280,000, and home prices in Washington were approaching a 400 percent increase from the early 1990s. There is also more recent fuel for schadenfreude over Washington's pain: Federal workers were much slower than those in other industries to return to the office after the pandemic, making it easier for the Trump administration to cast the entire lot of them as cosseted and unproductive. The persistence of remote work in the federal government had given downtown Washington a desolate feel, as it contributed to the closure of countless fast-casual lunch locales, retail shops and a major movie theater. There is no small irony in the fact that Mr. Trump's return-to-office order has brought more life to downtown streets at the very moment that the city is so imperiled by impending layoffs. The DOGE cuts will not do all that much harm to the region's true economic elite. There will still be lobbyists raking in six-figure contracts. Mr. Trump has done precious little to threaten that aspect of the so-called swamp; if anything, the DOGE assault has led many sectors, such as higher education, to spend more on lobbyists. There will still be Beltway-bandit consulting firms soaking up some of the work previously done by government workers and national security contractors lining the soulless highway approach to Dulles Airport. The actual targets of the cuts will be a more modest sort: career civil servants who, in many cases, could have been making more money in the private sector or security guards and office cleaners returning every evening to workingclass neighborhoods in Anacostia or Prince George's County. It's these people -- from housing finance analysts to food-safety researchers and administrative assistants -- who are now frantically looking for other work or considering leaving the region altogether. The cuts will fall especially hard on the region's Black residents, who have long relied on federal employment as a ladder to the middle class. (Black people make up a disproportionately large share of the national federal work force.) Watching all of this unfold, I can't help but be put in mind of another company town: my hometown, Pittsfield, Mass. It once held three major units of General Electric, which at its mid-20th-century peak employed more than 13,000 people in a county of about 130,000, sustaining broadly shared prosperity in a city with stellar public schools and a bustling main street. But by the time I reached high school in the late 1980s, the company was scaling back operations at a rapid clip under the leadership of Jack Welch, who had come up through the ranks in Pittsfield. My classmates and I watched as, one by one, the families of engineers and managers moved away and empty storefronts proliferated downtown. Ultimately, many of us decided to build our careers elsewhere. Pittsfield's population has fallen a quarter since 1970, and only 1,000-odd people remain employed at the company that took over one of the rump G.E. companies, General 82 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000246 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0023423 Dynamics. Washington is unlikely to suffer so stark a fate, given the many barnacles that have attached themselves to its economy beyond the bureaucracy. Tourists will still come by the thousands to admire the monuments, even if some of the big stone buildings turn vacant, like the ruins of the Roman Forum. But the experience of Pittsfield and so many larger company towns is a reminder of how wrenching the disruption is when the biggest employer in town takes a big hit and the ladder rungs for upward mobility start to crumble. The echo of all those other cities' plights is reason to offer some sympathy, or at least recognition, as the Beltway now absorbs its blows. [DC] D.C. for sale: The Trump administration is weighing the disposition of highprofile federal buildings in Washington. (Washington Business Journal, DC) - full text Washington Business Journal [3/14/2025 3:06 PM, Michael Neibauer, 4715K, DC] D.C. has a familiar look to the world. Mammoth but largely squat concrete federal buildings lining its highest-profile streets within the monumental core. Historic office campuses locked behind secured gates and pop-up bollards. Brutalism. So. Much. Brutalism. In early March, the Trump administration shocked just about everyone as it listed more than 400 U.S. government-owned properties nationwide that could be divested, cleared from the federal portfolio, including more than 25 in D.C. proper. The long-term result being, likely, a dramatic change to the look and feel of Washington, assuming the private sector gets its hands on a fair chunk of this valuable real estate. The General Services Administration dropped the staggering list of "non-core assets" on the afternoon of March 4, then removed its Greater Washington listings that same evening, then nixed the entire list March 5, and finally offered an indication that some version of it would return at some point. But we still got a good look at it. And whoa, Nelly! The Department of Justice headquarters? USDA headquarters? FBI (well, that one's not a shock)? Potomac Hill? We're talking millions of square feet on Independence and Pennsylvania avenues, in Foggy Bottom and Judiciary Square and downtown Washington. Billions of dollars of assessed value, according to the D.C. tax office, which assesses all properties whether or not they're tax exempt. If the list is resurrected, it could look very different, with fewer or less high-profile (read, not Cabinet-level) properties. There's no guarantee the GSA sells the properties either -- the Public Buildings Service says it "welcomes creative solutions," such as sale-lease backs, ground leases and other forms of public-private partnerships. Whatever the form it takes, "divestment," as the GSA described it, means what it means: to rid oneself of something no longer required. That's where we're headed. Hang on. By the numbers: $100.57 billion -- Estimated value of taxable commercial property in D.C. $159.46 billion -- Estimated value of taxable residential property in D.C. $110.27 billion -- Estimated value of tax-exempt property in D.C. 47 million -- Square footage owned by the GSA in the National Capital Region.44 million -- Square footage of GSA leases in the National Capital Region, pre-DOGE cuts. J. Edgar Hoover Building. Address: 935 Pennsylvania Ave. NW. Size: 2.8 million square feet. Built: 1967 to 1977. Style: Brutalist. Architect: Charles F. Murphy and Associates. 83 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000246 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0023424 Assessed value: $997.5M. Location, location, location: The behemoth sits north of Pennsylvania Avenue, encroaching on the quaint and historic East Side, Penn Quarter and Gallery Place neighborhoods. Today: The first purpose-built FBI headquarters covers a full square block (interestingly, the crumbling, slab of a building looks like a square, concrete block). Tear down? Please. The building is not eligible for placement on the National Register. The future: An arena! A hotel! Performing arts! Condos! The possibilities are unlimited. Pros/cons: There are no cons to removing this eyesore from America's Main Street. Potomac Annex and E Street Complex. Address: 2300 E St. NW and 2430 E St. NW. Size: Roughly 200,000 square feet combined. Built: Late 19th, early 20th centuries. Location, location, location: GWU and the Department of State are within walking distance, and the perch on a hill affords beautiful views. History: The 12-acre campus features the original Naval Observatory and the structures that housed the earliest NIH iterations along with buildings initially used as home of the Office of Strategic Services -- the CIA's predecessor. It later became the CIA HQ. Assessed value: D.C. has assessed the land and buildings in Square 0034 at $265.7M, but that includes the U.S. Institute of Peace. Today: The gated block is used by the State Department. The future: Much of the site is likely protected from demolition -- the entire compound is within the Old Naval Observatory Historic District and was added to the National Register in 2016 - so the best option might be selling to an institution like GWU. Any future use should open it up, not lock it down. Robert F. Kennedy Federal Building. Address: 950 Pennsylvania Ave. NW. Size:1.2 million square feet. Built: 1935. Style: Neoclassical Moderne/Classical Revival with Art Deco ornamentation. Architect: Zantzinger, Borie and Medary of Philadelphia. Assessed value: $671M. Location, location, location: Federal Triangle spot steps from the National Archives, National Mall, Smithsonian Museum of Natural History and Judiciary Square. Today: The building serves as the Department of Justice headquarters, home to the attorney general. Historic value: The building's use of aluminum and Art Deco touches give it distinguishing historic features, even among the other buildings in Federal Triangle. Much of the building retains its original materials and design. It also contains the largest art collection of any GSA-built facility. The future: Should the DOJ vacate, it could be a prominent home for a law school: The building already has a great library. Its interior courtyards and shallow floorplates could make for adaptive reuse as a luxe apartment building. Old Post Office Building/Waldorf Astoria Washington. Address: 1100 Pennsylvania Ave. NW. Size: 400,000 square feet. Built: 1899. Style: Richardsonian Romanesque. Architect: Willoughby J. Edbrooke. Assessed value: $328.45M. Location, location, location: The best of the best: It sits front and center on America's Main Street, half way between the White House and Capitol. The past: The building, which originally housed the Postal Service HQ, was saved from demolition several times, most recently in the 1970s in a battle that birthed the modern historic preservation movement in D.C. It was restored as a hotel in 2016. Today: It's a Waldorf Astoria. Will it convey? The 270-foot clock tower/observation deck is one of the most prominent features on D.C.'s skyline. The future: Trump International Hotel, again? The owner of the lease is said to be in talks with the Trump Organization. Pros and cons: Depends what side of the aisle you find yourself on. 84 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000246 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0023425 Central Heating Plant. Address: 325 13th St. SW. Size: 199,861 square feet. Built: 1934. Style: Industrial Art Deco. Architect: Paul Philippe Cret. Assessed value: $102.3M. Location, location, location: The plant sits in the center of Southwest D.C., steps from the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum, the Portals complex, L'Enfant Plaza, the National Mall and the Tidal Basin. Today: The plant provides steam and chilled water to government and quasi-government office buildings, monuments and museums, per the GSA. The future: Guess it all depends on whether the GSA wants to continue to operate the plant. If not, we're thinking condos or a boutique hotel would suit the building, which was designed amid the Depression to meet Commission of Fine Arts standards. Fun fact: The stacks are contained in the building. Just picture the possibilities. Robert C. Weaver Federal Building. Address: 451 Seventh St. SW. Size: 1.1 million square feet. Built: 1968. Style: Brutalist. Architect: Marcel Breuer. Assessed value: $382.4M. Location, location, location: Walking distance to The Wharf and L'Enfant Plaza. Downside, the property sits adjacent to 1-395 on the south side. Today: The building houses the Department of Housing and Urban Development headquarters. The future: Love it or hate it, it's listed on the National Register of Historic Places for its contributions to architectural history. More and more Brutalist buildings are being pitched for redevelopment, and a recent National Building Museum exhibit on Brutalism featured concept designs to re-envision the building while staying true to its midcentury significance. James L. Whitten Federal Building and Agriculture South Building. Address: 1400 Independence Ave. SW. Size: 390,397 and 2 million square feet. Built: 1930, 1936. Style: Beaux Arts Classicism; Stripped Classic style (Neoclassicism). Architect: Rankin, Kellogg and Crane; Louis A. Simon, chief of the Architectural Division of the Office of the Supervising Architect. Assessed value: $1B (yes, with a B). Location, location, location: National Mall and National Mall-adjacent. Today: The buildings, connected via a pedestrian bridges over Independence Avenue SW, house the Department of Agriculture headquarters. Fun fact: Until the Pentagon was built, the Agriculture South Building was the largest office building in the world. It has 4,500 rooms, seven miles of corridors, 12 million bricks and 11,000 miles of structural steel. The future: The coolest condos or hotel rooms you'd ever want to see. Columbia Plaza. Address: 2401 E St. NW. Size: 511,000 square feet. Built: 1963. Style: Hmmm, not much (no offense). Architect: Keyes, Lethbridge & Condon. Assessed value: $166.6M. Location, location, location: The project, part of the Foggy Bottom renewal project after World War II, is close to the State Department, Kennedy Center and GWU. It's also next to the Potomac Annex hilltop, also on the list. Today: The GSA bought the building in 2012 for $100 million as part of an effort at the time to acquire buildings occupied by federal agencies. The State Department has been a tenant there since 1992. The future: It's the office component of the separately owned, full-block Columbia Plaza, part of midcentury trend -- perhaps still alive today -- of clustering residential, office and retail together. (See: Watergate.) The new owner could raze the structure and build anew. [DC] Washington, DC's economy is headed for a recession as Trump slashes federal workforce (CNN) - full text 85 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000246 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0023426 CNN [3/16/2025 9:00 AM, Bryan Mena, 22131K] Tyler Wolf was laid off last week from his job as an employment attorney at the US Department of Health and Human Services. The 32-year-old had been saving up to buy a home and planned to move in with his girlfriend this year. Wolf is now planning to move out of his apartment near The Wharf, a trendy waterfront business district in the city, by early April to live with his parents in Virginia. He has also cut back on his spending. The Trump administration's overhaul of the federal government, carried out in large part by Elon Musk's government efficiency team, has left tens of thousands in Washington without a job. That's threatening a key economic engine of America's capital city -- consumer spending. And with signs of strain already showing, economists at Moody's say DC could slip into a recession as soon as this year. Wolf has already adjusted his behavior accordingly as he looks for a new position in a competitive job market. "I'm lucky that I don't have children or a mortgage because it gives me a bit more flexibility, but this is definitely going to set me back quite a bit," Wolf said. "Now I've been cooking at home, I try not to go out for drinks, and it's been a bit disheartening seeing most open attorney positions here asking for a lot more experience than I have.". There are about 2.4 million federal workers in the United States, excluding those employed by the military and the Postal Service -- 17% of whom live in the DC metropolitan area, according to government data. So far, the Trump administration has fired at least 103,452 workers across the federal government nationwide (though some of those cuts are being challenged in the courts). First-time applications for unemployment benefits in Washington spiked throughout February, likely reflecting contractor job losses, according to economists. That might just be tip of the iceberg: Forecasters at Oxford Economists project 33,700 federal job losses in the DC metro in 2025. And this year's job market likely won't be able to absorb all of those federal workers who are expected to be out of work, said Allison Shrivastava, an economist at jobs site Indeed. The job cuts Oxford Economics forecasts for the DC metro would amount to $4.9 billion in lost wages this year; federal workers' paychecks account for 1.6% of the total wages earned in the metropolitan area, according to the group's analysis. Contractors and others who indirectly depend on the government add more, as well. People tend to pull back on spending when they no longer have steady income. and nonessential goods and services typically get hit first -- ultimately generate a ripple effect throughout the economy. Alexandra Reid, who lives in Washington with her husband and dog, was laid off last month from her program specialist job at the National Institutes of Health. The 30-yearold said losing her job halved her household's income: the couple will likely need to dip into their savings just to get by. "I have stopped pretty much all spending on nonessentials since I received the 86 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000246 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0023427 termination notice, only making food, grocery, and transportation purchases as a protective measure," Reid said. "And this is just a terrible job market right now to be in.". On Thursday, a second federal judge ruled that that thousands of probationary employees who were laid off by the Trump administration must get their jobs back temporarily. Reid told CNN that the ruling would apply to her and is hopeful she'll get her job back soon. Miloud Benzerga, owner of Timgad Caf in the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center, told CNN that he estimates foot traffic to his shop is down about 25% to 30% compared to January, before the Trump administration began to fire workers. He said his caf, which employs nine people, managed to survive the Covid-19 pandemic, but he's not so sure that will be case this time around. "It make me sad that a lot of people are losing their jobs, and of course, that has something to do with my business, too," Benzerga said. "If it gets worse, we'll have to close, and I am not the only one. I've talked with other business inside food court.". "We're hearing concerns from businesses about the overall reduction in local business activity but also about the federal cuts," Chinyere Hubbard, president of the DC Chamber of Commerce, told CNN. She said the chamber has started to see "a lot of interest" from businesses in its resources and events, such as an upcoming smallbusiness expo. Adam Kamins, director of regional economics at Moody's, said that the impact of President Donald Trump's layoffs will be immediately felt by consumer-facing industries, such as retail and hospitality, and that the economic pain is expected to be more widespread later in the year. "The recession in DC will be noticeable during the second half of this year, but I wouldn't be surprised if it actually started in March because we've already seen little indications of weakness," Kamins said, adding that "there's always a lag between when things are happening in the economy and when the data reflect those events.". The metro's housing market also suggests more people might be leaving the metro area amid Trump's layoffs: Homes listed for sale began to pick up in late January, according to Realtor.com data, and were 56.2% higher in the week of March 8 compared to the same week a year earlier. That reflects a sharp acceleration from the second half of last year, when inventory growth hovered between 20% and 30%. "So far, we're seeing more homes on the market, and modestly lower asking prices, but the situation continues to evolve," Danielle Hale, chief economist at Realtor.com, said in a statement. "While I expect many households will choose to stay in the area and pivot to find new job opportunities, some will likely choose to leave and retire or find a job elsewhere.". "I'm more upset than anything because of the arbitrary nature of all this, but I do feel confident that I'll get back on my feet -- with time," said Wolf. [MD] Judge pauses firings at CFPB, FDIC, Treasury (National Mortgage News) - full text National Mortgage News [3/14/2025 2:59 PM, Ebrima Santos Sanneh, 28K] A Maryland judge Thursday put a temporary halt to firings of probationary employees at 87 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000246 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0023428 the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, Federal Deposit Insurance Corp., Department of Treasury, Small Business Administration and several other federal agencies. Judge James K. Bredar of the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland ruled that the layoffs violated legal requirements to provide states with advance notice, the absence of which hindered their ability to respond to the increased demand for unemployment and social services. The Judge said he was not convinced by the government's claims that it dismissed the probationary employees for performance or "individualized" reasons. "There were no individualized assessments of employees. They were all just fired. Collectively . . . these big government layoffs were actually `Reductions in Force,'" which require notice, the Judge wrote in the ruling. "Because the federal government's recent discharge of thousands of probationary employees was not executed in compliance with rules intended to ensure that states are ready to bear the load cast upon them when mass layoffs occur, and because the plaintiff states are not yet in fact so prepared, and because of the violations, the recent directives of various federal agencies terminating probationary employees must be stayed.". The motion's temporary restraining order reverses the layoffs -- requiring affected employees to be reinstated -- for fourteen days while the court considers further action. The court found that the states are likely to succeed in their case, are suffering irreparable harm and that issuing a temporary restraining order serves the public interest by preventing further harm to both the states and the affected workers. These agencies are now prohibited from conducting further staff reductions until the court reviews the case in greater detail. The case centers around a legal challenge -- State of Maryland, et al. v. United States Department of Agriculture, et al. -- filed by 19 states and the District of Columbia in March against the Trump administration regarding its termination of thousands of probationary federal employees in recent weeks. This legal action follows an executive order by the Trump administration, which directed numerous agencies to identify staff positions and any programs within the agency not explicitly required by law aimed at making deep cuts to the federal workforce. The CFPB's labor union celebrated the decision as a victory for workers' rights. "I'm thrilled to see my brilliant colleagues reinstated, thanks to the plaintiffs and Judge Bredar's wisdom in granting this temporary restraining order," said Cat Farman, CFPB union chapter president and front end web developer at the agency. "The judge rightly recognizes the DOGE mass firings as illegal RIFs, and that agencies must right these wrongs for employees caught up in Elon Musk's attacks on public services.". In an email obtained by American Banker, Nelle Rohlich, the CFPB union's chief steward, noted the court ruling to the CFPB's Chief Operating Officer Adam Martinez requesting an update as to when the agency will reinstate terminated employees. According to the email, as recently as Friday morning, the agency was telling terminated employees they would remain terminated -- an apparent contradiction to the court ruling. 88 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000246 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0023429 "We are demanding you immediately comply with the court order," Rohlich wrote. "Please.". Affected employees also expressed optimism with the ruling, praising the court's recognition of what they saw as unjust terminations and reaffirming their commitment to continue fighting for public services and workers' protections. "Protecting the American public from Wall Street is meaningful but difficult work," said Jasmine McAllister, a CFPB data scientist who was terminated, in a statement provided by the CFPB labor union. "I've worked hard in my career to get to CFPB. I received a termination letter at 9 p.m. that didn't even have my name on it, but claimed I was being terminated for performance reasons. Everyone else got the same email that night, with no notice to our managers, meaning the performance justification couldn't possibly be true. It's common sense for the court to recognize this.". The order also applies to the U.S. Departments of Agriculture, Commerce, Education, Health and Human Services, Homeland Security, Housing and Urban Development, Interior, Labor, Transportation, and Veterans Affairs departments, among several others. The order requires affected employees be reinstated by March 17, 2025, and prevents further staff reductions until the agencies comply with legal notice requirements. The case will continue with a preliminary injunction hearing scheduled for March 26, 2025. -- Kate Berry contributed to this report. [MD] Baltimore's attempt to halt CFPB defunding rejected by federal judge (HousingWire.com) - full text Housinovire.com [3/14/2025 3:59 PM, Chris Clow, 354K] A federal judge in Baltimore on Friday declined to side with the city's effort to halt the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) from emptying its reserves and returning funds to the Federal Reserve or the U.S. Department of the Treasury. On Feb. 12, the city filed the suit alongside the nonprofit Economic Action Maryland Fund. The parties aimed to stop CFPB acting director Russell Vought from an effort they claimed would leave the bureau "dead in the water," according to reporting from Reuters. But U.S. District Court Judge Matthew Maddox, an appointee of former President Joe Biden, rejected the petition. He ruled that the move by the bureau and the Trump administration did not constitute a "final agency action," which is required in any ruling invoking the Administrative Procedures Act (APA). "For the Court to intervene and entangle itself in the bureau's administrative processes before the agency has made any final decision about the disposition of its operating and reserve funds -- and without clear indication that an unlawful and injurious decision will be made imminently -- would exceed the bounds of the court's proper role and jurisdiction," Maddox ruled, according to a report from The Hill. Maddox added that it would be "especially improper" for the court to risk exceeding its authority on a "preliminary basis." In the initial complaint, the plaintiffs argued that zeroing out the bureau's funding requests amounted to its dismantling "by fiat." A letter from Vought to the Federal Reserve that was part of the court filings showed a request of $0 for the third quarter of the current fiscal year. Under the law, a full dismantling of the CFPB would require 89 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000246 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0023430 approval from Congress. But the Trump administration has moved to aggressively curtail the enforcement posture of the bureau through the funding moves and by the closure of its Washington, D.C., headquarters. In the weeks since, administration officials have said they plan to keep a "streamlined" CFPB in operation. They say that the president's nomination of Jonathan McKernan to serve as the bureau's next full-time director indicates his intent to keep the agency running. But testimony in another court case has also shown that the scaling back of staff and operations has led to turmoil within the agency. This led another federal judge to contemplate a pause to administration actions that some employees say are designed to "unwind" the bureau. [MD] Court rejects Baltimore's bid to block CFPB funding cuts (National Mortgage News) - full text National Mortgage News [3/14/2025 12:42 PM, Ebrima Santos Sanneh, 28K] A federal court in Maryland Friday rejected the city of Baltimore's attempt to block an alleged effort to defund the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, ruling that the municipal plaintiffs failed to show the agency had made a final decision undermining its statutory duties. While plaintiffs argued that recent actions or inactions by the CFPB signaled an effort to dismantle the agency's financial capacity, the decision, signed by U.S. District Judge Matthew J. Maddox of the District of Maryland, questioned whether actions by the Trump administration amounted to a concrete agency action. "Plaintiffs fail to make a clear showing that any such decision was made and constitutes a final agency action subject to judicial review under the APA," a judicial filing noted. "Because Plaintiffs fail to demonstrate a likelihood of success on the merits of their claims, their motion for the extraordinary remedy of preliminary injunctive relief must be denied.". In February, the City of Baltimore and Economic Action Maryland filed a lawsuit against the CFPB and its Trump-appointed acting director, Russell Vought, in the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland. The municipal plaintiffs sought an injunction preventing the agency from depleting or reallocating its funds, alleging Vought's and others' actions violated the terms of a bedrock administrative law, the Administrative Procedure Act. The plaintiffs point to several key actions, including the CFPB's request for zero dollars from the Federal Reserve for the third quarter of the fiscal year, its chief financial officer's alleged interest in returning agency funds back to the Federal Reserve, its closure of the bureau headquarters from February 10 through 14 and its directive to employees to stop working. During the first Trump administration, acting CFPB Director Mick Mulvaney also requested no funding from the Federal Reserve in the second quarter of fiscal year 2018, but noted it planned to use reserve funds to continue work at the agency. By contrast, Vought's letter to Fed Chair Jerome Powell in February requesting zero dollars for the third quarter of fiscal year 2025 indicated the agency would run at a 90 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000246 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0023431 reduced capacity and questioned the statutory need for a reserve fund. "The Bureau's current funds are more than sufficient -- and are, in fact, excessive -- to carry out its authorities in a manner that is consistent with the public interest. In the past, the Bureau has at times opted to maintain a `reserve fund' for financial contingencies," Vought wrote. "But no such fund is required by statute or necessary to fulfill the Bureau's mandate. The Bureau's new leadership will run a substantially more streamlined and efficient bureau, cut this excessive fund, and do its part to reduce the federal deficit.". During fiscal year 2024, former CFPB Director Rohit Chopra requested four transfers from the Fed amounting to $729.4 million, according to the CFPB's 2024 annual report. In February, a federal judge in Washington, D.C., temporarily blocked the CFPB from laying off more employees after over 100 workers had already been fired. The ruling came after the National Treasury Employees Union filed a lawsuit to stop further staff cuts. Broadcast (TV and Radio) HUD Secretary Scott Turner joins the Glenn Beck Program [Part One] (KFYI-AM Fox Phoenix, AZ) KFYI-AM Fox Phoenix [3/14/2025 10:52 PM, Staff, 86,889] reports HUD Secretary Scott Turner appeared on the Glenn Beck Program on Friday. He discusses the need to eliminate waste, fraud and abuse within the federal government. [Part one of interview.] HUD Secretary Scott Turner joins the Glenn Beck Program [Part Two] (KFYI-AM Fox Phoenix, AZ) KFYI-AM Fox Phoenix [3/14/2025 10:52 PM, Staff, 86,889] reports HUD Secretary Scott Turner appeared on the Glenn Beck Program on Friday. He discusses the need to eliminate waste, fraud and abuse within the federal government. [Part two of interview.] [NY] City Hall calls for change in leadership at Syracuse Housing Authority (WSTM-TV NBC Syracuse, NY) WSTM-TV NBC Syracuse [3/14/2025 11:14 PM, Staff, 14,265] reports a call for swift change in leadership at the Syracuse Housing Authority is coming from City Hall. This comes after the non-profit Blueprint 15 shared the news about an uncertain future for the proposed Children Rising Center because of a missed deadline, which SHA refutes. [PA] Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey focuses on future of public housing (WTAE-TV ABC Pittsburgh, PA) WTAE-TV ABC Pittsburgh [3/15/2025 9:19 AM, Staff, 69,874] reports Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey is focusing on the future of public housing in the city. During his visit to Manchester Commons with board members of the city's housing authority on Friday, Gainey said Pittsburgh needs leaders who will protect public housing versus selling it off to developers. [PA] Some Prospect Community residents in Johnstown must wait a little longer to move back home (WJAC-TV NBC Johnstown, PA) WJAC-TV NBC Johnstown-Altoona-St. Colge [3/14/2025 5:17 PM, Staff, 25,618] reports that while some residents of Johnstown's Prospect Community have moved back in after 91 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000246 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0023432 being forced to leave two years ago, others are needing to wait a little longer. Construction was originally supposed to be completed with the contractor last week. [MD] Rockville residents plead for rent stabilization law (WJLA-TV DC) WJLA-TV DC [3/17/2025 12:34 AM, Staff, 10,098] reports Rockville residents are pleading with their city leaders to pass a rent stabilization law. They say prices have gotten out of control and it's driving some people out of the community. [NC] Asheville forced to redraft disaster recovery plan to exclude DEI language (WCNC-TV NBC Charlotte, NC) WCNC-TV NBC Charlotte [3/14/2025 12:08 PM, Staff, 18,468] reports the city of Asheville says it was forced to redraft its disaster recovery plan after HUD Secretary Scott Turner rejected the initial plan over DEI criteria. Turner tweeted that the city's next draft will not include DEI language. [NC] Triad residents displaced after weekend fires (WXII-TV NBC Greensboro, NC) WXII-TV NBC Greensboro [3/16/2025 7:05 AM, Staff, 28,903] reports multiple triad residents were forced out of their homes after fires broke out over the weekend. The High Point Housing Authority is helping with the displaced tenants. [GA] Homerville mayor being investigated by HUD for disability discrimination (WCTV-TV CBS Tallahassee, GA) WCTV-TV CBS Tallahassee [3/14/2025 8:27 AM, Staff, 11,775] reports the mayor of Homerville is being investigated by HUD for disability discrimination. The non-profit Jesus and Jam bought a house on College Street to be a transition home for men who have completed a drug program. The community is pushing back on the plans. [TX] Opportunity Home celebrates Bristol at Somerset affordable housing complex (KABB-TV Fox San Antonio, TX) KABB-TV Fox San Antonio [3/14/2025 12:05 PM, Staff, 17,851] reports the number of affordable housing options in the San Antonio area is growing by hundreds. Opportunity Home celebrated the opening of a brand-new community. The Bristol at Somerset provides almost 350 affordable housing units for families making 60% of San Antonio's median income. [ID] Idaho's Intermountain Fair Housing Council and other housing nonprofits are suing HUD and DOGE (KTVB-TV NBC Boise, ID) KTVB-TV NBC Boise [3/15/2025 10:06 AM, Staff, 13,401] reports several housing nonprofits around the country including Idaho's Intermountain Fair Housing Council are suing HUD and DOGE. This comes after the plug was pulled on 78 housing discrimination grants in 33 states. [MT] Montana Fair Housing receives notice that funding has been terminated (KHBB-TV Fox Helena, MT) KHBB-TV Fox Helena [3/14/2025 11:56 PM, Staff, 523] reports Montana Fair Housing in Butte is facing a major setback after receiving an "unexpected" notice from HUD announcing it is terminating funding effective immediately. HUD cites a shift in program goals and priorities under a new executive order. 92 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000246 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0023433 [UT] Ogden leaders will continue to look for homeless shelter outside the city (KSL-TV NBC Salt Lake City, UT) KSL-TV NBC Salt Lake City [3/14/2025 7:06 PM, Staff, 50,151] reports Ogden leaders will continue to look for a place to build a homeless shelter outside the city. The City Council voted to buy the former Aspen Care Center from the Weber Housing Authority for the shelter but that location will now be used to build single-family homes or townhomes. [HI] Maui County due to receive $1.6 billion for fire recovery (KHPR-FM NPR Honolulu, HI) KHPR-FM NPR Honolulu [3/14/2025 11:30 PM, Staff, 82,899] reports that if all goes as planned, $1.6 billion in funding from HUD will help Maui County with fire recovery. The Community Development Block Grant funding comes with strict requirements. A lot of the funding is earmarked for housing. Housing Supply Cooler permitting raises questions for homebuilding (National Mortgage News) full text National Mortgage News [3/14/2025 2:48 PM, Spencer Lee, 28K] New-home construction is off to a sluggish start in 2025, with fewer permits issued nationwide--potentially signaling headwinds for the housing market, according to the National Association of Home Builders. While the national picture shows a slowdown, regional trends vary significantly, with some areas seeing unexpected growth. Singlefamily permits across the U.S. totaled 73,115 in January, off 3.7% from the same month in 2024 when 75,906 were issued. Permits can serve as a bellwether for new construction starts, with new building activity only moving forward after they are issued. On a regional basis in January, the South and West, which hold some of the hottest housing markets of the decade, saw permits pull back by 6.6% and 2.2%, respectively. The Midwest, though, experienced a significant 11% bump up, while the Northeast saw permitting inch up 0.6%. Even with the national downturn, over half the country saw an uptick in permits. Washington, D.C., led the way with a staggering 525% increase, though many states posted more modest gains. The top ten states accounted for 65.4% of all permits, led by Texas with 12,179 in January. The Lone Star State's total dropped 4.2% from a year ago. The next two states with the highest permit volumes, Florida and North Carolina, saw even larger annual dropoffs of 13.9% and 11.4%. Both states, though, are also dealing with recovery and rebuilding efforts from the severe impact of 2024's hurricane season. The early-year decline in permitting marks a reversal from 2024 full-year numbers. For all of 2024, issued permits grew by 8% nationwide, with numbers rising across all four regions. While a single month's downturn might not indicate a longer-term trend, the data comes at the same time builders' outlook for the year have likewise gone south, according to NAHB's most recent monthly sentiment index. Builders worry that higher material costs from new tariffs and a tightening labor market could push up construction costs, potentially slowing housing development further. While the Trump administration put a pause on import taxes affecting Canadian lumber shipments, a 25% tariff on all steel and 93 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000246 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0023434 aluminum products from abroad went into effect earlier this week. An immigration crackdown by the Trump administration is also raising concerns about a possible shortage of available construction workers that would be able to maintain the pace of building to meet demand. On the multifamily side, permit volume also came in lower to start 2025, dropping 1.2% to 38,402 from 38,870 a year earlier, NAHB said. Numbers fell the most in the West, with a 23.4% pullback from January 2024, while the Northeast and Midwest saw drops of 14.3% and 1.5%. The South, however, posted permit growth of 12.9%, with Florida leading all states in volume. As builders navigate economic and policy uncertainties, the coming months will reveal whether this early-year slowdown is a blip--or the start of a broader housing market shift. [CT] Day of reckoning' is coming for CT towns and their `tired' malls. Is housing the answer? (CT Insider, CT) CT Insider [3/15/2025 11:48 AM, Staff, 1474K, CT] Two of Connecticut's most pressing problems are a lack of affordable housing in the city and suburbs as well as a huge amount of vacant space in shopping malls. Experts have estimated that another 110,000 units of affordable housing are needed to meet the state's shortfall. Connecticut officials are taking a multi-pronged approach in addressing that need, but elsewhere across the country, states, counties, communities and the private sector are drawing on what might seem to be an unlikely source as part of their efforts to solve the problem: Converting vacant space in aging shopping malls into housing. Mall vacancies and their declining conditions "should be an issue of major concern to everyone involved," Mike Goman, a principal in the East Hartford-based real estate advisory firm Goman + York. "Some of these properties are suffering from functional or market obsolescence. Electrical systems, the window systems even the exterior skin of some mall becoming obsolescent.". Goman said he sees a day of reckoning coming for towns and cities. "The day of reckoning is when the assessed values of these properties and all those benefiting from the traffic generated by them catch up with the actual current market value," he said. "As we've already seen, much value is wiped out, meaning far less property tax revenue in the coming years. How soon the municipalities recognize that decline is a function of their revaluation cycle but it's coming for all of them at some point.". Reporters from CT Insider, the Stamford Advocate, The News-Times, The Hour, Republican-American, Record-Journal, Journal Inquirer and Connecticut Post conducted dozens of interviews and reviewed hundreds of news articles and municipal planning and zoning documents in Connecticut and around the country. We found: Malls are frequently at the top of municipal grand lists, which is the list of all taxable property within a community. As the properties age, their assessed values fall, which means they yield fewer tax dollars. As more malls across Connecticut and the rest of the United States continue to lose tenants and become distressed, hundreds of jurisdictions are turning empty retail space and unused parking lots into much-needed housing. Colorado, Massachusetts and Utah are at the top of the CT Insider list for apartment complexes on mall properties. 94 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000246 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0023435 Some Connecticut communities are making progress. An apartment complex on the edge of the Trumbull Mall, The Residences at Main, is completed and now officials in that Fairfield County community are looking toward a future in which housing for the town's senior citizens will be located on another part of the mall grounds. Mall property is often not owned by a single company, making conversion decisions complicated. For Connecticut retail-to-residential projects to advance to the point that they are shovel ready, high-profile political leaders need to throw their weight behind these efforts, experts insist. Make no mistake: A few Connecticut malls like Westfarms on the West Hartford/Farmington border and the SoNo Collection in Norwalk are thriving. Other retailto-residential projects in the Connecticut Post and Danbury Fair malls appear to be stuck in a planning process limbo. But at least those malls have made some progress toward redevelopment. Waterford's Crystal Mall doesn't appear to have any future plans. [PA] Pa. isn't building enough housing, and that's hiking prices, Pew says (Philadelphia Inquirer, PA) - full text Philadelphia Inquirer [3/14/2025 10:26 AM, Michaelle Bond, 2629K, PA] Pennsylvania is one of the states that's allowed the least amount of housing to be built, and the lack of supply is hiking prices for homebuyers and renters, according to new research by the Pew Charitable Trusts. The state ranked 44th for the share of homes approved to be built from 2017 to 2023, according to a report published this week by the Pew Charitable Trusts, a nonpartisan, nonprofit research and public policy organization. Researchers point to local land-use rules as a cause and recommend policymakers loosen zoning restrictions to boost housing supply. From 2017 to 2023, the number of homes for sale across Pennsylvania dropped 60%, from 48,199 in January 2017 to 19,361 in December 2023, according to the report. Over the same time period, the statewide median price of homes rose 55%, from $165,000 to $255,000. And the typical rent in the 23 Pennsylvania counties the report analyzed increased by 46% -- from $1,013 in 2017 and $1,476 in 2023, according to estimates by Zillow. Housing costs grow more slowly in places that allow for more building, especially the construction of less-expensive types of housing, according to the report. "The bottom line is the best way to bring high rents and housing costs down is to build more housing and to build more varied types of housing," said Seva Rodnyansky, a manager in Pew's housing policy initiative. Local governments in Pennsylvania haven't been keeping up with the national rate of issuing building permits. In the country as a whole, local governments issued enough permits from 2017 to 2023 to grow the housing supply by 7.5%. The number of permits local governments in Pennsylvania issued, on the other hand, were only enough to allow for 3.4% more homes. Meanwhile, the number of households in the state grew by 5.1% during that time period. So Pennsylvania governments issued fewer building permits than necessary to keep up with increases in population. 95 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000246 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0023436 Since 2000, Pennsylvania governments have approved the building of 10% more homes. Nationwide, governments have approved 25% more. From 2017 to 2023, Philadelphia issued a higher share of building permits than municipalities in Bucks, Chester, Delaware, or Montgomery Counties. And rents grew more slowly in the city. Rents in Philadelphia grew 30% during the seven-year period the report analyzed. They rose by between 44% and 47% in the collar counties. The share of cost-burdened renters, those who spent more than 30% of their income on rent, dropped in Philadelphia by about 8% from 2017 to 2023. The share of cost-burdened renters rose by about 5% in Chester County, about 6% in Montgomery County, and about 7% in Delaware County. Even though municipalities added housing, it wasn't enough to drive costs down per person. Pew pointed to examples of how local municipalities' zoning rules restrict how much housing can be built where. Lower Gwynedd, Montgomery County, for example, requires at least 35,000 square feet of land -- more than three-quarters of an acre -- for each single-family home, according to the report. Doylestown, Bucks County, requires at least 80,000 square feet of land -- almost two acres -- per single-family home. If Doylestown changed its land-use rules, one lot currently zoned for a single-family home could hold 40 townhouses on 2,000-square-foot lots. "And we can come up with a ton of examples like that," Rodnyansky said. To increase housing supply and tamp down on prices, he said municipalities could change their zoning requirements to allow for duplexes, triplexes, and small multifamily buildings on what are now single-family lots. "Where it's been done, it's worked," he said. Pew also said most Pennsylvania municipalities ban the building of accessory dwelling units or make building them difficult. Allowing above-garage apartments, basement and attic apartments, converted garages, and other types of accessory dwelling units also increases housing density. Pew recommended that Pennsylvania policymakers allow and encourage changes to land-use rules, so municipalities can add more housing. The report's recommendations include: allowing the construction of duplexes, triplexes, and accessory dwelling units on properties that currently only allow single-family homes, streamlining permitting, allowing more apartments near transit and commercial areas, reducing or getting rid of parking minimums that make construction more expensive, incentivizing office-to-residential conversions, especially to allow for dormitory-style housing with smaller units that can fit more residents, and allowing homes to be built on land owned by religious and nonprofit organizations and educational institutions. "Had Pennsylvania made some of these changes and added more housing earlier, rents would now be lower," the report said. Pew highlighted Minneapolis as an example of a city that has seen more rental affordability in the years since changing its land-use rules. Minneapolis has allowed more apartment buildings along commercial corridors, gotten rid of parking requirements, and allowed duplexes and triplexes citywide, instead of only in traditionally multifamily areas. Despite an increase in residents, rents in Minneapolis did not increase as much as rents in the state of Minnesota or the country, and a higher share of residents could afford the median apartment rent in 2023 than in 2017. 96 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000246 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0023437 [TX] On housing shortage, Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson is right on the money (Dallas Morning News, TX) - full text Dallas Morning News [3/17/2025 3:00 AM, Editorial, 2778K, TX] We have been tough critics of Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson because he seems so uninterested in using his bully pulpit to advocate for his city. Last week, however, he made an important argument before the U.S. Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs. Johnson was invited to testify at a hearing titled "Housing Roadblocks: Paving a New Way to Address Affordability." His message was straightforward: Federal housing programs are helpful to a degree, but the housing shortage is ultimately a supply-and-demand problem that only the private sector can tackle at scale. The more housing that gets built, the more that supply will drive housing costs down for everyone across the income spectrum. Johnson said the government's role in the solution is to help remove obstacles to building that housing. He underscored Dallas City Hall's efforts to speed up permitting. Dallas' permitting story is not exactly a success story. The city is correcting a crisis of its own making. But the mayor is right that the path to building more housing is to cut red tape, not to add even more federal housing programs. To be clear, Johnson didn't call for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to be cut. On the contrary, he acknowledged that there is value in the federal housing dollars sent to Dallas and that they have generated some housing stock for low-income residents. But the mayor noted that these programs create a few thousand housing units a year when we need tens of thousands of units. HUD dollars have been critical to power the rehousing efforts of Housing Forward, the region's lead homelessness response agency. Housing tax credits have also helped developers secure gap financing for mixed-income apartments. But it's also true that Dallas City Hall has a questionable record with HUD money, having previously lost millions of dollars, squandered funds on doomed projects and even returned money because it couldn't deliver on promises. Johnson also spoke about addressing street homelessness as a public health issue. He said most chronically homeless people on the street are there because of serious mental illness, substance addiction and other behavioral problems. The latest homelessness census in Dallas and Collin counties found that a fifth of unsheltered people have a severe mental illness. National data from 2023 indicated 26.3% of people living on the street or in shelters have a severe mental illness. At any rate, too many homeless people are suffering without treatment. They are a danger to themselves and others. This isn't a hypothetical. We wrote in the fall about at least two attacks in downtown Dallas involving homeless people who appeared to be mentally unwell. Johnson made an eloquent argument. Now he must guide efforts in his city to -- in his words -- change the narrative around homelessness. What would a public health approach to solving homelessness look like? The housing-first model is not an adequate strategy for the severely mentally ill . The mayor can lead in finding the right policies. [CA] My View: Bay Area's Population Growth Is Back, It's Exacerbating the Housing Crisis -- And We're Not Ready for It (Davis Vanguard, CA) - full text Davis Vanguard [3/15/2025 12:00 PM, David Greenwald, 7K, CA] For the last few years, politicians and real estate interests have pushed the narrative that people are fleeing California en masse, using that argument to justify policies that favor 97 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000246 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0023438 landlords and weaken tenant protections. But new census data just shattered that myth: the Bay Area's population actually grew in 2024. Contra Costa County, which was among the least affected by previous declines, now has more residents than ever before. The implications of this are clear--California's housing crisis isn't going away, and the policies that have made rent unaffordable and homeownership unattainable are only becoming more destructive. For those hoping the supposed exodus would lead to lower rents, the reality is more grim. Despite the tech industry's shifts, the high cost of living, and post-pandemic economic uncertainty, people are still choosing to stay or move to the Bay Area. This means that demand for housing remains strong, and without aggressive intervention to protect tenants and build truly affordable housing, the region's affordability crisis will only deepen. The idea that people were fleeing California in droves-- particularly from the Bay Area--became a favorite talking point of anti-regulation groups and corporate landlords. While it is true that there were population declines in some years, these were temporary fluctuations, largely influenced by the COVID-19 pandemic, shifting work trends, and economic uncertainty. But the bigger picture tells a different story: the Bay Area remains a desirable place to live, with economic opportunities and quality of life still drawing new residents. The census data shows that Contra Costa County, which saw only modest declines in population during the worst of the pandemic, now has more residents than ever. San Francisco, often cited as the poster child for urban decline, also saw population growth in 2024, as did every Bay Area County. This directly contradicts the claims that the region was on a long-term trajectory of depopulation. A growing population without sufficient housing supply or tenant protections is a recipe for disaster. The Bay Area already has some of the highest rents in the country, and as more people move in or stay put, those costs will continue to rise. The problem isn't just a lack of housing--it's what kind of housing is being built. Instead of investing in deeply affordable housing for working-class residents, developers continue to prioritize luxury units that cater to the wealthy. At the same time, existing tenants are being squeezed by rising rents, eviction threats, and corporate landlords eager to maximize profits. For renters, this means fewer options and higher costs. For lower-income residents, it means an increased risk of displacement, especially as landlords and developers push to repeal rent control and other tenant protections. And for the growing number of people experiencing homelessness, it means even fewer pathways to stable housing. Despite years of warnings about California's housing emergency, lawmakers have failed to enact the bold policies needed to address the crisis. Instead, housing policy in the state has largely been dictated by developers and corporate landlords, who have successfully lobbied against stronger tenant protections while securing tax breaks and incentives to build market-rate housing. Even when policies meant to help renters are proposed, they are often watered down or outright blocked by the real estate industry. The failure to pass statewide rent caps that 98 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000246 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0023439 actually keep housing affordable, the rollback of eviction moratoriums without adequate protections, and the continued resistance to public housing solutions have all contributed to worsening conditions for tenants. Meanwhile, local governments have been slow to act. Cities across the Bay Area continue to allow rent hikes that outpace wage growth, while eviction protections remain inconsistent and full of loopholes. The reality is clear: the Bay Area isn't emptying out-- it's growing. And if we don't confront the housing crisis with meaningful action, we are heading toward an even more unequal future where only the wealthiest can afford to stay. Policymakers must immediately prioritize: Stronger Rent Control: Expanding and strengthening rent stabilization laws is crucial to preventing displacement and keeping housing affordable. A Major Expansion of Public and Affordable Housing: Market-driven solutions have failed. It's time for a serious public investment in non-market housing that serves working-class and low-income residents. Permanent Tenant Protections: Just-cause eviction protections, right-to-counsel programs, and rental assistance must be expanded to prevent further displacement. Holding Corporate Landlords Accountable: Large real estate firms and institutional investors have treated housing as a speculative asset rather than a human right. Stronger regulations and penalties for predatory landlords are essential. The census data confirms what many renters have known all along--people want to live in the Bay Area, but they are being priced out. The question now is whether policymakers will act before it's too late. Greenwald is the founder, editor, and executive director of the Davis Vanguard. He founded the Vanguard in 2006. David Greenwald moved to Davis in 1996 to attend Graduate School at UC Davis in Political Science. He lives in South Davis with his wife Cecilia Escamilla Greenwald and three children. Homeownership This Is Not Your Parents' Housing Market (Bloomberg) - full text Bloomberg [3/14/2025 8:00 AM, Ben Steverman, 16228K] For Americans approaching middle age, homeownership used to be the default assumption. "Stop throwing your money away," personal finance gurus would tell renters. If you're planning to stay somewhere for five years, went the rule of thumb, you should buy. Some continue to spout this advice. But if you've spent any time recently looking at listings and doing the math, you know how outmoded it can be. For my situation, as a resident of an expensive coastal city, the online rent-versus-buy calculators are practically unanimous: With prices at record highs and mortgage rates bouncing near 7%, buying right now makes no sense. Many others find themselves in the same situation. The median age of first-time homebuyers was a record 38 last year, according to the National Association of 99 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000246 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0023440 Realtors, five years older than in 2021. They also make up a shrinking share of the market: As recently as 2010, half of buyers in the US were purchasing their first home; last year just 24% were. Still, I must admit to something bugging me each month as I send rent to my landlord. Part of it is regret. Friends and siblings bought years ago, in time to lock in low rates and benefit from a near-doubling of US home values in the past decade. They rode the escalator. I seem to be taking the stairs. But it's more than FOMO. It's the little voice, louder as I get older, saying You're not a serious person unless you own your own home. I think of my grandparents: On my father's side, Boston city kids who raised six children in the suburbs, then retired on a pension to a split-level three-bedroom half a mile from Cape Cod Bay. My mother's parents, the daughter of a Cleveland butcher and a son of rural Pennsylvania poverty, collecting friends, family and junk in an ancient farmhouse outside the college town where she taught preschool and he coached football. The American Dream, in other words, that tired clich that even high rates and $500,000 starter homes can't quite kill. The urge to own runs deep. The challenge for the potential first-time buyer in the 2020s is to figure out how much of the impulse is timeless wisdom, and how much is a nostalgic inheritance from another era. A good place to start is with numbers. Unfortunately, homebuying is the most complex financial decision most individuals will ever make. Comprehensive rent-buy calculators include over a dozen variables: interest rates, rent levels, home prices, taxes, insurance and closing costs, but also stuff about the future no one can possibly know. A key factor is how your savings would do in the stock market or other investments, rather than locked up in a down payment. What can make homebuying especially lucrative, and treacherous, is the leverage that comes with a mortgage. Put $100,000 on a $500,000 home and a 20% price drop wipes out your entire down payment. A 20% value increase, however, doubles your money. Thus, my FOMO in watching the S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller U.S. National Home Price Index soar 52% in five years. There's no guarantee I would have gotten this return, of course, but I also would have been building equity along the way. This is why financial advisers often still tell people to buy: Mortgage payments effectively force you to save. Often, though, homeownership forces you to spend. You never know when the need for a new furnace, roof or special assessment might emerge. Or, especially lately, how your insurance costs might rise, or when a natural disaster might rage through your area. Maintenance costs aren't just impossible to predict; they're nearly as difficult to track. One of the privileges of homeownership is getting to paint the walls, re-do the kitchen and buy the right furniture for the space, knowing you won't need to move it all in a year. But only some of these improvements will add to the value of your home. You buy a hot tub because you want somewhere to relax in the evening, not because it's a "good investment." The rent-buy calculus used to be much easier, thanks to the federal government. A key perk was the ability to deduct mortgage interest on taxes. It's still on the books, though 100 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000246 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0023441 the 2017 tax law made it irrelevant for most homeowners by almost doubling the alternative standard deduction and limiting deductible interest to $750,000 of debt. The deduction was also much more valuable in an era when top earners paid 91% marginal rates, versus 37% today. A 1957 Businessweek article did the math for its affluent readers: If you put $25,000 down on a $50,000 home, your annual costs work out to $4,000, of which $1,600 is deductible. "For a man in the 50% tax bracket, this means a saving of $800 a year," bringing out-of-pocket costs to $3,200, compared with about $6,000 annually to rent a similar home. Even more valuable to homebuyers were the massive government subsidies directly and indirectly fueling the growth of the suburbs. Housing policy did more than boost the homeownership rate. By favoring White buyers, it heightened the nation's racial divides and held back Black families from building generational wealth. The government also determined what got built -- seas of single-family homes, with few apartments -- and imposed mortgage rules giving married couples preferential treatment. The result was an unprecedented urban-rural sorting of the population by family type, with lasting consequences. In conservative and conformist suburbs, most residents "would rarely encounter adults living outside of marriage or publicly deviating from heterosexual norms," historian Clayton Howard has written, while left behind in cities were high concentrations of single people and unconventional families who "played a crucial role in the sexual revolution of the 1960s." When we assume today that parents with children are supposed to buy a single-family home in the suburbs, we're largely inheriting that attitude from this era. Another enduring idea about homeownership comes from the 1970s, when Baby Boomers were coming of age. It's the idea that you need to buy before it's too late. Amid persistent inflation, real estate was one of the only assets that could keep up, and even exceed, rising price levels. Despite mortgages at 10% in 1974, Businessweek told its readers, "There's little point in waiting for interest rates to slide while the cost of land, labor, taxes, and materials keeps soaring." Boomers now sit on trillions of dollars of home equity, but making money in real estate was hardly automatic for them. Businessweek still saw "euphoria" in the housing sector in 1984, but six years later it was quoting a Denver house painter declaring "the boom days are over." A year earlier, the magazine relayed the complaint of a would-be buyer in Atlanta that sounds familiar today (price level notwithstanding): A $77,000 starter home was out of reach "unless your grandmother dies and leaves you $50,000." Adjusting for inflation, home prices barely rose in the 1990s and then accelerated at the turn of century in the run-up to the subprime financial crisis. I watched the boom, the bust and then the subsequent boom, all from the sidelines. Maybe if I'd jumped into homeownership at some point, I'd be a lot richer now. But my timing could also have gone horribly wrong. I found some reassurance for my refusal to jump on this roller coaster ride in an October report from the Congressional Budget Office_ Looking at US families' wealth from 1989 to 2022, the CBO found their home equity had more than tripled. But their retirement 101 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000246 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0023442 wealth and other financial assets had more than quadrupled. Housing is still an important component of wealth, particularly for poorer people who don't have other assets. But overall, it makes up just 18% of Americans' non-Social Security net worth. A home may be an owner's biggest single investment, in other words, but it's not usually the main driver of wealth. Other assumptions leftover from the 20th century have been undermined by economic and demographic trends, as Americans marry, buy homes and have children later and later in life. Compared to a generation ago, suburbs are more diverse, cities are significantly safer, and both are less affordable, particularly places that failed to build enough homes. One way to revive a flagging conversation with friends, I've learned these past few weeks, is to ask them about their rent-versus-buy decisions. Everyone has an impassioned opinion, but few people spend much time dwelling on the financial calculus. Some find psychological solace in having a permanent home. Others find peace in the flexibility of renting. Some love the weekend trips to Home Depot or are eager to follow Martha Stewart's advice: "If you want to be happy for a year, get married. If you want to be happy for a decade, get a dog. If you want to be happy for the rest of your life, make a garden." Others are content to leave maintenance to their landlord and gardening to the parks department, while spending time and money on concerts or travel. In 1948, Cary Grant starred in a movie, Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House, later remade as The Money Pit with Tom Hanks in the 1980s and again as Are We Done Yet? with Ice Cube in 2007. The original is an encapsulation of postwar America's obsession with housing. Grant's character, Jim Blandings, decides to move his family from their cramped New York City apartment to an 18th-century farmhouse on the verge of collapse an hour from the city. Disasters ensue, all played for laughs. Blandings' best friend and lawyer keeps warning him how much it's all costing, until a final scene when he concludes it doesn't matter. "Maybe there are some things you should buy with your heart and not your head," he advises Blandings. "Maybe those are the things that really count." In the context of 1948, its an argument for splurging on a suburban castle. But in 2025, I take the opposite lesson, at least for now. Don't buy solely for financial reasons. and certainly not because someone else thinks you should. Buy a home because your heart is in it. The Importance of Flood Insurance Education (The Mortgage Point) - full text TheMortqaqepoint.com [3/14/2025 5:06 PM, Demetria C. Lester, 8K] How important is flood insurance? Homebuyers who are looking to purchase in a Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA) may encounter challenges even after obtaining financing and getting ready to close because they cannot proceed without it. The National Association of Realtors (NAR) analyzes how the NFIP promotes and impacts local and national home sales and economic activity in a new report. If the property is in an SFHA, lenders will require flood insurance prior to approving the loan. However, flooding is not covered by a typical homeowners insurance policy. This 102 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000246 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0023443 implies that the buyer would have to get flood insurance through the private sector, which does not provide flood insurance in many parts of the United States, in the absence of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). If private flood insurance is not available, property transactions and loans may be postponed or cancelled nationally in numerous flood zones. In addition to buyers and sellers, this disruption might have repercussions for the economy, associated sectors, and the larger real estate market. Potential Homebuyers & Sellers Remain Affected by Flood Insurance. Property owners and purchasers are forced to rely on the private insurance market, which does not reliably offer flood protection, in the absence of the National Flood Insurance Program. Since lenders demand flood insurance as part of the mortgage approval process, this poses a serious problem for homebuyers buying in FEMA-designated SFHAs. Because of this, many buyers in flood zones might have to wait to close their loans until they have obtained flood insurance. If the delay is too long, some contracts may expire, leading buyers to renegotiate or back out of the deal. From the seller's point of view, this leads to more market uncertainty and lengthier listing periods. According to NAR, the NFIP is necessary for 1,360 home sale closings per day, which translates to about 41,300 impacted monthly transactions across the country. Florida's housing market will be most impacted, followed by Texas and California, however the effects will differ per state. Approximately 14,870 Florida home sale closings rely on the NFIP each month. Another 3,590 and 1,680 house sale closings in Texas and California, respectively, are guaranteed by the program. How Will This Affect the U.S. Economy? Or Will It? Economic activity is also significantly influenced by the housing market. Beyond its main purpose, the housing industry starts a number of initiatives that boost economic expansion and increase GDP through home sales, renovations, and construction. Although personnel and resources are needed for these activities, they also boost output and provide jobs in a variety of sectors, including manufacturing, retail, and construction. Additionally, buying a property, especially an older one, usually results in higher consumer spending. To upgrade and customize their living areas, these new homeowners frequently spend money on furniture, appliances, services, and home renovation projects. But the housing industry has an even greater economic impact. Jobs ranging from architects and builders to interior designers are created by the laborintensive process of building new homes and remodeling old ones. In addition, the real estate industry employs a large number of professionals, such as mortgage lenders, brokers, and agents. Therefore, a thriving housing market can have a significant positive impact on people's salaries and unemployment rates. NAR calculated that, in the absence of the NFIP, overall income losses might amount to $69.7 billion annually after calculating the revenue from each state's home sales. This amount roughly corresponds to Alaska's GDP. The NFIP's economic benefits are broken down each state in the map below. The states with the biggest annual local income losses without NFIP are Florida ($23.0 billion), California ($5.5 billion), and Texas ($4.9 103 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000246 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0023444 billion). Because of the magnitude of these economic impacts, it is essential to guarantee consistent and dependable access to flood insurance, not just for homebuyers and sellers but also for preserving overall market and economic stability. Black Homeownership Faces Persistent Barriers Despite Hard-Fought Gains (L.A Focus Newspaper, CA) - full text L.A Focus Newspaper [3/14/2025 3:53 AM, Stacy Brown, 2K, CA] Sonia Reed believed she had achieved the American dream. In December 2024, the Black grandmother and former homeless individual became a homeowner in San Leandro, California. But her triumph quickly turned into a nightmare when neighbors began harassing her with racial slurs and vandalizing her property. "I worked so hard to finally have a place to call my own, and now I have to fear for my safety in my own home," Reed said. The Alameda County Sheriff's Office said it is investigating the incidents as hate crimes. For many, vandalism is part of an ongoing pattern where Black homeowners have faced some kind of discrimination. Reed's experience is far from isolated. Black Americans remain locked in a battle for homeownership, confronted by systemic inequities, economic challenges, and, in some cases, environmental disasters that threaten to strip them of generational wealth. A new Urban Institute report revealed that Black homeownership rates remain far behind those of white Americans. Researchers said it's a gap rooted in decades of discriminatory housing policies, redlining, and predatory lending practices. "Homeownership remains one of the most significant drivers of wealth, yet Black families face disproportionate barriers to achieving this milestone," researchers wrote. The crisis extends beyond acts of overt racism. In January 2025, devastating wildfires tore through Altadena, California, a historically Black community with a homeownership rate of 81.5 percent--far higher than the national average. Thousands of homes were reduced to ashes and rubble, leaving families displaced. Many now face the daunting task of rebuilding and the looming threat of gentrification. "Developers are circling like vultures," said longtime Altadena resident James Carter. "We're trying to rebuild, but the fear is that we won't be able to afford to stay." Economic barriers remain a defining struggle. Brooke Scott, a litigation assistant in Los Angeles, calculated that achieving homeownership and financial security requires an annual household income of $300,000--far beyond what many Black families can attain. Housing costs, healthcare, taxes, and child-rearing expenses leave little room for savings or investment. "The numbers just don't add up," Scott said. "Even with two incomes, we're barely able to put away anything for a down payment." The Urban Institute's findings represent a clear picture of the obstacles Black homeowners face. Disparities in income, lending practices, and generational wealth accumulation continue to create barriers that make Black homeownership an increasingly difficult goal. While federal and local initiatives have sought to close the gap, the road ahead remains steep. "Without significant policy changes and investment in Black communities, the homeownership gap will persist for generations to come," the Urban Institute report 104 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000246 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0023445 warns. For Reed, Scott, and the residents of Altadena, the challenges of Black homeownership are deeply personal. Whether confronting racial harassment, economic hurdles, or the aftermath of natural disasters, their stories serve as a reminder that the fight for equity in housing is far from over. If these barriers persist, the promise of homeownership will remain an elusive dream for too many Black Americans. "We just want what everyone else has-a fair shot at building a future," Carter asserted. Benefits of Owning a Home: Why Homeownership Is Worth It (MSN News) - full text MSN News [3/14/2025 10:13 PM, Daria Uhlig, 126906K] When it comes to a preference between renting a home and owning one, owning wins hands down. A 2024 LendingTree survey found that 93% of Americans believe homeownership is part of the American Dream, and 83% would rather own than rent. That's not surprising, considering the many benefits homeownership provides. Equity is the portion of your home's value that you own outright. Every dollar of equity represents a dollar of wealth, and the longer you own your home, the faster that wealth accumulates. Part of the reason is the way lenders apply mortgage payments to loan interest and principal, which is the amount you borrow. While almost all of your first mortgage payment goes toward interest, each subsequent payment pays slightly less interest and slightly more principal. Appreciating home prices also increases equity. Appreciation, like loan repayment, happens over several years, which underscores the importance of looking at homeownership as a long-term strategy for building wealth. The difference between renting and owning is staggering in that regard. Whereas homeowners have a median net worth of almost $400,000, the median for renters is just $10,400, according to "From Rent to Riches?," a 2024 report from the Aspen Institute. One of the challenges of renting a home is that rent payments can increase over time, effectively pricing tenants out of their homes. In addition to being a major financial burden, the impact on tenants' sense of stability can also take an emotional toll. Although certain types of mortgage loans have the potential to wreak the same type of havoc, the most common loan, the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage loan, eliminates that risk by providing a consistent payment every month over the entire life of the loan. The last payment is the same as the first one, and it always pays off the loan in full. Homeownership can provide tax benefits for homeowners who itemize their tax deductions rather than take the standard deduction. The first deduction is for mortgage interest on a loan used to buy or build a home. Deductible interest includes any mortgage points -- prepaid interest -- you pay at closing as well as the interest portion of your mortgage payments. The deduction is limited to interest on up to $750,000 in mortgage debt, but considering that the average mortgage loan was about $410,000 in October 2024, per Mortgage Bankers Association estimates, the limit doesn't affect most homeowners. Homeowners pay property taxes imposed by the state, county and sometimes municipality where their home is located. Although tax rates vary by location and tax amounts depend on home value, homeowners paid a median $3,018 in property tax on single-family homes last year, according to the CoreLogic National Home Price Index. As long as the state and local tax you pay is based on the home's value and is imposed on 105 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000246 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0023446 all similar real estate, you can deduct it as an itemized deduction. One of the intangible benefits of homeownership is that you can either build exactly the home you want or buy a pre-existing home and remodel it to suit your tastes. Any change that conforms to building codes and other local regulations is within your rights to make. A home is an asset that can appreciate over time. While past appreciation has no bearing on what prices will do in the future, its notable that since 1975, home prices have produced an average five-year return of 26% and an average 10-year return of 57%, according to a Realtor.com analysis of Freddie Mac data. To put the figures in context: Those averages include lows of 14% over five years (Oklahoma) and 31% over 10 years (West Virginia), and highs of 36% over five years and 87% over 10 (Massachusetts). Every dollar of appreciation equals a dollar of equity, which, in turn, equals another dollar of wealth. Another intangible benefit of homeownership is the ability to put down roots without worrying that you'll have to relocate if rents climb too high. Several studies, including one published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, established that feeling like part of a community and engaging in meaningful activities within the community have positive effects on mental and physical health. Real estate is a source of wealth that can help to secure your retirement. Paying off your mortgage before you retire reduces your monthly housing costs to taxes and insurance and leaves more money available for other expenses. Or you can convert your equity to cash and use the funds to supplement Social Security and retirement savings. One way to do that is to downsize into a less expensive home. When the home sells, you pay off the mortgage and purchase the new home with the sale proceeds, and save or invest the rest. That way, you live mortgage-free and have extra money in the bank -- about $100,000, if you're like the typical downsizing retiree, according to Vanguard. Depending on your financial situation and estate plan, you might borrow against your equity instead. A cash-out refinance, home-equity loan or line of credit or reverse mortgage could provide money to supplement other sources of retirement income. If you've ever scrambled to clean up before a maintenance visit -- or worse, come home to find that someone had been in for an emergency repair -- you can appreciate the value of privacy. And it's not just about the landlord or their vendors seeing your dirty dishes in the sink. It's also the reminder that you're living under someone else's rules, in a home they own. Owning a home is personally gratifying, and it can be a smart financial move as well. Each mortgage payment you make builds equity that increases your wealth and helps to secure your financial future. Here are the answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about the benefits of owning a home. Is owning a home better than renting? It can be. For tenants who are financially prepared to buy and who plan to remain in the same area for at least a few years, homeownership can be a great way to improve lifestyle and build wealth. How much can I save on taxes by owning a home? That varies from one person to the next. For homeownership to save you on taxes, your allowable itemized deductions must be greater than the standard deduction. Your tax savings would be the difference between the two. 106 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000246 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0023447 How do I know if homeownership is right for me? Homeownership might be right for you if: You're ready to put down roots in a community. You have enough savings for a down payment, closing costs and ongoing maintenance expenses. You have good credit, with no recent late payments. You have low or no credit card debt. Will my home's value always increase over time? No. Nationally, since the 1970s, average values have increased over five and 10 years, so generally speaking, real estate is a relatively safe long-term investment. However, real estate markets are local, so what's happening nationally doesn't necessarily reflect what's happening in a particular market. How urban environments present unique challenges for aging in place (HousingWire.com) - full text HousinqWire.com [3/14/2025 5:11 PM, Chris Clow, 354K] While it's important to understand the unique challenges faced by older Americans in rural or suburban areas as they seek to age in place in their own homes, there can also be unique challenges for those seeking to age in place in urban parts of the country. This is according to a look at the hurdles faced by Philadelphia residents by the city's NPR and PBS affiliate, WHYY. According to data from the United Nations, more than half of the global population lives and ages in urban areas. An estimated 21% of Philadelphia's residents -- or roughly 329.000 people based on a 2022 estimate by the U.S. Census Bureau -- are at or over the age of 60. But while many older city residents express a desire to age in place, cities -- like many other areas -- are not typically built with older residents' needs in mind. "[P]eople could face issues with transportation, higher rents and gaps in social support," the report said. Changing that will require better coordination between cities, local resources, city programs, educational opportunities and socialization options according to aging advocates and seniors. "As seniors, we're all really in the same place," according to Sandra Harmon, outreach and community engagement specialist at the nonprofit Energy Coordinating Agency in a WHYY interview. "We talked about isolation, but sometimes the isolation is right here in our minds, because we don't know or we don't have access to other seniors." Isolation and loneliness are key problems faced by older Americans aging in their own homes. Some cities, like New York, have aimed to combat this with technology, reporting some success. Others have aimed to create new technologies specifically for the purpose of fostering easier connections between older adults and friends or family. But cities can do more, according to perspectives shared at a recent local event at the city's Parkway Central Library earlier this week hosted by WHYY. At the event, Harmon said it was eye-opening to hear about the kinds of resources older residents simply don't know they have access to. "I was amazed when I was talking to people who don't know about social security and the rules for Medicare or other things that are entitlements to us at this time in our lives," she told the outlet. "I'm walking away today to know that I am not by myself." 107 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000246 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0023448 "Sometimes, the problem can come down to not knowing what kinds of assistance or support exist at all," the report said. "While at Tuesday's event, Harmon shared that the nonprofit she works for helps people at risk of losing utilities like heat because of payment issues or broken systems." The outlet is holding another dedicated event about aging in the city on March 18 at the Cobbs Creek Library and March 25 at the Lawncrest Library, and interested Philadelphia residents can register for them online. More Renters Rejecting the American Dream (The Mortgage Point) - full text TheMortgagepoint.com [3/14/2025 2:57 PM, Andy Bether Miller, 8K] For generations, attaining homeownership was considered the cornerstone of the American Dream. However, a new survey by Cortland suggests that perception is rapidly changing. Nearly half of American renters (43%) say renting has enhanced their quality of life compared to owning a home. Among these renters, the top reasons cited for their improved lifestyle include affordability (59%), location convenience (51%), and maintenance-free living (49%). Traditional attitudes toward homeownership as the ultimate life milestone are shifting. Only 32% of renters consider owning a home part of their ideal future. Instead, many renters are opting out due to concerns over maintenance responsibilities (45%) and avoiding mortgage debt (40%). "The landscape of American living is evolving, and apartment living is no longer just a temporary phase," said Juan Bueno, President of Operations at Cortland. "For many, it's a deliberate choice due to the flexibility and amenities renting offers, in addition to an enhanced experience, community, and freedom from the burdens often associated with traditional homeownership.". Generational differences further highlight this shift. More than 40% of Gen Z and millennial renters are unsure or doubtful about ever owning a home. Despite this, a strong majority--84% of Gen Z and 81% of millennials-say they are at least somewhat satisfied with renting as an alternative. Even 71% of Gen X and older renters express contentment with their rental lifestyle. Several financial challenges continue to make homeownership out of reach for many renters: High housing costs (58%) remain the top barrier. Rising living expenses (52%) are another significant concern. A lack of savings (46%) prevents many from affording a down payment. An interest stat uncovered by Cortland's study showed those who intend to be lifelong renters have higher expectations for rental properties (53%), and nearly half of all renters (49%) believe renting can meet their needs just as well as homeownership. Community and Lifestyle Benefits as Primary Drivers. Beyond financial reasons, many renters appreciate the lifestyle benefits that come with renting. A third (34%) of those who feel renting has improved their quality of life credit a sense of community as a key factor. 108 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000246 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0023449 It is also noteworthy that location preferences vary by region. While 42% of renters nationwide would prefer a suburban setting if they were to rent permanently, a majority (38%) of renters in the Northeast favor city living. Also of interest is that those who have previously owned a home are more likely to say renting has improved their quality of life (52%) than those who have never owned (38%). "This evolution in housing preferences marks a critical moment for the multifamily industry," said Mike Gomes, Chief Experience Officer at Cortland. "As attitudes shift, Cortland continues to leverage data-driven insights to tailor our offerings and improve our service delivery, aiming to go above and beyond expectations to enrich the lives of Americans who choose renting as their housing solution.". As the housing market remains challenging for buyers, renting is increasingly being viewed as a long-term, viable lifestyle choice--one that provides flexibility, financial relief, and an enhanced quality of life. The homeowner affordability crisis is about to explode due to `TI' (Inman) - full text Inman [3/14/2025 5:00 AM, Bernice Ross, 98K] Mortgage payments are composed of principal, interest, taxes and insurance (PITT), a concept drilled into every new agent's head. For the first time in history, soaring "TI" costs have made homeownership less affordable than any time since the 1980s. Not only is the squeeze hitting buyers hard, but now existing homeowners may face losing their homes if they can't afford the skyrocketing prices. All agents and homeowners need to be concerned. I recently interviewed Rick Sharga, the CEO of CJ Patrick, a Market Intelligence Company, a leading expert who tracks how current trends will impact the real estate market. In a previous interview, Sharga cited his growing concern about how soaring insurance prices could negatively impact not only buyers and sellers, but current homeowners as well. Sadly, the recent spate of disasters has exacerbated the problem. Here's Sharga's assessment of how mortgage rates, increased housing values, as well as exploding "TI" costs will impact buyers and sellers as well as existing homeowners this year. Sharga cited the following factors as major contributors to today's affordability crisis. Prices increased between 20 percent to 40 percent in many areas as people sought larger properties. At the same time, the Federal Reserve cut the Fed Funds interest rate to zero. The result was a "feeding frenzy," which dropped interest rates down into the two perecent to three percent range and resulted in 6 million home sales in 2021. Fixed-rate mortgages usually provide the homeowner with a predictable monthly payment. However, soaring values and the resulting increase in property taxes on an annual basis have now become a major part of the affordability problem. The result? "If you look at the numbers published by the Atlanta Federal Reserve that does a home affordability index, there's $40,000 gap between median household income versus the median household income required to afford a home," Sharga said. "The yields on 10-year US Treasuries have skyrocketed recently [4.49 percent on 109 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000246 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0023450 Friday, Feb. 7, 2025], the basis upon which 30-year mortgages are built. Typically, the spread is about 1.5 to 2.5 points right now above those bond yields and mortgage rates.". Based on these numbers, Sharga believes that we will be looking at 7 percent to 7.5 percent interest rates for the time being. "Maybe I'm being a bit too optimistic here, but while I do think mortgage rates will come down a little bit between now and the end of the year," Sharga said, "in all likelihood, we don't get down much past the mid-sixes in terms of interest rates on 30-year loans.". Sharga cited additional factors keeping rates higher that include that the economy is performing too well, the jobs reports have been off the charts, and the GDP continues to grow. "If the Fed reduces the rate too much, it becomes inflationary. So, it's a double whammy for people looking to buy a house -- home prices are higher and mortgage rates are higher than they'd like, and it makes it really difficult for people to be able to buy the house they want," Sharga said. Property taxes: The 1st part of the `Tr double whammy for sellers, buyers and existing homeowners. Due to the increases in property values that Sharga put at somewhere between 3.5 percent and 4 percent for 2024, higher property taxes have become part of the new affordability problem. Given that so many people are struggling with credit card debt, inflation and living paycheck to paycheck, even a small uptick in property taxes may put them at risk of losing their home. For 2025, Sharga is forecasting an increase in values between 2.5 percent and 3 percent. Because that's based on a higher baseline from 2024, the sticker shock from a 20 percent to 40 percent property tax increase may be more than many homeowners can handle, especially considering how high inflation has been. This is especially problematic in the states that don't reassess property values every year. , only nine states reassess their property taxes annually, and five states, plus Washington, D.C., reassess property taxes at least once every two years. Nine states have "no provision" for property tax reassessment. The biggest sticker shock will occur in the 20 states that only reassess their owners every three years (or in some cases only once every five to 10 years). This is especially problematic in states and cities where there has been substantial appreciation since their last reassessment. To illustrate this point, if you paid $300,0000 for your house and it has gone up 30 percent in the past three years, your new tax valuation would be $390,000. If your tax rate for your state was 1 percent, your property taxes would increase from $3,000 per year to $3,900. Insurance: The 2nd part of the new TI double whammy. For the past couple of years, obtaining insurance has become a huge issue. In some cases, as Sharga observed, some people with very low interest loans or who have owned their property for a long time, may now be paying more in property taxes and insurance than their mortgage payment. 110 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000246 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0023451 In fact, both Sharga and I have both seen major increases in our insurance policies. Sharga lives in California. His rates have doubled over the past two years, and he has had to settle for a policy with a higher deductible with less coverage. Because Texas is the hailstorm capital of the world, insurance rates in Texas have also soared. In January, my insurance carrier doubled both my house and my auto insurance policies. Fortunately, I had used an insurance broker, and he was able to save me $4,600 on my two policies with a different carrier. 10 ways agents can help reduce the impact of the TI double whammy. Educate buyers on tax and insurance costs upfront. Work with a mortgage broker rather than a single direct lender. That way, if there's a problem with one lender during the transaction, the mortgage broker can easily update their current loan package and place it with a different lender. Know where the flood zones, fire-prone areas and special hazard zones are in your market area. To significantly reduce their insurance costs, encourage buyers to look for homes outside these areas. Suggest homes that have the best hurricane ratings or, if you're in a fire-prone area, suggest homes that have concrete tile or metal roofs, are built with fire-resistant materials and have been adequately cleared. (The brush at my former house off Mulholland Drive was cleared 300 feet from the structure. I also planted my hillside with ice plant, a succulent that is considered to be fire retardant.). If you're showing condominiums, verify the cost of the insurance fees for each property. Also, make sure your buyers aren't purchasing in a building that is more expensive to insure as compared to neighboring properties. (This usually shows up in terms of higher HOA fees.). If your listing has lower property taxes or insurance costs because it's outside nearby flood or fire zones, highlight that in your listing description and other marketing. Showcase home safety upgrades that reduce insurance costs such as fire and wind resistant roofs and windows. If property taxes have jumped, encourage homeowners to file an appeal. You provide the CMA and other supporting data for their case. Alternatively, encourage them to hire a firm that specializes in helping homeowners obtain property tax reductions for a fee. (My experience has been this is typically 25 percent.) In states that do not reassess often, this can result in savings over several years. Has one of your sellers turned 65? Does one of them have a disability, especially due to military service? Have they filed their homestead exemption? Did the property incur some sort of zoning change or damage that reduced its value? Familiarize yourself with the various ways homeowners may be able to reduce their valuations for tax purposes and encourage those you work with to take advantage of them. Encourage homeowners to avoid "auto renew" on their insurance policies and shop prices every year instead. Also, have them consider higher deductibles to lower costs as well as bundling their home and auto insurance together to reduce costs. When "TI" costs explode, affordability crumbles, creating an entirely new set of risks for buyers, sellers and existing homeowners. Whether you're a new or experienced agent, the strategies above can be a lifeline that keeps their dreams of homeownership alive 111 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000246 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0023452 and well. Bernice Ross, president and CEO of BrokerageUP and RealEstateCoach.com, and the founder of RealEstateWealthForWomen com is a national speaker, author and trainer with over 1,500 published articles. [TN] Nashville lawmakers introduce bill to stop corporate investors from buying up homes (WSMV, Nashville, TN) - full text wsmv [3/14/2025 2:27 PM, Danica Sauter, 815K, TN] Some Nashville-based lawmakers said they are working to make sure homeownership remains available for working families. Sen. Charlane Oliver (D-Nashville) and Rep. Aftyn Behn (D-Nashville) introduced the "Homes Not Hedge Funds Act" SB 242/HB 298. They introduced the bill as a way to "curb corporate overreach in Tennessee's housing market and put families before financial firms." The act would prohibit investors from purchasing more than 100 single-family homes in Tennessee's largest counties for rental purposes. The bill would apply to counties with populations over 150,000 residents. The bill will also give the Tennessee Attorney General power to enforce penalties of up to $100 per day for each home acquired in violation of the law. In a 2024 study by the Tennessee Housing Development Agency, they found that in Davidson County, investor purchases comprised 7% of all home sales from 2018 to 2022. Between those years. the number spiked to 20%. According to the study, in neighborhoods like Antioch, investors purchased 21% of all homes. And in Rutherford County, real estate investment now own 10% of all rental properties. In January, the THDA announced the state's housing cost index hit a 10-year high with the median purchase price doubling. According to the report, families now spend 45.5% of their household income on stable housing. "Tennessee families are being priced out of homeownership by deep-pocketed investors who are buying up entire neighborhoods and turning them into rental properties," said Sen. Oliver. "Owning a home is one of the most reliable ways to build wealth, and this bill ensures that more working families have a fair shot at the American Dream." Rep. Behn said this bill will set clear boundaries to keep communities stable and homeownership attainable. [NE] This Nebraska town hopes to draw new residents with $50,000 down payment for house (Omaha World-Herald, NE) - full text Omaha World-Herald [3/13/2025 4:22 PM, Marjie Ducey, 451K, NE] Pawnee City is banking that a brand new house and the security of small-town living will lure needed families to this metropolis of 878 people in southeast Nebraska. It's throwing in some financial incentive to make the move. The town plans to build 25 new singlefamily homes and the Pawnee City Community Foundation is offering a $50,000 down payment to buyers. "We're confident we'll get a lot of people," said Steve Glenn, chairman of the Pawnee City economic development council of the Chamber of Commerce. "The beautiful thing about Pawnee City is we still have a high school, we still have a great hospital, we still have a swimming pool, hardware store and grocery store. We have all the things you need for a small town. But we also acknowledge that to sustain those, we need more people and rooftops." Pawnee City is an hour and 35 minutes drive south of Omaha, midway between Beatrice 112 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000246 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0023453 and Falls City. Glenn, one of the drivers behind the town's promotion, said that when he went to high school in Pawnee City in the 1970s there were 1,300 residents. But as with many small towns, the population has continued to fall. It's the same story in Pawnee County, he said, where larger farms have led to fewer people. A big part of the problem in Pawnee City, Glenn said, is a lack of housing. The town is doing all it can to change that. Pawnee City has been tearing down its dilapidated houses and plans to fill those empty lots with new two- and three-bedroom homes with open floor plans and two-car garages. Go to pawneecitynewhomes.com to see those plans. It is using a $650,000 grant from the Department of Economic Development's Nebraska Affordable Housing Trust Fund to start building the first two $325,000 houses, which will be done this summer. Proceeds from those will bring more. "They are really good houses," Glenn said. "You couldn't buy this in Lincoln for $325,000. It would cost you $525,000." The chamber of commerce is hoping its down payment offer appeals to people who can work from home, so they can live anywhere. They also plan to reach out to alumni of the high school. Apartments are also on the agenda. There are none available within 22 miles. Glenn, chairman of Executive Travel in Lincoln and owner of the hardware store in Pawnee City, said the town wants working people who will contribute to the economy. In turn, the addition of several families could have a huge impact on local retailers and the school. Pawnee City offers a great quality of life, Glenn said, where kids can walk to school and the swimming pool and people know their neighbors. There's a 9-hole sand green golf course, a new limestone amphitheater and even two pickleball courts. "All this stuff adds up to quality of life," Glenn said. "The amenities like that make it feel like there is more than just an empty town. It's a really cute little town." [NE] Nebraska city offering $50,000 in down payment aid to new residents (Lincoln Journal Star, NE) - full text Lincoln Journal Star [3/16/2025 8:00 PM, Neal Franklin, 362K, NE] Attracting people to live in a small town requires a little bit of magic, and possibly some serious money. That's why Pawnee City is offering $50,000 in down payment assistance for people moving there. The program aims to make home ownership easier and attract new residents. Bringing just 200 more people to the small city of about 850 could have a big impact, said Steve Glenn, chairman of the Economic Development Council of the Pawnee City Chamber of Commerce. "Housing is the magic sauce for small towns in rural Nebraska," Glenn said. "It's not jobs, it's housing." The down-payment assistance is limited to people making below a certain annual income. For one person, that limit is $69,450, and for a family of four, that limit is $99,250, according to a website detailing the plan. The funding comes from the Pawnee City Community Foundation, which is part of Pawnee City's Vision 2030 plan to bring new life to the community by building 25 single-family homes. Pawnee City, located about 75 miles southeast of Lincoln between Beatrice and Falls City, has been working to increase its supply of housing, and construction has begun on at least one new house. Glenn, a business owner in Pawnee City and Lincoln, said he hopes five houses are built every year until 2030. The first houses are expected to be completed by this summer, according to a news release. 113 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000246 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0023454 The Pawnee City Foundation was awarded a $640,000 grant from the Department of Economic Development as part of the Nebraska Affordable Housing Trust Fund in September 2024 to support its efforts to grow. Since getting that grant, the city has been applying to other grants for beautification, tree planting and other projects. "We basically said we control our own destiny," Glenn said. "And we set up this chamber group to be the economic development driver." In addition to the chamber's foundation, Glenn leads an alumni and fundraising organization called Pawnee City BOLD. The chamber also hired an economic development director. Glenn said he imagines each house in the plan attracting a family of four to Pawnee City. The effort will be paired with another effort to build 25 rental homes. The city's population has been declining for decades, and the program is an attempt to reverse that trend. Pawnee City is also home to a hospital, school system and other important infrastructure, Glenn said. The new houses could add 50 students to the schools and mean more people spending money in the community. COVID-19 changed the job market and increased the number of virtual jobs, Glenn said. Incentives like the house down payments are a way for cities to attract remote workers. "You hate to say something as devastating as COVID could be a blessing to small towns, but it is," Glenn said. [WA] Whatcom County helps Habitat for Humanity purchase Kulshan CLT land for 40-home project (Bellingham Herald, WA) - full text Bellingham Herald [3/16/2025 6:18 AM, Robert Mittendorf, 185K, WA] Whatcom County is helping Habitat for Humanity purchase a piece of land to build 40 homes for low-income residents in the King Mountain neighborhood. County Council members on Tuesday unanimously approved $700,000 in grants and loans so that the nonprofit housing organization can acquire 2.5 acres of land from Kulshan Community Land Trust, another nonprofit housing provider. The site is at 1050 Telegraph Road, east of Bellis Fair mall, in a fast-growing part of north Bellingham. In a memo to the council, Deputy Executive Kayla Schott-Bresler said the deal was a approved by the Economic Development Investment Board. "This land acquisition will allow Habitat to build 40 or more homes in Bellingham that low-income clients can afford to purchase. This is a unique opportunity to develop affordable housing and address the housing issue in Whatcom County," Schott-Bresler said. Action taken Tuesday includes a $231,000 grant and a $469,000 loan. Money for the project comes from the Economic Development Investment fund. Homes will be reserved for people who earn 30% to 80% of the area median income, which is determined by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Schott-Bresler said. Median family income in Whatcom County is $97,300. At 80% AMI, a family of four with income of $72,500 could qualify. Funding for the project was approved in late 2024 but a purchase agreement wasn't finalized, and the deal had to pass the council again as a supplemental budget request. Habitat for Humanity uses a concept called "sweat equity" where participants and volunteers build their own homes and help other clients. [CA] California insurance chief backs 22% State Farm rate increase (National Mortgage News) - full text 114 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000246 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0023455 National Mortgage News [3/14/2025 4:49 PM, Eliyahu Kamisher, 28K] California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara said he plans to approve a 22% emergency rate increase for State Farm policyholders, pending a public hearing next month, in a move aimed at stabilizing the state's insurance market after the Los Angeles area's devastating wildfires. The provisionally approved rate hike would provide financial relief to State Farm's California subsidiary, which has said it needs to shore up confidence with solvency regulators and ratings agencies. In the aftermath of January's Palisades and Eaton blazes, the insurer has already paid out more than $2 billion in claims. Lara said the rate increase is necessary to address the state's years-long insurance crisis, exacerbated by worsening wildfires that have led major insurers to withdraw or limit coverage in California. The commissioner said he intends to approve the company's request for a 22% increase on homeowners' policies and a 15% hike for renters and condominium coverage if the insurer can justify the need during an April 8 public hearing before an administrative law judge. If approved, the new rates would take effect June 1. "The role of insurance commissioner involves balancing a stable and sustainable insurance market that serves consumers with effective oversight," Lara said in a statement. "To ensure long-term choices for Californians, I had to make an unprecedented decision in the short term.". The California Department of Insurance also recommended that State Farm's California subsidiary seek a $500 million cash infusion from its parent company to "restore financial stability," while calling on the company to halt non-renewals of policies, according to the statement. State Farm's request has been met with skepticism from Consumer Watchdog, an advocacy group that's contesting the insurer's rate hike request. The group has said the parent company has ample reserves and a strong credit rating to shore up the California unit, State Farm General Insurance Co. An analysis by the University of California at Los Angeles estimates the Palisades and Eaton fires, which killed at least 29 people and destroyed more than 16,000 structures, caused $45 billion in insured losses. State Farm, which has the largest share of the property and casualty insurance market in California, is expected to account for $7.6 billion of those claims. [CA] Disney housing development turns into nightmare for displaced Calif. residents (SFGate, CA) - full text SFGate [3/16/2025 7:00 AM, Andrew Pridgen, 12335K, CA] At first glance, Cotino -- the 618-acre Disney-owned development slated to feature more than 1,900 seven-figure homes built in the heart of Rancho Mirage -- seems almost too good to be true. Described by marketers as a "Storyliving by Disney community," the development promises an exclusivity that hearkens back to post-war planned communities, with a spin only the Mouse can provide. Home prices start at over $1 million and go up to more than $2 milllion. "A new, vibrant lifestyle waits at Cotino," the development's website reads. "Here, where inspiration awaits around every corner, you can dream where you actually live." But behind the veneer of a curated Disneyfied experience of homeownership and a fever dream of exclusive amenities, potential buyers will find an ongoing series of lawsuits against the city of Rancho Mirage, related to the displacement of marginalized and low-income families on the building site. For 115 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000246 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0023456 those who used to call the area that will become Cotino home, the development represents anything but the happiest place on Earth. For decades, Rancho Mirage has established a reputation as a high-end bedroom community, defined by its golf courses and a mentality that the party just doesn't stop, especially for those who can afford it. But while the town's population trends conservative, Rancho Mirage has decidedly progressive amenities to offer residents: a one-of-a-kind public library and observatory, complete with a telescope checkout program; a vibrant children's museum, with a robust daily schedule of youth programming; and most remarkably, zero out-of-pocket costs for emergency medical services for all. For Veronica Juarez and her family, who lived in the Rancho Palms Mobile Home Park, a 126-unit working-class neighborhood that once occupied the heart of the Cotino development, Rancho Mirage seemed like a dream. At the Rancho Palms, the Juarez family enjoyed low rent, good school districts and access to the safety and amenities of Rancho Mirage -- the kind of privilege the family cannot replicate in nearby Cathedral City, where they now live. In 2017, Rancho Mirage, which had sought for years to redevelop the mobile home park, forced Juarez and her family from their home. Juarez told the Desert Sun that she would eventually like to move back to Rancho Mirage, but said she believes Cotino is a development that mirrors the trend of skyrocketing housing prices here. "These homes cost millions of dollars and are not affordable for the entire community," she told the outlet. "[They] are only available to wealthy people." The issues began in 2009, when Rancho Mirage's Housing Authority purchased and operated the mobile home park, with the occupants still owning the mobile home structures themselves. When it first purchased the mobile home park, it said the homes were no longer suitable for occupation, with plans to build affordable housing for seniors instead. That development didn't happen. However, the city did systematically buy out the structures from each resident to make way for a new development. By 2013, all had left the mobile home park except for Juarez, her husband, Francisco Santillan, and their four children. They would end up staying for four additional years, the final holdouts, until they left in 2017. From 2009 to 2019, Rancho Mirage spent $11 million on removing families from the mobile home park, including more than $260,000 in litigation fees, the Desert Sun reported. Even today, the lawsuits continue. The initial lawsuit from four former residents of Rancho Palms, including Juarez, was settled in their favor in April 2019. It included a provision that the city allow the construction of 126 permit-restricted affordable units in Rancho Mirage; plaintiffs would have first right of refusal to buy, with a two-year window to do so. But that side of the deal has been ignored thus far, according to attorney Annette Harings. She represents Juarez in a separate complaint, filed in the summer of 2022, in response to the city's failure to come up with the promised allocation of affordable housing on that site and to give first right of refusal access to it within a two-year window, in accordance with the 2019 settlement. Riverside County Superior Court Judge Manuel Bustamante sided with Juarez. Last April, he said that the city has yet to meet the settlement's terms. "So we entered into the settlement agreement [in 2019]. There were some monetary terms and a provision that 116 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000246 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0023457 within the next two years, the city had to issue building permits to replace 126 affordable housing units and give my clients the right of first refusal to participate," Harings explained to SFGATE. "At the one-and-a-half-year mark, I said, 'I haven't heard from you.' At the two-year mark, I said, 'Give me all you have.- The settlement's deadline came and went, but the city didn't have anything to show as far as the affordable housing units mandate was concerned, Harings said. As a result of the missed cutoff, there will be yet another trial in June for a judge to assess whether the plaintiffs suffered further damages in light of the city's inability to meet the affordable housing terms of the settlement. SFGATE reached out to a Disney spokesperson asking why Disney chose not to add an affordable housing component into the Cotino development and whether it has any comments about the residents of Rancho Palms and their lawsuits but did not receive an answer back by press time. Attorney Harings noted that she has heard of proposed residential development projects featuring affordable housing units that are currently being fast-tracked for review and development in Rancho Mirage, but those projects don't involve Disney or Cotino. Gabe Codding, the city of Rancho Mirage's marketing director, confirmed to SFGATE that new affordable units are in the works. "The city has designated specific areas for affordable housing ... already approved in our state-mandated Housing Element, where the 1,000 units are being developed, in accordance with zoning and land-use planning," he wrote in an email. The new proposed units, however, did not meet the original settlement's timeline for the residents pushed out of Rancho Palms. Regarding the litigation, Codding said that "as a matter of policy, the city does not comment on ongoing legal matters." He went on to explain that the city's point of view is that the settlement involving Veronica Juarez "is entirely unrelated to the Cotino project." "Any claim suggesting otherwise is incorrect," he continued. "This case had no connection to Cotino's planning, approval, or development process." However, Haring pointed out that none of the permits issued for Cotino involve affordable housing. "That would go against the laws concerning the housing element," she explained. "You, the city, have the power to tell a builder, 'Hey, we'll give you a building permit for 3,000 units, but you have to dedicate 1, 10, 300 to affordable [housing].' That hasn't happened." During an October 2023 deposition, Deborah Ruane, who was acting as an expert witness on affordable housing for the city of Rancho Mirage, confirmed that the city was "not ready for the density that was to be required in order to produce the number of units the city wanted to have at that site." When asked about the Rancho Palms mobile home park site that is now part of the Cotino footprint, Ruane explained that "in order to build 124 units or the number that was required, there needed to be some changes to the density in order for that to occur. It was a much lower density. It needed to be updated." As this phase of pending litigation for Juarez is set to wrap up in June, the sales studio at Cotino is open and the first units are in the process of being delivered to the next generation of Rancho Mirage homeowners. Cotino represents a trend that has continued to define Rancho Mirage for decades, perhaps as a contributor to its own eventual demise, said Harings. "The city paid $11 million to shut down Rancho Palms and keep it closed for [close to] 20 years now. They pay outside attorneys, pay to clean the garbage 117 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000246 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0023458 off the lot -- so they don't have to look at poor people," she said. It's a trend, she says, of wealthy cities that have an "overrepresentation of white, wealthy people -- that's a policy that just doesn't happen just because." But she pointed out that the overriding problem is when a city like Rancho Mirage goes all in on trying to lure one type of resident, there's "no one left to keep the city running." It's a problem, she noted, that many wealthy cities, such as Santa Barbara, face, where essential workers like teachers, doctors, police, firefighters, service workers and caregivers no longer have the option to reside where they work. "Rancho Mirage is already one of the richest cities in Southern California, and this will only add to its wealth," Indio resident Jim Thomas told the LA Times last August. "But where will the workers live? The housekeepers, landscapers, bartenders and hospitality employees?" Thomas explained that a development like Cotino has a much easier time happening than affordable housing in Rancho Mirage. "There's uproar whenever someone tries to develop multifamily housing here," he said. "Yet Disney and its milliondollar homes are welcomed with open arms." "They have really remade themselves to be this destination for people to come and visit to have their second homes, but you need people to take care of you," attorney Harings said. "You need people to take care of [people] 55 and 65 and older." Harings feels that this is a phenomenon that isn't just limited to Cotino or Rancho Mirage. It's an issue impacting wealthy communities all over the state, and will be exacerbated by federal funding cuts for affordable housing under the Trump administration. "I'm very concerned that this stuff is going to fall apart," she concluded. "Developers rely on federal and local grants. I learned a lot in this case and if they cut federal funding to build this stuff -- unless a state or county can step in, it goes away." Climate Resilience and Sustainability [CA] How the EPA's environmental about-face could upend California's climate efforts (Los Angeles Times, CA) - full text Los Angeles Times [3/14/2025 5:04 PM, Hayley Smith, 13342K, CA] The Environmental Protection Agency's plan to repeal or weaken more than two dozen regulations could deliver a direct blow to California policies on air and water quality standards, electric vehicle initiatives and efforts to curb planet-harming greenhouse gas emissions. The changes announced this week are geared toward rolling back trillions of dollars in regulatory costs and hidden taxes on U.S. families, according to President Trump's new EPA administrator Lee Zeldin, who described the action on Wednesday as "the largest deregulatory announcement in U.S. history." But environmental groups were quick to condemn the plan as an abdication of the EPA's responsibilities to Americans. In climate-conscious California, they say, it could reverse decades of progress. "This isn't just a step backward -- it's a wrecking ball aimed at decades of progress," said Guillermo Ortiz, senior clean vehicles advocate with the Natural Resources Defense Council. "California's leadership on clean energy and environmental justice is now directly under siege by the federal government." Aggressive and impactful reporting on climate change, the environment, health and 118 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000246 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0023459 science. Among the 31 items up for reconsideration is the EPA's long-held conclusion that carbon dioxide emissions endanger human health and welfare, formally known as the "endangerment finding" established in 2009. California has been aggressive in its efforts to curb CO2, including a state law that requires a 40% emissions reduction by 2030 and an 85% reduction by 2045. The state aims to reach carbon neutrality by 2045 -- five years sooner than the federal target set by the Biden administration. Zeldin referred to the endangerment finding as "the holy grail of the climate change religion." "We are driving a dagger straight into the heart of the climate change religion," he said. The EPA's plan also takes aim at the Clean Power Plan, an Obama- and Biden-era policy that seeks to slash emissions from power plants fueled by coal and natural gas, and at the mandatory greenhouse gas reporting program that compels approximately 8,000 large greenhouse gas emitters, such as power plants and factories, to report their emissions annually. California is home to nearly 400 of those reporting facilities, and has made gains in its efforts to reduce emissions in recent years. The state's facilities reported 92.1 million metric tons of CO2 equivalent emissions in 2023, compared with 116.1 million metric tons a decade prior. Repealing such programs -- and potentially undermining the endangerment finding -- would be akin to "denying the concept of gravity," Ortiz said. "It's not deregulation -- it's science denial with a legal brief attached to it," he said. But the EPA isn't focused only on emissions from large power plants and oil and gas producers. Also on the chopping block are rules that govern vehicle emissions, the largest source of air pollution in the Golden State. Among other changes, the EPA seeks to terminate the standards surrounding light-, medium- and heavy-duty vehicles that provided the foundation for Biden's electric vehicle mandate, which set a goal for EVs to comprise half the cars sold in the U.S. by 2030. Zeldin said the current federal rules impose more than $700 billion in regulatory and compliance costs, and that the EV mandate takes away Americans' ability to select the car of their choice while increasing the cost on all products delivered by trucks. California has set an even more aggressive target than the federal government on EV adoption, with Gov. Gavin Newsom's mandate banning the sale of gas cars by 2035 -- a move the Trump administration has already set out to block. "California has been the leading state in advancing the clean transportation industry and market," said John Boesel, president of the clean transportation nonprofit CALSTART. Boesel noted that the EPA in January already failed to act on a plan known as the Advanced Clean Fleets rule, which would have helped phase out heavy-duty diesel trucks in the state. But the new changes could create even more hurdles for California's EV transition by potentially compromising federal tax incentives, hindering the expansion of a national charging infrastructure and encouraging fossil fuel production. "A lot of hard work went into developing the regulations and setting a direction for the future of the United States, and many companies have made major investments in a cleaner transportation future," Boesel said. "Having this kind of regulatory uncertainty will undermine a lot of the investment and possibly discourage innovation." Mike Stoker, who served as the EPA's top official for California and the Pacific 119 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000246 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0023460 Southwest during the previous Trump administration, downplayed the impact on California, however, saying the Golden State can continue to set higher standards than the federal government. "As a general matter, most of the states that have been really strong on the environment, like California, are going to exceed whatever the minimum standard is that the EPA is regulating," he said, adding that "these kind of actions have a much bigger impact on the states that have really opted to go more with the minimum standard route." The goal, he said, is to eliminate rules and regulations that are costly and time consuming and to ensure that those that remain are backed up by the best possible science. Stoker also said the deregulation announcement is not taking direct aim at electric vehicles, but rather is geared toward letting consumers dictate the marketplace. "Their message is they don't want the government to subsidize making electric cars happen before the market really demands it," he said. But federal rules don't exist in a vacuum, said Ortiz, of the NRDC. The 31 regulatory actions are also occurring alongside job cuts and efforts to curtail California's authority to set tailpipe emissions. What's more, carbon dioxide and other pollutants have no regard for state lines. "California's climate goals and our air quality progress have been a beacon for the world, and gutting these EPA rules is like punching holes in that lighthouse," Ortiz said. "We're talking about more asthma in Fresno, we're talking about deadlier wildfires, and we're stalling out the EV transition that's been occurring." The EPA's plan also takes aim at other issues that are popular in California, including environmental justice and air and water quality standards. The agency seeks to terminate its environmental justice and diversity, equity and inclusion arms, Zeldin said. California -- home to some of the worst air quality in the world -- has for decades worked to rectify inequities that have left the state's low-income communities and communities of color disproportionately burdened by pollution, extreme heat, wildfire smoke and other environmental challenges, and experts fear that changes at the federal level could exacerbate those issues. Indeed, Zeldin said the agency will reconsider air toxic standards that target coal-fired plants, as well as National Ambient Air Quality Standards that regulate six harmful pollutants. Those pollutants include particulate matter 2.5, or sooty material that is released from vehicles, industrial smokestacks and wildfires. PM 2.5 was among the top air quality concerns in the wake of January's firestorm in Los Angeles. Only a year ago, the Biden administration's EPA tightened the rules around particulate matter in a move it said would prevent thousands of premature deaths. What's more, some of the state's hard-won gains on water quality could be undone by the EPA's plan to revise the definition "waters of the United States" as it applies to the federal Clean Water Act of 1972. The rules govern water quality as well as discharge requirements for farmers, landowners and businesses, which Zeldin said place an undue burden on Americans and drive up the cost of doing business. Opponents said loosening such guidelines could leave water systems more vulnerable to dangerous pollutants and discharge, especially in the wake of a recent Supreme Court decision that limited federal protections for wetlands in favor of property rights. "We cannot sit idly by while the U.S. Supreme Court, and now the Federal Administration, take calculated steps to compromise the federal Clean Water Act and the protections it has provided for decades," state Sen. Ben Allen (D-Santa Monica) said in a statement. 120 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000246 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0023461 Allen recently introduced legislation that would enshrine into state law the previous federal protections removed by the Supreme Court. The lack of these and other protections could threaten the health and well-being of millions of Californians, he said. But experts cautioned that the EPA's proposed changes cannot be imposed unilaterally, and said due process must include scientific and legal justification for each decision, as well as listening and responding to public feedback. It is likely that many of the changes will face lengthy legal challenges from opposition groups. Boesel, of CALSTART, said he remains optimistic that California will continue to make progress on climate change despite the potentially bumpy road ahead. But he underscored that it is important for the EPA to continue to show leadership at a national and global level. "The United States represents about 5% of the world's population and generates nearly 20% of the world's greenhouse gas emissions," he said. "So the United States really needs to be a global team player and do what it can to avert a climate disaster." Disaster Recovery Officials scramble amid reported policy change that would have big impact on public safety - `Beyond our control' (The Cool Down) - full text The Cool Down [3/16/2025 6:45 AM, Juliana Marino] The office dedicated to rebuilding the U.S. post-natural disasters is now facing uncertainty amid new plans from the federal government. According to a report by The New York Times in February, the Trump administration plans to cut office staff by 84%. The Times obtained documents that reveal the Trump administration's plan to slash the Office of Community Planning and Development, a subset of the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), which funds recovery efforts post major natural disasters. As of mid-March, it's not clear if federal judges' orders to reinstate laid-off workers affects this plan. According to the Times, cuts this significant can impact the flow of disaster relief money, slowing down the distribution of funds to vulnerable areas, such as North Carolina. However, in an initial statement, spokeswoman for the department Kasey Lovett said, "Disaster recovery efforts are a top priority and will not be impacted. HUD's mission to serve all communities -- especially following tragedies -- remains unchanged." According to Tampa-based outlet WUSF, several public officials in the area have been uncertain about funds going through and have been seeking answers in committee meetings -- with one asking, "Do we actually know yet ... if we're actually getting this money?" Another official said, per WUSF, "If [the money] gets pulled back, that's beyond our control, but until we hear otherwise, I think we should go full steam ahead." WUSF reported St. Petersburg, Florida, which was expecting to receive $160 million in grant funds to respond to hurricane damage, is "continuing to monitor guidance and directives from the federal government." "We understand the uncertainty regarding federal funding can be frustrating for our community, but we remain focused on recovering from recent hurricanes and working across all levels of government on behalf of our residents," the city's public information officer, Samantha Bequer, said. That said, 121 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000246 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0023462 WUSF's conclusion was that "at this point, there's no sign the funds are at risk." Why is the Office of Community Planning and Development important? While the Federal Emergency Management Agency acts as the first response team for rebuilding after natural disasters, some storms cause so much damage that FEMA alone is not enough for successful rebuilding, noted the Times. In these cases, HUD steps in to provide funding on top of FEMA. "As disasters have grown more frequent and severe, HUD's disaster recovery program has become central to the country's strategy for coping with climate change," the Times reported. With global temperatures continuing to rise and powerful storms becoming more intense, communities are more vulnerable to natural disasters. However, without the necessary support and funding to rebuild damaged roads, infrastructure, and houses, areas will take longer to eventually recover post-storm. What's being done about cuts to disaster recovery funds? Activists and other key stakeholders have urged policymakers to prioritize the crisis of increasing natural disasters, and the increasing global temperatures making them worse. While no guarantee, that type of attention can help to influence government officials to ensure important considerations are not overlooked. Separately, by making eco-friendly lifestyle changes, such as ditching single-use plastics and transitioning toward clean energy, you can be a part of helping to combat rising global temperatures; if enough people do the same, it can lessen pollution enough to decrease the risk of extreme weather events. [FL] Volusia County's $133.5 million Hurricane Milton Recovery Action Plan ready for review (Observer Local News, FL) - full text Observer Local News [3/16/2025 9:00 AM, Staff, 20K, FL] Volusia County will hold a public hearing from 10 to 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, March 25, in the County Council Chambers at the Thomas C. Kelly Administration Center, 123 W. Indiana Ave., DeLand, to gather residents' feedback on the Transform386 Community Development Block Grant-Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) action plan for Hurricane Milton recovery. Earlier this year, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development awarded Volusia County $133,515,000 in CDBG-DR funding to support recovery efforts following Hurricane Milton. The funds will help restore infrastructure, repair and replace housing, mitigate future disasters, and revitalize the local economy. The hearing will be live-streamed via Microsoft Teams, and viewers will have the opportunity to submit comments during the event. A link to access the meeting will be posted at www.transform386.org before the hearing. In January and February, residents had the opportunity to attend a series of informational sessions and complete an unmet needs survey. Feedback from these sessions and the survey helped shape the action plan. A draft of the action plan is available for public review at www.transform386.org and all 14 Volusia County Public Library branches. Residents can submit comments on the 122 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000246 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0023463 action plan until 5 p.m. Monday, April 14. Feedback may be submitted online, by email to transform386@volusia.org, or by mail to the Office of Recovery and Resiliency, 1578 N. Woodland Blvd., DeLand, FL 32720. Those needing information in an alternative format or a language other than English can contact Volusia County's ADA/Title VI coordinator at tking@volusia.org. Requests may also be submitted by emailing transform386@volusia.org. [LA] Stephanie Grace: This hurricane season, will the government agencies we count on be there? (Times Picayune / NOLA.com, LA) - full text Times Picayune / NOLA.com [3/15/2025 7:00 PM, Stephanie Grace, 1494K, LA] Once upon a time, people who wanted to steer clear of politically divisive conversations knew they could stick to a safe topic: the weather. No such luck anymore, now that the Trump administration's whirlwind dismantling of government is coming for the agencies dedicated to predicting what's coming, preventing underlying conditions from getting even worse and helping rebuild after increasingly frequent disaster strikes. And bad timing too, just as those of us in the states that surround the Gulf of Mexico, all of which voted for Donald Trump, are looking ahead to the next hurricane season. It's hard to keep up with the haphazard, on-and-off decisions out of Washington these days -- that's what happens when an administration floods the zone with so much news that it's difficult to concentrate on any one story -- but here's a sampling of what is either already here or possibly on the horizon. Through attrition and mass layoffs, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, which includes the National Weather Service, could lose nearly 20% of its 13,000-member workforce to the administration's DOGEdriven downsizing -- some of which is held up in court and some since chaotically rescinded. These are people who produce weather forecasts, maintain radar systems, gather data from satellites and even fly into hurricanes to monitor deadly threats. Their work is used by the private websites and TV meteorologists that the public relies upon to understand risk. And if you don't believe me, maybe you'll trust Margaret Orr, whose forecasts New Orleans viewers relied upon for decades before she retired from WDSU last year. "I can testify to the fact that the National Hurricane Center and the National Weather Service, both part of National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration, give lifesaving information," Orr wrote in these pages. And why is this happening? Well, maybe it goes back to the claim in Project 2025, the Heritage Foundation blueprint that Trump disavowed on the campaign trail but is largely following in office, that NOAA is "one of the main drivers of the climate change alarm industry." Or maybe, just maybe, climate change alarmism actually comes from the alarming things Americans are experiencing in real life, from monster storms that intensify overnight as they pass over ever-hotter water in the Gulf to sky-high insurance rates from those few companies still willing to write policies in the hurricane zone. Action to stem climate change, of course, is another administration target. Here's how The New York Times recently summarized where the Environmental Protection Agency is on that: "The Trump administration said it would repeal dozens of the nation's most significant environmental regulations, including limits on pollution from tailpipes and smokestacks, protections for wetlands, and the legal 123 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000246 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0023464 basis that allows it to regulate the greenhouse gases that are heating the planet." That means greenhouse gases creating more extreme weather, no matter how diminished the NOAA is. And it means more disasters, but big cutbacks may be coming for how we handle those, too. Trump has talked of reimagining or even eliminating FEMA and sending its responsibilities to the states. Yes, disaster response could be streamlined, as Louisianans know. But the reason they know that is because Louisianans are among the biggest recipients of federal money after hurricanes and other storms hit. According to an Axios story on based on data from the Carnegie Disaster Dollar Database, Louisiana's average annual take between 2015 to 2024 from FEMA and HUD recovery grants totaled $1.4 billion, tied with Texas and behind only Florida. Louisiana led -- by far -- in FEMA and HUD recovery grant funding as a share of 2023 state spending, at 6.3%, well ahead of Florida with 2.8%. Another data point from the organization listed three Louisiana congressional districts among the top eight in FEMA household aid applications since 2021, with House Majority Leader Steve Scalise's 1st district ranking second nationally. So maybe he and Louisiana's other top congressional leader, House Speaker Mike Johnson, might want to speak up about all this, rather than acting as an extension of the Trump administration. Sure as June follows March, April and May, hurricane season is coming for the people they represent. [CA] `Cash offers only' - After L.A. fires, scorched lots are selling fast (Washington Post) - full text Washington Post [3/14/2025 6:00 AM, Brianna Sacks, Reis Thebault, 31735K] Hugo Dalinger knew he couldn't go back. Not after a wall of flames swallowed his brightwhite Altadena home during the January firestorm that took out most of his town. But he needed money to start over, so he reached out to a friend and veteran real estate agent for help. Ramiro Rivas was skeptical. He grew up around Altadena and has sold hundreds of properties in 21 years -- but a fire-scarred lot was new. He put the 10,500-square-foot, ash-filled parcel up for sale on Feb. 3, pitching it as an "incredible canvas for a custombuilt estate." "Opportunities like this where privacy, natural beauty, and limitless potential converge are truly rare," he wrote, with no mention of the disaster. "Property sold as-is. Cash offers only." He was surprised how fast offers came in. In nine days, Rivas closed Altadena's first post-fire residential land sale. The Dalingers now had $603,000 for a down payment on a smaller home in nearby Pasadena. Soon after, Rivas listed more lots. This was very traumatic to me," said Dalinger, a doctor in his 70s who helps care for several of 12 grandchildren. "I couldn't see myself rebuilding . . . there would be too many bad memories." There has been a frenetic rush to buy and sell scorched lots since wildfires leveled thousands of homes in Altadena and Pacific Palisades two months ago, surprising longtime local real estate agents and experts. The pace, and some of the price tags, have exceeded expectations -- even in one of the country's hottest housing markets. The damage hasn't deterred sales; it has accelerated them. With toxic debris still to be cleared from many of the 13,000 burned properties, more than 160 vacant and destroyed plots have hit the market, according to ATTOM, a firm that tracks property 124 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000246 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0023465 sales. Dissonant real estate listings promise blank canvases for dream homes alongside photos of wreckage. For every available lot, one agent said, there are at least 10 interested buyers -- offers mostly from developers and builders. And like catastrophes before them, the fires have also prompted a swarm of opportunists - small-time land speculators and large-scale developers peppering owners with texts, calls and letters taped to their properties offering to buy the land in cash. Nearly all lots sold have exceeded their asking prices, even if for less than the pre-fire value, real estate data shows. Land in the Palisades, one of Los Angeles' wealthiest enclaves, is selling at high prices, with one piece topping $3 million. In Altadena, a more racially diverse, workingand middle-class community, advocates worry that owners are taking offers that are too low. And as residents reckon with the reality that they may need to sell, many wonder what it may mean for their families -- and the fate of their communities. "People are getting shamed for selling, but the bottom line is people need money and want to get the most for their property," Rivas said. "Every little cent counts right now." From the day fires sparked on Jan. 7 to the end of February, 163 lots were listed in Altadena and the Palisades, compared with five during the same period in each of the prior two years, according to ATTOM data. At least 17 have sold -- 14 in Altadena and three in the Palisades -- nearly all for tens of thousands more than the initial asking price, separate real estate data shows. And more hit the market every day. In Altadena, some lots seem to be selling for substantially less than they would have before the fires, said Mark Karlan, a real estate finance professor at UCLA. "Something is wrong with the Altadena prices, especially for how big those lots are," he said after reviewing listings. And with many owners in financial distress, that can lure predatory buyers, he added. In one contract reviewed by The Washington Post, a real estate investor offered a couple $400,000 in cash for their land. They had purchased the Altadena house that once stood there for $1.3 million in 2022. Still, nearly all of the sold lots in Altadena fetched prices above asking_ One listed for $350,000 has more than 11 offers, with two over $500,000. Another listed for $400,000 has eight offers up to $545,000. In the Palisades, meanwhile, Anthony Marguleas was bracing for land values to plummet by up to 50 percent. That hasn't yet happened. In fact, in one of the Palisades' most exclusive sections, values appear to have appreciated by more than 10 percent, said Marguleas, the founder of the Amalfi Estates real estate agency. "There's not a mass exodus," said Marguleas, who lost his own home there. "Property values are staying incredibly strong." All three Palisades sales have exceeded the asking price by more than $100,000. Each has gone for over $1 million. Karlan, who also lost his Palisades home, said prices there have been shocking, some close to the value of an intact house. Marguleas expects that up to 1,000 burned homes will eventually be listed. David Berg, another longtime real estate agent, suspects many homeowners may wait to see how initial sales go before deciding what to do. But some can't afford to wait. Retirees on a fixed income and residents with little or no insurance are more likely to sell out of desperation in an effort to recoup whatever money they can, said Jose Loya, an urban-planning professor at UCLA's Luskin School of Public Affairs. 125 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000246 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0023466 "They're trying to sell their homes because they're in a very vulnerable financial situation," Loya said. When he heard the price, Steven Lamb sat up straight against the back of his mother's antique blue couch. There's no way he was going to sell his land, even if it was full of charred trees and burned orange metal, for that. A broker on the phone had just offered Lamb $462,000 in cash for his 8,900-square-foot plot. The lifelong Altadena resident and former developer was thinking about selling, but he estimated that the plot beneath the remains of his redwood craftsman should be worth at least $800,000. "I mean, that's just insane," Lamb replied, indignant. He pressed on: "Don't you know what empty lots were selling for before the fire?" "Yeah," the broker replied. "I think you're going to see a new standard of compensation." At 67, and now living with his sick, elderly mother, he and his wife have been debating whether a long and costly rebuild is worth it. But if they sold, who would the land go to? A company called AIE Realty, short for Always in Escrow, told Lamb in a letter that it was a local real estate team "working with a serious buyer" to pay cash for their lot -- toxic debris and all. Curious, Lamb picked up the phone. But minutes into the call, he'd heard enough. "These guys are sharks," he concluded. "They are going to make a fortune." Founded in 2023, the company is acquiring torched parcels for Ocean Development Inc., a conglomerate that mostly buys properties around south Los Angeles to develop lowincome housing. One draw for companies such as AIE is the county's "like for like" rule, meant to cut red tape after the fires to fast-track rebuilding homes nearly as they were. AlE is planning on buying a few dozen lots, anything that "mathematically makes sense," said an agent who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly. Other developers may be coming in, too. An Arizona-based real estate agent said he's been in contact with a Northern California builder who wants to buy about 300 lots. The company did not respond to The Post's request for comment. Smaller builders are also eyeing the land, agents say. Rivas wants his community to bounce back and knows that "developers get a bad rap." But he tells people, "We need the developers" to bring Altadena's population back, to help surviving businesses stay alive. "They are the ones with all the resources to build back fastest," he said. Sue Kohl, president of the Pacific Palisades Community Council, understands why people fear big developers "buying a bunch of lots and building houses next to each other that all look alike." "They want the culture of the town to remain the same," said Kohl, a real estate agent whose Palisades home burned. But "no one is going to be able to have it just like it was." Los Angeles was already one of the country's most expensive housing markets. But in the recent land rush, questions have emerged about opportunity and accessibility after a disaster: What kind of place emerges from the ruins of the old one? Who can afford to rebuild and continue to live there? Disasters are typically an inflection point for a community's identity, said Loya, of UCLA. Some communities are abandoned and spiral into disinvestment, while others become more expensive, driven by the high cost of rebuilding and insuring homes in combustible areas -- a gentrification by fire. "A 126 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000246 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0023467 neighborhood usually does not return to what it was," Loya said. "It is a fork in the road." In Altadena, where the rate of Black homeownership is double the national average, advocates are especially worried that rapid development will further displace people of color. "The entire town could be taken from us twice," said Courage Escamilla, an organizer with Altadena Not For Sale, a group helping underinsured residents hold on to property. It's one of many groups formed to support neighbors in financial trouble and to keep land in local hands. Altadena Not For Sale wants to start land trusts to preserve affordable housing and is pushing for a temporary moratorium on the sale of multiple lots in the same area to a single company or investor. About 40 miles west, start-up founder Dustin Bramell launched a directory called Protect the Palisades after losing his home. The group matches residents looking to buy with those wanting to sell. The goal is to connect "person to person" and guard against "outside parties who have no vested interest in the community," he said. Nearly 1,000 people have registered, more than 8 in 10 of them hopeful buyers. Lamb, a former Altadena council member of 20 years, thinks it's an important effort -- keeping land local. He just knows it's a fight they may not win. "We chose and worked very hard and made a lot of sacrifices to live in the community that was Altadena," Lamb said. "After the fight is over, where will I be? If I don't have Altadena, what am I doing? What am I fighting for?" [HI] First payment of $1.5 million is disbursed from $175 million One `Ohana Fund (Honolulu Star-Advertiser, HI) - full text Honolulu Star-Advertiser [3/15/2025 6:05 AM, Victoria Budiono, 512K, HI] Gov. Josh Green announced Friday the first disbursement from the $175 million One 'Ohana Fund, part of the Maui Wildfires Compensation Program created to provide direct financial relief to families of those who died and people who suffered serious injuries in the August 2023 wildfires. The first $1.5 million payment has been made to the estate of a wildfire victim, with the remaining wrongful death payments expected to be completed by June. "We're very grateful to all the people that have worked hard to continue to help Maui heal and to help those who lost loved ones, lost their homes. It has been an incredible amount of work and incredible amount of suffering, especially for those who lost one of their loved ones," Green said. "We put together $175 million so that we could disperse $1.5 million to each and every person who lost someone in their family, to expedite it if it was suitable for them." Retired Judge Ronald Ibarra, administrator of the MWCP, said the program began accepting claim registrations on March 1, 2024, and closed registration on June 15. In total, 50 wrongful death claims and 21 serious physical injury claims were submitted. Ibarra said 14 wrongful death claimants did not return their forms for filing. Of the 36 death claim forms submitted, two were deemed ineligible under the program's protocol, six were closed due to missing follow-up information and two were withdrawn by the claimant or their attorney. This left 26 eligible claims that were offered $1.5 million each. Of those, two claimants withdrew after receiving the offers, and one did not respond, voiding the offer, leaving 23 wrongful death claims. All 23 wrongful death claimants accepted the settlement offers and met the program's conditions for payment, which 127 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000246 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0023468 included submitting court orders, appointing a personal representative, providing a distribution plan for beneficiaries, addressing liens, granting permission to participate in the program, signing releases and selecting a method of payment. In one case a court hearing was held, and the settlement was found to be in good faith. On March 11, Ibarra said, the first $1.5 million payment was issued to a claimant who represented himself in the program. "I'm happy to say that after little over a year, when the program rolled out, the first payment of $1.5 million was made to the first debt claimant. The claimant represented himself in the program," Ibarra said. Of the 21 serious physical injury claims, two were not approved to file a claim, and forms were sent to 19 others. Seven forms were not returned. Of the 12 submitted, three were deemed ineligible and are under further review. The $175 million One 'Ohana Fund is part of a larger $4.037 billion global settlement announced in August to resolve tort claims arising from the wildfires. The fund also will provide payments for nine qualifying serious injury cases still under review. Families who receive One 'Ohana Fund payments will remain eligible to seek additional compensation from the broader global settlement. "I know it doesn't cure the pain, but it will help people move on with their lives as is our hope," Green said. The wildfires, which swept through Lahaina and surrounding areas on Aug. 8, 2023, killed 102 people, displaced 12, 000 residents, destroyed more than 4, 000 properties and caused an estimated $4 billion to $6 billion in property damage. More than 500 Lahaina-owned or occupied homes were lost, and nearly 8, 000 businesses were affected, making it one of the most devastating disasters in Hawaii's history. The global settlement includes contributions from seven defendants--Hawaiian Electric, Kamehameha Schools, the state of Hawaii and several telecommunications companies. Hawaiian Electric agreed to pay $1.99 billion, Kamehameha Schools and the state each pledged $872.5 million and the telecommunications industry committed $300 million. The state contributed $65 million directly to the One 'Ohana Fund for initial payments and has pledged a total of $800 million to the global settlement, pending legislative approval. Once approved, a new oversight entity will manage and distribute funds to ensure fairness and transparency. Maui Circuit Court Judge Peter Cahill will oversee resolutions involving claims from subrogation insurers. Green noted that nearly 65 % of wrongful death claimants have represented themselves in the process, which he said reflects efforts to make the program accessible and fair. In addition to financial relief, the state has outlined several long-term recovery goals, including assisting displaced residents regardless of citizenship status, engaging the community in planning transitional and permanent housing, returning historically recognized lands to the Lahaina community and securing $500 million for infrastructure master-planning to support rebuilding efforts. "The program is designed to be accessible and efficient so that people who are settling can get their money again without a five-year delay or without losing incredible amounts of its fees," Green said. "We're just committed to being fair to people, because we have to heal, and that's what this is about. We continue to stand with the families and the community and anyone who needs support, and rebuild people's lives and rebuild Lahaina." Phase one of the MWCP, which includes current wrongful death and serious injury claims, is expected to be fully completed by June 30. Afterward, the One `Ohana 128 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000246 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0023469 Fund will open for up to 79 additional wrongful death claims, each eligible for $1.5 million. [HI] Fund for Maui wildfire deaths makes first payout with more to come (Hawaii News Now, Honolulu, HI) - full text Hawaii News Now [3/14/2025 11:48 PM, Daryl Huff, 877K, HI] VIDEO. Nineteen months after the Lahaina wildfire, a family who lost a loved one has been paid $1.5 million from the governor's One Ohana Fund. The fund was put up just over a year ago, six months after the disaster, to get families who lost loved ones settlements quickly as an alternative to potentially lengthy and expensive litigation. The first payout was announced Friday at a news conference hosted by Gov. Josh Green, who said he was glad to have offered families the choice. "It's just a personal decision, the ultimate personal decision. We just want to make these options available," he said. With 102 potential death claims and more for serious injury, Hawaiian Electric, the state, Kamehameha Schools, Maui County and Telcom companies, all potentially liable for the fire and its damage, contributed $175 million to the fund. The governor, standing with retired judge Ronald Ibarra, who volunteered to organize and by trustee for the fund, said so far, only 23 wrongful death payouts have been approved and nine are pending for serious injury. If all were paid in full, it would add up to at most $48 million. "We'd like to have more," Ibarra said. "We feel that to those 23 who are getting the $1.5 million, it makes a big difference." A big factor holding down One Ohana applications may have been the surprisingly quick $4 billion global settlement, approved last month by the Supreme Court. Families may have been unsure whether to use One Ohana or the settlement and faced tight deadlines in the Ohana process. The families who lost loved ones can now try again through the One Ohana Fund process and then seek more from the global settlement. "So it is true that the wrongful death claims may not necessarily be capped at $1.5 million," Wong said. Ibarra said Ohana Fund payments could come faster than from the settlement, and require less help from attorneys. Green expressed appreciation for Ibarra's work. "I'm very proud of the team and especially thankful to Judge Ibarra and all the volunteers," he said. The governor's office said because of the volunteer work, all costs of administering the program are being paid by interest earned while the fund was in the bank. [HI] Lava buyouts program is winding down A Hawaii County program offering to purchase Puna residents' lava-damaged pr... (Hawaii Tribune-Herald, HI) - full text Hawaii Tribune-Herald [3/16/2025 12:05 AM, Michael Brestovansky, 56K, HI] A Hawaii County program offering to purchase Puna residents' lava-damaged properties should finally wrap up this year. The Voluntary Housing Buyout Program launched in 2021 to offer residents whose properties were damaged, destroyed or isolated by the 2018 Kilauea eruption. After four years since it launched - and seven years following eruption - the program is winding down, with more than 750 applicants having completed or are still undertaking the buyout process. County Recovery spokeswoman Jen Myers confirmed the program should have completed most of its buyouts by the end of 2025, although this depends on the 129 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000246 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0023470 remaining properties moving through the process efficiently, and with applicants responding in a timely manner. The program accepted applicants in three phases. The first, highest-priority phase was for owners of primary residences impacted by the eruption. There were 311 applicants for that phase. As of February, only three phase one applications remained open, with the rest having been bought out. Phase two applicants were those with secondary homes impacted by the eruption, with about 200 applicants, while phase three was for owners of vacant land, about 300 of whom applied. As of February, there were 41 phase two and 282 phase three applications still open. Myers said via email that the program has had to contend with "the complexities of title issues, probate situations, and unique property cases" which have slowed the process down. Previously, the program was expected to close its last buyouts by the end of 2024. The program had an initial budget of $83.8 million from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. As the program went on and the number of applicants grew, the maximum payout for phase three applicants was reduced from $230,000 to $22,000. Myers said via email she estimates the program should be able to serve all eligible phase three applicants with some amount of federal funds. Meanwhile, the future of the bought-out properties remains uncertain. "At this stage, the focus remains on completing buyouts," Myers said via email. "Any plans about how we will manage the properties after we have finished the program will need to align with federal guidelines, community needs, and long-term resilience goals. "Keeping these properties vacant and unprogrammed will be a consideration." Homelessness Judge Declines to Salvage Billions for Homelessness in Trump Win (Bloomberg Law) Bloomberg Law [3/14/2025 5:19 PM. Erik Larson, 1085K] A court order issued last month lifting President Donald Trump's freeze on federal spending for grants and loans does not require the government to pay out $3.6 billion earmarked by the previous administration to fight homelessness across the US, a judge said. US District Judge Loren AliKhan in Washington said Friday that the nonprofits that sued had waited too long to argue that her ruling against a broad government spending freeze should apply to a massive grant issued by the US Department of Housing and Urban Development just three days before Trump took office. As congregations across the country shrink, churches offer space for homeless shelters (NPR) NPR [3/16/2025 7:56 AM, Eric Whitney, 29983K] AUDIO. Congregations with underutilized houses of worship are trying to convert them to affordable housing or homeless shelters. There are significant challenges. Commentary: The Trump Administration Is About to Make the Homeless Problem Worse (Davis Vanguard, CA) - full text 130 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000246 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0023471 Davis Vanguard [3/14/2025 12:00 PM, David Greenwald, 7K, CA] The Trump administration's Department of Housing and Urban Development is on the verge of making an already dire homelessness crisis even worse. It has been withholding billions of dollars in federal homelessness funding, in direct violation of statutory obligations and federal court orders. Service providers across the country are running out of money, nonprofits are ending rent support for formerly homeless individuals, and thousands of people are at risk of being pushed back onto the streets. This is not just mismanagement; it is deliberate cruelty. According to an article this week in Next City, for months, HUD has refused to send award letters for $3.6 billion in Continuum of Care homelessness support grants that were approved under the Biden administration. These grants fund everything from emergency shelters to permanent supportive housing for chronically homeless people with disabilities. Many service providers operate on thin financial margins, borrowing money or drawing from reserves to cover costs while they wait for the government to reimburse them. Now, with no clear indication that HUD will release the funds, some organizations are running out of options. One such program in Denver, run by the nonprofit Family Tree, has already announced that it will stop making rent payments for permanent supportive housing residents as of April 1. According to Next City, thirty-four households, many of whom have disabilities, are facing eviction because of the federal government's inaction. Among them is Sheila, a 54-year-old woman with multiple disabling conditions. For the past year, she has lived in an apartment designed to accommodate her specific needs--an apartment that she was assured would be permanent. Now she is being told that she might have to leave. Sheila's story is a devastating reminder of how difficult it is to escape homelessness in the first place. She spent years living in her car before finally securing stable housing, only to now be faced with the threat of eviction because HUD refuses to issue funding it is legally required to provide. Her situation is not unique. Across the country, thousands of people who fought to regain their stability are now being thrust back into uncertainty, all because the Trump administration has chosen to ignore the law. This is not an isolated act of neglect. It is part of a larger assault on federal housing assistance. The administration has canceled technical assistance grants, eliminated fair housing grants, fired HUD employees en masse, and is reportedly considering closing dozens of HUD field offices. The cumulative effect of these cuts will be catastrophic, both for individuals experiencing homelessness and for the broader housing system. For organizations that rely on HUD grants, the uncertainty is unbearable. Next City talked to Steve Heisman, who runs HABcore, a permanent supportive housing provider in New Jersey, says that his organization is in serious financial jeopardy. Every year, HABcore takes out loans to cover costs while waiting for $3 million in HUD funding--money that represents half of the organization's budget. But this year, without any communication from HUD, Heisman is unsure whether the funding will ever come through. He is left to make agonizing decisions: should he take on more debt, mortgage a property, or start warning landlords and tenants that rent payments might not continue? If he can't find a solution, the consequences will ripple beyond HABcore's residents. Landlords will lose rental income, banks will see mortgage payments stop, courts will become overwhelmed with eviction cases, and entire communities will suffer. 131 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000246 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0023472 The cruelty of this crisis extends beyond those currently experiencing homelessness. Foster youth, for example, are among the most vulnerable populations in the country, and they rely heavily on housing assistance as they transition into adulthood. Another person Next City talked to, Corina Dechi, a former foster youth who now works at El Paso Human Services, is deeply concerned about what will happen if HUD continues withholding funding. Many of the young people she works with have no family support system, no financial safety net, and no ability to survive without government assistance. If the funding dries up, these young adults could end up on the streets before they ever have a chance to establish stability. The same uncertainty hangs over El Paso Human Services itself. Executive Director Susana Reza, who has run the nonprofit for 4O years, told Next City that she has never seen a situation like this. She is accustomed to shifts in funding priorities when different political parties take control of the government, but this level of instability is unprecedented. The nonprofit recently opened a women's shelter, which reached full capacity in less than three months. Now, she is left wondering whether they will have to close their doors. The Trump administration's actions have already thrown the homelessness response system into chaos, but it is poised to do even more damage. If HUD follows through on plans to cut its workforce in half, it will become even more difficult for local governments and service providers to access federal resources. If it shutters field offices, communities will lose essential points of contact for assistance. If it continues delaying funding, service providers will go bankrupt, and people who rely on these programs will be left with nowhere to go. The timing of this crisis is particularly cruel. Homelessness in the United States has reached record levels, fueled by skyrocketing rents, pandemic-era aid expirations, and economic instability. Cities and states are struggling to address the crisis, yet instead of strengthening federal support, the Trump administration is actively undermining it. Even those who have managed to secure stable housing are being thrown back into uncertainty. It is important to recognize that this is not just bureaucratic dysfunction; it is a policy choice. The Trump administration is withholding legally obligated funding despite multiple court orders directing it to reverse its grant freeze. It is choosing to defy these orders, knowing full well that the consequences will be devastating. This is not about fiscal responsibility or government efficiency--it is about cruelty. It is about punishing the most vulnerable people in society while using housing assistance as a political weapon. The consequences of these decisions will not be confined to those experiencing homelessness. As people are forced out of housing, emergency shelters will be overwhelmed. Hospitals will see an increase in emergency room visits as people lose access to stable living conditions. Law enforcement will be tasked with responding to more people living on the streets. Businesses will feel the impact as economic instability spreads. And taxpayers will ultimately bear the burden of a worsening homelessness crisis that could have been prevented. The Trump administration's approach to homelessness is a moral and economic 132 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000246 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0023473 disaster. If it continues down this path, the consequences will be devastating and longlasting. But this crisis is not inevitable. HUD could release the withheld funding today. Congress could intervene to force the administration's hand. Local and state governments could step in with emergency assistance to keep people housed. The public could demand accountability and pressure their elected officials to act. Every day that HUD delays funding, more people are pushed toward eviction. Every week that passes without action, more service providers are forced to consider shutting down. Every month that this crisis continues, more lives are destroyed. If the Trump administration refuses to do the right thing, then it is up to the rest of us to make sure that it does not get away with it. [ME] Northern Maine's only homeless shelter may be forced to close (WMTW-FM 93.9, ME) - full text WMTW-FM 93.9 [3/14/2025 9:41 AM, Adam Bartow, 620K, ME] Homeless Services of Aroostook says it may be forced to close the only homeless shelter in Aroostook County unless it gets a boost in funding. The emergency homeless shelter is in Presque Isle and typically houses between 25 and 50 people, but Kari Bradstreet, the Executive Director for Homeless Services of Aroostook, told Maine's Total Coverage's partner WAGM TV they lost $15,000 from 2024 to 2025 through no fault of their own. "It was an addition to the number of beds statewide, so it diluted our funding. We have tightened down even more, keeping just the bare minimum to get us from one week to another. I did a minimal reduction in hours because I really do not want to compromise safety for residents in house as well as the staff members. We're not looking to close the shelter immediately. Our warming shelter is secure until the end of April," Bradstreet said. Homeless Services of Aroostook opened the warming shelter in late 2023, providing 15 cots for those in need. A bill in the Maine legislature titled "An Act to Sustain Emergency Homeless Shelters in Maine" may delay the closure of the homeless shelter, but Bradstreet says stable funding is still needed. "We take them off the street, we take them from the jail, we take them from the hospital, and it's an agency that can't close because we're not going to be able to serve that population, and I don't know where they would go, and I don't know what their safety would look like," she said. Bradstreet said support from more local communities could help at least delay, if not prevent, the closure. "We do ask for the municipalities to support us. We have 70 in Aroostook County, and about 30 of them support us on a regular basis. If our agency was to close, then it would become the responsibility of each municipality to take care for their homeless population," Bradstreet said. [MA] Lowell homeless shelter hit with scabies outbreak (Lowell Sun, MA) - full text Lowell Sun [3/14/2025 5:53 PM, Melanie Gilbert, 114K, MA] The Lowell Transitional Living Center, the largest homeless shelter and support organization north of Boston, is treating an outbreak of scabies in its building on Middlesex Street, shelter and city representatives confirmed. "Unfortunately, scabies can spread easily in congregate settings," LTLC Managing Director Isaiah Stephens said by 133 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000246 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0023474 email Friday. "We have worked with the MA Department of Public Health and local medical professionals and have taken steps to mitigate the spread including early detection, treatment and additional cleaning." Scabies is a highly contagious pimple-like rash caused by the parasitic human itch mite, Sarcoptes scabiei var. hominis. Human scabies is most commonly spread by direct, prolonged skin-to-skin contact with an infected person. The microscopic mite burrows into the upper layer of the skin and lays eggs, which causes intense itching. If treated, the infection generally does not produce major health impacts. Although anyone can get scabies, cases can be found in many group settings such as long-term care facilities, homeless shelters, child care facilities and college dormitories. Symptoms can take four to eight weeks to develop after infestation; however, people can still spread scabies during this time. Treatment includes a lotion or cream applied to all areas of the body from the neck down to the feet and toes. To prevent the spread of scabies, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends treating all close contacts to the person with scabies and washing all clothing, towels and bedding used next to the skin during the three days before starting treatment. "Items should be machine washed using hot water (temperatures in excess of 50C or 122F for 10 minutes will kill mites and eggs), dried on the hot cycle, or dry-cleaned," the CDC guidance said. City Manager Tom Golden said Lowell's Department of Health and Human Services was aware of the LTLC cases. "The City of Lowell Health Department has been in touch with LTLC and offered advice," Golden said by text Friday. The number of cases was not disclosed, nor what kind of messaging had been transmitted throughout the first-responder or caregiving community, but area advocates and providers said they were on alert for additional cases. Eliot Presbyterian Church runs a day program that offers homeless people food and daytime shelter Monday through Friday, utilizing its Fellowship Hall and kitchen from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. The church does not offer overnight shelter. The church's outreach supplements the long-term work of St. Paul's Soup Kitchen, which has served prepared dinners at Eliot Church for many years to anyone who walks through the door. The Day Center is beginning its fifth year of service, opening its doors to more than 120 people every day. "Since we found out, my staff has been monitoring our guests all day," Day Center Executive Director Joyce Hughes said by email Friday. "If any guests had displayed symptoms, we would have followed CDC protocol by isolating them and getting them medical treatment. There were no signs of scabies today. Like any contagious disease, we will continue to be vigilant and proactive." She said her team had alerted St. Paul's Soup Kitchen, which depends on volunteers to serve its weekly dinners. LTLC typically holds space for 90 overnight dorm room-style beds, and 50 single-room occupancy units that are part of the agency's supportive housing program. The sprawling, multistory complex sits adjacent to the backside of the current site of the Lowell Community Charter Public School and one block away from the Lowell Community Health Center. The South Middlesex Opportunity Council, a private, nonprofit social services agency based out of Framingham, owns and operates the five- 134 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000246 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0023475 story complex that was built in 1890. It is described as a boarding house in the city's land records. Despite a vigorous effort by the city, advocates and law enforcement to move homeless people off the streets and into the shelter, 50 of the city's 250 homeless residents remain unsheltered. Concerns about the cleanliness of the shelter's operations have plagued the facility, but leadership for the LTLC said the shelter had turned the corner on a tumultuous year that has city leaders debating its future at its Downtown Lowell location. Last November, the state Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities conducted a site visit and thorough inspection of the shelter and found no violations. Advocates said more needs to be done. "Scabies is not anything anyone should ever have to go through," Matthew 25's Patricia Hiort said by text Friday. The outreach organization provides unhoused people with food and personal essentials. "The shelter has to step up with their care for the vulnerable in our community," she said. "The people who are here trying to help should have been notified and we weren't. That puts the helpers at risk as well." [CT] Meriden committee recommends city allocate $50,000 for homeless center `Housing is a human right' (CT Insider, CT) - full text CT Insider [3/14/2025 5:00 AM, Mary Ellen Godin, 1474K, CT] The city Human Rights, Racial Equity and Social Justice Committee recommends the City Council budget $50,000 to operate a warming or day center to serve the unhoused population. The recommendation followed a presentation at the recent meeting highlighting the various challenges of serving the homeless population who often face mental and physical health issues, a severe shortage of low-income housing and barriers to permanent housing. Advocates told committee members they are seeing increases in senior citizens and families with children facing homelessness. Kelly Craft, the director of the MiddlesexMeriden Wallingford Coordinated Access Network, told committee members that Middletown has spent money on its day center operated at the St. Vincent de Paul soup kitchen. Wallingford has also invested $12,000 in Columbus House that serves its homeless population. "Fifty thousand dollars is not a big number in the scope of the budget," said committee member Jeff Freiser. "We should spend at least that amount for those kinds of services. Housing is a human right." The committee is also recommending a recruiter in the city's human resource center and $1,000 on outreach materials. The measures passed unanimously. Craft was joined by New Beginnings Shelter operator and state Rep. Bobby Sanchez, D-New Britain, who informed the committee that what is classified as affordable housing is often out of reach for very low income, or minimum wage income earners who may be unhoused. Advocates at the state level are working on a bill that would give $33.5 million to provide services to people who are unhoused. Other barriers to permanent housing include property management companies that offer subsidized rent but the prospective tenant must pass a credit check or have no minor misdemeanors or evictions on their records. "A homeless person often doesn't have good credit," Craft said, adding the CAN's efforts 135 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000246 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0023476 are to enlist help from cooperative landlords. The advocates also called for an end to criminalizing homelessness through fines and citations. Sarah Gallagher, who serves on Hamden's town council and is vice president for State and Local Innovation, shared initiatives from Hamden, such as a housing trust using foreclosed and other properties to help developers create more low-income housing. The recommendations come as Mayor Kevin Scarpati and the City Council approved a resolution creating a Coalition to End Homelessness. Members of the coalition will come from advocates in the field and are being selected. The Human Rights, Racial Equity and Social Equity Committee also passed a resolution to ask the City Council to do what it can to investigate tenant complaints at Community Towers. Residents of the low-income senior and disabled housing project attended last month's meeting and expressed a list of security and maintenance concerns. Committee member Jaime Fisher has interviewed tenants and their advocates at the public housing project operated by the Meriden Housing Authority. Fisher discovered that Executive Director Robert Cappelletti is the subject of a Federal Bureau of Investigation probe into finances at the Groton Housing Authority, where he was recently terminated. Fisher's concerns are whether money is being mishandled in Meriden and wanted the committee to recommend the city undertake an investigation of its own in the interest of the tenants. Freiser recommended keeping with the committee's scope and recognize the tenants' plight by asking the City Council to investigate complaints at Community Towers. The City Council recently named Councilor Yvette Cortez as liason to the Meriden Housing Authority. At last month's committee meeting, City Councilor Dan Brunet expressed no confidence in the housing authority and its board of commissioners. Brunet called for the City Council to exert pressure on the board to terminate Cappelletti. Other city officials have remained silent. [Editorial note: consult video at source link] [NY] More homes for more N.Y.ers - Supportive housing to address the homelessness crisis (New York Daily News, NY) - full text New York Daily News [3/16/2025 5:00 AM, Pascale Leone, 3253K, NY] An apartment building with rental unit stands in Manhattan building on April 11, 2024 in New York City. Recently, each day in New York City politics brings new distractions, while problems mount. And those most at risk -- those facing mental health and substance use challenges and in need of services, support, and safe, stable places to live -- are likely to pay the steepest price. New Yorkers don't need another government study to confirm what they witness daily on the streets and in the subways: the homelessness crisis has reached a fever pitch, and the degree of human suffering knows no bounds. The Department of Housing and Urban Development's (HUD) recent 2024 Point-in-Time (PIT) Count, an annual one-day census of all unhoused people nationwide, revealed the highest number of unsheltered individuals in more than a decade -- with New York City experiencing a 59% increase in just one year. 136 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000246 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0023477 As candidates ramp up for the fast-approaching elections, it's encouraging that several are paying attention to homelessness and its causes and proposing solutions. But thus far, these plans have been largely lacking when it comes to supportive housing -- a proven, cost-effective model for ending chronic homelessness. Supportive housing is permanent, affordable housing combined with voluntary support services to address the underlying issues that prevent some people from maintaining stable housing. Services range from coordinating medical care to helping tenants access public benefits or achieve educational and employment goals. The Supportive Housing Network of New York (the Network) and our more than 200 nonprofit members statewide that develop and provide supportive housing, along with our tenant community, should be a resource for candidates. Drawing on decades of expertise and lived experience, we know what it takes to help get people off the streets, out of the shelter system and into permanent housing. To tackle the crisis effectively, the following are the non-negotiable matters that any serious homelessness and housing plan must address: Create more supportive housing. The ambitious NYC 15/15 plan to create 15,000 supportive housing units by 2030, is dangerously behind schedule. Relying on leasing half of those units in the private rental market is unworkable given the critically low 1.4% vacancy rate. The city must reallocate unspent funds to accelerate new construction and preserve existing units. Improve access to supportive housing. There are too many barriers to entering supportive housing. Applicants must meet one of 46 distinct eligibility criteria and fill out mountains of paperwork -- a long and difficult process for a population already overburdened by bureaucracy. These criteria must be simplified and the application process streamlined. Move beyond a myopic view of housing first to a truly coordinated system. The political rhetoric around Housing First has reduced this comprehensive model to a "housing only" strategy that focuses solely on entry, and not on the robust services needed to promote long-term stability. Services embedded in supportive housing must be adequate to meet a wide range of service needs. A truly effective system balances rapid access to housing with ongoing tenant-specific individualized services. Critics maintain that there are thousands of vacant supportive units. But those involved in the day to day of operating supportive housing know that most of these are in shared apartments, where strangers are forced to live together -- an undesirable arrangement. The Network met with more than 1OO tenants last year who said only individual units provide the safety and comfort they require in city contract payments force many providers to take out costly loans and lines of credit to continue operating. The interest adds up quickly and is not reimbursable. Providers, already financially strained by increased demand and underfunded contracts, must shoulder the cost. Our workforce and tenants are negatively impacted by the resulting staff vacancies, turnover and service shortages. Ending homelessness requires bold leadership and direct engagement with those on the 137 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000246 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0023478 front lines. Policymakers must move beyond abstract numbers and rhetoric and witness the transformative power of supportive housing firsthand. Whoever wins the upcoming elections must commit to engaging directly with nonprofit providers and tenants alike. All New Yorkers deserve safe and stable housing. We have the tools to end homelessness for good if we invest sufficient resources in smart, proven programs. We stand ready to serve as a resource to help build effective policy solutions that tackle homelessness at its root. Leone is executive director of the Supportive Housing Network of New York, which represents more than 200 nonprofits that develop and operate supportive housing statewide. [NY] NYC says it moved 3,500 people out of homeless encampments, but just 114 into shelter (Gothamist, NY) - full text Gothamist [3/16/2025 11:08 AM, Karen Yi, 2180K, NY] The Adams administration spent $3.5 million clearing 2,300 homeless encampments from public spaces between January to September last year, according to new numbers released by the administration on Friday. But only 114 of the 3,500 homeless people displaced by the clearances were moved into temporary shelter, according to the data. No one was placed in permanent housing, according to the report. City Hall spokesperson William Fowler said the new reporting requirement doesn't tell a full story or consider when people may go to shelter before or after a sweep. "But let's be clear: We know there is still more work to be done. That is why Mayor [Eric] Adams announced an ambitious $650 million investment in his State of the City address to tackle street homelessness, including an additional 900 new safe haven beds to get more New Yorkers the help they deserve," Fowler said. "Mayor Adams has been clear that there is no dignity in sleeping on the streets, and there is no moral superiority in just walking by and doing nothing.". City officials say it takes several attempts to convince people living on the street to accept shelter and with the city's vacancy rate hovering at 1.4% housing options are limited. Obtaining more permanent housing options or housing vouchers also requires paperwork and identification and can't be done the same day on site, officials said City Councilmember Sandy Nurse said the fact that no one affected is now in permanent housing shows that clearing the encampments is a failure. " If you cannot show that you have permanently housed a single individual, there is no way you can look at this and say this is a success," said Nurse, who sponsored legislation to get the city to detail the sweeps' frequency, cost and effectiveness. Although former mayors have also conducted sweeps, Mayor Eric Adams ordered an interagency collaboration led by the NYPD to get people off the streets and connected to services. More than 10.000 city workers participated in the sweeps, which included the sanitation department to dismantle any physical structures or tents and the NYPD, according to the data. Employees from the parks, sanitation and homeless services departments, as well as police, respond to complaints to clear tents, cardboard boxes or encampments in public spaces and offer services to homeless people on site. The reports show the sanitation department made up the bulk of the cost and police were involved in all but one of the 138 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000246 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0023479 sweeps. The data is required under a City Council law passed in 2023 and is expected to be released quarterly. The first report was due in May but city officials said the request was unprecedented and required more time to put together. The data discloses the agencies involved in the sweeps, how often the sweeps happen and what services were offered to homeless individuals. The data also show 71% of the sweeps occurred at locations that were previously cleared. Gothamist previously obtained some records on the clearances that showed some sites that operated as street vendor locations were visited nearly 200 times. But other street corners where homeless individuals congregated were also cleared multiple times, the records showed. Fowler said 97% of homeless New Yorkers reside in city shelters and the Adams administration has helped 8,000 people off the subways and into temporary housing through other outreach efforts. Homeless advocates have long argued the city's sweeps are ineffective and can be traumatizing for the people involved, whose few possessions are often thrown away. "They should be using all of these city resources and millions of dollars to give homes to people but instead they use it to push and kick them around in the streets," said Eduardo Ventura, who has previously been cleared out in the city's sweeps and is a member of the advocacy group Safety Net Activists. "We need to help and care for homeless people and house them, not waste the city's resources on harming them.". Nurse said the city's next mayor must focus on eliminating barriers to permanent housing because Adams' strategy isn't working. " The mayor has focused almost 100% of his public safety approach, which includes the street homeless removal strategy, as an aesthetic and cosmetic approach," she said. "Out of sight, out of mind.". [NJ] State pushes to end veteran homelessness (NJ Spotlight News, NJ) - full text NJ Spotlight News [3/14/2025 3:06 PM, Raven Santana, 145K, NJ] VIDEO. Formerly homeless veterans are crediting a state initiative for major improvements in their living circumstances. Last fall, the state announced the Bringing Veterans Home initiative to end veteran homelessness within two years, with more than $30 million in state and federal money to fund services and interventions. "I think this is finally the state putting its money where its mouth is. These folks have served us and it's our turn to serve them. We are going to capitalize all our resources as well as our human capital to make sure we can achieve this mission," said Jacquelyn Suarez, the commissioner of the Department of Community Affairs. "Currently we have 762 homeless veterans in the state of New Jersey in our last point-in-time count and we are looking to make sure we can service all of them by July 1st, 2026 to make sure they are all stably housed," said Suarez. Suarez co-led a two-day training session this week at the National Guard Training Center in Sea Girt with the state Department of Community Affairs and state Department of Military and Veterans Affairs to highlight the initiative's objectives. "The scope of the 139 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000246 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0023480 program is what we are essentially trying to do is bring veteran homelessness to functional zero," Suarez said. "And that means anyone who is newly homeless as a veteran will be able to be serviced within a 30-day period." [PA] Allegheny County to create crisis response teams to support vulnerable homeless populations (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, PA) - full text Pittsburgh Post-Gazette [3/16/2025 11:30 PM, Jordan Anderson, 1413K, PA] Too often, the most vulnerable people experiencing homelessness in Allegheny County are cycling between shelters, hospitals and the streets without the specialized care they actually need. With seniors and people with complex behavioral health needs continuing to move through the system without proper support, the county wants to try a different approach. During a public meeting last week laying out its homelessness initiatives for 2025, the Allegheny County Department of Human Services announced plans to create a specialized team to support individuals with developmental and intellectual disabilities, older adults and those with behavioral health challenges. DHS Director Erin Dalton envisions the team being modeled after the agency's existing mobile mental health units, conducting on-site assessments at shelters and providing immediate interventions to prevent unnecessary hospital visits and repeated cycles through the system. "It's about making sure that people have access to the services they're entitled to," she said. "There's a whole world of other services available to them, so let's triage that quickly and get people into the right place." Ms. Dalton said local shelters are struggling to support people who require the higher level of care provided in nursing homes or behavioral health facilities. The goal to more quickly identify these individuals and move them into the appropriate housing or health care setting. "Shelter staff are not health care professionals, and they should not have to provide health care," Ms. Dalton said. "If an older adult is struggling with basic self-care, we want to assess their eligibility for other services and get them where they need to be." Ms. Dalton estimates the teams could be in place by summer or earlier. DHS is looking to staff the effort by expanding the roles of workers from its agencies, such as the Area Agency on Aging, to provide more hands-on case management and support within local shelters. "This is an expansion of existing responsibilities within our developmental disability and aging teams to allow for a quicker response," Ms. Dalton said. While the county is citing the growing need to support individuals with complex behavioral health needs, The Post-Gazette has previously reported on the county's decision to overhaul its housing systems for individuals with severe mental illness. This includes group home settings that provide 24/7 supervision known as Community Residential Rehabilitation, or CRRs. Under a new funding structure the county quietly implemented, such programs are being phased out, resulting in closures and service reductions. DHS officials justify the cuts by saying CRRs are no longer considered "best practices," with cost being a significant 140 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000246 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0023481 factor in the decision. Ms. Dalton reiterated this position last week, telling the Post-Gazette, "It's about serving more people in a cost-effective way." She added that the county plans to expand supportive housing by at least 300 beds this year. "These beds aren't for the general population; they're for people with serious mental illness, possibly with co-occurring physical health needs, and there is staff on-site," she said. "There's already some expansions happening." In the meantime, Pittsburgh's Light of Life Rescue Mission Light of Life has been forced to find solutions for this vulnerable population on its own. Annie Cairns, the shelter's senior communications manager, said they are seeing a growing number of individuals, particularly older adults, with severe mental health conditions coming to the shelter for help. But while many staff members have social work training, they are not medical professionals and aren't equipped to assist with basic needs like bathing or eating. "We don't have the resources or facilities to provide the level of care they need," Ms. Cairns said. "When someone with severe mental health or dementia-related issues ends up in our shelter, sometimes we have to call an ambulance. They're sent to the ER only to be discharged back onto the streets or right back to our shelter." And sometimes, the support isn't present in the county either. "A man came into this shelter with dementia, and we had reached out to [DHS] multiple times," she said. "I guess our staff received strong push back. We placed him in a nursing home without their help, and that should not have happened." Ms. Cairns hopes a specialized aging and disability crisis response team could help people with complex needs avoid turning to temporary solutions like emergency rooms and shelters. "There just has to be a separate care system for the elderly and disabled who are homeless and have nowhere to go," she said. "These are grandmothers and grandfathers walking around the streets with dementia, who cannot bathe themselves, they cannot feed themselves. Shelters are not the answer." [PA] Heffley questions homeless directive (Times News Online, PA) - full text Times News Online [3/15/2025 8:55 AM, Jarrad Hedes, 64K, PA] A debate has emerged over guidance distributed to area homeless shelter operators, with state Rep. Doyle Heffley raising concerns about what he describes as misleading information that could potentially hinder law enforcement efforts. Eastern Pennsylvania Continuum of Care Board President Alisa Baratta has defended the guidance, asserting that it is both accurate and beneficial for shelter operators. Heffley, in a news release issued this week, questioned the distribution of materials that include guidance from the National Homelessness Law Center, which he claims misrepresents the role of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers and could compromise public safety. Specifically, he has raised concerns about whether federal Emergency Solutions Grant funds were used to support the distribution of those materials and whether the guidance encourages actions that obstruct ICE's responsibilities. "These materials mischaracterize ICE's role and could encourage shelter operators to take actions that endanger the public and violate legal 141 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000246 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0023482 responsibilities," Heffley said. "The Eastern CoC should focus on its mission to combat homelessness and assist individuals in need, not promote misinformation that could have serious consequences for both the homeless community and law enforcement." Baratta, however, has rejected Heffley's assertions, stating that there is a misunderstanding about how ESG and CoC funds are used. ESG funds, she said, are awarded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development directly to the state and then allocated to provider agencies, while CoC funds are designated for service delivery and rental assistance for homeless individuals. According to Baratta, "No ESG funds are awarded to or used by the CoC." She also defended the role of the Eastern CoC in distributing guidance to shelter operators, citing the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act. Baratta said the guidance issued to shelters aims to inform them of their rights and responsibilities regarding immigration enforcement. She cited a section from the guidance that states, "in general, areas open to the public (for example, a reception area) are open to immigration agents, and agents may enter these spaces without a warrant. ICE agents must have a valid judicial search or arrest warrant to lawfully access private or non-public areas (for example, private offices or areas in a shelter where people sleep)." The guidance, Baratta added, explicitly advises shelter staff to treat law enforcement officers with respect. Heffley has called on the Department of Community and Economic Development to review how ESG funds are being allocated and has suggested that the National Homelessness Law Center should distribute its own materials directly rather than relying on the Eastern CoC. While Heffley has expressed concerns over law enforcement safety, Baratta highlighted the well-being of shelter residents. "While I certainly understand Representative Heffley's focus on the safety of ICE agents, my focus is on the safety of the women and children I serve on a daily basis," she said. [NC] Out of Sight, Out of Mind Homelessness in Washington - Just one lifechanging event away (Washington Daily News, NC) - full text Washington Daily News [3/14/2025 5:00 PM, Clark Curtis, 16K, NC] For the last 18 months, John Q has been living and working at the Zion Men's Shelter and Soup Kitchen. He had never been homeless before, but that all changed one afternoon here in Washington. "Things were going well for me," said Q. "I had two campers and was living in one of them at my mother's home in Aurora. I was mowing for a landscaping company. I had just purchased a truck but didn't have the money to pay for any insurance. But I decided to drive the truck anyway, knowing I would get the insurance when I got my next paycheck. I got into a wreck in the Walmart parking lot and totaled my truck. I just sat there all day with my head on the steering wheel, crying, as I knew I was in big trouble. My truck was my only means of transportation to get back to my mother's house where my trailer is and to help her as she has stage four lung cancer. So that is how I ended up here." For Q, his mowing job, which he has had for the last 18 years, is seasonal. He also works at the men's shelter. But that still isn't enough to make ends meet and get things turned around. "I pay $800 per month in child support, which after my monthly pay from the shelter leaves me just over a hundred dollars a month to survive on during the winter. It just isn't enough to be able to save the money needed to get another truck or 142 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000246 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0023483 pay for a downpayment and first month's rent on an apartment. Once you get down that hole, it seems like it is almost impossible to get out of it again without some sort of a blessing or a break or someone gifting you something. A lot of us, including myself, have a lot of pride and don't want to be gifted anything. It is a vicious cycle and hard to get out of. Q said things are also compounded because the public misconceives the homeless. "People just normally stereotype you and assume that if you are homeless and out on the streets or living in a shelter, you are a bad person," said Q. "You have to be a drug addict, or an alcoholic, or whatever label they want to put on us. There are cases of mental illness or drug or alcohol abuse. But people need to try and understand that these folks have a story and a past, which is often how they have ended up in the situation they are in. Abusive homes, growing up with alcoholic parents, or spousal abuse. It is hard for those who judge to see the other side because they have never been there before. It doesn't matter how good of a person you are. You can look someone straight in the eye and shake their hand, and they still think you are a bad person." Q added that people need to try and understand the reality of it all. "Most people are just one paycheck away from being homeless, and it can happen to anybody. That means the same people who judge us and walk by and whisper or look at us in the store to make sure we aren't stealing something could be in the same shape tomorrow if their paycheck or other means of financial support goes away. It is not always a gravy train with biscuit wheels out there." Without missing a beat, Q would estimate there are hundreds of homeless in the area as he too has seen and is living it. "They are in wooded areas, tent encampments, under bridges, crashing abandoned buildings, in cars, you name it," said Q. "They tend to stay closer into town so they can have access to water and a bathroom. I know one couple who has been out in the woods for several months now, and the woman is nine months pregnant." Q said people will question that there are this many homeless because they never see that many. But Q pointed out that they want it that way. "A lot of folks aren't comfortable staying in a shelter, so they choose to stay outside," said Q. "They become reclusive as they have been judged and shunned so much and want to stay away from the public altogether. They become introverts, and it is hard for them to try and show their faces in public once again." There was about a week before Q became a resident at the men's shelter that he was on the streets without a roof over his head. "I ended up on the streets after losing my truck," said Q. "I went over to Greenville because there seemed to be more resources to help folks get back on their feet. However, I wound up sleeping in the woods behind an apartment complex. It was cold at the time, so I would go and find a clean trash bag in the parking lot of one of the nearby stores and crawl into it for the night, and that is how I slept. During the day, I would go to one of the food banks and get some food. I finally reached out to Kieth Harris here at the shelter, and he got me in." Q would ask the public to try not to judge others who are homeless or 143 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000246 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0023484 unsheltered. "Someone may be unshaven or look a little rough, but you don't know what may have happened to them the day before. I have been in this shelter for a year and a half, and some of the best people I have ever met have walked through these doors. They are kind-hearted and will give you the shirt off their backs or the last cracker in their backpacks. For the most part, they are good people and just down on their luck." [TN] Bill to clear homeless encampments passes Tennessee senate (Chattanooga Times Free Press, TN) - full text Chattanooga Times Free Press [3/14/2025 11:30 AM, Sarah Grace Taylor, 290K, TN] A bill that could set deadlines on homeless encampment clearings and the disposal of people's personal belongings passed the Tennessee Senate on Thursday, causing concerns among service providers. The proposal, sponsor Sen. Brent Taylor, RMemphis, said, is designed to allow the state Department of Transportation to enter into individual memoranda of understanding with local authorities in different cities to create a system for clearing encampments that are in public areas like bridges and underpasses, which are within the department's purview. In a committee meeting earlier this month, Taylor said the bill was spurred by his months-long struggle to get an encampment cleared in Memphis. "It was the most complicated thing I've done, I think, as an adult," Taylor said, adding that transportation department and local authorities "didn't want to deal with it" and lacked a cohesive plan for encampment clearings. "Everyone was pointing fingers," Taylor said. It took several months, but eventually, the residents of the encampments were put in shelters, and the area was cleaned up, so Taylor said "all was well with the world" until another encampment cropped up. This time, Taylor hoped the process would be more streamlined, but again, it took months to get it cleared. That's why he says he introduced a bill to allow the agreements, but also set deadlines for encampment clearings. Now, the bill gives a 30-day deadline to authorities to clear an encampment following a citizen complaint and allows the state to get rid of people's personal property with 10 days' notice. "Hey, it's simple. Thirty days isn't enough to clear a camp and support people in moving," Lindsey Krinks, co-founder of OpenTable Nashville and Housing For All Tennessee, told the Nashville Banner on Thursday. Krinks, who has worked with unhoused people for decades, testified against Taylor's bill in committee last week, arguing the move would only contribute to the wait times people already face in getting permanent housing through local governments and nonprofits like hers. The deadlines, she says, are unrealistic because of Tennessee's lack of shelter beds and permanent affordable housing. In 2024, Tennessee had at least 8,280 unhoused people across the state but only 4,756 shelter beds, according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, meaning that even if every homeless person was taken off the street for one night, the state would be about 3,500 shelter beds short. "So there are people in some of our counties who have no place to go some months of the year," Krinks explained. Even beyond the deficit of available emergency shelter beds, the state does not have enough affordable housing, especially for extremely low-income individuals who make up most of the unhoused population. That's why, on average, it took providers in 144 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000246 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0023485 Nashville 154 days -- or over five months -- to find someone housing after they were connected with services in 2024. "What service providers like us try to do is get as many people into the units that exist as possible. And we're good at it," Krinks said. "But the fact is the housing isn't there and waitlists are astronomical." Despite warnings, the bill passed the Senate Transportation and Public Safety Committee and the full Senate along partisan lines and is now headed for the House Transportation Subcommittee on Tuesday. In the meantime, Krinks said she and other advocates are focused on harm reduction, advocating for the sponsors to take the bill down a notch with amendments, noting that the original bill was much different than the current amended version. Taylor, who did not respond to a request for comment Thursday, originally introduced a bill that would give just 72 hours notice of clearings but had a $64 million fiscal note because the state would have temporarily stored people's personal effects after the clearings. While the timeframe improved in the amendment, Krinks said the lack of storage -- which is itself a flawed system -- makes the current version harsher for people who may not be immediately able to retrieve their possessions. "We're incredibly concerned that this sets a precedent to destroy all of someone's personal belongings with a 10-day notice," Krinks said, arguing that it may violate personal property rights. Now, Krinks and other advocates are trying to get the House to amend the bill to include softer deadlines for clearings. They are also requiring local authorities or TDOT to contact service providers early in the process after notice is given. Even if those amendments pass, she says service providers will be additionally burdened, and local governments will carry the cost of doing expensive and likely repetitive encampment clearings. "We don't need to be playing whack-a-mole," Krinks said. "But if this bill is going to pass, we hope it can at least be a little less harmful." Taylor said during the committee meeting that his primary concern is connecting people living in encampments with service providers, but he did not provide details on how the service providers would be able to connect the individuals with housing. "To not have a plan and to let people continue to live under a bridge or (in) a homeless encampment, with no services, is not providing any help to them or helping them live with any amount of dignity," Taylor said. Krinks believes that part of the issue with the policy is how quickly the bill changed through a rewrite amendment and without input from service providers. "To have our democratic processes work in such a way that an amendment can make it to committee without it being publicly posted and without it having time to fully understand it is a failure," Krinks said. "We can really only try to help with harm reduction at this point," she added. [TN] Homeless services org no longer prioritizing Chattanooga for veterans community (Chattanooga Times Free Press, TN) - full text Chattanooga Times Free Press [3/14/2025 8:00 AM, David Floyd, 290K, TN] The leader of an Atlanta-based nonprofit said his group is no longer prioritizing Hamilton County for what was initially publicized more than a year ago as a $25 million, 100-acre campus for homeless veterans. "At this point, our focus is elsewhere, and we're not 145 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000246 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0023486 going to take that up anytime soon," Frontline Response CEO Terry Tucker said in a phone call Thursday, adding the group is no longer looking in Tennessee. The group is pursuing a similar community in DeKalb County, Georgia, where it intends to build a veterans village with access to behavioral health services and job training. The group has identified about 21 acres for the project, Tucker said, noting it's close to the original vision for the now-sidelined initiative in Chattanooga. The group ran into issues finding land for the project in Hamilton County. They had publicly expressed interest in the McDonald Farm property in Sale Creek, but county commissioners indicated it wasn't an ideal location for the initiative. "The DeKalb project is further along because the municipality has been able to resolve those construction issues that invariably come up when you're doing a project of this size," Tucker said. "It's not like building a house." DeKalb County isn't the only location the nonprofit is considering for a project of this scale. Officials have also vetted 100 acres in Houston that is about 500 feet from public sewer, Tucker said. Ret. U.S. Navy Capt. Mickey McCamish, who heads a local coalition focused on serving veterans, endorsed the project during its unveiling in November 2023. He and Chattanooga Mayor Tim Kelly both expressed support for the campus at the event. In a phone call Thursday, McCamish said he was extremely disappointed. "We stood up for a project that doesn't exist, and I feel like we got misled," he said. Frontline Response, a nonprofit focused on combating human trafficking, announced in late 2023 that it intended to construct an up to 100-acre campus in the Chattanooga area designed to lift veterans out of homelessness. Known as the Freedom Homestead, the facility would contain about 100 homes with a kitchen, a bathroom and mechanical systems for HVAC, water, power and waste. It would also feature a chapel, hiking, a gym and recreation area, workforce training, a veterans care clinic, and a recovery center for trafficking victims, according to early designs. The project would have been partially funded with a $12.5 million grant from the Heart of the Lion Foundation. Frontline Response would have raised an additional $12.5 million, bringing the total to $25 million. The group intended to begin planning efforts in 2024, construction in 2025 and operations by 2026, according to a news release. It hoped it would act as a pilot for similar communities in Houston; Atlanta; and Sacramento, California. The group unveiled the project during an announcement at the Mountain City Club in November 2023, which included remarks from the Chattanooga mayor. "Homelessness is the toughest problem that mayors deal with hands down," Kelly said during the event. "I talk to mayors across the country on a regular basis, and it is a scourge and such a complicated and difficult problem. This gives us a real shot frankly at stopping it." Kelly's spokesperson, Eric Holl, said the idea for the project involved Chattanooga providing services at the campus through its office of homelessness and supportive housing. Frontline Response and its partners would work with Hamilton County officials to find land. A "letter of understanding" dated Oct. 1, 2023, laid out the respective responsibilities of the city, county and Frontline Response. The county would help identify and secure land 146 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000246 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0023487 that could serve as the location for the community. Hamilton County officials would also help with any necessary zoning or permitting and assist in securing needed utilities, including water, sewer and natural gas, according to the letter. Chattanooga leaders would help with residency referrals, securing vouchers and also aid with utilities. The letter explicitly states it is not designed to act as a legally binding contract. The city provided an unsigned copy of the letter to the Chattanooga Times Free Press. Tucker said he had never seen the letter before, and it was unlikely all parties signed it. HoII said he didn't know for sure, adding no one had a clear memory of it. In December 2023, a representative from Frontline Response went to a Hamilton County Commission meeting, where he expressed interest in the McDonald Farm property. Jeff Shaw, who was previously the national expansion officer for the nonprofit, said the land was intriguing. Commissioners complimented the mission of the organization, but a few members later indicated it could be premature to consider the property for the project, raising concerns about its distance from services and the time it will take to develop utilities. Before unveiling its plans in Chattanooga, Frontline Response was under the impression the McDonald Farm would be available for the veterans community, Tucker said. However, it ultimately became evident the utilities weren't ready, and the project didn't align with uses county officials were contemplating for the land. "It all became clear at that meeting that this was no where the done deal we thought it was," Tucker said. The county purchased the 2,000-acre parcel for $16 million under former Mayor Jim Coppinger with the hope of using it for recreation and industrial development. However, a recent study by a consultant found only 220 to 275 acres of the property -- or roughly 10-14% of the land -- is physically viable for industry. That's spread across three difference sites. Economic development consultant Randall Gross presented the results of the study to commissioners in October, highlighting recreation, agriculture and agritourism as potential uses for the property. Destination lodging, culinary experiences and event venues were also a possibility. Commission Chair Jeff Eversole, R-Ooltewah, said county officials haven't had any recent conversations about McDonald Farm. "It currently is idle," he said in a phone call. "There's really no updates that I'm aware of." The recent recommendations for the property diverged greatly from what the prior commission was told earlier in the process, Eversole said. "That brought up a lot of questions," Eversole said. "Why all of a sudden did it change in a short period of time?" Commissioner Steve Highlander, R-Ooltewah, said there are still concerns about sewer capacity on the land, which would be adequate if the county bought it from Rhea County. However, there are mixed feelings about taking that step, he said. The director of development services, Nathan Janeway, has previously said the cost of connecting the property to the Hamilton County sewer system would be exponentially higher than extending sewer infrastructure from Rhea County. Several commissioners have indicated McDonald Farm could be used for industry, Highlander said, although there are challenges. Manufacturing land in Hamilton County is dwindling, officials have said. Battery materials maker Novonix is moving forward with 147 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000246 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0023488 a $1 billion expansion at a 182-acre parcel at Enterprise South Industrial Park. "That will pretty well take most of the land we've got at Enterprise South," Highlander said in a phone call. Although it's better served by freight rail, McDonald Farm has no direct interstate access, the study said, being 23 miles from Interstate 24 and 27 miles from Interstate 75. "This lack of interstate access can prove a fatal deficiency for many types of industrial and logistics businesses," the report said. McDonald Farm does have significant frontage along both sides of U.S. Highway 27, which carries average annual daily traffic of 13,000 just north of the project. That's not a low number and does provide modest exposure for the site, the study said, but it would be insufficient on its own to appeal to franchise businesses or other retail. Dairy Queen, for example, has a typical minimum traffic count of 20,000 vehicles per day. It would cost nearly $350 million to make McDonald Farm's infrastructure viable to support large or medium-scale industrial development at its three potential sites, the study said. The property could yield nearly 1,000 jobs at full build out. That translates to about $360,000 spent per job created, excluding the $16 million purchase cost. The county's parks department manages the farm's 50-acre homestead area, according to the study, and officials lease about 400 to 500 acres for a farmer for corn production. The Hamilton County Fair relocated to the farm from Chester Frost Park, attracting between 20,000 to 40,000 people over the course of three days. The farm has also hosted field trips, which bring about 10,000 children per year to the site during the spring and fall. Hamilton County Mayor Weston Wamp's office declined to comment for this story. [TN] Nashville Homeless Services Take Action to Protect Funding Amid Trump DEI Orders (WZTV-TV Fox 17 Nashville, TN) - full text WZTV-TV Fox 17 Nashville [3/14/2025 6:41 AM, Madeleine Nolan, 334K, TN] Nashville's Office of Homeless Services (OHS) is taking steps to protect millions in federal funding for homelessness programs as potential cuts target initiatives associated with Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI). In January, Nashville's Continuum of Care program, overseen by OHS, received a record $11.85 million to support housing and homelessness initiatives. However, recent changes in the presidential administration have introduced uncertainty, with promises of funding cuts that could impact programs linked to DEI efforts. In response, the Homeless Planning Council (HPC) is advising staff to be mindful of their language during public meetings. Officials have instructed employees to avoid terms flagged by federal agencies, including "accessible," "at risk," "barrier," and "mental health," as a precautionary measure to comply with new federal guidelines and protect crucial funding. "We want to make sure that as we use these words on a recorded meeting, it is vitally important that we continue to look at creative solutions but to align with the executive order," said April Calvin, Director of OHS. "Bringing in $9 million to $11 million to Nashville is far more important than digging our heels in." Additionally, the HPC is considering renaming its "Equity & Diversity Committee" to the "Unity & Opportunity Committee." The proposed name change is another step intended 148 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000246 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0023489 to align with federal guidelines and protect vital funding that supports Nashville's homelessness initiatives. Despite these efforts, it remains unclear if these changes could present future challenges. OHS officials say their primary goal is to continue providing crucial support to Nashville's most vulnerable populations while adapting to shifting federal policies. [Editorial note: consult source link for video] [MI] First-of-its-kind homeless shelter in Michigan sees success after one year (Michigan Live, MI) - full text Michigan Live [3/14/2025 2:38 PM, Melissa Frick, 5955K, MI] Carolyn Cornelius, 74, still remembers the way people treated her when she was living on the streets of Grand Rapids - she felt like the world had turned its back to her. "The first day my son and I became homeless - we came from a beautiful home, we were dressed nice - but there must've been something on our faces, because we were talked to so badly," she said. Now, Cornelius has found a place where she is treated with dignity and respect as she works to get back on her feet. Cornelius is one of 25 women living at Degage Ministries' Heartside Landings, a housing program in downtown Grand Rapids tailored for women experiencing chronic homelessness. Heartside, which opened in January 2024, is believed to be the first of its kind in Michigan, and only one of a few across the nation that provides long-term transitional housing to women in need of complex care support. Located at 129 Jefferson Ave. in downtown Grand Rapids, the facility provides singleand two-person rooms for women experiencing chronic homelessness, offering a sense of independence rather than traditional shelters. Medical, psychiatric and case management services are available to help the women get on their feet. The program is designed specifically to help women who struggled to find success in traditional group shelter homes because they are dealing with severe mental illness, like schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder, sometimes coupled with substance use disorder, said Degage Executive Director Thelma Ensink. These women have not been able to stay successfully housed in the past, even when placed in supportive housing, and they often have significant medical and mental health needs, Ensink said. "While women with these complex needs are 10% of our total shelter population, they often utilized 60% of our shelter staff's time," Ensink said. In the year since its launch, Heartside officials have seen vast improvements in its 25 residents, including improved physical and mental health, increased interest in volunteering and sense of community and better relationships with family members. "I have seen the 25 women who now live at Heartside Landings go from being homeless, sick, in trouble with the law, ostracized, and feeling hopeless to getting healthy, building relationships, volunteering, and being neighbors," Ensink said. During a Friday, March 14, event celebrating the program's first year, Ensink said the program has led to an 87% reduction in EMS calls among the women living there, and a 65% reduction in ER visits - including a 100% reduction for one resident who had 66 ER visits in 2023. 149 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000246 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0023490 Ensink said the program was only made possible thanks to partnerships with other agencies in Grand Rapids that are providing on-site physical and mental health care for the residents of Heartside, which differs from other shelters where residents must travel off-site for health care. Network 180, Kent County's community mental health authority, is providing peer support, therapy, psychiatric medications and mental health support to Heartside's residents, while nonprofit Catherine's Health Center is providing on-site preventative health care. Heartside shared the following statistics about the program's on-site healthcare and case management services in the year since it launched: Trinity Health Grand Rapids, which acquired the property from the American Cancer Society in 2021, is leasing the 2O-room facility at 129 Jefferson Ave. to Degage for the Heartside program and also donated all the furniture to the program. Dr. Matt Biersack, president and CEO of Trinity Health Grand Rapids, said the system was eager to partner with Degage as it looks to improve health outcomes in "non-traditional ways." "We know that there's a lot of influencers of health," Biersack said Friday. "Clinical care what we're known for in the health system - is a tiny piece of that. There's so much more that relates to access to housing, it relates to clean air and fresh water and all these things that wrap around health services to truly impact health and well being. So I'm excited for this project because it's clearly made the lives of individuals and impacted them in very positive ways." All 25 of the women who first started out in the Heartside program a year ago are still successfully residing there today, Ensink said. About half of those women are ready to move into independent housing, while the other half will likely still require the support at Heartside Landings for at least another year. The program's goal is to transition as many residents as possible to succeed in a permanent housing environment. But because this type of program is one of the first nationwide, Ensink said there isn't enough research to know how long residents, on average, will remain in transitional housing before they're ready to live independently. "If the answer is that half of the residents here have to have supportive housing for the rest of their life, it's still a win for both the residents and for our community," she said. The first year of the program was primarily funded through philanthropic dollars, including gifts from the DeVos Family Foundation, the Jandernoa Foundation, the Frey Foundation, and other private donors. However, Ensink said she's working to secure more local and state government funding to keep the program going in the future. [MI] Heartside Landings program supports women facing chronic homelessness (WZZM 13, MI) - full text WZZM 13 [3/14/2O25 6:52 PM, Alexis Dumerjean, 9O3K, MI] Degage Ministries and its partners gathered at the Heartside Landings building to review data from the first year of their housing program designed for women facing chronic homelessness. The results from the program's first year highlight its positive impact on both the women it serves and local healthcare systems. Bridgetta Kendricks, a participant in the program, shared her gratitude for the support she has received at the 150 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000246 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0023491 facility. "It was beautiful. It was heart-saving. Tears. Hearts were warm," Kendricks said. "It was understanding the right communication, the right staff, getting my health together. It was so much, my finances, feeling better about me, you know. ". She credits Degage for providing the opportunity to turn her life around. Despite the challenges she faced, she says she can't thank the organization enough for offering her hope. "Life has been hard, but I can't say thank you enough for DegagO providing light at the end of the tunnel," she said. For others, like Carolyn Cornelius, the facility has been life-changing. "It totally changed me and my strength as a person," Cornelius said. "Being here, I feel so good, because these people respect me. I have worth in this place. The impact of the program extends beyond personal transformations. The 25 women currently staying at Heartside Landings have significantly reduced the strain on local healthcare resources. ER visits have dropped by 65%, from 474 in 2023 to just 167 in 2024. EMS calls have also decreased by 87%, from 128 to just 17. Cornelius described the moment she first arrived at Degage and the ongoing support she's received. "They helped us and took us to DegagO's , and when we walked into Degage's it wasn't who you are, what you are, you know, but you follow the program," she said. "You were fed, you were given either a cot, or eventually you were moved upstairs to where there were bunk beds, and then, God bless the people and those who allow this to be opened up, we were given rooms." As the program looks toward its second year, Degage is hopeful about securing more local and state government funding in 2025 and beyond. [IL] New facility for homeless people, veterans opens in Lincoln (WAND TV, IL) full text WAND TV [3/15/2025 9:45 PM, Carlee Bronkema, 198K, IL] Finding resources is difficult when you are homeless or struggling to maintain a stable place to live. This is especially difficult in rural areas. A new non-profit, Hope on 5th, is changing the lives of many who are struggling in surrounding areas, and ensuring they are safe and cared for until they can get back on their feet. This includes providing bedroom spaces for those who need assistance and connecting them with resources. "We are unique because we are a one stop shop and we've never had a shelter here before," said Kim Turner, Chairman of the Board for Hope on 5th. "Those of us who worked in this field and know about this problem or that it does exist, are just so thankful that we are actually serving people, and because we never had a resource like this before." Chris and Colleen Radtke were the second and third people to call Hope on 5th home. They lived in their car for a year before the facility opened up and they were able to move into the building. The couple says, its been lifechanging compared to other facilities they've tried to enter, "This place is a miracle because you just feel so unwanted anywhere else," said Colleen Radtke. "We got here and they just opened the doors and they had a room that was already ready for us. That just doesn't happen." 151 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000246 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0023492 Hope on 5th got access to the building in the beginning on 2024. It was a nursing home and Lincoln College owned it at one point, though never used the building. The organization was able to maintain much of the original structure of the building and used dormitory furniture that was left behind by the college. Right now, Hope on 5th is housing 16 people. They have started placing others on a waitlist, because although they have more rooms, they don't have the staff to maintain the building and support more residents. The gal of the organization is to act as a launch pad to get people into a permanent housing option, instead of relying on other organizations. [Editorial note: consult video at source link] [IL] Opinion: Veterans' homelessness a local crisis in Peoria, and the nation (PJStar.com, IL) - full text PJStar.com [3/16/2025 4:08 AM, Thomas Radford, 693K, IL] Peoria County should take an active role in fundraising for veteran support initiatives. Peoria is home to many men and women who have served this nation with honor, yet too many of them now find themselves homeless, struggling with mental health disorders, and unable to access the support they need. Veteran homelessness is not just a national issue, it is a local crisis. According to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, veterans make up approximately 11% of the homeless population, with mental health conditions such as PTSD and depression acting as significant barriers to stable housing and employment. One of Peoria's most notable resources, the Wayne A. Downing Home for Veterans, provides a vital safety net, offering transitional housing and support services. However, the demand far exceeds the available resources, leaving many veterans without a place to turn. While federal programs like Veterans Affairs and state-funded mental health services exist, navigating these bureaucracies is often frustrating and ineffective. A veteran in crisis should not have to endure endless paperwork, monthslong waiting periods for treatment, or the stigma associated with seeking help. The solution lies in a coordinated effort between government agencies, local businesses, and community organizations. Peoria County should take an active role in fundraising for veteran support initiatives, leveraging corporate partnerships and community-driven donation efforts. A public-private partnership, where local corporations contribute funds or job training programs tailored to veterans, could provide long-term stability for those at risk of homelessness. Mental health services must be integrated into all veteran housing initiatives. Veterans experiencing homelessness often need immediate access to trauma-informed care and substance use treatment, yet mental health remains underfunded compared to other medical services. Existing VA services need to be restructured to reduce administrative barriers. The VA Mission Act of 2018 improved access to private health care for veterans, but further policy changes are needed to eliminate the bureaucratic delays that prevent timely treatment. In the interim, community-based social workers should be deployed to assist veterans in navigating their benefits and securing immediate shelter. 152 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000246 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0023493 The Peoria County Board and the city of Peoria have a moral and civic duty to address this issue, by investing in: Peoria can become a leader in tackling veteran homelessness at the local level. These men and women risked their lives to defend our freedoms; now, we must ensure they are not left behind. It is time for action. I urge the Peoria County Board to: Explore new funding avenues. Expand partnerships with local businesses. Remove obstacles preventing veterans from receiving the care and support they need. No veteran should ever be left on the streets of the city they once swore to protect. Thomas Radford of Dunlap is a retired U.S. Army veteran of 22 years. [Editorial note: consult source link for video] [WI] Former elementary school in Beloit being transformed to address homelessness (Milwaukee - Spectrum News, WI) - full text Milwaukee - Spectrum News [3/14/2025 6:00 AM, Phillip Boudreaux, 479K, WI] Family Services of Southern Wisconsin is transforming the former Royce Elementary School in Beloit into apartments and a community space for families in need, called Next Steps Family Resilience Center. It will include 18 transitional apartments for unhoused single parents and their children to live in for up to two years as they work to get back on their feet and find permanent housing. "Instead of knowing that you have a 30- to 60-day stay where you have to just find the next apartment whether we can make it or not, you have the time or space to seek a promotion, finish a certificate, repair your credit," said Kelsey Hood-Christenson, president and CEO of Family Services of Southern Wisconsin. The center will offer financial counseling and mental health therapy, as well as children's services and play areas, all under one roof. According to Family Services of Southern Wisconsin, at least 287 families in Rock County are homeless and waiting for housing assistance. Additionally, unhoused families with children wait an average of 114 days for housing services in Rock County. The organization also found that 63% of the total child care needs in Beloit are not being met with services available. That's why, with the help of other local nonprofits, the Next Steps Family Resilience Center will include a child care program for approximately 70 kids. "We know that early childhood literacy and development in the parent-child relationship is essential for building resilient kids and that the experience of poverty, the experience of being unhoused, is too often generational," said Hood-Christenson. "We see a generational cycle and so it was with all of that knowledge that we started walking down the path of what would a dream facility look like.". There will also be a focus on community building. "Our families have private space to build those relationships for respect and dignity for those pieces, but we have very intentional community spaces so that we can come together," said Hood-Christenson. "We can serve our neighbors. Everybody can come mingle. We can help people build social capital, build relationships and address a lot of isolation that a number of families feel." The Next Steps Family Resilience Center is set 153 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000246 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0023494 to open to families in April. [Editorial note: consult source link for video] [TX] 21 removed from southeast Austin homeless camp, but issues remain (KXANTV NBC 36 Austin, TX) - full text KXAN-TV NBC 36 Austin [3/14/2025 11:31 PM, Nabil Remadna, 1670K, TX] For months KXAN has been telling you about a homeless encampment in southeast Austin that has posed a problem to people living nearby. The camp is filled with trash, people openly use and sell drugs and there are open fires. "It is horrible," said a woman driving by. "I am even afraid to drive through here at night." Last week KXAN stopped by to find more people and trash piling up on the property, so we reached out to the city. "I have had outreach staff go to the property to see if anyone at the property is willing to take us up for offers on shelter, but no one yet has taken us up yet on that offer," said city of Austin Homeless Strategy Officer David Gray when we talked to him last week. On Friday, KXAN sat down with Council member Mayor Pro Tern Vanessa Fuentes who represents the area to get an update. "We have heard from district two constituents who have reached out about health and safety concerns about the Bluff Springs encampment," Fuentes said. She said efforts to clean up the camp and get people into shelter continues, but with the property being private it's making it hard to move quickly. "I just got an update from our homeless and strategy office this week that about 21 individuals have been connected to emergency shelter as of this week," Fuentes said. KXAN stopped by the property shortly after the interview with Fuentes and found there were a lot less people, but there were still a handful that are still there. The trash and tents remain on the site as well. "We have a property owner that has been unresponsive to outreach attempts by the city and the city has issued a demand letter today," Fuentes said. "That [demand letter] will ask the property owner to do three things. That they put up a fence to secure the site, that they clean up the site and that they remove the debris that is currently there as well as they issue a no trespassing notice." Fuentes said the city does put liens on a property when large amounts of money are spent for clean up. "We want property owners who are responsive to the needs of the neighborhood," Fuentes said. "And the other issue we have here is here is another example of an out of state LLC who is not being responsive to the local community." Fuentes posted that she will have a District 2 community conversation on Tuesday from 6 p.m. to 7:30 pm at Meanwhile Brewing, 3901 Promontory Point Drive. [Editorial note: consult source link for video] [TX] Houston's $70M plan aims to end street homelessness by 2026 (KTRK-TV ABC 13 Houston, TX) - full text KTRK-TV ABC 13 Houston [3/14/2025 12:01 PM, Cassandra Jenkins, 1515K, TX] Houston Mayor John Whitmire said he wants Houston to be the first major city in the United States to end street homelessness by moving all individuals who live outdoors 154 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000246 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0023495 into stable housing. He announced plans in late November that included a $70 million one- to two-year pilot program to start the process he hopes will be completed by the end of 2026. Funding the project Michael Nichols, director of Houston's Housing and Community Development Department, announced in February that the first $21.8 million was secured for the program, including: $17.5 million through a combination of general city and federal funds. $700,000 from the state's Homeless Housing and Services Program. $1 million from the Downtown Management District. $2.6 million from the Houston First Corporation. Nichols said the remaining $48.2 million is in discussion with different Houston and Harris County entities. The $70 million does not include funding for mental health, housing vouchers, disaster relief, or support for the city and county's law enforcement. The plan Nichols said one of the main goals of the new initiative is to help all homeless people in Houston find housing within 30 days of identification. Catherine Villarreal, vice president of public affairs for the Coalition for the Homeless of Houston/Harris County, said she believes Houston has always focused on permanent housing, but this plan aims toward increasing rapid rehousing. Rapid rehousing, according to the National Alliance to End Homelessness, is the process of finding short-term rental assistance and services to help people obtain housing quickly. More than half of the $70 million funding will go toward rapid rehousing. $45 million: Rapid rehousing. $11 million: Permanent supportive housing. $3.8 million: Mental health hub and shelter. $3.6 million: Navigation center. $3.3 million: Outreach. $2.6 million: Diversion. "We are seeking to expand on what the Homeless Response System in Houston does beyond that laser-focus on permanent housing," Villarreal said. "How do we create more of a waiting room for folks so that they don't have to sleep on the streets?" Nichols said one way to help address that issue is through creating a low-barrier shelter a space where people can bring pets and partners and don't need to be sober to enter as well as expanding the number of available beds and affordable housing. Affordable housing, according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, is a form of housing where an occupant is paying no more than 30% of their gross income for housing costs. According to the annual Housing Inventory Count conducted by the Coalition for the Homeless, there are approximately 7,800 affordable housing units within the homeless response system across Harris County and about 10,400 beds. Offering input Edward Pollard, Houston City Council District J member, said he has recently seen an uptick in unhoused individuals around Hwy. 59 and Loop 610 near Gulfton and Sharpstown. "With District J, we're the most densely populated area of Houston... and we have a very diverse community," he said. "You have a lot of undocumented people, refugees, asylum seekers, immigrants and first generation that just don't have the same 155 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000246 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0023496 resources that others may have in the city." Pollard said his office has decommissioned encampments in Gulfton and near Chimney Rock Road. He said the biggest roadblock in helping those individuals is housing options. "If you don't have a place for (individuals) to go, then you're just displacing them to another area," he said. "So the biggest thing is having available space, and that is something that has to be at the top of the priority list for any homeless initiative." Assessing the need According to the 2024 Point-in-Time Count and Survey conducted by the Coalition for the Homeless, an annual event where volunteers count sheltered and unsheltered individuals on a single night, approximately 2,939 people experience homelessness in Harris County with 32% of individuals unsheltered. Coalition volunteers conducted the 2025 count in January, and although the results won't be released until spring, Villarreal said she believes the results may show an incline in the homeless population. She said the increase could be due to the loss of federal COVID-19 funds, which have been sustaining homelessness programs since 2021. Looking ahead Nichols said the city will begin to distribute the $70 million as funds become available, however the initial plan only covers the next one to two years. He said the administration will begin to look for long-term sustainable sources in the meantime from entities such as: The Texas Legislature. The United States Department of Housing and Urban Development. Houston's tax increment reinvestment zones. Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County. As a last resort, Nichols said the administration could also seek to ask Houston residents to increase the city's revenue cap to fund the plan, which has been intact since 2004. [ND] Stepping Stone Ministries in Bismarck to offer homeless people medical respite after hospital discharge (KFYR-TV NBC 5 Bismarck, ND) - full text KFYR-TV NBC 5 Bismarck [3/14/2025 8:33 PM, Emmeline Ivy, 246K, ND] It's taken a team of people, a couple of years and a few twists and turns to get here, but Bismarck will soon be home to a place of respite for unhoused people with nowhere to go after they are discharged from the hospital. Benedictine Sister Idelle Badt with Annunciation Monastery is heading the project. Inside the former Railway Credit Union building, the walls are gutted, and the work is far from done. But Sister Idelle Badt and Martha Reichert already see its potential. "Could this be a place where they come and get respite, get back on track? So, they can heal fully and maybe reintegrate a little bit more into society," said Stepping Stone Ministries CEO Sister Idelle Badt. Today, Badt is the CEO of her latest endeavor, while Reichert is the program director. But in 2022, while working on her master's in social work, Sister Idelle was tasked with finding a community need and creating a solution. It didn't take long. "There was one gentleman in particular that I remember, an elderly gentleman, lying on the floor just coughing and writhing in pain. He had heart failure, and he couldn't remember whether he had taken his pills or not for the day." said Badt. Thus, the 156 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000246 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0023497 transformation of this space into Stepping Stone Ministries was born. "It's a place where hospitals can discharge homeless individuals to that are too ill to continue to heal on the street but still not sick enough to stay in the hospital," said Badt. The building will offer beds, meals, transportation and access to medical and substance abuse services. The goal: to help about 60 people each year get back on their feet. Through a mix of grants and donations, the total project comes to about $1.3 million-- they say a small price to pay for the capacity to help so many, especially at a price tag of $200 per day in their facility compared to the $2,000 a day it costs to keep someone in the hospital. "Right now, hospitals have nowhere to discharge homeless patients. They either go back to the street or stay in the hospital unnecessarily," said Badt. While the building still needs work, the team has faced challenges before. The road to helping others took a few turns to get here, which began at the St. Alexius convent-- the original location they had planned. "We had a flood, a fire. We had a wasp infestation. God didn't want us in that building, but I think he found us a better location," said Badt. But the switch to the former Credit Union space came quickly with more ease. Now, the women are looking beyond the building at what they're building-- a future for those who need it most. Gadt said the average stay at their facility will be around 45 days. She said the building will be equipped with full-time security and round the clock care, including medical personnel. She said the renovations will ensure fire resistance. The space should be open by July of 2025, with an opening date set shortly after. [Editorial note: consult source link for video] [CO] Springs Mayor highlights growing problem, promises enforcement after homeless arsonist arrested (KOAA, CO) - full text KOAA [3/15/2025 5:33 PM, Ashleigh Quintana, 304K, CO] Colorado Springs Mayor Yemi Mobolade said the city will focus on more cleanup and enforcement efforts as he cautioned against the growing issue of fires caused by the local unhoused population. On Thursday, a grassfire broke out near Garden of the Gods Rd and 30th Street, quickly growing to 20 acres during a windy and dangerous Red Flag Warning. A quick response from fire crews contained the blaze before it could damage any buildings or homes. The fire began at an illegal campsite, according to Colorado Springs Police Department (CSPD) and Mayor Mobolade. Police were able to trace the ignition to 48-year-old Adam Gilmour, who CSPD confirmed is homeless and was likely living in camps near where the fire started. "The new No. 1 cause of wildfires in Colorado Springs is arson, which includes fires involving people experiencing homelessness," said Mobolade on his social media. "In 2024, our Fire Department responded to 419 fires involving the unhoused, and we have already responded to 183 homeless fires just 73 days into 2025." In a quick-moving investigation, police announced Gilmour had been charged with fourth-degree arson Thursday night, less than 12 hours after the fire began. Police said the person who called emergency crews about the fire indicated they may have seen a person starting the fire and leaving the area. Further investigation identified Gilmour as the man responsible. Gilmour was located nearby and taken into custody without incident. 157 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000246 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0023498 CSPD said on social media he was booked into the El Paso County Criminal Justice Center on other unrelated felony and misdemeanor warrants along with a new charge of Felony Arson and Misdemeanor possession of narcotics. However, online records do not list Gilmour as an inmate. It's unclear why he isn't appearing in search queries. On social media, Mayor Mobolade said the city is focused on a "collaborative approach on enforcement." He pointed to 132 homeless camp cleanups so far this year and called illegal camping and starting fires "unsafe for our community at large." "While we are diligent in our efforts to connect individuals to the services they need, it is equally important that we hold everyone accountable to the rule of law, especially when it could impact our community's safety," the mayor said. He said the city is working to get more accurate data on the Colorado Springs homeless population to better address the issues with "upstream solutions." The city's 2024 Point-in-Time Count, which serves as a method to determine the number of people experiencing homelessness in the city, showed well over 1100 unhoused people in the city - 259 of those were categorized as "unsheltered." The Thursday fire near Garden of the Gods was the second fire in the Pikes Peak region that day as the much larger Meridian Fire burned further east near Schriever Space Force Base. The official cause of the Meridian Fire is considered accidental and still under investigation but was fully contained as of Saturday. How to keep your credit card information safe from card skimmers. The Pueblo Police Department is warning people of card skimming happening at several locations across the Steel City. Card skimming is not a new crime, but Pueblo police say it's becoming increasingly common. [ID] Idaho bill could halt new homeless shelters near homes in big cities (Idaho Press-Tribune, ID) - full text Idaho Press-Tribune [3/16/2025 5:00 PM, Aspen Shumpert, 131K, ID] A new bill introduced in the Idaho Senate would prohibit homeless shelters from opening within 300 feet of residential properties in the state's largest cities. Senate Bill 1166 would apply to cities with populations exceeding 100,000 -- Boise, Meridian and Nampa -- creating significant new restrictions on where homeless shelters can operate. The measure would prevent new shelters from being built or operated near residential zones and includes a provision that would lock out any property from consideration for a homeless shelter for an entire decade if a permit application, zoning designation, or zoning redesignation fails -- whether through denial, appeal reversal, incomplete construction, or withdrawal. "This would create uniformity, and the goal would be to ensure that these areas are sited responsibly with input from the community," bill sponsor Sen. Josh Keyser. R-Meridian, said while introducing the bill on Monday, March 10. While existing shelters would be allowed to continue operations in their current locations, they would be prohibited from expanding if the expansion would violate the new distance requirements. The legislation includes an exemption pathway for organizations that can secure approval from twothirds of property owners within 300 feet of a proposed shelter site. The bill also includes an emergency clause that would make it effective immediately upon passage, rather than waiting until July 1, when most new Idaho laws take effect. Jodi Peterson-Stigers, who is the director of Interfaith Sanctuary, a Boise nonprofit, feels 158 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000246 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0023499 like this is a target on the organization's current State Street relocation project. "I think this bill was devised to try and stop the shelter and any other shelter from being able to locate in areas where there's transit and there's services and things like that," PetersonStigers told KTVB on Wednesday. "It will impact other cities, but I think it was designed for this city." She added this bill will make it nearly impossible for a shelter to open up in the cities this bill affects. Interfaith Sanctuary currently runs a day shelter in downtown Boise. With growing demands, they began plans to move out of their current location and open a new campus-like 24/7 shelter on State Street. Some neighbors in near the desired new location did not like the idea of Interfaith moving in. The Veterans Park Neighborhood Association challenged the city's approval of a conditional use permit for the project, which ended in the Supreme Court siding with the neighborhood association. It also meant Interfaith Sanctuary needed to re-apply for the permit. "Who could have imagined how many hurdles we would have to jump through to do this kind of good work?" Peterson-Stigers said. "We are up against some people who are very committed to trying to stop us, and for all the wrong reasons." Peterson-Stigers said Interfaith Sanctuary will continue with construction in hopes the bill fails to pass into law. The Boise Rescue Mission is close to opening up a transitional housing project in the Boise Bench. Its President, Rev. Bill Roscoe, told KTVB on Wednesday that Senate Bill 1166 would not affect their almost-ready transitional housing, but it would prohibit them from ever expanding their three shelters on different properties. "My opposition is really more about allowing local jurisdictions to make decisions like this one, locating a shelter, instead of the state," Roscoe said. "The cities that might be involved have their own planning and zoning ordinances, and processes for agencies to use to determine facility locations. I do not think that the state Legislature can make those decisions for the cities." On Thursday, the Boise Rescue Mission sent out a statement to the public and said if the bill would become law, it would affect its River of Life Shelter or the City Light Shelter. However, it "could prevent the future expansion of the Valley Women & Children's Shelter, the Recovery Lodge (for medically fragile homeless), and the Lighthouse, all in Nampa." "The decisions on the expansion of facilities should be made by the people of Nampa through their elective representatives, not by arbitrary rules imposed by the State," officials wrote in the release. The bill is expected to get a hearing in a senate committee soon. [WA] Hope House transition forces community to find alternative shelters for women experiencing homelessness (KXLY, WA) - full text KXLY [3/14/2025 8:05 PM, Madeleine Mullins, 170K, WA] VIDEO. Hope House, once a shelter operating 24-hours a day in Spokane, will now only open at night. This comes as the shelter is in the process of moving over 100 people out before it closes completely in July. This will mean one less place for those experiencing homelessness to get a bed. meals and other programs. "Everyone's turning away people at the door. It's very sad," said Layne Pavey, the executive director of Revive, which runs Spokane's housing navigation center. 159 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000246 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0023500 Previously, women were able to show up to Hope House and receive three meals a day, substance and counseling treatment and employment readiness programs. "Hope House closing is going to suck," Pavey said. "We're calling our community partners to help them navigate to a bed that is at a shelter that they feel like they can be comfortable at. At this point in time, we're really just looking for beds that are available." Pavey says it can also be difficult to find meals, and services if you don't have a shelter to stay at. "It just sort of comes down to what your program can run based on the funding it has or how much space is available," Pavey said. The city says it hopes to have two more shelters up and running soon. One will be a women's shelter at Knox Presbyterian and another will be a shelter for domestic violence victims. The city hopes to have these available before Hope House closes for good. [WA] Should Safe Stays stay? Vancouver officials, advocates for the homeless debate whether communities should be permanent (Bellingham Herald, WA) - full text Bellingham Herald [3/15/2025 10:07 AM, Alexis Weisend, 185K, WA] Vancouver's system of temporary shelters may become a permanent part of the city's plan to address homelessness. The city launched its Safe Stay program in 2021 with the opening of The Outpost, a fenced-off lot with 20 portable. two-person sleeping huts and staff to support residents. Since then, Vancouver has opened three more of the shelters and spent $9.5 million on the program. Although city staff deem the Safe Stay program to be successful -- it places more people in housing than the average shelter -- it was intended as a stopgap measure. The sleeping huts, manufactured by a company called Pallet, aren't durable structures. The city will either need to replace them or build something else. Two of the city's Safe Stays are already past or close to their original contract end dates. Although Vancouver issued an emergency order to keep the sites operating, residents are concerned about the future of the program, said Adam Kravitz, executive director of Outsiders Inn. The nonprofit operates two Safe Stays, The Outpost in the North Image neighborhood and 415 West in downtown. "People are very scared," Kravitz said. Vancouver's Safe Stay residents and staff converged on the Feb. 24 city council meeting to advocate for the program's continuation. Amber Rodriguez, 51, was among those who spoke. The Columbian had last spoken with her a year ago when she was addicted to fentanyl and living in a downtown homeless camp. At that point, her addiction had caused her to lose everything, including her children. As Rodriguez approached the microphone to address the city council, she appeared healthier. Her freckled skin, once red from unrelenting exposure to the sun, was less weathered. She moved into 415 West in June. "I have a place to go every night, and the staff there are amazing. ... I just love it there," she said. After experiencing dozens of overdoses on the street, living in the Safe Stay gave her the strength and stability to become sober, she said. Staff members who have had similar experiences supported her through addiction recovery and helped her make appointments to improve her mental health. "I want to show my kids that drugs are not the way to go," Rodriguez said through tears. Although some have argued the city's money would be better spent on housing rather than Safe Stays, Rodriguez said her recent achievements, including becoming sober, likely wouldn't have happened if she moved directly from the streets into housing. "I probably would have 160 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000246 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0023501 failed," she said. "I would have rather gone here so I can get back into everyday life and back into my routine." Before the Safe Stay program, Clark County had fewer than 100 year-round beds for homeless adults, fewer than 15 beds for single women, and no options for couples without children, according to the city. When the pandemic hit, homelessness spiked. The number of homeless people in Clark County grew by about a third between 2020 and 2022. As cities across the United States grappled with rising homelessness, they began experimenting with a new model of shelter to reduce the spread of COVID-19. This noncongregate approach offered people privacy, as well as the ability to keep pets and room with a partner. During this time, the Everett-based company Pallet took off as demand for temporary, easy-to-assemble huts grew across the country. The city of Vancouver purchased 20 of these units in 2021 for its first Safe Stay at 11400 N.E. 51st Circle, which also offers sanitation services, portable toilets, handwashing stations, meeting spaces and a communal kitchen. Over the following three years, three more Safe Stays followed. Although neighbors and nearby businesses were concerned Safe Stays would attract crime and drive away customers, many say their fears haven't come to fruition. Calls to 911 actually went down by 30 percent to 40 percent across Safe Stay sites, compared with rates in those locations before the shelters opened, according to the city. The program "is effectively reducing the need for emergency services," Jamie Spinelli, the city's homeless response manager, said at a recent city council meeting. The ongoing cost of the average hut in a Safe Stay is $1,956 a month, which is more than the average cost of a one-bedroom apartment's rent in Vancouver. But that figure includes supportive services and food. Although the program's cost has drawn criticism, staff say the results speak for themselves. So far, 424 people have lived in Safe Stay communities, including 87 current residents, according to the city. Out of the people who have left the Safe Stays, half of them (or 168) have landed housing. That's 17.6 percent higher than the national average in 2023, according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. That higher success rate is due to the program's emphasis on imparting the skills needed to stay housed, as well as connecting residents with addiction treatment, employment services and mental health counseling, Safe Stay staff say. "To take somebody from chronic homelessness to an apartment of any style is very difficult without wraparound care," said Brian Norris, executive director of Live Love Outreach, the nonprofit operating the city's second Safe Stay, Hope Village at 4915 E. Fourth Plain Blvd. More than half of those who transitioned from Safe Stays to housing are paying rent on their own without receiving ongoing subsidies, according to the city. Many of those who successfully exited the Safe Stays became employees of the program. At least 20 former and current residents are working in Safe Stays or other homeless services, according to the city. "That would have never occurred without these sites," Spinelli told the city council. On March 3, Spinelli presented the conundrum of Safe Stays' temporary permits, which only last three years, to city councilors. "For the last year, (Safe Stay) residents have asked, 'Are we going to have to shut down within a year?' " she said. 161 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000246 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0023502 Councilors generally seemed supportive of making the program permanent. But they also indicated they may consider making the structures housing people more permanent, too. Pallet shelters are designed to be temporary, which is why so many cities use them as an emergency solution. "I support the program being a long-term program. ... I'm not supportive of the form being the tiny temporary housing," Vancouver City Councilor Sarah Fox said at a recent meeting. "An investment in these buildings ... might not last very long." Fox suggested a brick-and-mortar structure but wasn't sure what it should look like. Most councilors agreed that a permanent Safe Stay program shouldn't have temporary shelters. Councilor Bart Hansen, however, said he's less supportive of permanent facilities because they could be expensive. "We were already $43 million short on our last budget," he said. The cost of more permanent shelter was part of the reason the city chose Pallet brand shelters, Spinelli said. Another issue is that the city doesn't own the land at two of the Safe Stay sites. The city's budget woes have put plans for a fifth Safe Stay on hold, Spinelli said. Although a Pallet representative said all of its products are meant to last 20 years, some cities haven't had such luck. In Eugene, Ore., the nonprofit SquareOne Villages decided to retire its Pallet brand shelters after just two years, said Amanda Dellinger, the nonprofit's community relations director. Instead, SquareOne Villages opted for building tiny homes that cost about $15,000 each and should last as long as a normal house, Dellinger said. Although Vancouver paid a little over $7,000 each for its Pallet brand shelters in 2021, the price for newer models jumped to $11,792 in 2023. However, operators of Vancouver's oldest Safe Stay say the Pallet shelters are still holding up fine three years later. "I hear their 'what ifs,' but the units that we've been using have held the test of time so far," said Ren Autrey, deputy director of Outsiders Inn. No matter what the city decides to do, Kravitz hopes the layout of Safe Stays will stay the same. The huts arranged around a community space not only provide privacy but are reminiscent of the encampments people had lived in previously, making the transition easier, he said. "These spaced-out individual units really serve a population that has been traumatized in a way that can't be matched in a brick-and-mortar," Kravitz said. The city has not scheduled a follow-up discussion about the future of Safe Stays. However, if the city wishes to update its city code to not require temporary use permits for Safe Stays, it'll need to do so by June 30. [CA] Long Beach will spend $17 million to rehouse people living along the LA riverbed (Signal Tribune, CA) - full text Signal Tribune [3/14/2025 6:22 PM, Samantha Diaz, 5K, CA] For the next two years, Long Beach will attempt to rehouse those living in the city's largest and longest running homeless encampment: the Los Angeles Riverbed. The City will use $11 million from California's Encampment Resolution Fund (ERF) program and another $6.4 million from its own funding and various other grants. The $17.4 million will 162 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000246 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0023503 go towards obtaining a shelter for rapid rehousing, permanent supportive housing and street outreach. The LA Riverbed spans 9.5 miles of LA County, and includes part of Long Beach. During the 2024 Point in Time homelessness count, the city found 246 people living along the riverbed. City staff estimated that roughly 330 people live in the riverbed throughout the year. Long Beach's goal for this two-year program, expected to begin in the summer, is to shelter 270 people. Homeless Services Bureau Manager Paul Duncan said that according to city data, people on the riverbed are more likely than those in other encampments to be experiencing homelessness for a year or longer. He also said that from their street outreach results, they see a higher rate of reported disabilities, mental health needs and substance abuse from people in the riverbed. Homelessness Service staff laid out specific goals for the program: Move 130 people who have been homeless for over a year into non-congregate shelter. A bulk of the funding will be used to obtain a shelter, Duncan said. According to the City's homelessness data dashboard, shelters have been at over 90% capacity since 2022. Long Beach acquired 60 rooms from the Vagabond Inn during the summer of 2024 to house homeless residents, but the shelter is set to close in three months. So far this year, Long Beach has assisted 683 homeless individuals with services, moved 334 people into interim housing and 32 people into permanent housing, according to the City's dashboard. The funds from California's ERF will be supplemented with City funds and additional grants that the City will apply for. Duncan gave a brief explanation of each item on the chart: Program Coordination and Management: Staffing to oversee the work and provide data. People on the ground talking to homeless residents. Non-Congregate Shelter Staffing and Operations: Motel and hotel options to temporarily house people. Rapid Rehousing Services and Financial Assistance: Includes short and medium-term case management support, as well as help people get into a lease while they await housing vouchers. Rapid rehousing includes housing navigation, rental assistance, application support and limited furniture assistance. Permanent Supportive Housing: Covers staffing costs for two years. Duncan said they're working with current staff and did not mention more staff being hired for this program. Councilmember Suely Saro asked how the City is going to make sure that those being moved into housing are Long Beach residents and not coming to the riverbed once the new services become known. Duncan said the City will establish a list in the early stages based on those who already live along the riverbed, and will not add people who move to the area in the later stages of the program. The program does not budget for cleanup costs for the riverbed once people are moved out, though Duncan said they're going to look for ways to restore green space, beautify the area, create trails and encourage a healthy habitat. Multiple residents spoke out against the plans to sweep the riverbed, noting that people can lose all their belongings and sense of safety. 163 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000246 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0023504 "I felt safer when my houseless neighbors were living near me. Why? Because I actually talk to them, built relationships and we looked out for each other," said a resident who identified herself as Lee. "It's not hard, it doesn't take a lot of work to get to know someone. But that means that you're going to humanize folks and it's a lot harder to perpetrate violence when you actually see someone as a person." Long Beach has received two other ERF grants to clean up encampments in these areas in previous years: $5.3 million for the Downtown, Billie Jean King Main Library and Lincoln Park area. [CA] San Jose Mayor Takes Dual Approach to Unsheltered Homeless Population (Planetizen) - full text Planetizen [3/14/2025 11:00 AM, Irvin Dawid, 149K] The unsheltered homeless landscape in the Western United States was transformed last summer after the Supreme Court overturned the Ninth Circuit's Martin v. Boise ruling of 2018. As a result of Grants Pass v. Johnson, shelter availability was no longer a requirement for a city to ban camping on public property. Unlike some California cities that have banned shelter construction, San Jose is committed to providing housing for its homeless population. "In the next year, San Jose will bring online over 1,000 new quick-build housing units and shelter beds for the homeless," writes Mayor Matt Mahan in the introduction to his commentary published in The Mercury News on March 7. But what happens when campers reject public shelter offers? Mahan writes that this has become a problem, noting that these individuals represent a "subset of people who are 'service resistant' -- unwilling to come indoors due to an addiction, mental health issue or personal preference." Recently, over 30% of the inhabitants of an encampment along Great Oaks Boulevard refused new individual interim [aka transitional] housing units with private bathrooms and kitchenettes -- a trend we're seeing across several new sites. Mahan wants the city to adopt an enforcement policy to deal with campers who refuse the shelter offer, essentially codifying the landmark Supreme Court ruling. That's why I am proposing that our city embrace enforcement as a necessary tool for achieving our goal of moving everyone indoors. To do so, we need to update city policy to enforce trespassing laws against those who repeatedly refuse shelter. Enforcement should escalate from warnings to citations to, ultimately, arrest for repeated violations of our municipal code, including refusing shelter, tapping city electrical lines and camping in no-camping zones. Joyce Chu, who covers homelessness and equity issues in Santa Clara County for the San Jose Spotlight, reported on March 6 that Mahan "unveiled his `Responsibility to Shelter' initiative Thursday, where homeless people who choose not to accept shelter after three attempts within an 18-month period will be subject to arrest for trespassing." The goal is to send people to the behavioral health court system and compel them to get treatment. If adopted by the full San Jose City Council during the upcoming budget process, the policy would only apply to homeless people living near new shelters. The court system is known as CARE Court, short for the name of the state legislation, 164 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000246 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0023505 Community Assistance, Recovery and Empowerment Act, signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom in September 2022. [CA] Los Angeles Shelter Provides Mental Health Support to the Unhoused (WXII 12, NC) WXII 12 [3/15/2025 5:09 PM, Staff, 1183K, NC] VIDEO. Homelessness in the U.S. is reaching record breaking levels. The unhoused population rose to 771,480 on a single night in January 2024 -- the largest number recorded since the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development started collecting data in 2007. Many cities are looking for ways to address the homelessness crisis, but providing shelter alone isn't enough. According to JAMA, 67% of people experiencing homelessness have mental health disorders. Correspondent Dina Demetrius visits a Los Angeles County nonprofit shelter organization to learn about the challenges of providing mental health support to those in need. [CA] A work in progress: As Lodi tackles homelessness, challenges remain (Lodi News-Sentinel, CA) - full text Lodi News-Sentinel [3/15/2025 11:00 AM, Wes Bowers, 36K, CA] City officials this week said they were aware of the safety concerns at the Lodi Softball Complex, and that staff is working to clean up the area. "The Lodi Police Department has addressed encampment issues at the complex, including posting clean-up notices and removing excessive property that has been blighting the area," City of Lodi spokeswoman Nancy Sarieh said. "We also appreciate the recent clean-up efforts provided by the California Department of the Military, as well as the clean-up of the Armory across the street." The city's response comes after the Lodi High School softball teams were forced to move practice from the complex back to campus after a large homeless encampment developed in the area. The teams were supposed to start using the Stockton Street on Monday after practicing on campus the first few weeks of the spring season. Lodi City Councilwoman Lisa Craig-Hensley said Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services staff had cleaned the complex of the homeless Monday morning in anticipation of softball practice. However, because Caltrans cleaned an encampment on the 800 block of East Turner Road, the individuals living there relocated to the complex by the time practice was to begin, she said. "Parks has the practice schedule and are working with the police department to ensure areas are cleared for LUSD events," she said. "As I always tell residents and businesses, please contact LPD when you see a problem area so they can address the problem. If it's a problem for one, it's a problem for us all. Erin Jubrey's daughter is a senior on the softball team, and said the homeless situation at the complex has been an ongoing problem for the last few years. There have been times when one of the individuals was sitting at the front gate of the complex as the team arrived for practice, and instances when some would ride around the parking lot on makeshift bikes looking into vehicles. There have also been times when it looked as if some of the individuals in the area were 165 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000246 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0023506 involved in drug sales. Not only are the girls afraid to get out of their cars when they arrive at practice, but their parents are as well, Jubrey said. "It's been frustrating to see the girls have to deal with all that," she said. "Last year, there was a woman -- I don't know if she had mental issues or was on drugs -- out there hollering about her boyfriend. I don't know if she was screaming at the girls or not. And then two years ago, a gentleman was exposing himself to the girls on the field." For the remainder of the season, the softball teams will use the Lodi High field for practice, Jubrey said. However, they must continue using the softball complex for games because it has the bleachers, equipment and amenities required by California Interscholastic Federation guidelines. Jubrey said it was difficult for the teams when improvements were being made to other sports facilities and not the softball complex. Lodi Unified's Board of Education is expected to approve a landscape architect contract with Verde Design, Inc. for the Lodi High School Ball Fields Project at its meeting on Tuesday, March 18. The board will also consider soliciting for construction bids on the project at the meeting. Community Liaison Officer Christian Valeros received some 160 complaints regarding the homeless in February, arresting seven people for various violations and collecting 20 shopping carts throughout town. In addition, five RVs were tagged for towing, but their owners moved them before they were to be taken away. During the March 13 meeting of the Lodi Committee on Homelessness, Valeros said he has routinely posted municipal code notices or implemented cleanups at the softball complex, Lawrence Park, Zupo Field, the Grape Bowl, the National Guard Armory, and in the areas of Cherokee Lane and Lockeford Street, and Beckman and Victor roads. He has also done the same three times on the 1300 block of Industrial Way, and twice at Chapman Field. "I've regularly monitored Legion Park, Salas Park, the Softball Complex, Emerson Park, and Hutchins Street Square to address LMC violations," he said at the meeting. "Most individuals are familiar with the rules and know how to navigate them. With the implementation of the new municipal code regarding no public camping, officers are now able to mitigate transient-related issues swiftly and effectively." Lodi's no camping ordinance went into effect in January, and comes months after the Supreme Court ruled that cities enforcing such bans are not violating the Eighth Amendment's prohibition on cruel and unusual punishment, even if homeless individuals have no place to go. The ruling struck down the Martin v. Boise decision of 2018, that said cities cannot enforce anti-camping ordinances if they do not provide enough homeless shelter beds for their unsheltered populations. Following the Supreme Court's June decision, Gov. Gavin Newsom issued an executive order encouraging local jurisdictions to remove homeless encampments from public spaces. Valeros said the National Guard Armory has been occupied by transients for the past several months. The area has received daily complaints, but because it is state property, he said he was unable to conduct any cleanups or enforcement. After numerous meetings and correspondence with the state for the past three months, the city finally received approval from the National Guard to schedule a cleanup and post 166 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000246 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0023507 `No Loitering' signs around the property, he said. "A significant portion of February was spent securing this approval, and the cleanup was completed in early March," Valeros said. "Now that "no loitering" signs are posted, officers can now prevent anyone from establishing encampments on the property." Johnny Coughran, whose Outreach Ministries International organization is operating the temporary access center at 712 N. Sacramento St., said the safety ambassadors that were contracted to monitor the Downtown Lodi area for suspicious activity also patrol the softball complex. If they are unable to resolve any situation they encounter, they call the police, he said. "The ambassadors have been great for the access center and the immediate area surrounding it," Coughran said. "The majority of the time that we call the ambassadors for additional support, they are able to diffuse and resolve the situation without having to utilize the Lodi PD resources." Coughran said his staff is making the most out of the roughly 50 beds the access center currently provides for homeless individuals,, adding that 15 people a month are transitioned to housing or social services programs. "We have also been successful in directly connecting and resourcing people on the streets without them having to place foot in the access center," he said. "When the permanent center is built with 100-plus beds, we will be able to accommodate many more. but until then, there is going to be a bit of a struggle that we, as a community, will need to endure." The city is expected to break ground on the permanent access center later this month at the same address, and will take a about a year to complete. It will be 23,000 square feet in size, housing 106 individuals a day, with the ability to expand to as much as 208 beds as needed. The project also includes a commercial kitchen and space for as many as four classrooms that will benefit clients while they transition back into society. Once the permanent access center is complete, the Salvation Army will take over its daily operations. "We continue to work closely with the Lodi Unified School District and Lodi High School administration to address these concerns and ensure the safety of student-athletes," Sarieh said. "The city and Lodi Unified School District appreciate the community's patience and support as we collaborate to address these concerns and work toward a permanent solution for the Lodi High School softball program." [CA] Davis City Council to Review Homeless Services Expansion Amid Growing Needs (Davis Vanguard, CA) - full text Davis Vanguard [3/16/2025 7:32 AM, David Greenwald, 7K, CA] In response to continuing concerns about homelessness, encampment resolution, and public safety, the Davis City Council is considering a range of new services and budget allocations aimed at addressing the crisis. A staff report presented by Social Services & Housing Director Dana Bailey and Police Chief Todd Henry outlines the city's current focus on existing homeless services, including enhanced encampment cleanups, a dedicated downtown police officer, 167 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000246 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0023508 expanded hours at the Respite Center, and community navigator programs. The City of Davis currently spends more than $200,000 annually on personnel costs associated with homeless encampment cleanups, not including material costs and delayed responses to other community needs. The report suggests that contracting with a private company could reduce costs and improve efficiency. "There are several compelling reasons to utilize a contracted company for encampment cleanup rather than using city employees, including expertise, efficiency, and costeffectiveness," the report states. Contracted cleanup crews, the report explains, specialize in handling the biohazards, discarded needles, and human waste commonly found in encampments. "Their employees are trained in dealing with biohazards, discarded needles, human waste, and other health hazards commonly found in these environments," the report adds. Contracting out the service would also allow the city's code enforcement unit, which currently handles the majority of encampment cleanups, to focus on other responsibilities, such as blight removal and zoning enforcement. The estimated cost of outsourcing encampment cleanup services ranges from $80,000 to $175,000 per year, significantly lower than the cost of maintaining city personnel for the same work. City officials are also exploring the possibility of hiring a full-time police officer dedicated to patrolling downtown Davis. The stated goal is to provide a visible safety presence, improve response times to incidents, and build stronger relationships with business owners and residents. "A dedicated officer ensures downtown will have a greater visible city presence, allowing for quicker response times to incidents such as disturbances, fights, thefts, or accidents," the report notes. The officer would reportedly also take a proactive role in crime prevention and community engagement. "By being a consistent, visible presence, the officer will foster positive relationships within the community, making it easier for people to approach law enforcement with concerns or public safety issues," the report states. However, the proposal comes with an estimated annual cost of $217,000, leading to concerns about balancing law enforcement expenditures with investments in social services. The Davis Daytime Respite Center, operated by Downtown Streets Team, provides essential services such as showers, laundry facilities, and case management for people experiencing homelessness. The current hours of operation are Monday through Friday, 8 AM to 4 PM, but advocates argue that extending services to weekends would provide critical support to those in need. Expanding the center to a seven-day-a-week model would cost an additional $197,981 per year, while a staggered weekday schedule that includes weekends (e.g., Wednesday through Sunday) would cost $53,389 annually. However, officials note that key support services, such as housing and mental health counseling, would still only be available during weekday business hours. "While visitors to the respite center during weekend or evening hours could access 168 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000246 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0023509 showers, laundry facilities, and the physical space, the connection to other social services and counseling would be limited to traditional business hours," the report clarifies. The city is exploring various community navigator models to connect unhoused individuals with vital resources. One potential model follows the success of "Promotores" programs, where trained individuals from the community provide peer-based outreach and service navigation. Another model, modeled after the Citrus Heights Homeless Assistance Resource Team (HART), would rely on volunteers to link homeless residents with available programs. "Community navigation programs act as a bridge to helping individuals in communities, including the unhoused and the housing insecure, to find and utilize resources, services, and opportunities that are available to them," the report states. However, it also notes the challenges of volunteer retention and training, warning that "well-meaning individuals who want to help can and have put themselves in inappropriate or even dangerous situations.". The city has received a $41,413 grant from the Yolo County Homeless and Poverty Action Coalition to launch a peer support program, which would train individuals with lived experience of homelessness to assist those currently unhoused. A similar initiative through Davis Community Meals and Housing has also shown success in engaging unhoused residents in community improvement efforts. As part of its homelessness response strategy, the city is considering designated areas where people experiencing homelessness can legally park or camp without the threat of citations. "Sanctioned camping/parking refers to designated, city-approved areas where people experiencing homelessness can set up tents or park vehicles without the risk of arrest or citation, often providing access to basic services and resources," the report explains. In partnership with Davis United Methodist Church, the nonprofit HEART of Davis has proposed a pilot Safe Parking program that would allow unhoused individuals living in their vehicles to park safely overnight under monitored conditions. The program would require participants to adhere to a code of conduct and be monitored by staff. City officials are currently reviewing the proposal to ensure compliance with municipal regulations. The report also examines similar programs in other cities, including the City of Modesto's Safe Park initiative, which operates a 25-space parking program in conjunction with a shelter facility, and San Rafael's Safe Camp program, which received $5.9 million in state funding to provide designated tent sites. The city is also evaluating continued funding for the Downtown Streets Team's flagship work experience program, which provides unhoused individuals with job training and employment opportunities in exchange for stipends. Over the past year, the program has: Facilitated eight housing placements and 14 job placements. The program is currently funded through a joint agreement between the city and Yolo County, but funding is set to expire in June 2025 unless renewed. The cost to continue the program is estimated at 169 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000246 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0023510 $397,978 per year. Additionally, Davis Community Meals and Housing (DCMAH) has proposed expanding its winter shelter program at Paul's Place to operate year-round. The shelter, which provides emergency housing and social services, would require an estimated $150,000 annually to maintain full-year operations. The report lays out multiple options for enhancing homeless services in Davis, with costs ranging from $10,000 for training volunteers to over $500,000 for expanded respite services. "Council may wish to direct staff to prioritize one or more of these services as we are developing the upcoming two-year budget," the report states. Greenwald is the founder, editor, and executive director of the Davis Vanguard. He founded the Vanguard in 2006. David Greenwald moved to Davis in 1996 to attend Graduate School at UC Davis in Political Science. He lives in South Davis with his wife Cecilia Escamilla Greenwald and three children. [CA] Supervisors push to shift homeless funding from LAHSA to new LA County department (Los Angeles Daily News, CA) - full text Los Angeles Daily News [3/16/2025 9:52 AM, Jason Henry, 572K, CA] The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors will vote April 1 on whether to shift hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars from the much-maligned Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority to a new county department dedicated to better accountability. The motion by Supervisors Lindsey Horvath and Kathryn Barger says the county would reallocate most of the $350 million sent to the authority annually to a "transparent, efficient system overseen by one entity, directly responsible to the Board of Supervisors and held accountable to clearly defined performance-based outcomes." "To end the madness of the homelessness crisis in Los Angeles, we must streamline and consolidate our services and resources, and be driven by measurable outcomes," Horvath said in a statement. "This proposal isn't more government; it's smarter, more effective government. With recent audits underscoring the urgent need for reform and stronger accountability, now is the time to implement long overdue change." Under the proposal, the first phase would merge the county Chief Executive Office's Homeless Initiative and the county Health Services department's Housing for Health programs which have a combined budget of nearly $2.4 billion to serve as a foundation for the new department. The department then would absorb much of the authority's funding and part of its staff over the following year. A transitional administration would lead the department until the selection of a director through a national search. The authority, jointly funded by the county and the city of Los Angeles since its creation in 1993, would continue to receive some support from the county for a small number of programs and services required by the federal government, such as the annual homeless count, according to the motion. The move comes after a series of audits over the past year have raised significant questions about the authority's handling of taxpayer funds. In November, the Los Angeles auditor-controller reported that the authority, as of July, had only recovered 5% of the $50 million in cash advances issued to its partners since 2017 due to its failure to establish formal agreements determining "how and when" those advances should be 170 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000246 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0023511 repaid. The agency was unable to provide adequate supporting documents for approximately $5 million of the advances, according to the audit. Other payments to its partners were made excessively late, or improperly paid out using the wrong funding sources, the report said. In December, L.A. City Controller Kenneth Mejia, in an audit of the city's interim housing programs, found that the authority "does not have a formal process in place to regularly review the performance of providers" or to "hold underperforming service providers accountable." The review found that fewer than 20% of people in the city's interim housing programs ended up in permanent housing. An average of 1 in 4 interim beds went unused, at a cost of $218 million to taxpayers, over the five-year period reviewed, according to the report. In separate responses to both audits, the authority attributed many of the deficiencies identified to a period of "rapid organizational expansion" as a result of the passage of Measure H and the challenges brought by the COVID-19 pandemic. This month, a new assessment by Alvarez & Marsal, on behalf of U.S. District Judge David Carter, found that "fragmented data systems" across the authority, the city and the county made it "challenging" to track key figures, such as the spending, the number of beds provided or the outcomes for participants from June 1, 2020, to June 30, 2024. "The lack of uniform data standards and real-time oversight increased the risk of resource misallocation and limited the ability to assess the true impact of homelessness assistance services," the auditors wrote. That review found vague contracts with ambiguous scopes, failures by the authority to verify services provided before issuing payments and a wide variability in costs across the network. For example, one service provider might submit expenses of $7 per bed, per day for personnel, while another might ask for $67 per bed, per day, according to the report. "These disparities made it difficult to compare the performance of each service provider and determine the costeffectiveness of each intervention," the auditors wrote. A review of a sample of housing programs found that about 22% of participants left for permanent housing, while 48% returned to homelessness. The L.A. Alliance for Human Rights sued the city and the county in 2020 on the grounds that neither was doing enough to address the homelessness crisis. The city and the county settled with the alliance in 2022 and 2023, respectively, and pledged to increase funding for more beds, services and interim housing. Carter, the judge who requested the audit, continues to monitor the terms of those agreements. In new court filings, Elizabeth Mitchell, an attorney for the alliance, wrote that the audit's findings "paint a bleak picture of a City and County system that cannot accomplish what's required under the settlement agreements" and urged Carter to find the city out of compliance with the terms of its settlement. "LAHSA does not know who it is paying and for what. The City doesn't know how much it is paying, and for what. The system is disjointed and mismanaged, with layers of redundancies and bureaucracy built on top of itself," Mitchell wrote. "There is near zero financial oversight or accountability by the City and County of LAHSA, or by LAHSA of the service providers with whom it contracts." The Los Angeles city attorney's office, in a response, called the motion to compel compliance "premature," and argued its obligations were put on pause as a result of the 171 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000246 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0023512 wildfires. The city has until 2027 to create 12,915 beds and has dedicated $1.4 billion to the effort, according to the response. The city now may end up following the county's lead and could pull its funding from the authority as well. At its March 5 meeting, the L.A. City Council Housing and Homelessness Committee approved a motion from Councilmembers Monica Rodriguez and Bob Blumenfield requesting a report on how the city can bypass the authority to contract with service providers directly. The motion, filed in November, was prompted by the auditor-controller's findings. "As the Council awaits the report on the steps for the creation of a Department of Homelessness, it is clear that the alleged mismanagement of public funds, reportable outcomes, metrics and lack of consequences for failure to perform associated with the services contracted by homeless service providers and LAHSA require an expeditions review of immediate actionable steps to provide city oversight of the programs it funds," the motion states. [CA] Ventura Gets $9 Million Grant to Address Homelessness (Noozhawk.com, CA) - full text Noozhawk.com [3/15/2025 12:00 PM, Jennifer Nance, 194K, CA] The city of Ventura has been awarded $9.8 million in grant funding through California's Housing and Community Development (HCD) Encampment Resolution Funding (ERF) Program. The grant will help provide services, shelter, and long-term housing solutions for individuals experiencing homelessness, particularly in the Ventura River bottom and other encampment areas. "This grant will provide much-needed support for individuals living in encampments," said Ventura Mayor Jeannette Sanchez-Palacios. "Addressing homelessness remains a top priority for our City Council, and we are committed to investing in programs that tackle root causes while offering both immediate and longterm solutions," Sanchez-Palacios said. The city will use the funding to expand emergency shelter options, enhance supportive services like case management and mental health resources; and strengthen partnerships with the Housing Authority of the City of San Buenaventura to create more permanent housing opportunities. The city said it has already made progress in these areas through projects like the All Roads Connect to Housing (ARCH) shelter, a 55-bed, low-barrier facility developed with Mercy House and Ventura County. "We are excited to partner with HCD to expand permanent supportive housing options." said Rachel Dimond, community development director. "This grant will be instrumental in advancing both temporary and long-term housing strategies identified in the City Council's recent strategic priorities." [CA] With so many physically disabled people living on S.F. streets, what happens to wheelchairs during sweeps? (San Francisco Chronicle, CA) - full text San Francisco Chronicle [3/15/2025 7:00 AM, Soleil Ho, 5046K, CA] Take a trip to downtown San Francisco and it's impossible not to notice the sheer number of people, seemingly low-income and/or homeless, navigating the streets via wheelchair. It's probably the saddest and most horrific part about living in the Bay Area, a region that has generated untold wealth for a diminishing few. Last year, the city's point-in-time count of people experiencing various kinds of homelessness found that 49% of the 956 people surveyed said they had a "disabling condition," with 29% reporting a physical disability. (Disabling conditions would include visible and invisible disabilities, like mental illness.) Out of 193 people who answered the question of whether 172 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000246 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0023513 their physical disability kept them from holding a job, having stable housing or taking care of themselves, 71% responded affirmatively. In the waning months of her administration, former San Francisco Mayor London Breed promised to take visible and "aggressive" action on the seemingly intractable homelessness issue. This included encampment sweeps and the seizure of property that people couldn't physically carry with them. According to San Francisco policy, some confiscated items are "bagged and tagged," meaning they are removed from the site and stored at a city facility. Other belongings may be destroyed if they are in proximity to drug paraphernalia, human waste or other potential hazards. Several recent trips to the Tenderloin and South of Market, where I routinely encountered many unhoused people with visible disabilities, got me wondering: How does the city handle wheelchairs and other mobility devices? Data from the San Francisco Public Works provided me with some insights. The department "bagged and tagged" 22 manual or electric wheelchairs in 2024. That doesn't seem like a lot -- although for these 22 people it was no doubt an ordeal. Approximately 21 walkers were removed during that same period. These items were stored at the Public Works Operations Yard at 2323 Cesar Chavez St., an area that isn't particularly well-connected via public transit. Public Works spokesperson Rachel Gordon told me the department does not provide transportation to the depot. But the department's data didn't include wheelchairs that were disposed of, which is a number the city doesn't seem to track. So, as San Francisco ramped up efforts to crack down on homelessness, did it destroy mobility devices? Homelessness activists I spoke with said yes. The lawsuit that Coalition for the Homeless filed against the city in 2022 alleges several examples of this. The suit says on June 15, 2020, city workers conducting a no-notice sweep at the intersection of Turk and Hyde streets, loaded a wheelchair and walker into a dump truck in front of the items' owners. During a sweep at 13th and Mission streets in June 2022, Teresa Sandoval, one of the plaintiffs in the lawsuit and a double amputee who uses a wheelchair, alleges she was gathering up her things when Public Works staff suddenly tossed her prosthetic legs into a dump truck. The city denied any wrongdoing in its response to those allegations. Lukas Illas, an organizer with the Coalition on Homelessness, told me that because the criteria for contamination isn't well-defined, it allows for the disposal of essential items that just happen to be near things like capped needles or trash. In years past, Illas alleged, coalition staff witnessed mobility devices taken outright from unhoused people in the moment, but that the practice has largely stopped. When asked about how Public Works training addresses certain nuances -- namely, whether syringes or human waste in proximity to property like wheelchairs might justify disposal and what the thresholds of "commingled" or "soiled" might be -- Gordon sent this statement: "Every encampment resolution presents different circumstances. It is impossible to devise training materials that cover every hypothetical situation that may arise on the street. Our employees need the discretion to make decisions about what they see in real time, factoring in all of the relevant information." Yet ableism persists, according to advocates for disabled people. 173 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000246 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0023514 A lot of people don't understand that you don't have to be constantly in a wheelchair to need it, explained Erik Greenfrost, executive director of Senior and Disability Action. "There are ambulatory wheelchair users who need assistance but may be able to walk for short periods." The irony becomes clear when you consider the logistics. "To say you have to go pick up your stuff in this location that could be across town, and you can't use your mobility device to get there because we took it -- how outrageous is that?" Greenfrost said. What training do city staff receive surrounding the handling of wheelchairs and other mobility devices? According to Gordon: "First and foremost, during encampment operations, people on scene have ample opportunity to keep their wheelchairs and mobility devices. We do not and will not take them away from anyone." They only take "abandoned" items, she said, defined as those "unaccompanied by objective indications of ownership." However, in the data from 2024, in which owners' identifying information is redacted, only one of the 22 wheelchairs was listed as "abandoned." (One other has "n/a" in its ownership data.) Gordon noted that if a device is "noticeably inoperable, for example, it has a bent frame or no wheels," it wouldn't be bagged and tagged. I doubt Public Works would simply leave it on the sidewalk in that case: Presumably, it would be thrown out. According to its policy, the department will keep an operational wheelchair or walker at its depot for a maximum of 90 days before disposal. Gordon noted that the policy complies with all applicable laws, including the Americans with Disabilities Act. But what happens when someone needs to replace a confiscated wheelchair? "Most people experiencing homelessness have public insurance. To get durable medical equipment ... the amount of bureaucracy and difficulty to obtain that is incredible," Dr. Margot Kushel of UCSF, who researches health outcomes for unhoused people, told me. A former wheelchair user, Kushel said that she often fills out mobility device forms for her patients on her off-hours -- and that other physicians tend to do the same -- just to ensure they can get them in a timely manner. Even then, Kushel notes, insurance companies have strict rules about replacement timing: "I'll have someone tell me their walker was taken, and insurance will come back and say, 'We only replace it every two years.- In the meantime, health care providers end up scrambling to find donated equipment while their patients remain immobilized. "Can you imagine having an amputation and then your only way to get around is taken?" Kushel said. The cycle is vicious: Disability often leads to homelessness, and homelessness can lead to disability. "Before becoming homeless, many people were able-bodied," Itzel Romero, a housing organizer with Senior and Disability Action said. "But the experience itself causes you to develop disabilities that make it harder to move forward." Wheelchairs costs can vary widely depending on their degree of specialization, but, even when assuming a lost wheelchair is the most basic manual type -- about $150 -- the knock-on costs to society at large are enormous. There are the hours that doctors like Kushel have to spend filling out paperwork for replacements, the ambulance rides and medical treatment needed when disabling conditions worsen, and the time and work opportunities individuals lose when, all of a sudden, they cannot get from one place to another on their own. Each confiscated or destroyed wheelchair represents not just a moral outrage and a personal tragedy, it's a failure of policy that makes our homelessness crisis worse, not better. 174 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000246 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0023515 Fair Housing Fair Housing Groups Challenge DOGE Orders to Cancel HUD Grants (Bloomberg Law) Bloomberg Law [3/14/2025 2:16 PM, Staff, 1085K] Fair housing groups sued the Department of Housing and Urban Development alleging it illegally canceled grants to local fair housing organizations solely at the discretion of Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency. Members of the National Fair Housing Alliance from Massachusetts, Idaho, Texas, and Ohio claim that HUD's move to cancel their grants without going through the proper procedures will force them to fire staff, curtail work, and shut down due to a lack of funds, according to a complaint filed Thursday in the US District Court for the District of Massachusetts. [PA] Judge orders stay in Clearfield landlord civil case (Altoona Mirror, PA) - full text Altoona Mirror [3/14/2025 8:00 PM, Phil Ray, 85K, PA] A federal judge in Johnstown has granted a temporary stay on the possible settlement of a civil rights case in which a landlord from Clearfield County has been accused of seeking sexual favors from female tenants in exchange for reduced rent, or excusing late or unpaid rent. The civil rights case, in which the Department of Justice contended landlord Timothy Britton of DuBois violated the Fair Housing Act by his actions, was filed in May 2023 and names Britton and Britton Enterprises LLC, (doing business as Tim's Apartments) as defendants. Since the lawsuit was filed in the District Court in Johnstown, it has proceeded through the pretrial stages of the legal process and a postdiscovery conference was set for Monday. In an order signed this week by District Judge Stephanie L. Haines, any further action in the case has been put on hold until May 1 because Britton's Pittsburgh attorney is engaged in a lengthy trial of an unrelated case. Haines pointed out in her order that the attorneys for Britton and the Civil Rights Division of the United States Department of Justice jointly requested the stay. According to the stay request, a "settlement in principle" was reached by both slides during a mediation conference that occurred last June. It indicated that loans to cover the agreed-upon money damages to the victims are still being worked on but it also noted, "There is only one current issue that had not yet been resolved." The government in its lawsuit indicated that Britton's company owned or operated an estimated 40 rental properties in Falls Creek, DuBois, Brockway and Reynoldsville. It charged that Britton was actively involved in the management of those properties. Since 2016, it was charged Britton subjected female tenants to "unwelcome and severe or pervasive sexual harassment" that included reducing the rental payments, reducing or excusing rental payments ion exchange for sexual acts. In his answer to the lawsuit, Britton denied the accusations. The government is seeking a declaration that the Fair Housing Act has been violated, and that each victim receive damages, as well as the application of civil penalties. 175 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000246 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0023516 [AL] Agreement forces company to make changes for apartment renters with disabilities (Montgomery Advertiser, AL) - full text Montgomery Advertiser [3/14/2025 4:55 AM, Alex Gladden, 176K, AL] Gross Residential Properties will make changes at 13 apartment complexes across Alabama, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee to ensure they are accessible to people with disabilities. The improvements are the result of an agreement between Gross Residential Properties, the National Fair Housing Alliance and the Tennessee Fair Housing Council, according to a news release. The 13 complexes include more than 5,300 apartments throughout the four states. Gross Residential Properties owns three complexes in Huntsville: Ashbury Woods, Addison Park and Revere at River Landing, according to the company's website. The National Fair Housing Alliance and the Tennessee Fair Housing Council investigated Gross Residential Properties and later filed a housing discrimination complaint U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development in March 2024. Gross Residential will also pay $525,000 in damages and attorney's fees. "Disability discrimination accounted for over half of all the complaints filed with local, private fair housing agencies in 2023, signaling the persistence of housing discrimination facing people with disabilities across the country," said Morgan Williams, the National Fair Housing Alliance's general counsel, in the news release. "Gross Residential's willingness to work with NFHA and TFHC wil l enable their residents to be able to fully enjoy their homes and communities, receiving the promises and protections of the Fair Housing Act." [IN] Community Link: Fair Housing Center of Central Indiana (WISH-TV, IN) - full text WISH-TV [3/16/2025 1:46 PM, Parker Carlson, 635K, IN] VIDEO. Each week on Community Link, Carolene Mays takes a look at an organization or business that is making a positive impact on the community. This week, Mays was joined by the Fair Housing Center of Central Indiana who is addressing the state's ongoing housing crisis by providing essential services such as housing counseling and advocating for improved housing laws. Indiana is facing a severe housing crisis, characterized by escalating rents, increased foreclosure rates, and substandard housing conditions. The Fair Housing Center of Central Indiana. led by Amy Nelson, is actively working to combat these issues by facilitating open housing for all and advocating for tenant protections. "We try to get information out about different housing laws to make sure people know what their rights and responsibilities are," Nelson said. Fair Housing Center of Central Indiana offers housing counseling to assist individuals facing barriers such as eviction, housing discrimination, or difficulties in finding affordable housing. This service is crucial as renters, who make up a significant portion of the housing market, often encounter challenges like evictions and high housing costs. Nelson said the impact of out-of-state investors purchasing single-family homes and converting them into expensive rentals, is further exacerbating the housing crisis by reducing the availability of homes for purchase. Federal Housing Administration and Multifamily Housing 176 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000246 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0023517 This is why I'll never take out a reverse mortgage -- 5 hidden costs you need to know about (2417 Wall St) - full text 24/7 wail St [3/14/2025 1:54 PM, Maurie Backman] It's an unfortunate thing that many seniors reach retirement age with very little savings. So if you get to that point and need money, you may be inclined to sign up for a reverse mortgage. In fact, the reason reverse mortgages are appealing is that for many seniors, their home is their most valuable asset -- especially when it's paid off in time for retirement. But that doesn't make a reverse mortgage a great idea. Here are a few hidden costs you need to know about. Origination fees It's common for lenders to charge origination fees for a regular mortgage. And these exist for reverse mortgages as well. Some origination fees can be negotiable, but that's not always the case. Closing costs It costs money to put almost any type of loan in place, and reverse mortgages are no exception. Closing costs on a reverse mortgage can include an appraisal fee, title search, surveys, and more. Counseling fees Homeowners who decide to take out a reverse mortgage need to undergo counseling from a HUD-approved agency before borrowing that money. The purpose is to make sure you understand exactly what you're signing up for, since there tends to be a lot of misinformation about reverse mortgages. But you should expect to pay a modest fee for that counseling. Mortgage premiums When you put a reverse mortgage in place, you need to pay an initial mortgage premium to the Federal Housing Administration. But you'll also be on the hook for an annual mortgage insurance premium while you're carrying that loan. Property-related expenses One of the biggest pitfalls of reverse mortgages is that you still have to cover the costs of remaining in your home. That means having to shell out money for property taxes, homeowners insurance, maintenance, and repairs. If you're struggling to afford these, a reverse mortgage may not solve your problems. Think carefully before taking out a reverse mortgage. It's easy to see why you'd want to tap your home equity to drum up cash for retirement. But before you commit to a reverse mortgage, make sure you understand the drawbacks. If you pass away before your reverse mortgage is paid off, your beneficiaries might have to sell your home to fulfill that loan balance. So if keeping your home in the family is important to you, a reverse mortgage may not be an optimal choice. 177 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000246 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0023518 It's also a good idea to consult a financial advisor about a reverse mortgage. They may be able to offer guidance on whether it's a good idea or not based on your individual situation. A financial advisor might also be able to suggest alternatives that don't come with the risks of a reverse mortgage. Finally, before you resign yourself to a reverse mortgage, think about some other ways you might be able to tap your home for income. You could, for example, rent out a portion of your home for money, like a finished basement. That income could make it so you're able to manage your expenses without taking out a loan against your home. [TX] Truist Bank alleges Sherlin Norris defaulted on mortgage loan (Southeast Texas Record, TX) - full text Southeast Texas Record [3/15/2025 8:00 AM, Southeast Texas Record, TX] In a legal battle that could have significant implications for property rights and financial obligations, Truist Bank has filed a lawsuit against Sherlin Norris and the United States of America in Harris County, Texas. The complaint was officially lodged on March 6, 2025, seeking to address alleged breaches of a loan agreement by Norris and the involvement of federal interests due to liens on the property. The case revolves around a promissory note executed by Sherlin Norris on November 15, 2013, amounting to $164,946.00 with an interest rate of 4.250 percent. Truist Bank claims to be the holder of this note and asserts that Norris has defaulted on his loan obligations by failing to make scheduled monthly payments since January 1, 2024. The plaintiff is seeking foreclosure on the property located at 23402 Stargazer Point, Spring, Texas, which serves as collateral for the loan. According to Truist Bank's petition, "All conditions precedent for foreclosure have been performed or occurred as required by Tex. R. Civ. Proc. Chapter 51 The lawsuit also implicates the United States of America due to its interest in the property through two Deeds of Trust associated with loans secured by Norris in February 2019 and November 2023. These deeds were filed with Harris County's official public records and involved amounts of $45,923.83 and $130.71 respectively. The federal government's involvement arises from its role through the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), which necessitates serving process via Nicholas J. Ganjei, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Texas. Truist Bank seeks several forms of relief from the court: monetary damages totaling at least $137,890.71 due to Norris's breach of contract; attorney fees; costs incurred; prejudgment interest; post-judgment interest until full payment is made; foreclosure authorization under Texas Rules of Civil Procedure 309; issuance of a writ of possession following foreclosure; and any other relief deemed just by the court. Representing Truist Bank is Thomas L. Brackett from Barrett Daffin Frappier Turner & Engel LLP based in Addison, Texas. The case is being heard in Harris County's judicial district court under Case ID: BDFTE NO. 10317303. Public and Indian Housing [MA] Housing authority seeks $900K for home rehabilitation program in Gill, New Salem (Athol Daily News, MA) - full text 178 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000246 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0023519 Athol Daily News [3/16/2025 4:04 PM, Staff, 18K, MA] The Franklin County Regional Housing & Redevelopment Authority is applying for $900,000 that would be used to preserve or rehabilitate homes in Gill and New Salem to meet building and sanitary codes, and to improve accessibility. The application, for Community Development Block Grant funding, will be sent to the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities. Brian McHugh, community development director at the housing authority, visited Gill Town Hall on Monday to discuss the grant opportunity that originally included Gill, New Salem and Shutesbury, but Shutesbury was taken off the application due to conflicts with staff availability and timing to assemble information by the April 14 deadline. "This is a program that we've been running since the early `80s," McHugh explained. Gill has been included in 11 grant applications since 1982. "It benefits low- and moderateincome residents in each of the towns.". These funds, which the housing authority is applying for on behalf of the two towns, are used to target specific housing rehabilitation efforts under federal guidelines. Money is awarded to the state Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. There are six homes in Gill and six homes in New Salem on a waiting list for the housing rehabilitation program, but only nine can be covered due to the limits of how much can be applied for in the request. Gill and New Salem are seeking a total of $900,000. The housing rehabilitation program offers eligible households 0% deferred-payment loans of up to $70,000. The loan for these home improvements will be forgiven over 15 years if the resident remains in their house as their primary residence for that entire time. McHugh explained the funding is not intended to be used for remodeling projects, but rather to update homes to meet modern building and sanitary codes, be marked for historic preservation or improve accessibility. "The program is basically meant to correct code violations, so we do everything from septic systems, wells, lead paint remediation, windows, roofs, siding, electrical repairs, plumbing repairs," McHugh said. "This is not a remodeling program. We can't expand the footprint of a house unless it's for accessibility modifications.". Article continues after.. Of the $900,000 request, $630,000 will be used for home rehabilitation. The remaining $270,000 will cover administrative costs, inspections and environmental reviews, among other uses. It's estimated the application process and home repairs will take two years. Gill Town Administrator Ray Purington was chosen to be an environmental review officer as part of the process. He'll be tasked with preparing an environmental checklist for the housing projects. One concern that McHugh raised during Monday's public hearing was about the possibility of HUD not providing funding for Community Development Block Grants if the proposed staff cut at HUD's Office of Community Planning and Development from 936 employees to 150 becomes a reality. Though the proposal did not pertain to a funding cut, it is unclear how a staff cut might impact when the money 179 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000246 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0023520 gets dispersed to the states. "It's assuming anybody at the federal level actually presses 'send money,- Gill Selectboard Chair Greg Snedeker quipped. Erin-Leigh Hoffman can be reached at ehoffman@recorder.com or 413-930-4231. [RI] Speaker wants more local support for low-income housing (Narragansett Times, RI) - full text Narragansett Times [3/14/2025 12:00 AM, Bill Seymour, 11K, RI] Rhode Island House Speaker Joseph Shekarchi is asking the RI Housing Authority to take a special look at a town panel's plan for helping low- and moderate-income residents at Champagne Heights. The South Kingstown Housing Authority wants to construct new housing for the 52 families who live there. The panel, along with local officials, is asking state housing officials for consideration for $51 million in federal and state funding. The authority has a multi-phase approach to the overall project, starting with the redevelopment of the Champagne Heights property located on Curtis Corner Road. It is a major step, say local officials, toward addressing affordable and updated housing needs in the community. The speaker, whose authority in the state legislature can make or break bills that benefit state agencies, is asking RI Housing officials to give strong consideration to the plan leveraging significant federal resources that offset costs and reduce the state's investment. "Total development cost per unit is often used as a metric for efficiency, but it does not tell the whole story," he wrote to Carol Ventura, executive director. His push for approval also has the support of area legislators. "I think it is a win-win for those in Champagne Heights and for increasing housing stock in our town," said state Rep. Kathleen Fogarty (D-35 South Kingstown). State Rep. Carol Hagen McEntee (D-33 South Kingstown and Narragansett) said, "This project is a true win-win for both the current and future residents of Champagne Heights and the town. This project will help fill a tremendous need of the community, by offering safe and affordable housing to our residents that need it the most. It is also an opportunity for the town to leverage serious federal funding that will help get this project over the goal line." She added, "Speaker Shekarchi's endorsement of the project is a sign that this project fits in with his vision of creating more housing for Rhode Islanders and I am grateful for his support. More housing, especially affordable housing, is desperately needed in our community, and Champagne Heights is an example of how to build this much-needed housing in a way that benefits everyone." Champagne Heights is using certain federal public housing approaches, which offer significant, long-term rental subsidies. These rental subsidies enable Champagne Heights to leverage $11.5 million in mortgage debt, which significantly reduces the amount of state funding needed. "For every $1 of state taxpayer funds, Champagne Heights leverages $2.43 of non-state taxpayer funds," he said. "Champagne Heights will accomplish two important objectives simultaneously. First, it will replace 52 units of public housing for extremely low-income residents. These units were built in the 1970s and are in need of significant capital improvements," Shekarchi said. If this project does not go forward, he warned, "the South Kingstown Housing Authority will eventually need to close these buildings because they will no longer be habitable." He also said it produces 33 units of new affordable rental housing for families earning up 180 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000246 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0023521 to 80% of area median income. This will provide income diversification and serve families who earn too much to qualify for other affordable housing but too little to afford market-rate housing. "I urge RI Housing to look beyond total development cost per unit in its evaluation of funding applications and take into account extraordinary conditions and leveraging of non-state resources," he wrote in his letter to Ventura. Christopher Little, housing authority chairman, said he was grateful for the speaker's support. "We applaud Speaker Shekarchi's support for low- and moderate-income housing in our community. From the very beginning, he has understood and advocated for new and additional housing units at Champagne Heights. His letter to RI Housing is further evidence of his advocacy and support for this very important project," Little said. "And, of course, we must remind our community of the unwavering support we have received from Reps. McEntee, Fogarty, Tanzi, and Spears, Senator Sosnowski, and our Town Council and its president, Rory McEntee. Their support has been invaluable as we go through a highly competitive process to secure funding to make this project a reality," he added. In previous interviews, Little has pointed out the segment of the community most likely to benefit from the authority's plan. "The project also utilizes the acreage at Champagne Heights to add 33 additional housing units that will serve residents whose earnings are no more than 80% of the area median income -- that means virtually all of the entrylevel teachers, hospital staff, restaurant workers, as well as others whose services are so necessary for the community's businesses and residents," he said. [CT] CT proposing $1M for each of five state-recognized tribes. Here's why. (Hartford Courant, CT) - full text Hartford Courant [3/16/2025 5:45 AM, Sean Krofssik, 1025K, CT] A proposed bill in the Connecticut legislature looks to provide $1 million each in housing initiatives for the five state-recognized Native American tribes to help understand their needs. Raised Bill No. 7110 would "provide funds for housing to state-recognized Native American tribes, require that such tribes conduct studies and create a report, and provide that reservation lands and tribal funds be under the care and management of such tribes with the advice of the Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection and Indian Affairs Council." According to the bill, the Department of Housing would "disburse $1 million to each state recognized tribes to use the funds studies, surveys, reports and plan pursuant to this section shall be administered by each tribe's housing authority." According to the 2020 Decennial Census, there were 34,012 American Indian or Alaskan Native people in the state. That accounts for 0.9% of the state population. The 2020 numbers slightly are up from 31,140 in 2010. The five state-recognized tribes are Golden Hill Paugussett Tribal Nation, Eastern Pequot Tribal Nation, Schaghticoke Tribal Nation, Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation and Mohegan Tribe. The last two are also federally recognized tribes. The public hearing on the proposal was on March 4, and on March 10 the bill was filed with the Legislative Commissioners' Office. State Sen. Saud Anwar, who co-sponsored the bill, said it is well-known that a significant amount of land in Connecticut is home to the tribes. In essence, the bill would require each tribe to create a report around the care and management of reservation lands and 181 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000246 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0023522 tribal funds in partnership with state strategies. "They are independent but the state of Connecticut as well as the tribes have a collective responsibility to be a part of a strategic plan," Anwar said. "We are in this together," he added. "That has resulted in us collectively having a plan for the future. In order to have a plan for the future, we need to put in a strategic plan where the tribes can do their own studies. We are trying to have some guidelines on those studies and what can be done." Anwar is looking for infrastructure and environmentally safe energy strategies so the land can be used for the tribal nations. "While they are completely independent, they can do this in partnership with the state," Anwar said. "We will work collaboratively as a state and tribes on issues. I've heard testimonies and it seems everyone supports this bill." The Eastern Pequot Tribal Nation was the main tribe that pushed for the bill. The tribal nation's reservation was founded in 1683. The reservation, located in North Stonington, currently has 224.8 acres. Brenda Geer, vice chairwoman of the Eastern Pequot Tribal Nation, said its land once was 8,000 acres. Geer and tribe councilor Jelani Fletcher recently spoke at a hearing for the bill in front of the State Housing Committee. Geer reported that 12 to 15 residents live on the reservation and the homes that are occupied have been handed down from family to family. Geer said the tribe has more than 1,200 total members "but not necessarily in this region." "We would like to bring them all home," Fletcher said. "The land we have has been reduced dramatically. It's not exactly buildable. We have marshes, bird sanctuaries and cemeteries. We don't have the most buildable area. We would like to buy land off of the reservation and help some members become first-time home buyers. At the same time, we want to make our homes on the reservation safe," Fletcher said. "We need the resources to create a stronger infrastructure so we can be self-sustained. We want what's rightfully ours. We want to be able to contribute and make life more sustainable. We understand the relationship with our land. We have obligations to our creator, the land, animals, community and the world at large." Geer lives on the reservation and said she will take her last breath on that land. She expressed her appreciation to the committee several times to share the challenges occurring on her reservation. "We don't have the infrastructure to withstand multiple homes on a well and we don't have the financial wherewithal to build or fix houses on the reservations. We also can't really get funding from a bank. We would love for all of our family to come back on the reservation," Geer said. Fletcher said an important part of this bill is that the state and the tribes are bridging the gap of communication with the state government. "This will allow the state to fulfill their obligations to the state-recognized tribes," Fletcher said. "What we need takes money and resources." "Federal tribes have a crisis for housing as well," Geer added. "We are state-recognized and there is a statutory responsibility from the state to make sure the tribes have clean, running water and safe and stable housing and that's been neglected for a very long time." Geer has been on the tribe's council for 33 years and said there has not been enough help from the state. "We don't have the infrastructure to put up a multifamily home or anything like that," Geer said. "It's really difficult to get our people home. They don't have the financial wherewithal to do their own well or septic system." 182 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000246 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0023523 "We don't want a handout. We want to be self-sufficient and contribute to the economy," Fletcher said. "We want the funds that were supposed to be statutorily given to us. We need help with housing, education and health care." Fletcher said the Connecticut Department of Energy & Environmental Protection "oversees" the reservation. Before that, the tribes went through the state's welfare office in the 1980s. "We don't need that. We've been stewards of our land for years," Fletcher said. "We want to contribute and be self-sufficient and contribute more. We don't want to take anything away from anyone else. "The relationship with the state is tenuous. We feel pushed aside. We are sovereign citizens of our state. But we have created this overseer relationship," Geer added. Geer noted that state Sen. Cathy Osten and Rep. Kadeem Roberts have been advocates for the bill and that the tribe helped with some of the language in the bill. "We want to begin to heal and help have a better process working from government to government," Geer said. "A lot of legislatures are not educated about us. ... We can't go backwards. We will never forget the past but for us to keep healing we have to let go of the past animosity. That's my goal. We have elders who are dying because they don't have medication, and we are losing one or two a month." Geer said that, in general, the dialogue was a good step forward. "I've been doing this a very long time and it's good things are finally starting to turn around," Geer said. "The political atmosphere has changed and there are a lot more younger legislatures and we are building relationships with these folks. We want to discuss how we can work together. That's the way it should be. We should never forget about all of the tribes." The Schaghticoke Tribal Nation has approximately 400 acres in Kent. The tribe has about 325 members and holds annual meetings and gatherings on the reservation, which was granted in 1736. The land is between the western bank of the Housatonic River and New York state. The Appalachian Trail passes through the land. Chief Richard Velky said he supports the bill but has some concerns about follow-through from the state based on past issues. "I was aware that they were trying to present a bill to help tribes in housing which I fully support 1OO%, but I have some reservations on how things are handled," Velky said. Velky said nearly four years ago, the tribe was to receive a $1 million grant for an expansion of different projects on their Kent reservation. "We haven't seen a dime of that money," Velky said. "For me, this is a feel-good bill to be passed to make the state of Connecticut look like they are doing something to support the indigenous people here in the state of Connecticut and there is no follow-through. The restrictions that they have put on the release of funds given to the tribe are unreasonable, and I say that because we were here before the state of Connecticut." Velky believes a lot of the bill relies on an Indian Affairs Council, which has not existed since 1993. "If they were to create a new Indian Affairs Council a lot of that has to be taken into consideration," Velky said. "In the past, each tribe would have a representative from the five indigenous tribes in the state and the state would have three state appointees that sat on the council which gave the tribes the majority vote." Velky said he is cautious about how it would be created and what responsibilities they would have. "Overall, helping tribes to bring some funding to creating housing would be ideal," Velky said. "But this million dollars would be to study the soil, the water, the cultural usage but it doesn't have any funds in it for housing itself. I don't know if they plan on 183 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000246 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0023524 another grant. This one expires in 2040. You used a million dollars and now it's 2040, what have you accomplished? It seems like another extended period of time before something gets done on reservation land or to get to use the grant itself. ... Again, I am in favor. I would just like to see more about it." And although Velky believes it looks and feels like a really good bill, "it doesn't get the job done for the purpose of getting housing for Indigenous people," he said. Schaghticoke Tribal Nation was federally recognized in 2004, and Velky said there are still hard feelings with the state. "The state vigorously objected to our recognition and fought it successfully in Washington D.C. to have it reversed," Velky said. "Us and the Eastern Pequots were the only ones to have a positive turn into a negative decision through the Department of Interior and Bureau of Indian Affairs. We appealed it, and we lost the appeal. We had a strong opposition of political opponents, and they dug in deep and wounded this tribe. They took what was rightfully ours to begin with. There was no doubt in the Bureau of Indian Affairs that we were a Native American tribe and should be recognized federally. Because of political influence, it was taken away." The Golden Hill Paugussett Tribal Nation has reservations in Trumbull and Colchester. Trumbull is the oldest continuing reservation in the state since 1659 and has over 200 people in its tribe including teachers, postal workers, school bus drivers, nurses, construction workers and state workers. "We still live and go by the old traditional ways and attend all year-round ceremonies, powwows, meetings and spiritual connection to the land and all beings and teachings, presentations and more," said Clan mother Shoran Waupatuquay Piper. Piper said there are one or two dwellings on both reservations with families who were born and raised on the reservation. Many of the members live around the state. "We are trying to get housing built on the reservation for more families on the tribe to reside," Piper said. The tribe is in support of Bill 7110. "As a state-recognized tribe, our resources are limited but our perseverance, strengths and resilience are not. Community is at the heart of indigenous peoples and this housing proposal will not only provide the necessary resources for our tribe but will in turn allow shelter on sacred lands, ensure a place for outreach and continuity of togetherness for generations to come," War Chief Kicking Bear Piper and Council Board Member Cassandra Keola said in a statement. "Actually, the state's duty to advocate for its native communities. By putting this bill into law, it will create an avenue in which the tribes can have easier access to services that are required to build communities. This would actually be a historic bill, to date state tribes have had a lot of challenges building a relationship with the state on a government-togovernment level." The Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation was established in 1666 and is located in Mashantucket. The tribe has more than 1,000 members. The tribe also owns land in Ledyard, Preston, North Stonington and New London and gained federal recognition in 1983. The reservation is also home to Foxwoods Resorts Casino. "We are taking a closer look at the bill to assess potential impacts. We have nothing further to add at this time," Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation said in a statement about the bill. The Mohegan Tribe, based in Uncasville, received formal federal recognition in 1994 and has more than 2,400 members, many of whom reside in Connecticut near ancestral 184 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000246 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0023525 tribal lands. The reservation includes Mohegan Sun casino. In reference to the proposed bill, the Mohegan Tribe leadership said it remains committed "to supporting all Indigenous communities in Connecticut, including the state-recognized tribes. We recognize that the cost of living is top of mind for so many in this economy and as we are focused on how to help our Tribal members, we appreciate this state initiative to better understand how to help our neighbors and fellow Tribes address the availability and affordability of housing. We will continue to advocate for policies that improve quality of life, economic development and sustainable growth for our Tribal members and the communities in which we live and work." [NY] Glimmer of hope for reviving stalled Children Rising Center in Syracuse (WAER 88.3 Syracuse University, NY) - full text WAER 88.3 Syracuse University [3/14/2025 5:00 PM, Scott Willis, 10K, NY] There's a glimmer of hope for restarting a stalled signature project of the massive $1 billion redevelopment of the East Adams Neighborhood. A vote from Syracuse Common Councilors Monday could be the first step toward reviving the Children Rising Center. The mayor's office and Syracuse Housing Authority announced an agreement earlier this month that gives the city site control for the proposed $32 million center at Taylor and State Streets. It's already been approved by the SHA. The non-profit Blueprint 15 is leading the project's planning and funding. Executive Director Rayquan Pride-Green told councilors Thursday the site control is promising, but they lost at least $9 million due to delays by the SHA and city. "We would need to be able to get those funds from somewhere and at this point in time, we don't know where we can get those funds from," Pride-Green said. "So this is a step in the right direction as a path forward, but it's not a guarantee that the project will resume." Pride-Green says the Allyn Foundation also paused its $5 million allocation until there's new leadership at the SHA. At the meeting, Councilor Chol Majok asked SHA Executive Director Bill Simmons his thoughts on discord possibly stalling the project. "Without that relationship, I feel moving forward, we may end up in the same position next year, right? What's your take?" Majok asked. "Well, my take is after we were able to negotiate the deal, I had an opportunity to call Meg O'Connell and see if anything else that we can do," Simmons replied. "And she just said that it's going to be up to the Blueprint 15 folks who were trying pull money together. Things have been taking a long time." Simmons seemed to distance himself from the project's finances, even though some blame the SHA for missing a deadline to claim $7 million in federal housing tax credits. Councilor Pat Hogan told Simmons the SHA, not the city, is bearing the financial risk. "Obviously the administration, the council, I know everyone realizes we would do anything to make sure you make the benchmark as far as funding that center," Hogan said. "You're taking a leap of faith that somehow this is going to happen." Councilors are voting on an agreement giving the city the Children Rising Center site in exchange for the housing authority to have control over the Eastwood Heights Apartment Complex. [NY] NYCHA, Including Harlem River Houses, Wins Prestigious Moses Preservation Awards (Harlem World Magazine, NY) - full text 185 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000246 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0023526 Harlem World Magazine [3/14/2025 12:20 PM, Staff, 19K, NY] The New York Landmarks Conservancy has announced the winners of the 2025 Lucy G. Moses Preservation Awards, the Conservancy's highest honors for excellence in preservation. The Award recipients demonstrate outstanding and challenging preservation projects that occur throughout the City. NYCHA provides over 500,000 New Yorkers affordable housing across the five boroughs. Many of the developments feature historic public art and several are locally-designated landmarks or listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This year, three restoration projects at NYCHA sites including Harlem River Houses; Nivola Horses at Stephen Wise Towers in Manhattan and Exodus and Dance Frieze, Kingsborough Houses, Brooklyn will receive the Award at a ceremony on April 22nd at 6:00 pm at the Edison Ballroom in Manhattan. The ceremony attracts an audience of more than 500 every year. "The 'Lucy's' celebrate amazing preservation projects from throughout the City that might otherwise remain unheralded," said Peg Breen, President of The New York Landmarks Conservancy. "It's a lively evening showcasing the vision, determination and love people have for their historic properties." Harlem River Houses, West 151st to 153rd Streets, Macombs Place to Harlem River Drive, Manhattan: Harlem River Houses was built between 1936 and 1937. It was the first federally-funded and constructed public housing development in New York City. With an efficient organization of buildings, thoughtfully laid out apartments, and generous proportion of landscaped open space, Harlem River Houses embodies a Modernist planning philosophy and set a precedent for higher standards in all classes of public housing development. The NYC Landmarks Preservation Commission designated it as a landmark in 1975. This expansive project encompassed restoration of the seven buildings, hundreds of apartments, large open spaces, and public art. Curtis + Ginsberg was the project architect; Higgins, Quasebarth & Partners was the preservation consultant. Brick facades were repaired and repointed. Thousands of non-historic double-hung windows were replaced with new aluminum casement windows that match the configuration of the historic steel casement windows. New energy efficient HVAC systems were installed, and apartment interiors were upgraded. Historic landscaping, including playgrounds, courtyards, and walkways, was restored with improvements for safety, accessibility, and quality of life. Non-historic elements such as asphalt paving and fencing were removed and new Belgian-block paving to match the historic installed. The public art program was a significant feature of the Harlem River Houses and has been a focus of the rehabilitation, as long-damaged sculptures and statues have been repaired and conserved. Nivola Horses, Stephen Wise Towers, 117 West 90th Street, Manhattan: When the Stephen Wise Towers opened in 1965, a notable feature was the landscaped plaza, with a "herd" of 18 abstract, plump, cast concrete horse sculptures. The horses, created by sculptor and muralist Costantino Nivola, defined the children's play area for over 50 years. In that time, they were well-used but suffered, as muzzles were smashed off, and hooves were encased in concrete. A 2021 water main break led to an emergency removal, and severe damage to the sculptures. Jablonski Building Conservation oversaw the work to rebuild the horses. The extant remains were cleaned and conserved, but 186 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000246 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0023527 replacing missing pieces proved challenging as there were no records other than a few photographs. Luckily another herd of Nivola horses was located in a Columbus, Indiana school. Molds were taken from the Midwesterners, and used to recreate the lost hooves and muzzles. Historic photos and satellite imagery guided the location and angle of the re-installations. This herd of horses is once again roaming the plaza, to the delight of the many children who play there. Exodus and Dance Frieze, Kingsborough Houses, 154 Kingsborough 1st Walk, Brooklyn: This majestic frieze by noted Black and LGBT sculptor Richmond Barthe was created under the auspices of the Works Progress Administration. It dates to 1939 and was intended for placement at the Harlem River Houses, but was installed at Kingsborough Houses when it opened in 1941. The cast stone frieze depicts stylized Biblical imagery and African dance figures. By 2018, it had suffered extreme deterioration, with open joints, hairline cracks, large holes, and graffiti. Public attention to this plight led to Federal, City Council, and grant funding from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation to finance a scope of work. Ronnette Riley Architect and EverGreene Architectural Arts collaborated on the project to restore the frieze, re-set it at a new supportive wall, and upgrade the lighting. Remaining funds will be used for an interpretation and education program. The 2025 Lucy G. Moses Preservation Project Award recipients include: 7 South Portland Avenue, Brooklyn; 1450 Pacific Street, Brooklyn; Brooklyn Bridge; Edward Mooney House; The General Society of Mechanics & Tradesmen of the City of New York; National Society of Colonial Dames in the State of New York; The New Victory Theater; New York City Housing Authority Exodus and Dance Frieze at Kingsborough Houses, Harlem River Houses and Nivola Horses at Stephen Wise Towers; New York Stock Exchange; Palace Theatre; Powell Building; Shubert & Booth Theatres; Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Arch; St. Raphael Roman Catholic Church and The Twenty Two. Susan Olsen will receive the 2025 Preservation Leadership Award in honor of her lifetime of work in cultural resource management and preservation education. She has served as Director of Historical Services at Woodlawn Cemetery, a National Historic Landmark, for 22 years. Ann-Isabel Friedman will receive the 2025 Special Award for Preservation Service in honor of her career in preservation and over two decades of service as The New York Landmarks Conservancy's Director of the Sacred Sites Program. The Lucy G. Moses Preservation Awards recognize individuals, organizations, and building owners for their extraordinary contributions to the City. The Conservancy is grateful for the support of the Henry and Lucy Moses Fund, which makes the Awards possible. The New York Landmarks Conservancy, a private non-profit organization, has led the effort to preserve and protect New York City's architectural legacy for more than 50 years. Since its founding, the Conservancy has loaned and granted more than $62 million, which has leveraged almost $1 billion in restoration projects throughout New York, revitalizing communities, providing economic stimulus, and supporting local jobs. The Conservancy has also offered countless hours of pro bono technical advice to building owners, both nonprofit organizations, and individuals. The Conservancy's work has saved more than a thousand buildings across the City and State, protecting New 187 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000246 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0023528 York's distinctive architectural heritage for residents and visitors alike today, and for future generations. [NY] As construction costs rise `particularly fast,' price tag for new Chelsea public housing jumps (Crain's NY Business, NY) - full text Crain's NY Business [3/14/2025 8:03 AM, Aaron Elstein, 226K, NY] After years of talk, the city is ready to tear down NYCHA's Fulton and Elliott-Chelsea houses and replace them with 2,000 new apartments, an urgently needed move that could point the way forward for New York's crumbling supply of public housing. While city officials wait for the federal government's green light to begin the work, the project's price tag is rising rapidly. It's now expected to cost $1.9 billion to redevelop the Fulton and Elliott-Chelsea houses, according to a presentation given to Manhattan Community Board 4 in October. The price has probably risen further considering that last month the cost of iron and steel jumped by 4%, a rate the trade group Associated Builders and Contractors described Thursday as "particularly fast." The $1.9 billion estimate marks a 25% increase over a forecast made in 2023. Rising prices for materials are driving up costs for public works and commercial construction, forcing developers to delay or dial down their plans. The New York Building Congress expects total construction spending to decline by nearly 10% this year, to $63 billion. Tariffs are starting to affect prices too. Associated Builders and Contractors attributed last month's steep increase in steel prices to "tariffs providing domestic producers with increased pricing power." The Washington-based group with 23,000 members said input costs for nonresidential projects are rising at a "far too hot" annualized rate of 9%. The rapid escalation in costs poses a particular challenge for the New York City Housing Authority, commonly known as NYCHA, whose portfolio needs $80 billion worth of repairs. "Rising costs underscore the importance of moving forward with urgency to address the mounting capital needs at these developments and across the entire NYCHA portfolio," an agency spokesman said. -This project has been kicking around since 2018," said Sean Campion, director of housing and economic development studies at the Citizens Budget Commission. "If we started then, it would have been much faster and at a much lower cost." The NYCHA spokesman said the price of the Fulton and Elliott-Chelsea project has risen because asbestos and lead-abatement work is driving up the cost of demolition, while rising material and labor prices have lifted the cost of construction. Floorplans have been increased to better accommodate community spaces, apartments and mechanical systems. Costs for borrowing money to finance the project have also risen. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development didn't respond to an email seeking comment about the approval status of the Fulton and Elliott-Chelsea work. NYCHA hopes its plan to demolish and develop public housing in Chelsea with a combination of public and private money is a formula that can be repeated elsewhere. For its part, the city has teamed up with The Related Cos., the developer of Hudson Yards, which with other partners has committed to investing $63 million to demolish the aging public housing in Chelsea and build anew, according to the community board presentation. The balance of the project would be paid for by a combination of tax credits, bonds and land leasing. That last source could be the key to the project and 188 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000246 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0023529 ensure demolition and redevelopment proceeds even if costs continue to rise. Because Fulton and Elliott-Chelsea sit on some of the most valuable land in NYCHA's portfolio, if more money is needed, the city-owned ground could be leased on a long-term basis, said Campion. Related wants to develop 2,500 market-rate and 1,000 affordable apartments on the sites. It's not just public housing projects that have cause for concern. Everyone in the market for lumber, sheet metal and concrete is feeling the pinch. "Some things have come back down in price a bit, but nothing is as cheap as it was a few years ago," said Max Koeppel, director of leasing at Koeppel Rosen, a firm that manages 20 commercial buildings in Midtown. A few blocks north of the Fulton and Elliott-Chelsea houses, Vornado Realty Trust has been trying for nearly 20 years to develop a 2 million-square-foot office tower on the site of the former Hotel Pennsylvania. across from Madison Square Garden. Piper Sandler analyst Alexander Goldfarb estimated in a report this week that the tower would now cost $4 billion. Getting it done at that price would require net rents of at least $150 per square foot, he told Crain's, or at least 25% higher than tenants paid to move into Hudson Yards. But he doesn't think the issue has to do with international trade. "Costs have soared over the last four years, and it has nothing to do with tariffs," Goldfarb said. "That's inflation." [NY] Dozens of tenants suing a Brooklyn landlord for neglect and badly needed repairs - say Section 8 assistance cut off (Yahoo! News) - full text Yahoo! News [3/14/2025 6:44 AM, Sarah Li-Cain, 52868K] As a renter, you move somewhere in good faith that your landlord will keep up their end of the bargain and take care of the property. Sadly, that's not always the case. More than two dozen tenants in Brooklyn are taking their landlord to court for what they say are unlivable conditions. "How can you ask for rent under these deplorable conditions?" one tenant said in an interview with CBS News New York. Even if the landlord agrees to repairs, tenants are still worried about losing their apartments in the process. So what exactly is happening that the tenants are reacting this way, and what is their landlord doing about it? CBS reports that tenants say their apartments at the Red Hook Gardens complex have had issues for years. Among them are trash buildup, rat and cockroach infestations, and leaks. Lori Jones, one of the residents, said that "when it rains, sometimes it pours in my house" and "somebody gotta climb out the window to let us out the house," referring to getting stuck in her apartment because of a broken lock on her front door. In addition to the front door, CBS reporters noted that Jones' upstairs bathroom door was also not secure, and that mold could be seen in multiple locations of her apartment during their tour. Tenants say the lack of repairs as well as redevelopment plans by Carroll Gardens Association, the nonprofit that manages the complex, have resulted in them losing their Section 8 vouchers. Also known as housing choice vouchers, this government program is administered by public housing agencies and offers financial assistance for the elderly, people with disabilities and very low-income families to help pay for housing. Without this assistance, tenants like the ones living in Red Hook Gardens could struggle financially. 189 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000246 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0023530 Johnny Rivera, the tenant organizer from Brooklyn Legal Service Corp A, the organization currently representing the tenants, says the best solution is to make emergency repairs and put it in writing that tenants are guaranteed a place when they return. In an official statement sent to CBS News New York, a representative from Carroll Gardens Association, the official landlord, says that it will be identifying repairs and creating an action plan to address them, as well as prioritizing the restoration of tenants' Section 8 vouchers. The statement also says, "As part of the Red Hook Gardens redevelopment, which will bring 300 units of 100% affordable housing to Red Hook, all current residents are given a written document of their legal right to return upon completion." The New York City Tenant Bill of Rights outlines the basic rights all tenants have, including additional rights for those living in rent-stabilized units. As part of their rights, tenants are entitled to safe and well-maintained housing, clear of mold, garbage and leaks. Plus, landlords need to provide locks that work, and a safe environment, with smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, and reliable provisions for "essential services." If you're a tenant in New York City, living in a privately owned building like the ones at Red Hook Gardens, you have a right to make reasonable requests for repairs from the landlord. If your building superintendent, property manager or landlord doesn't respond to your request, you need to ask in writing and follow up as necessary. Specifying what needs to be repaired and how it affects the livability and safety of your building is helpful. You can also file a complaint with the New York City's Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) if none of the above tactics work. Once you do so, you'll receive a Service Request number -- keep this for your records. Then, the HPD will work with your landlord or property manager to correct the issue and contact you at a later date to see if your request was addressed. If not, an inspector will come to your home and inspect it to see if there are any violations, and send a notice to your landlord if the HPD finds any. If the violation isn't resolved within 70 days, you may be in a position to take your landlord to Housing Court (in some cases, free legal assistance may be available). [NY] Crews respond to fire at Marine Drive Apartments (WGRZ TV, NY) WGRZ TV [3/15/2025 7:27 PM, Sarah Russo, 903K, NY] VIDEO. The Buffalo Fire Department responded to a fire at 205 Marine Drive in the Bayshore Building of the Marine Drive Apartment complex on Saturday. Smoke could be seen coming out of multiple windows on the 10th floor of the 12-story building around 8:30 a.m. According to city officials, the fire was called in around 8:00 a.m. at the complex operated by the Buffalo Municipal Housing Authority. A spokesperson for the Buffalo Fire Department told 2 On Your Side that the fire started in a bedroom and that two adults were displaced and being assisted by the Red Cross. The fire caused an estimated $25,000 in damage to the building and $10,000 in damage to the contents. The cause of the fire remains under investigation. [NJ] Housing authority goes beyond homes (Essex News Daily, NJ) - full text Essex News Daily [3/15/2025 5:13 AM, Joe Ungaro, 5K, NJ] The Orange Housing Authority hosted an Information Expo on Thursday, March 6, in the 190 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000246 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0023531 community room of the Walter G. Alexander Village complex on Wilson Place. "We invited a number of different community organizations to speak to people so they can find jobs, get health care, counseling, talk to PSE&G and other agencies that provide services," Orange Housing Authority Executive Director Walter McNeil said. The agencies at the expo included: La Casa de Don Pedro, which helps with early childhood issues, community empowerment and healthy homes, including home energy assistance, weatherization and lead remediation. PSE&G, the utility which was there doing both recruiting and providing assistance with questions about paying bills. Greater Essex Counseling Services, which provides help with behavioral problems, substance abuse, and immigration issues. The New Jersey Department of Health, which provides a wide range of health related services. The National Career Institute, an East Orange based trade school that provides training in health care, construction, HVAC and a variety of other trades. Orange Councilmember-At-Large Weldon M. Montague III, who worked in the Department of Labor for 30 years, was at the event. Montague is a member of Ebenezer Baptist Church, where he has coordinated the Hire Ground Career Services Program since 2016. The program helps people get jobs, drug counseling, educational referrals, and a GED. Montague said he has worked with National Career Institute in the past and found it to be an excellent resource. "I do a lot of job training across the city and they help a lot of people," Montague said of NCI. "They can change your life." Montague said a holistic approach to housing is important. "What we try to do is get you healthy and whole," Montague said. "Just giving someone a job doesn't help. You have to get rid of the problem." Latisha Singley works in the housing authority office and she said the number of people coming in looking for help with housing has been steadily increasing. "A lot of people are struggling, trying to find shelter, pay for it. pay the security deposit," Singley said. Montague said having a job, a home and being able to take care of yourself is particularly important right now. "If you are working and self-sufficient, the things happening in Washington, D.C. won't trickle down to you," Montague said. [NJ] Hoboken Housing Authority is 1st in N.J. to set wage & benefits for security officers (Hudson County View, NJ) - full text Hudson County View [3/15/2025 12:33 PM, John Heinis, 43K, NJ] The Hoboken Housing Authority is the 1st in New Jersey to set wage and benefits for security officers at Thursday's board of commissioners meeting. The collective bargaining agreement, which was approved via resolution unanimously (7-0), will raise officers' total compensation to $20.55 an hour. "Many guards like me do not have a union contract and suffer from the race to the bottom that occurs when minimum standards are not set for public contracts," Christian Hill, a six-year security officer who lives in the HHA and a member of 32BJ SEIU, said at the meeting. "Without these minimum standards that you are considering today, a guard is only assured minimum wage and health plans that are often too expensive. By adopting this policy, you will be ensuring that your guards do not have to choose between having to pay for rent, groceries, or medicine." 191 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000246 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0023532 32BJ SEIU represents 15,000 cleaners, security officers, airport workers and food service workers in the state of New Jersey, 1,500 of whom work in Hudson County. "The adoption of this critical resolution is a significant step forward in ensuring that the Hoboken Housing Authority security officers are compensated fairly for the essential work they do every day," added Mayor Ravi Bhalla, who is running for a state Assembly seat in the 32nd Legislative District. "By tying wage rates to the largest security officer collective bargaining agreement in the county, we are setting a higher standard for others to emulate and reinforcing our commitment to fairness and equity. I want to thank the Hoboken Housing Authority's Board of Commissioners for their leadership in adopting this measure and 32BJ SEIU for their unwavering advocacy in making this a reality." 32BJ SEIU New Jersey Political Director Adrian Orozco also expressed enthusiasm about the move. "The proposed resolution to establish minimum wage and benefit rates for security contractors at Hoboken Housing Authority is a community-wide investment in Hoboken, promoting higher public safety standards for HHA residents while creating good jobs for low-wage workers," he said. "Service jobs that support the maintenance and operation of public housing authorities should pay living wages and promote pathways out of poverty. 32BJ commends HHA, its board and Director Marc Recko on their leadership on family-sustaining job standards and its commitment to uplifting Hoboken communities. We also thank Mayor Bhalla for his invaluable support for these higher standards." [PA] New Pittsburgh Housing Authority board nominees tour Manchester with Gainey (Pittsburgh Tribune Review, PA) - full text Pittsburgh Tribune Review [3/14/2025 12:33 PM, Julia Burdelski, 1413K, PA] Jala Rucker loves Pittsburgh's Manchester neighborhood so much she tells her kids that when she dies, she wants to be buried in her backyard. She loves her neighbors. She loves that her kids are known in the area. She loves how the tight-knit Manchester community prides itself on keeping its streets clean. And she loves that she used to feel comfortable knocking on any neighbors' door for help when she was a kid. "When you build a foundation, your house becomes your home, and your neighbors are important," Rucker said Friday. "Stability means everything." That's why Rucker feels so passionately about helping her neighbors find affordable housing options that enable them to stay in the communities they call home. Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey has appointed her to another term on the board of the Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh, where she serves as vice chair. She also is co-chair of the Pittsburgh Housing Justice Table. On Friday, Rucker served as a tour guide, leading elected officials and new appointees to the authority's board for a brief walking tour of Manchester, pointing out different affordable housing options in the community. She stood outside of an eight-unit building on Sheffield Street that had once been her home. The private landlord who owned the site, she said, neglected it, leaving her living alongside rodents and bed bugs. Rucker worked with her neighbors to form a tenant council to advocate for better living conditions. Eventually, the Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh stepped in and reacquired the property. They're renovating the building now, Rucker said, pointing out new air conditioning units sitting in the backyard, ready to be installed. A block away, she 192 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000246 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0023533 pointed out red-brick houses alongside homeowner-occupied homes. No one would know just by looking at them, but they're affordable housing made available through the housing authority, too. Pennsylvania Bidwell, an authority apartment building, offers affordable housing catered to seniors and disabled residents. Right across the street, a 12-unit affordable housing complex is being renovated. Rucker said such affordable housing options are paramount for the community. But officials worry that President Donald Trump's sweeping cuts to the federal government and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development could make it harder to maintain existing housing options and build more affordable units. Gainey said he's still hoping for collaboration between city, county and federal government officials to protect affordable housing and bring more to the market. He joined the walking tour of Manchester with his new appointees to the seven-member housing authority board: Wasi Mohamed, who serves as chief of staff to U.S. Rep. Summer Lee, D-Swissvale; Charlise Smith, who founded WAVE, a Pittsburgh-based housing advocacy organization; and Tammy Thompson, president and CEO of Catapult Greater Pittsburgh, a local advocacy group that aims to help systemically disenfranchised populations. City Council will need to approve their nominations. Council scheduled a public interview with the nominees next Tuesday. If approved, the new members would serve on the board through March 2029. Gainey reiterated his goals of fighting gentrification and building more affordable housing. He also promised to ensure the city is a welcoming place for immigrants who could boost Pittsburgh's population. "We want to see our city expand," Gainey said. He declined to say whether he wanted to see new leadership at the authority, though Thompson immediately called for leadership changes. Smith said her priority would be to improve the systems in place at the authority to address persistent concerns people have about yearslong waiting lists for housing. Mohamed touted his ties to Washington and said local leaders need to make sure Trump and his supporters understand what potential cuts to housing funding and HUD leadership could mean for everyday Americans. "Our experience so far working with the Trump administration has been they don't even understand what they're cutting," he said. "In certain cases, they've reversed their decisions." Local leaders, Mohamed said, can use their platforms to ensure Trump officials know that cutting housing initiatives could hurt seniors, people with disabilities and low-income neighbors in communities like Manchester. "What we need to do is make sure they understand who's going to be harmed here," he said. [DC] D.C. public housing officials drill deep to heat and cool new homes (Washington Post) - full text Washington Post [3/15/2025 6:00 AM, Aaron Wiener, 31735K] The temperature hovered around freezing on a recent winter morning, but 400 feet under the ground, it was a comparatively toasty 55 degrees, give or take. That's why a 25-ton drill rig was driving rods deep into the soil at the site of one of the biggest transformations of public housing in D.C. history. The driving force behind the effort at the redeveloped Barry Farm public housing complex in Southeast Washington was 193 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000246 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0023534 hockey legend Mike Richter, who now heads the company responsible for carrying out the $5.5 million geothermal installation. When complete, the bore holes will host a geothermal heating and cooling system -- the first large-scale community geothermal project ever undertaken in the city. "The goal is to lower operational costs and decarbonize, in that order," said Richter, the former New York Rangers goalie, who is now president of New York-based Brightcore Energy. Barry Farm residents were moved out of their homes in 2019 to make way for its redevelopment into a mixed-income community, as part of the city's broader New Communities Initiative to rehabilitate public housing. Progress has been slow, beset by legal battles. In November, Mayor Muriel E. Bowser (D) finally cut the ribbon on the first completed building, the Asberry, with affordable apartments prioritizing seniors. The geothermal system will bring heating and cooling to the next two portions of the project: the Edmonson, with 139 affordable apartments, including 50 for returning Barry Farm residents; and 98 apartments in townhouse-style stacked flats, including 42 for returning residents. Richter knows a thing or two about thriving in the cold. He spent more than a decade on the ice as the Hall of Fame goalie for the Rangers, winning the National Hockey League's Stanley Cup in 1994 and the silver medal at the 2002 Olympics. After retiring from hockey in 2003, Richter enrolled at Yale University through a program for nontraditional students, earning an undergraduate degree, and considered running for Congress as a Democrat in Connecticut. Instead, he entered the renewable energy industry, serving as a founding partner at two funds focused on resource efficiency and renewable technology. In 2016, he became president of Brightcore. Richter says geothermal heating and cooling systems are just beginning to be understood in the United States. "It's kind of where solar was 20 years ago," he said. "People are like, 'How do I do this?" The human use of subterranean heat sources goes back millennia, and other countries far outpace the United States in geothermal adoption. Ninety percent of Iceland's home heating comes from geothermal, as does 30 percent of the country's electricity, compared with 0.4 percent of U.S. electricity_ High up-front costs, more generous subsidies for other renewable energy forms, the challenge of finding appropriate sites -- particularly in dense urban environments -- and the cheap availability of fossil fuels have hindered geothermal development in the United States. But the technology may be having a moment here, as some companies use fracking processes and other techniques to try to tap into underground heat energy. An urban center like D.C. doesn't typically lend itself to commercial-scale geothermal plants. "The problem is, it's very difficult to deploy in retrofits and urban areas," Richter said. But Barry Farm presented an opportunity: a huge project being built from the ground up, with substantial public investment. D.C.'s Public Service Commission, which regulates utilities in the city, provided a $2.5 million grant, and the city-created D.C. Green Bank supplied $3 million in financing. Brightcore is building the system in partnership with the nonprofit Preservation of Affordable Housing and the D.C. Housing Authority, co-developers of the Barry Farm project. The system will work like this: A closed loop of piping will circulate a water-based 194 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000246 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0023535 solution between the buildings and the geothermal underground wells, whose consistent temperature warms or cools the liquid. In the winter, heat pumps will use the warmed liquid to heat the building, using far less energy than an air-source heat pump, which would have to warm the frigid outdoor air. In the summer, the system will reverse and transfer heat from the building into the cooler ground. Walking around the perimeter of the enormous pit where the rig was drilling stacked 20-foot rods into the earth, Cameron Best, Brightcore's director of business development, noted the importance of incorporating energy efficiency into the project now, before buildings block access to the underground. "This land is going to get locked up for decades," he said. "We have to be thoughtful about what we're doing long term," agreed Maia Shanklin Roberts, vice president for Preservation of Affordable Housing. The buildings will have a 99-year affordability covenant, she pointed out, so this is the chance to lock in the kind of clean-energy investment that low-income properties don't often get. The multifamily buildings being constructed at Barry Farm, she said, are also designed to meet energy efficiency standards for what is known as passive housing. The Barry Farm project is one of two community-scale geothermal systems being planned in the District as part of a pilot project. The other, at the Meadow Green Courts apartment complex in Southeast, is still in its design phase. Emile C. Thompson, chairman of the Public Service Commission, said the model at Barry Farm could be applied to other public housing redevelopments across the city if it's successful. He said geothermal held a distinct advantage over solar power, which has been employed more widely across the District: It works all day and night, not just when the sun is shining. "This is a really innovative project," Thompson said of the Barry Farm initiative. "You don't often see these systems within a dense urban environment, so this is a unique opportunity to see how it works." The drilling at Barry Farm began in the fall, and 25 of the 50 bore holes have been drilled. Brightcore expects to finish building the geothermal system in January 2026. The Edmonson is slated to be completed in late 2026, with the townhouses following in 2027. Brightcore estimates the geothermal system will reduce the buildings' energy use by about 35 percent and produce 24.5 fewer tons of carbon emissions annually than a highefficiency air-source heat pump. Because renters of the affordable apartments pay just 30 percent of their income on rent, including utilities, they won't personally see these savings, said Shanklin Roberts. But "by reducing the utility cost, we're able to have more income from the rent to support this project," she said, gesturing to the construction site -- for things like staffing, maintenance and repairs. Richter said residents will still benefit directly from the geothermal installation, given that public housing often lacks decent heating systems and gets cold in the winter. "You can start to make these places not just more affordable," Richter said, "but more livable." [AR] Resilience and triumph - The journey of Stephenie and Dylan (Russellville Courier, AR) - full text Russellville Courier [3/14/2025 12:34 PM, Sean Ingram, 9K, AR] The Russellville Housing Authority (RHA) has announced a new project, where they will be highlighting success stories of past and present tenants. These stories are a testament to the strength, endurance, and grit of our community members. Stephenie 195 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000246 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0023536 and Dylan are former tenants of the Russellville Public Housing Authority. Their journey exemplifies resilience, determination, and the transformative power of community support. Their story shines as a beacon of hope, demonstrating how dedication and the right opportunities can lead to success and self-sufficiency. During a recent interview, Stephenie and Dylan shared their experiences, challenges, and triumphs, and offered inspiration to others who may find themselves in similar situations. Stephenie explained she had a very challenging childhood. "I was abandoned at a young age and grew up with several stepmothers," she said. "I endured abuse, and my father relinquished his parental rights. Eventually, I was sent to live in Las Vegas, where I met my mother for the first time. I had my firstborn child while living in Vegas. Shortly after, I was kicked out of my mom's house and separated from my child. "I came to Russellville that same year and met Dylan. During that period, I was coping with significant trauma and became suicidal. Today, I am four years clean! Now that I have a baby, she is who I live for. I also currently live with an autoimmune disorder called Lupus and Rheumatoid Arthritis, which has its own set of challenges, but out of everything I've been through, I can live with that." Residents of public housing since 2022, Stephenie said they were homeless before public housing put a roof over their heads. "I was pregnant with my second child, living in an old 1997 Dodge pickup truck, which was challenging during the winter," she explained. "When you're living on the streets with a child, your number one priority is getting a roof over their head. Everything we worked toward was providing a safe place for them. Having Public Housing provide us that was a great thing. We are so thankful for that. "We are now stable and supported, and I can stay at home with the baby. Dylan, through all the struggles, never gave up. We are so grateful that he is providing for us no matter what. We recently went on a trip to Florida, where we were able to enjoy ourselves as a family. We also got a new car with the help of Grandma, so now we have transportation." Stephenie noted the first year, it was challenging for Dylan to get a job in Russellville. But Public Housing helped them with utilities and paid our rent. "The community helped us immensely," she said. "Brandy from Profitigy brought baby clothes, diapers, and anything else we needed. Additionally, people from the community, whom we didn't even know, would bring us food and other necessities. Dylan's mom also helped us greatly. Now we have more than $3,000 saved up. "We want to get a house on a piece of land, have farm animals, and a garden. Dylan wants a new pickup truck. And if I am able, I'd like to homeschool our daughter and teach her essential life skills like managing finances and living off the land. Stephenie pointed out there may be future bumps in the road, but once you get going. You can never stop. "We can't afford to give up when our daughter's future is in our hands. She deserves both parents who work together to succeed in life so she can be happy and supported." Speaking directly to people she knows who may be unhoused right now, urged them to ask for help; to go to the housing authority, get the paperwork, fill it out and keep going no matter how hard it is. "Don't be afraid to ask for help," she noted. "Life is going to get hard, and there will be times when you want to lay down and give up, but once you get up, there will be people to support you. It's all about what you want in life and what you're willing to work for. 196 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000246 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0023537 Especially if you have a family to provide for. Your babies are everything, and they should be enough motivation to keep going." What really drives Dylan is the loss of his brother, he said. "The day I lost my brother (Sgt. Dalton "DK" Willrns) was devastating. He was my role model growing up. After his passing, I wanted to give up, but I knew I had to stay strong for my family. I got things done and never gave up. It hurts a lot, but I have a family that needs me, and a promise to keep." Stephenie and Dylan's story is a testament to the potential that lies within each individual, given the right support and opportunities. Their journey from tenants to future homeowners showcases the importance of community housing programs and the positive impact they can have on people's lives. "At Russellville Public Housing, we hope their story inspires others to pursue their dreams and believe in their ability to overcome obstacles," said Elly Gutierrez of RHA. "We are committed to supporting our residents in achieving their goals and creating brighter futures for themselves and their families. We believe that every story is unique and has the power to inspire. If you or someone you know has a success story to share, we would love to hear from you!" [IL] Lease rates plummet for Chicago housing voucher holders (Real Deal) - full text Real Deal [3/13/2025 2:30 PM, Judah Duke. 1053K] Voucher recipients across Illinois are struggling to find housing as challenges in subsidized housing programs grow, the Chicago Tribune reported. Most subsidies come through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's Housing Choice Voucher Program, which allows recipients to pay about 30 percent of their income toward rent while local housing authorities cover the rest. Yet many recipients are unable to lease units due to hurdles including landlords refusing to accept vouchers, often due to discrimination, and a lack of inventory. The Chicago Housing Authority's lease-up rates fell to 31 percent last year, down from 45 percent in 2023. The figure ranged from 61 percent to 77 percent between 2019 and 2022. Similarly, the North Chicago Housing Authority reported a 50 percent lease-up rate last year, while the Lake County Housing Authority logged 62 percent. Some recipients are still searching for homes, meaning these rates could shift. The struggle to find housing can be grueling for voucher holders, who may have to sleep in their cars or couch surf, shower at the gym and store personal items at work. Once they are approved for vouchers, the clock is ticking, and time can run out before they find housing. Some housing authorities are adopting strategies to address the problems. Housing authorities in Waukegan, North Chicago and Lake County last year agreed to allow voucher holders to lease units in any of their jurisdictions, aiming to expand options and increase lease-up rates. Waukegan and Lake County have also received HUD approval to offer monetary incentives to landlords. Meanwhile, landlords cite barriers like bureaucratic delays, inspections and a lack of standardization across housing authorities. Some housing providers have called for streamlining the process through faster unit approvals and more consistent administrative standards. Nationally, about 60 percent of voucher holders are able to lease units, according to New York University's Furman Center for Real Estate and Urban Policy. The rates are lower in markets with older housing stock and among recipients of color -- two conditions that especially apply in Chicago. 197 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000246 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0023538 [IL] Former Sportsman's Lounge demolished to make way for apartment complex (Springfield Business Journal, IL) - full text Springfield Business Journal [3/15/2025 11:27 AM, Michelle Ownbey, 7K, IL] It's been more than a year since Sportsman's Lounge served its last pork tenderloin, and the building at 229 W. Mason St. is being demolished to make way for a new development. The building, originally used as a livery stable, was constructed in the late 1800s. It later became a bar that operated under various names until becoming known as Sportsman's Lounge in 1957. Four local investors, Greg Sronce, Matthew Davlin, Zach Washko and Dan Moja, purchased the business and real estate in March 2021 from Ralph "Pat" Patkus, who had operated the tavern since 2008. It reopened at the end of 2021 following extensive renovations, but Sept. 15, 2023, was the last day of operations. That same month, the Springfield City Council approved a zoning change to allow for construction of a 24-unit apartment complex known as Mason Street Apartments. Windsor Development Group is the developer for the project, which will provide permanent supportive housing for formerly homeless individuals. Clients in permanent supportive housing pay no more than 30% of their income for rent and typically receive ongoing case management services. Windsor completed a similar project, Park Avenue Residences, on the city's west side last year. Both projects received financing from the Illinois Housing Development Authority. Mike Niehaus, president of Windsor Development Group, said that the support of IHDA and Springfield Housing Authority were crucial to the project. "Springfield Housing Authority is providing project-based rental assistance for the people occupying the units, and that's what makes it viable," he said. "Kudos to SHA for their involvement to make this successful." Ward 5 Ald. Lakeisha Purchase previously told Illinois Times that the apartment complex for people who used to be unhoused would be an asset to a neighborhood dominated by vacant lots and rental properties. She said she worked with Niehaus to find a suitable location for the project near hospitals and mental-health services. The Heartland Housed action plan for Springfield and the rest of Sangamon County has highlighted a need for more affordable housing. Niehaus said that Heartland Housed will be the service provider for the Mason Street Apartments, which will include a unit for an onsite manager. Plans for the project call for the construction of 22 apartments spread over three twostory buildings on a 50,240-square-foot site. The project also required the acquisition of several adjacent parking lots. "We have half a block bounded by Rutledge, Mason and Klein," Niehaus said. "From the alley south, that's what we'll use to build on." He said he anticipates completing construction in late spring. [IL] KDBA students researching connection between poverty and crime, impacts of public housing on mental health (Commercial-News, IL) - full text Commercial-News [3/15/2025 6:00 AM, Kaighla White, 15K, IL] On a sunny Thursday afternoon in March, a dozen or so students in a classroom at Kenneth D. Bailey Academy (KDBA) in Danville participate in a Zoom call. They're taking turns asking social worker Krista Taylor questions about her work with victims of sexual assault and how they sometimes struggle with mental health issues. The interview is part of an ongoing research project the students are working on as part of the University of 198 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000246 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0023539 Illinois Extension Office's Youth Participatory Action Research project (YPAR). YPAR is a state-wide initiative that gives teens the opportunity to learn and practice research skills by completing projects relevant to their lives and presenting their findings to lawmakers and others in power, according to Amy Leman -- a University of Illinois professor and researcher who oversees the KDBA program along with research partner Jacinda Dariotis. The program at KDBA is funded by the Institute for Government and Public Affairs through the University of Illinois -- an institute which aims to "improve public policy discussion through nonpartisan, evidence-based research and public engagement in Illinois," according to the institute's website. The institute does this by establishing communication between scholars and lawmakers in the hopes they will pursue objective, research-driven solutions. Power is a key concept in the YPAR program, according to Leman. Unlike other programs, YPAR is entirely youth-led, with researchers, grad students, and high school teachers playing a supportive role and offering guidance. "School is very adult-power heavy. [Teens] don't have the power, so we're trying to put them in these positions to give them power to make change," Leman said. "It is their ideas. They are deciding what happens next." As part of their project each year, students choose an issue or two to explore, develop a research plan, interview experts, and craft survey questions they later send to local people impacted by the issue they're studying. After receiving survey responses, students get to work compiling their findings in pie charts, graphs, and thematic lists. By the end of the school year, they use their findings to come up with an action plan to present to people in power. In 2023, KDBA students Armarni Eaton, Ariel Gosser, Krissa Sims, Mariya McCullough, Cyntavia Suggs, and Tashonna Jones studied the link between poverty and crime, later presenting their findings at UIUC's annual Undergrad Research Symposium in the Spring of 2024. They began by profiling Danville, finding that despite the museums, library, theaters, state parks, playgrounds, and other opportunities for growth and connection, families still suffer from mental health issues, gun violence, poverty, housing issues, lack of job opportunities, inflation, crime, and drug abuse and addiction. To propel their research forward, the students asked themselves two basic questions: How can people in poverty who commit crimes turn their lives around, and what prevents them from doing so? After interviewing several experts -- including two law enforcement officers, five community activists, two school district employees, and three justice system officers -- students narrowed it down to one key issue: poverty. "When people are in poverty, they need help with resources for their everyday needs, and crime is often due to one bad decision, not because those who commit crime are bad people," according to their presentation. They also learned that kids do not always know the best way to work out their issues, which can lead them to making decisions they later regret. Their solution: building relationships. "Forming connections and relationships with people helps meet their needs and keep them from crime," their presentation reads. "Building relationships can help young people go down a different path and want to pursue a better future and It life. This year's YPAR classes at KDBA are in the midst of working through another research 199 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000246 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0023540 project, this time about the ways living in public housing may impact the mental health of those who reside there. Their first step was interviewing Jaclyn Vinson, executive director of the Vermilion County Housing Authority. "We got information about public housing and how the environment can affect people," student Tylyn Davis said. After speaking with Vinson, students also interviewed their school social worker. Then it was time to write survey questions to ascertain how people living in public housing feel mentally. "Do you feel safe? Do you feel connected to the community? Has public housing affected your mental health? What does mental health mean to you?" student Thomas Miller said, giving examples of some of the questions they asked. That process was harder than they envisioned, primarily because it can be so uncomfortable for some people to discuss their mental health, students said. "We want to keep the questions broad, but not too broad," student Breelinn Bell said. "Because some things could be triggering for other people, especially with the mental health topic. So we try to avoid personal questions. We're not trying to get too much information." "People for some reason like to ignore the fact that they have feelings and emotions," Miller said. "It could be very difficult to get information out of that person if they're hiding their feelings about mental health," Davis said. Students sent their surveys to all public housing recipients across Vermilion County, Leman said, thanks to a list of addresses Vinson gave them. They received back 14 responses, most of which said the respondent does not feel safe in their public housing unit. Students also discovered from the survey responses was how ill-informed the public can be about mental health in general. "Someone said mental health is being slow or short-minded or even having lung problems," Miller said. "Some said it was just mind over matter," Davis said. After receiving and reviewing all the responses, students compiled them in charts and graphs to get a better idea how widespread the issue was in Vermilion County. Now, they are in the process of coming up with action steps to present at UIUC's Undergrad Research Symposium this year, which will take place Thursday, April 24. Bell, Davis, and Miller said they hope after completing their project, they can help to somehow educate the public on what mental health and illnesses are. They also hope that lawmakers and local authorities will work to learn more about how to improve the safety and well-being of people living in public housing. Leman and her team of researchers hope the program will empower students. "We want to empower our students. It's one of the reasons why we do this so that they can think of themselves as important contributors to their society," Leman said. "What they think is just as important." Over time, Leman hopes to reconnect with previous YPAR participants and learn more about how what they learned there impacted their lives. "What I'm interested in is the long-term process. So, in in three years or five years, what do they remember? What do they think differently about?" she said, adding that she is currently doing exactly that with students who completed another YPAR project in Champaign county several years ago. For the KDBA students, YPAR is a rare opportunity to learn a skill many don't have 200 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000246 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0023541 access to. "Not everyone has had the opportunity to meet with YPAR or have these benefits of getting to know things like this, so I would take this in my life as an educational purpose, and I would try to more or less educate people," Bell said. "We're here to learn and do good things in life, so we would rather the community see us do good things, and be inspired. We want to inspire." [CO] An 8-story apartment building with 86 affordable homes is the latest to rise in Sun Valley (Denverite, CO) - full text Denverite [3/14/2025 6:00 AM, Kyle Harris, 243K, CO] The Joli is the latest Sun Valley development to open its doors to residents. The debut of the eight-story apartment building at 980 Bryant St. signals the beginning of the final stage of the $450 million redevelopment of the neighborhood. Sun Valley used to be a community of brick townhomes and single-family houses, one of the economically poorest and culturally richest in the city and filled with public housing. Several years ago, the city tore down most of the old homes, demolished parks, relocated longtime neighbors and set out to build a mixed-income community. Neighbors who had been living in affordable housing were given relocation assistance and are the priority applicants in the new buildings. The project, designed by Oz Architecture and funded by the Denver Housing Authority, includes 126 units ranging from one to five bedrooms. They include apartments and townhouses, and 86 are designated as affordable. Residents started moving in this week. The affordable units went fast, with a 700-person wait list for a spot, though market-rate units are still available for just under $2,000 a month. Residents will enjoy community garden containers on rooftop patios and outdoor ping-pong tables. Units boast in-unit washers and dryers. The project will eventually include a 6,900-square-foot food incubator and an 84,000-square-foot parking garage. A Sun Valley native is helping her displaced neighbors find their way into these new builds. Alexandra Carrillo, whose family was displaced when the city demolished the neighborhood, has returned to another building near the Joli. "It was well overdue for Sun Valley to get redeveloped," she said. She's now working as a community connector for the Denver Housing Authority, helping old Sun Valley neighbors return to their neighborhood. While the neighborhood's changes are startling, Carrillo is looking forward to the mixed-income community it is designed to serve. She believes that bringing people together across classes will lift everyone up. The biggest perks she sees in the new construction are the functioning air conditioning, the healthy market, gyms, and other modern amenities that were missing in the old townhomes. Yet she misses the tight-knit community of the old Sun Valley, and says it's harder to connect with neighbors in the apartment buildings. The one time people come together is when there are official events. And at least for now, there are fewer playgrounds for children. While there is a play area in her building. Carrillo says the parents don't connect like they used to. Carrillo looks forward to a new park opening next to the South Platte River at the end of 2026 and hopes it helps bring people together more regularly. 201 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000246 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0023542 [NV] Southern Nevada leaders unite to tackle housing crisis through innovative collaboration (KSNV Las Vegas, NV) - full text KSNV Las Vegas [3/13/2025 10:19 AM, Marie Mortera, NV] A double groundbreaking ceremony marked a significant step forward in addressing the housing crisis in Southern Nevada this week. The event celebrated the start of construction on more than 200 affordable apartments in the Northwest and East Valley, aimed at individuals earning 30 to 80 percent of the area median income. "This parcel was owned by the housing authority for 20 years, couldn't get anything to happen and then COVID hit, the president was there, congress, was there, and we got the money," said Clark County Commission Chair Tick Segerblom, highlighting the long-awaited progress made possible through funding from the American Rescue Plan Act and the Home Means Nevada initiative. Las Vegas Mayor Shelley Berkley emphasized the importance of collaboration in tackling housing issues, including homelessness. "This is exactly what collaboration looks like. A meeting of the county and city coming together to help provide affordable housing along with the fed govt and the county and the city very important," she said. Commissioner William McCurdy II shared personal stories to underscore the need for safe housing. "28th and Sunrise is near and dear to my heart because I have a relative and I used to hang out at their house, and it was public housing. We used to call it the Brixton projects," McCurdy said. The Southern Nevada Homelessness Continuum of Care Census has linked rising home prices to an increase in the unhoused population, which saw a 20-percent rise in 2024 compared to the previous year. More than 40 percent of the unhoused population is African American. "One of the root causes of homelessness is lack of employment and wellbeing in terms of day to day way of living so we need to continue more resources for those entering homelessness," McCurdy said. Next week, McCurdy, who is also with the Southern Nevada Regional Housing Authority, will break ground on a historic Westside microbusiness center that will include 76 affordable housing units. Located next to Nevada Partners and the Culinary Academy, the project aims to support job and housing sustainability. [WA] VHA wants blanket approval for housing projects outside of Vancouver from the rest of Clark County (Columbian.com, WA) - full text Columbian.com [3/14/2025 9:09 AM, Alexis Weisend, 349K, WA] The Vancouver Housing Authority wants jurisdictions in Clark County to agree to blanket approval of its housing projects outside of Vancouver, but some officials are hesitant. "I can see both sides of it," Battle Ground City Councilor Victoria Ferrer said in an interview Tuesday. In the city of Vancouver -- which formed VHA in 1942 to manage public housing projects during a rapid influx of wartime workers -- the affordable housing builder doesn't need city council approval for a housing project. The same is true within a 5-mile span around the city. But if VHA wants to create a project outside of that boundary, it needs permission from the government council with jurisdiction, according to Washington law. That means a public proceeding that could span over multiple meetings. "Not only does that slow down the process considerably, it at times could lead to us losing the property . . . to other people," VHA CEO Andy Silver said. Public discussions about price can undermine 202 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000246 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0023543 VHA's negotiating power, Silver said, and delays could allow someone else to scoop up a property on the open market. Instead, VHA is asking jurisdictions in Clark County to pass a resolution allowing it to go forward with purchasing properties, like any other real estate developer, without council approval. The resolution could be helpful to cities as they plan for growth, Silver said. For the first time, Washington has required cities to plan their growth with affordability as a central focus. "We're offering our services to help them meet their goals knowing that there's a pretty limited affordable housing development community here," Silver said. "There (are) just not a lot of nonprofits or other entities that are going to be able to help Battle Ground, Washougal, Camas, Ridgefield meet their targets." When county staff presented such a resolution to the Clark County Council two weeks ago, councilors seemed in support, although they have yet to vote on it. If the council passes the resolution, Silver hopes Washougal and Battle Ground follow suit. "I think this is great," Clark County Councilor Wil Fuentes said. "I think what this does is removes a barrier at a time when we are struggling with building enough housing for our community members." Although unsaid, the resolution would remove another barrier: the ability of cities and the county to deny VHA projects. Jurisdictions outside of Vancouver can reject VHA projects for any reason -- including aesthetics and public perception -- despite many cities having reports detailing a need for more affordable housing. "At what part . . . is an overbalance of affordable housing going to cause a risk to the beauty and attractiveness of this area," Battle Ground Councilor Eric Overholser said in an interview Wednesday. He's one of the councilors who voted against allowing VHA to work with a private developer last April to create an apartment project that would almost double the amount of affordable housing being planned in the city. During the council meeting where councilors kept the partnership from moving forward, Battle Ground Deputy Mayor Shane Bowman said people have a perception that apartment residents steal. (He said he does not agree.). Stay informed on what is happening in Clark County, WA and beyond for only. Some councilors also expressed concern that the project, called Eaton Park, would not generate property taxes for the city because housing authorities are generally exempt. That could keep services from being adequately funded, they said. "I don't know if we need to be in that big of a rush to jump on board and open the flood gates and say, `OK, build wherever you need.' And the next thing you know our taxes are suffering," Overholser said in an interview. Battle Ground has been reluctant to hand out financial incentives for affordable housing in the past. The city council earlier rejected a multifamily tax exemption for Eaton Park. In 2023, it declined to waive system development charges for an affordable senior housing complex called McNair Plaza, according to developers. Battle Ground hasn't spent any of its own money, at least in the past five years, according to the city's records department, to fund affordable housing, despite a 2O21 city report showing a clear need for more. The report found almost two-thirds of people who work in Battle Ground earn less than $40,000 annually. For housing to be considered affordable for them, rent would have to 203 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000246 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0023544 about $1,000 a month -- 50 percent lower than the city's average rent, according to the listing service RentCafe. Ferrer and Overholser both acknowledge the need for affordable housing but said Battle Ground needs to plan for growth while preserving its natural beauty. "I understand the urgent need for affordable housing, but I also, again, want to maintain the integrity of our community values," Ferrer said. "We don't want to look the same as Portland. We don't want the high buildings and the density that comes with it." [CA] LA pauses new Section 8 applications amid funding cuts (Inman) - full text Inman [3/14/2025 12:57 PM, Staff, 98K] The Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles (HACLA) has announced a pause on accepting new Housing Choice Vouchers (HCVs), also known as Section 8 vouchers, which could leave thousands of residents at risk for homelessness, CBS News reported Tuesday. The Section 8 program, which provides rental assistance to 60,000 low-income households, seniors and individuals with disabilities in the city, suspended voucher applications last week due to federal funding reductions. "Due to funding reductions in the Section 8 program, HACLA has announced the need to pause housing application processing for 3,300 families, a decision made with great difficulty and careful consideration of all possible alternatives," HACLA President and CEO Lourdes Castro Ramirez said in a statement. "HACLA is working tirelessly to ensure that current voucher holders remain supported and families receiving housing assistance remain housed regardless of uncertainties in federal funding." The program is funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), one of the many federal agencies that have endured funding cuts or downsizing under Trump's current administration. While Section 8 beneficiaries will not be affected by the changes, new applicants and those hoping to get on the waiting list -- now closed -- will be unable to proceed until further notice. The Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (VASH) program, which provides assistance to unhoused veterans, will also continue without interruption. HACLA HCV Director Carlos Van Natter revealed to CBS News that funding shortfalls first became apparent in December 2024, with estimated cuts ranging between $48 million and $114 million. He warned that these reductions could devastate the city by increasing the risk of homelessness. With over 45,200 people already experiencing homelessness, according to the LA Homeless Services Authority's latest estimate, further cuts could deepen the crisis. "That is the sad reality, [the] step we have to take at the moment," Van Natter said. "There could be others that come. We have families that have vouchers on the street looking for units. At this time, families can continue to search for units, but it could come to pass in the future that we have to suspend those as well." The city's ongoing housing crisis has been exacerbated by the devastating wildfires that erupted earlier in the year. Many individuals who had recently transitioned out of homelessness and secured homes were displaced once again, adding to an already overwhelmed homeless response system, CBS News reported. Jennifer Hark Dietz, the CEO of People Assisting The Homeless (PATH), which provides housing and services for homeless individuals, informed the outlet about the growing competition for resources. "Many of the people we work with have already lost 204 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000246 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0023545 everything and they're trying to rebuild their lives, and now there's a whole other group of people doing the same thing and competing for the same resources," Dietz said. With limited affordable housing options, many have sought refuge in vacant second homes and accessory dwelling units (ADUs), while others have taken advantage of temporary housing resources provided by local organizations and companies. The potential for a federal government shutdown on March 14 continues to add to uncertainty across the country. Senate Democrats rejected a House-passed funding plan Wednesday that makes the possibility of a shutdown more likely. If Congress fails to reach an agreement by March 14, additional cuts could follow. [HI] Housing Authority Seeks Faster Disposal of Belongings from Evicted Tenants (MagNews24.com) - full text MagNews24.com [3/14/2025 6:06 AM, Staff] The Hawaii Public Housing Authority (HPHA) is advancing legislation aimed at significantly shortening the period for which it must store belongings left behind by evicted tenants. Under House Bill 1097, part of Governor Josh Green's legislative agenda, the authority would be permitted to dispose of unclaimed personal items after just 14 days, a substantial decrease from the current requirement of 30 days. This proposed change is scheduled for discussion in the Senate Housing Committee on March 18, 2025, and aims to address several pressing issues faced by the HPHA. Executive Director Hakim Ouansafi, in testimony supporting the bill, articulated that the current storage requirements hinder the authority's ability to prepare units for new tenants promptly. He underscored that many of the belongings left behind are often not valuable and consist primarily of discarded items such as broken furniture and trash. "From years of experience, we have found that the vast majority of items left behind are not valuable personal belongings," Ouansafi stated, emphasizing the need for quicker turnover of housing units. HPHA's argument is also grounded in its ongoing challenges with limited storage space. When belongings are left in vacated units, it complicates maintenance and repairs, further delaying the ability to house new families in need. "Every day a unit remains vacant is another day a family remains unhoused," Ouansafi noted, highlighting the urgency of the issue. However, reactions from the community reflect growing concerns regarding the proposed reduction in storage time. Longtime resident Lenda Tominiko of KCihi0 Park Terrace expressed that a 14-day window may be insufficient for individuals facing displacement, remarking, "Sometimes when people are evicted, they panic and they leave everything behind. They don't know where they're going to take their things." This perspective shines light on the human aspect of eviction proceedings and the difficult circumstances many families face. The HPHA currently provides housing to approximately 5,200 low-income families, which amounts to roughly 13,000 individuals across various federal and state housing programs. According to its 2024 annual report, only 22 families were evicted statewide from public housing between July 2023 and July 2024, indicating that while evictions may be relatively low, the implications for each affected household are profound. As the Senate Housing Committee deliberates on this bill, the challenge remains to balance the necessity for efficient housing administration with compassion and understanding for the 205 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000246 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0023546 vulnerable populations affected by eviction. The HPHA has yet to respond to media inquiries regarding the potential impacts of this change and the broader context of housing stability in Hawai'i. This ongoing discussion reflects broader trends in housing policy across the United States, where the intersection of housing availability, administrative efficiency, and tenant rights continues to provoke debate and concern among advocates and policymakers alike. Community Planning and Development [OH] A state investment to help Cleveland rid dwellings of lead paint poisoning will save many, many young lives: editorial (Cleveland.com, OH) - full text Cleveland.com [3/16/2025 5:59 AM, Editorial Board, 4698K, OH] Good intentions can produce unintended and undesirable consequences. That evidently is what's happened to Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb's commendably toughened leadpaint-safety requirements that instead have seemingly added to already unacceptable delays in lead-paint detection and removal in older Cleveland rental housing. Cleveland.com's Sean McDonnell recently reported that the mayor's initiative created a 1,200-application paperwork backlog in landlords' inspection applications: "Now key staffers are at their desks tackling [the] backlog, instead of going out to inspect homes," he reported. Effective in February 1978 -- that is, more than 47 years ago -- the federal Consumer Product Safety Commission classified paint containing lead as a banned hazardous product. Yet today, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, "A million kids are affected by lead paint poisoning with some level of irreversible damage, such as lower intelligence, learning disabilities and behavioral issues. [And] adults exposed to lead paint can suffer from high blood pressure, headaches, dizziness, diminished motor skills, fatigue and memory loss." Even small levels of exposure can harm adults and children. Plainly put, lead poisoning from this legacy of lead in homes and soils can drastically damage a child's prospects, something Cleveland has sadly seen for generations. Even the historic recent local investments to try to address lead-poisoning hazards have floundered amid halfway measures. Testing reveals that lead poisoning persists, unabated, among Cleveland children. In October, cleveland.com's Courtney Astolfi reported that "five years after City Hall passed a lead-safe law meant to better protect young children against the dangers of lead paint exposure, there's been no change in the rate of Cleveland kids getting poisoned." The data also show, she reported, that "Cleveland kids age 5 and younger continue to get poisoned at significantly higher rates than those in Detroit, Cincinnati, Toledo and Akron." Plainly put, this is a disgrace. It's also so unnecessary, if appropriate resources can be brought to bear. Legacy lead dates to before 1978. It is finite. Once removed from impacted structures and yards, the generations of future children who live and play there will no longer suffer the terrible effects of lead poisoning, including intellectual stunting. That's why what's needed is a state partner to help Cleveland rid itself, once and for all, of this scourge -- and unleash the tens of millions of unspent dollars already raised locally to help advance that cause. 206 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000246 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0023547 As paint ages, it can flake or degenerate into dust. That's perilous, especially for children. Paint containing lead was commonly used when Cleveland's now-aging stock of houses and apartments was built. McDonnell reported that Cleveland's former leadpaint testing standard -- superseded by Bibb's tougher standard -- "only determined whether lead was present on the day inspectors tested. A home with lead hazards could pass inspection if it were cleaned well enough. But in time, wear and tear on old doors and windows could release more lead dust. The stricter test looks more holistically at the house to identify potential lead hazards and repairs that need to be made." So far, so good. But landlords swamped City Hall with testing applications pegged to the old, weaker city requirements before Bibb's tougher rules would take effect. And that created a paperwork avalanche. And it also doesn't do what's needed -- which is to get rid of the lead for good and all. State government hasn't been indifferent to the lead-paint challenges that Ohio's aging housing stock presents. The state's current operating budget, which expires June 30, allots an estimated $18.6 million this fiscal year to the Ohio Department of Development for lead-poisoning prevention projects. Those funds, however, were mustered by 2021's federal American Rescue Plan Act. So that, in effect, is one-time money in a state with hundreds of municipalities. And Ohio's proposed 202527 budget, House Bill 96, pending in the Ohio House Finance Committee, zeroes out that line-item, although the proposed budget does earmark, over two years, about $14 million to the Ohio Department of Health for lead abatement. The safety and development of Ohio's children has been a keystone of Gov. Mike DeWine tenure as Ohio's chief executive. It's worth asking whether state government, with financial resources vastly greater than Cleveland's, vastly greater than any city's, should do more to protect our children -- Ohio's future. To date, it's clear Cleveland's ongoing quest to protect the city's future from lead paint is stumbling. It needs help; the state can and should provide it -- in a way that creates a permanent solution, not just an anti-lead-poisoning Band-Aid. Affordable Housing [ME] How a Maine law blocks private buyers from mobile home parks (Bangor Daily News, ME) - full text Bangor Daily News [3/17/2025 1:00 AM, Zara Norman, 719K, ME] Elaine Therriault has heard horror stories about mismanagement and rent hikes beleaguering the Maine mobile home parks bought by out-of-state investors. "It's insane, the lot rents they're asking," Therriault, a resident of West Village park in Monmouth, said. "And houses are out of reach for people just making a middle income." Once Therriault's 40-lot park went up for sale last November, she said it was a no-brainer for her and the other residents to make an offer. A state law passed in 2023 -- intended to curb increased investor activity in parks -- mandated they get that opportunity. Maine, like every other New England state, requires that park owners give residents and the state's housing authority notice of an impending sale and allow residents to make an offer instead. Proponents say it's been hugely successful in preserving affordable housing and leveling the playing field for residents who want to own not just their homes, 207 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000246 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0023548 but the land they sit on. "It's made a lot of people's housing much more secure," said Erik Jorgensen, director of government relations at MaineHousing, the state's housing authority. Two years on, there are calls for the law to be strengthened. Some want residents to be given more power in these transactions, so park owners are incentivized to sell to them over a corporate buyer. Others want the law to be tweaked so that good faith corporate buyers aren't shut out of the industry entirely. "If the intent of the law is to make property less attractive to private buyers, then I guess it's working," said Chris Howard, president of Flintstone Properties, who was outbid by residents for a Bangor park earlier this year. In both Bangor and New Hampshire, Howard said he made reasonable offers on parks in the last year that were outbid by residents in the final hours before closing. He lost thousands of dollars in legal fees, he said, and as a smaller operator doesn't feel incentivized to bid again so long as residents hold the trump card. "It's going to be [resident co-ops] and/or some shady, nefarious operators -- that's who's going to continue bidding on properties. The high quality landlords are probably going to be shut out of the market," he said. The smaller, more monied pool of park buyers that will emerge from that dynamic will mean sellers price their parks even higher than the millions they go for now, Howard said. "I'm going, well, if these tenant groups will pay any price for something, then let's see how far we can push it," said Howard, whose company owns nine parks nationwide and sold all its Maine holdings in 2020 to corporate giant Sun Communities. The fact that Maine's law does not require a bidder to identify themselves or announce their intentions with the park when they make an offer may hinder residents from considering buyers like Howard. In about half of these sales, residents don't know who they're up against, according to the Cooperative Development Institute, the Massachusetts-based nonprofit that has been helping Maine residents buy their parks. That has essentially forced the hand of residents. It makes sense to try and purchase their park on the off-chance that the undisclosed buyer is a private equity firm or investor looking to gouge them. Residents of Linnhaven, a 277-lot park in Brunswick, didn't know who they were trying to outbid when they inked a $26.3 million deal last fall to buy their community. West Village residents also do not know who the interested buyer they're raising $1.2 million to outbid right now is, either. Maine law should require some kind of disclosure from all bidders, said Charles Becker, an economist at Duke University. As it's written, the law "automatically puts tenants at a disadvantage," he said. "I don't care who the owner is, but I would require information about their plans, their commitments, what they're going to do to the park. Otherwise, as a community, all you can do is bid," Becker said, adding that most corporate buyers don't look to gouge tenants. Local buyers usually disclose their identity, though that's "not always the case," Nora Gosselin, director of the Cooperative Development Institute's parks acquisitions program, said. Maine could try to follow Massachusett's lead, Gosselin suggested. There, a bidder must disclose if they're purchasing a park to shut it down. But really, residents should be motivated to assume ownership because they want to, not because 208 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000246 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0023549 they're trying to shut a certain buyer out, she said. Lawmakers have seen far more cases of residents losing their parks to corporate buyers than they have cases like Howard's, even since the law went into effect. Of the nine resident groups that have tried to buy their parks since then, only three have been accepted, Gosselin said, even when residents matched or exceeded the seller's price. Because of that, most proposed tweaks to Maine's law seek to strengthen the purchasing power of resident co-ops, but finding ways to fund these deals in a strained budget environment won't be easy. The 2023 law created a complementary $5 million fund to help residents buy their parks, but two sales later, $4.3 million of that fund has been depleted. Maine Gov. Janet Mills has earmarked $3 million to replenish that fund in her proposed budget, and Sen. Joe Baldacci, D-Bangor, has submitted a bill that would add a further $3.5 million to that. Another proposal coming before the Legislature this session from Sen. Cameron Reny, D-Lincoln, would create a tax deduction of up to $750,000 on capital gains for the sale or transfer of a park to residents. Any investments the state can make in resident purchases will be worth it, the 2023 law's sponsor, Rep. Traci Gere, D-Kennebunkport, said. The Bangor and Brunswick sales alone led to the preservation of more than 400 units of affordable housing, eviction prevention for many tenants there living on fixed or low incomes, and the potential to develop more housing on those parks' empty lots, Gere said. "I see this as a relatively modest subsidy to help preserve affordability," agreed Jorgensen. "If you're building a building, you're putting a lot more per unit in than these investments that are helping to support these co-ops." For Therriault, the benefit is more than economic. The sense of community and empowerment that's come from this process has been so incredible, Therriault thinks she would have taken advantage of Maine's law no matter who the other bidder on the park turns out to be or what their plans were. "Whoever's buying it, we're not going to have that say as residents," Therriault said. "We just want to live our life." [CT] Face the Facts: Bill aims to combat affordable housing crisis (NBC Connecticut, CT) - full text NBC Connecticut [3/16/2025 10:32 AM, Staff, 1114K, CT] VIDEO. Solving the housing crisis in Connecticut is one of the biggest challenges we've had year after year, and now both market rate and affordable housing options are very much in short supply. Connecticut, in fact, was recently on a list of the tightest real estate markets in the whole country. So how do we address that? NBC Connecticut's Mike Hydeck spoke with Erin Boggs, the executive director of Open Communities Alliance. Mike Hydeck: She's supporting a bill she hopes will change the way affordable housing is taken care of here in Connecticut. It is called 'Towns Take the Lead,' is the name of the bill. Describe what it does. Erin Boggs: Absolutely, so we are the most housing constrained state in the nation, and for years, we've tried a system where we had towns across the state sort of work in a vacuum to try to solve this. What Towns Take the Lead does, is it takes the existing affordable housing process, where every town has to do some planning around this, and gives it a little bit of a scaffolding, some guidance from the state. The state has 209 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000246 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0023550 commissioned and has the first part of a study that estimates how much affordable housing we need. Part two of that will come out with allocations out to every town that's town by town developed in a very.. Mike Hydeck: Allocations meaning money? Erin Boggs: Allocations, meaning units of affordable housing. And it's a guide for towns. And what Towns Take the Lead does is it says, "look at this number, see if it works for you. If you can't do it, let us know why, and tell us what you can do instead," and then plan and, within a year, zone for that amount of housing. Mike Hydeck: So to push back a little bit, or at least give the opposite side of the coin, the Republicans I've talked to over time said, "Look, we don't want a one size fits all bill." So the affordable housing needed in Killingly is not going to be the same as it's going to be in Bridgeport. You may need, you know, 400 units, or 40 units in Killingly and 4,000 in Bridgeport. Can this address that? Erin Boggs: Absolutely, the number to begin with is tailored for every town. And then, in addition to that, towns get to say, "actually, here's why that's a problem here. We need to do a little less, or we can do a little bit more, and here's why." Mike Hydeck: So then does the state have to have a board where...So I grew up in Monroe. So say, for argument's sake, we need 800 units in Monroe. Monroe goes, I don't know. I think we probably only need four. Is there going to be a board on the state level to sit and hear the complaint? Does another board have to be created for somebody to do this? Erin Boggs: No this all goes through the Office of Policy and Management, and there's a discussion that happens. Maybe one town thinks they can't do a certain amount of housing for X, Y, Z reason. But in fact, there's some other solutions they weren't aware of. I mean, that's a thing about our zoning commissions in the state. They're basically everyday people who have volunteered to help out their town. They're not necessarily experts in planning and zoning. There may be all kinds of innovative techniques that they would love to learn about and would help them contribute to their region's need for affordable housing. Mike Hydeck: So we also need to include the people who are building these units, right? How are developers kind of figured into this larger plan? Because if they get down the road and say, "Look, I want to try to build this affordable housing unit, and I'm coming up against this pushback from the town," or "I'm just not going to make any money if I try to embark on this project." How are they figured into the process? Erin Boggs: So the goal here is that municipalities are creating a realistic opportunity for the housing to be built. They have their number, and then this is what's great about it. They can go and recruit the developers whose products they like, that look the way they want it to look, that have the scale they want it to have. And then they develop those partnerships, bring that into town in a way that works with their vision. Mike Hydeck: So where is Towns Take the Lead now, as far as in the process of being considered in the state capitol? 210 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000246 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0023551 Erin Boggs: It's House Bill 6944 and it just made it out of the housing committee, and we're waiting to see if it's referred and if it gets additional information about what it will take to get it done. Mike Hydeck: So one of the other things that needs to be addressed, if you look at this issue, is in the past, zoning boards. So if I'm a developer and I come up to a certain town and I say, "look, I want to put X amount on this property," local zoning boards kind of slow roll things. So if they say, "well, we need to reconsider it. We're going to table it this time." All of a sudden, two years goes by, the developer loses interest, or they just can't waste that much time on legal fees. That's sort of like a passive-aggressive way of getting around it. Does this address that? Erin Boggs: Absolutely because what you have here is a change to zoning to allow the housing and not have to go through the rigorous process of getting some kind of change to the zoning ordinance. It's now embedded within the ordinance, and it can speed along. Mike Hydeck: So I wonder if there'll be any consequences, though, if it's slow rolled again, right? Because they can still try to do that. Erin Boggs: I mean, there will be a discussion with the municipalities in the state to sort of clear the path. Also, towns that are really stepping up and playing their role will be prioritized for state discretionary funding. [NY] Opinion: Putting NYC youth in foster care on a path to success with permanent housing (City & State, NY) - full text City & state [3/16/2025 9:48 AM, Jess Dannhauser and Laura Lazarus, 161K, NY] One hundred young adults, previously in foster care, are now settling into their own New York City apartments -- including Jasmine, who has been in the foster care system since the age of seven. After giving birth to her son at the age of twenty, Jasmine was determined to achieve independence, and we were intent on ensuring she had the support system to do just that. Today, thanks to a new partnership between the NYC Administration for Children's Services and AnthosiHome, Jasmine and her one-year-old son are thriving in a two-bedroom apartment. With a home to call their own, young people supported by this partnership are given the tools they need to pursue the education and careers they want and deserve, allowing them to achieve independence. The partnership between ACS and AnthosiHome is transforming the process of securing permanent housing for young adults leaving foster care. Typically, voucher recipients in New York City face long wait times -- ranging from 13 months to more than two years -- to use their vouchers. Our partnership has dramatically shortened that timeline to an average of just four months, helping young people overcome the common obstacles to securing permanent, affordable housing. The model is based on building relationships with landlords, developing a bank of suitable apartments, and supporting voucher holders and landlords through the process. By proactively reserving and preparing housing units specifically for voucher holders, participants are guaranteed immediate access to suitable apartments. AnthosiHome 211 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000246 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0023552 covers moving costs and makes necessary small repairs so units can pass inspection, thereby removing obstacles that often derail the housing process. This enables a smoother transition into stable housing. Throughout the apartment hunting process, Jasmine worked closely with her Tenant Coordinator at AnthoslHome to navigate the complexities of lease agreements and budgeting. The support didn't stop once she moved in; AnthosiHome provides regular check-ins and follow-up services to ensure housing stability. These services included assistance with voucher recertification, connection to community service partners, and financial support when needed. A dignified, affordable home is a foundation for young people's success. This initiative not only puts youth on a path to stability but also reduces significant amounts of stress for them during a time of major transition. ACS is committed to helping foster care young adults achieve their educational and career goals. In addition to this new partnership with AnthoslHome, ACS supports the Fair Futures program, where youth receive one-on-one coaching and tutoring to help them apply for and persist in college, follow their dream career path, and set and achieve independent living goals. The Fair Futures model has been implemented and scaled across all 26 city foster care agencies and serves nearly 4,000 young people ages 1126. Through ACS's College Choice program, youth in foster care receive financial support for tuition to attend the college of their choosing. They also receive a cash stipend, which can be used towards food, clothing, transportation, and more. These programs and the partnership with AnthosiHome offer young people in foster care the opportunity to build stable, fulfilling lives. Jasmine's story is just the beginning. ACS plans to work with AnthosiHome over the next year to help house an additional 400 young people. Together, we're proving that stable housing isn't just a dream for young people exiting foster care -- it's an achievable reality. [NY] More homes for more N.Y.ers - How to build housing from the ground up in the city (New York Daily News, NY) - full text New York Daily News [3/16/2025 5:00 AM, Edward Poteat, 3253K, NY] The 5Boro Institute just released an issues-focused survey asking 3,000 New Yorkers about the most important challenges facing our city. It was no surprise that concerns about the mental health crisis and public safety were among the top issues identified. And the top issue was affordability, with residents saying the steep rise in housing costs is driving concerns that the financial strain "impacts their ability to plan for the future, save money, or even stay in the city at all." Fixing the affordability crisis is an all-handson-deck undertaking. The recently-adopted City of Yes, which gives a 20% density bonus provided that extra space is dedicated to affordable housing, is one element of many that will be needed if we are going to be able to help families stay in the city we call home. The development company I head, Carthage Advisors, recently completed two 19-story apartment buildings at Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Boulevard (Seventh Ave.) and W. 124th St. in my native Harlem where the 330 apartments are evenly split between market rate and affordable units. As one would expect with any development in the city, it was a 212 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000246 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0023553 rocky path from inception to completion involving complex financing arrangements over financing -- including government subsidies and using proceeds from the market rate units to cover the costs of the affordable units. A variety of subsidies covered around $60 million dollars of the $100 million cost of the project, with the remaining amount coming from bonds issued against the anticipated rental income. We had extensive conversations with community leaders who have been properly concerned that too much of recent housing development has led to gentrification, with new units beyond the financial reach of local residents who have invested their lives and raised their families only to face the prospect of being priced out of their neighborhood. And we are aware of debates over defining just what affordability means. Around 70% of the affordable apartments in Harlem's Marcus Garvey Village are available to families making under 80% of the Area Median Income (AMI), which factors out to $117,000 a year, with more than half of those targeted to those making 40% or 50% or AMI, meaning incomes as low as $29,000 a year. Although this is significantly in excess to any city or state requirements including the new 485-x tax abatement, our development team wanted to ensure we directly addressed concerns about gentrification in the Central Harlem community. We also included significant community benefits in our project. The project includes space for community meetings, for a long-needed home for a Harlem-based LGBTQ center and a day care center on the ground floor, a critical need for families with young children. We carried out our commitment that a third of our workforce on the project would come from the local community. Our firm sponsored job fairs with the local community board to ensure we had local residence on our construction site. And all the amenities in the buildings are available to all the tenants, regardless of whether they are in market rate or affordable units. The economics of building in this city are challenging to say the least, with land and labor costs far higher than in other cities. It takes creativity and most importantly a commitment to working with partners in the public and private sector to find a way to make those financial realities work. The reality is that we cannot expect a dependable partner in Washington under the new administration. Compare that to the 1950s, when federal housing assistance helped create as many as 15,000 new apartments a year in the New York City Housing Authority alone. Those number plummeted to as low as 500 federally assisted NYCHA units by the 1980s. In the case of those realities, we can't throw up our hands in frustration. And for all the hue and cry over gentrification, the fact is gentrifying neighborhoods bring in families with higher incomes to support the businesses that serve all residents. The challenge is to refuse to leave those long-time residents behind. In other words, gentrification without displacement. That takes sharp pencils to work out the financing, willing partners to commit public and private resources and a commitment to overcome those realities. The future of the city is at stake. [VA] Rockville tenants demand rent control as prices soar, driving residents from community (WJLA.com, Arlington, VA) - full text WJLA.com [3/16/2025 11:11 PM, Lianna Golden, 928K, VA] VIDEO. Rockville tenants are pleading with their city leaders to pass a rent stabilization 213 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000246 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0023554 law. Renters, who make up 50% of Rockville's residents, tell 7News that prices have gotten out of control -- and it's driving people out of the community. "Rent stabilization is incredibly important at this moment," Grant Samms, the head of the Reed Tenant Association, said. "The neighbors that I'm surrounded by are quite different than the neighbors that I had two years ago... watching people move out of my apartment, watching them get evicted in many cases." "I hate to see my neighbors have to leave this great community because of these outrageous rent increases," Chris Madden, the leader of the Huntington Tenant Association, said. "For seniors, especially, it's very hard because they're on a fixed income and moving is very difficult." "I am really concerned about rent issues in this area," Eryn Adams, a member of the Huntington Tenant Association, said. Montgomery County Council put a 6% ceiling on rent increases in July 2024, but since Rockville has its own housing authority, it's exempt from that law. Residents say it's about time Rockville had the same kind of rent control as the rest of the county. "This neighborhood, specifically, this apartment complex has seen up to a 30% increase," Madden said. "When rents go up that high, people have to move out," Samms added. "These are teachers. These are firefighters. These are EMS. That erodes the stability of our community." It's a community that is already facing economic unknowns, as 13,000 federal workers and contractors have applied for unemployment across the DMV as of March 14. "We have had renters here who are federal workers that are currently feeling a lot of uncertainty with the layoffs," Madden said. "They need some semblance of certainty, at least about where they live." "I am concerned about what this means for diversity in the area," Adams said. "This is one of my biggest concerns as someone who has seen minority communities get pushed out because of high rent prices." "The city council of Rockville desperately needs to consider and pass this legislation," Samms said. 7News spoke with Councilmember Zola Shaw, who joined community members in their push for rent stabilization. "Councilmember, your constituents have a lot of asks for Rockville City Council. How do you plan to take their requests and bring them to your colleagues?" reporter Lianna Golden asked. "Well, actually, I think that my constituents are doing a great job talking to them directly and coming to City Hall. We've had hundreds of renters, landlords, all types of residents coming and sharing their story," Shaw replied. "It's time for Rockville to have the same equal protections as the majority of our housing market." The next city council meeting is Monday, March 24. This group hopes to sway the rest of the council to draft legislation as soon as possible. [GA] Gwinnett extended-stay hotel to become affordable housing (FOX 5 Atlanta, GA) - full text FOX 5 Atlanta [3/14/2025 11:28 PM, Christopher King, 1758K, GA] VIDEO. Gwinnett County is about to make housing more affordable for dozens of residents. The Gwinnett Housing Corporation recently purchased the old Springswallow 214 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000246 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0023555 extended-stay hotel for $7.7 million. The organization will rehabilitate all 73 units to create apartments for young people aging out of foster care and seniors. "We are creating a system of affordable housing for youth, ages 18-24, as well as senior citizens," said Lejla Prljaca, the housing corporation's CEO. Prljaca said the organization will renovate the interior, install security cameras and a gate, and keep rents affordable. "The rents will range between $600 and $1,200," she said. The housing corporation has been advocating for converting extended-stay hotels for several years. "Gwinnett has the highest concentration of extended-stay rooms in the country," Prljaca said. "It's also an opportunity to possibly rid the area of another blight, which is extended-stay hotels," said Karen Ramsey, the housing corporation's deputy director. Ramsey added that rehabilitating the building will help revitalize the neighborhood. "It's going to give people who are able to come back into the community easy access to public transit. They're close to some of their work locations," she said. Kelvin Lyons, owner of The Regal Barbershop on Jimmy Carter Boulevard, just down the street from the building, said bringing affordable housing to this section of Peachtree Corners will help people struggling to make ends meet. "I believe it will. It definitely, definitely will," Lyons said. "For this area, it's a really good idea. I'm all for anything that helps people." The housing corporation plans to begin work in about three months and hopes to start leasing around this time next year. [FL] Apartment complex, affordable housing in protected rural Florida draw opposition (Tampa Bay Times, FL) - full text Tampa Bay Times [3/15/2025 12:00 PM, Martin E. Comas, 1900K, FL] A proposal for a 300-unit apartment complex on 12 acres of land in the ecologicallysensitive Wekiva Protection Area is confronting Seminole County with a difficult conflict between two worthy goals: protecting the environment and providing affordable housing. Development plans reviewed this week by county staff show the complex sitting on wooded land off the corner of State Road 46 and Orange Boulevard in northwest Seminole County. It's proposed under the Live Local Act -- a 2023 state law designed to encourage speedy construction of affordable multi-family housing by shortening the government approval process. In this case, the developer is not required to hold community meetings and request zoning changes before county boards as required by most other development applications. The proposal and the process have irked environmentalists, residents and a Seminole commissioner. Opponents of the project say they understand the region faces a dire need for affordable housing and are not necessarily opposed to the law itself. But they say the rural Wekiva Protection Area is not the right place for a high-density complex with five four-story buildings. The apartment site itself is on the very edge of the protection area, in a spot already bordered by a major highway, but that hasn't lessened the concerns. "This thing, in my opinion, is terrifying," Seminole Commissioner Lee Constantine said about the proposed apartment complex. Previously a state legislator for nearly two decades, Constantine has long been a supporter of protecting the Wekiva River and sponsored the state's 2004 Wekiva Parkway and Protection Act. "The Live Local Act was never intended to destroy the environment by going into environmentally-sensitive areas 215 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000246 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0023556 and building large apartment complexes," Constantine said. Michelle Jamesson, a member of Friends of the Wekiva environmental group who lives nearby, said the complex is too dense for the area. "We're not at all against affordable housing," Jamesson said. "We're very much in favor of that. But its in an inappropriate place." Corey Canfield of Middleburg Development LLC of Maitland, which filed the development application Feb. 11, said he "would rather not comment." Grey Wilson, a Friends of the Wekiva board member, said he's not opposed to nay development on the site. In fact, the land is currently zoned for commercial development and Wilson said he would not object to a small store or office building there. But Wilson and other opponents say a larger development would open the door for similar housing projects farther into the protected area. "This absolutely would set a precedent," he said. "Affordable housing belongs in areas where you have mass transportation and other services. This is in the outskirts of the county. . . . It supersedes the protections that were put in place for this imperiled area." Wilson's group is considering a legal challenge. Republican state Sen. Jason Brodeur of Sanford -- who championed himself as a protector of the environment in his election campaign -- and GOP state Rep. Rachel Plakon of Lake Mary -- owner of a real estate investment firm -- did not respond to phone and email requests for comment on whether the Live Local Act should be modified to offer more environmental protections. The Live Local Act was signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis in March 2023. It loosens zoning requirements and requires local governments approve, without public hearings, multifamily development projects in areas zoned commercial, industrial or mixed-use if at least 40% of units are affordable for residents making up to 120% of the area median income. In 2022, the median household income in Seminole was nearly $42,000 for an individual and just below $80,000 for a household, according to the U.S. Census Bureau and Data USA. The law is an effort to encourage more affordable housing and halt the double-digit rent spikes Florida -- and especially the Central Florida region -- has seen in recent years affecting low- and moderate-income families. Supporters say its limits on public input are intended to support the construction of projects that otherwise are routinely delayed at public meetings with residents voicing "not-in-my-backyard" objections. Last year Seminole County opted out of another of the law's incentives to increase affordable housing -- tax breaks to developers. The Wekiva Protection Area -- which covers most of northwestern Seminole -- was established in 1988 by the Legislature to protect the area's rural and environmentally-sensitive characteristics. The wildlife corridor is a high recharge area for the Floridan Aquifer and is meant to protect the imperiled Wekiva River -- which Congress designated a Wild and Scenic River in 2000. In January 2024, the state completed the $1.6 billion Wekiva Parkway, an elevated superhighway designed to protect wildlife and limit the sprawl of residential subdivisions. Within a stone's throw of the apartment site, the parkway features wildlife underpasses and bridges that soar over the Wekiva River without impeding its natural current of 216 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000246 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0023557 spring water. The apartment complex will include a clubhouse, fitness center, yoga room, pool and dog park, according to the application. Apartments range between onebedroom and three-bedroom and at least 120 must be deemed as affordable through 2055. After meeting with county staff Wednesday, the developer now must submit a site plan for review before construction can start. There is no date to begin construction. If the application had not been submitted under the Live Local Act, the developer would've had to hold community meetings to discuss the project and answer questions from the public. Then the developer would need zoning and land-use changes heard by the county's zoning board and finally approval by the commission -- all in public meetings. George Sellery, who lives near the site of the proposed development, said he's angry he won't be able to voice his objections in public hearings. -It's the worst possible place for this development," Sellery said. "Traffic is going to be a nightmare. And I think this sets a horrible precedent." [FL] Florida Legislature considers `granny flats' amid housing problems (NBC Miami, FL) - full text NBC Miami [3/16/2025 7:58 AM, Staff, 889K, FL] As Florida continues to struggle with a lack of affordable housing, lawmakers are looking at "granny flats" to help address the problem. Senate and House panels last week approved bills (SB 184 and HB 247) that would require cities and counties to allow adding what are technically known as accessory dwelling units -- but are often known as granny flats -- in single-family residential areas. Granny flats are independent living spaces added to homes or properties. Current law says local governments can allow granny flats, but the new legislation would require them to do so. "ADUs (accessory dwelling units) increase workforce housing because ADUs cost less to build, they cost less to rent and they're often located in urban areas where workers need to live in order to be close to their jobs," Senate sponsor Don Gaetz, R-Niceville, said before the Senate Transportation, Tourism and Economic Development Appropriations Committee unanimously approved the Senate bill. Hours later, the House Housing, Agriculture & Tourism Subcommittee voted 15-2 to approve the House version, filed by Rep. Bill Conerly, R-Lakewood Ranch. Lawmakers in 2023 passed a wide-ranging measure, dubbed the "Live Local Act," aimed at expanding workforce housing in the state. That measure was a top priority of thenSenate President Kathleen Passidomo, R-Naples. Gaetz, also a former Senate president, said that his bill "takes another step." A Senate staff analysis, citing a Florida Housing Coalition study, said accessory dwelling units are already allowed in 11 of the 15 cities with the highest populations in the state. The bills drew support from groups as diverse as AARP, the Florida Chamber of Commerce and Americans for Prosperity. Gaetz said residents could not lose their homestead property exemptions if they add granny flats -- though the granny flats would also face property taxes. The requirement for allowing the units would not apply to planned unit developments or master planned communities, which, for example, can include restrictions applied to an entire development rather than to individual homes. Gaetz made a change that he said would 217 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000246 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0023558 help prevent use of granny flats as short-term vacation rentals. The change would prevent the units from being leased for less than a month. Sen. Carlos Guillermo Smith, D-Orlando, said he was initially concerned about "potential mischief' related to vacation rentals. But he said the change largely addressed that concern. House members, meanwhile, raised questions about issues such as the use of the units for short-term rentals and about possible effects on parking. More broadly, Smith said the bill could help address affordable-housing problems. "We have a real affordable housing crisis in the state of Florida, and a big part of that crisis has everything to do with supply, or lack of supply," Smith said. "Bringing in these ADUs to help add to the housing supply is a great idea that should be encouraged." Gaetz' bill must clear the Senate Rules Committee before it could go to the full Senate. [IL] Rising rents aren't just a problem for those living in poverty (WBEZ 91.5 Chicago, IL) - full text WBEZ 91.5 Chicago [3/15/2025 6:00 AM, Alden Loury, 268K, IL] For many lower-income households in Chicago, making ends meet can seem like an eternal struggle. Imagine paying for housing, utilities, groceries, transportation and other essential costs for your family each year on just $32,150. That's the poverty threshold for a family of four, according to the federal government's latest poverty guidelines. It's hard to save or get ahead when every cent that comes in the door ends up going right back out to cover the rent, pay bills and buy food. But there are far fewer poor families in Chicago waging that fight these days. There were close to 600,000 city residents living below the poverty line in 2010, according to Census data. By 2023, that number fell to nearly 440,000, a staggering decrease of more than 36% during that 13-year span. That's progress, right? Well, not so fast. Unfortunately, the decline of poor Chicagoans since the Great Recession is not due to some economic boom. It's more likely that the city's lowest-income residents simply can't afford to live here anymore. That seemingly never-ending struggle to just get by has now become an impossible task altogether for many. A recent WBEZ examination shows the cost of rent and utilities has grown three times faster than income over the last two decades. And the tidal wave of rising rents has come crashing down hardest on Chicagoans who are least able to pay. Before the surge in rent prices, most of those struggling to get by were already spending more than half their income on housing costs and barely keeping their heads above water. Now, they're sinking. But it hasn't always been so hard for lower-income households to afford Chicago. In fact, there was a time when poor families could reasonably afford half the apartments in communities throughout the city, data shows. As part of its coverage of the city's rising rents, WBEZ built the Chicago rent time machine, an interactive online tool that shows the community areas that would be affordable for a given income level, dating back to 1930. The tool shows, when adjusted for inflation, today's poverty threshold for a family of four -- $32,150 a year, or about $2,700 a month -- back in 1950 would reasonably cover the cost of rent and utilities for half the apartments in most Chicago community areas. "Reasonably cover" is defined to mean spending less than 30% of household income on rent and utilities. 218 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000246 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0023559 However, that affordability footprint has gradually evaporated over time. By 2000, it was down to a handful of communities. And by 2022, the most recent year for which data is available, it was down to just two communities -- Fuller Park and Riverdale on the South Side. There's research which suggests that building more housing can keep rent prices from spiraling out of control. But new apartment construction in the Chicago area tanked during the recession, and it hasn't come close to rebounding to prior levels. In addition, much of the building that has occurred has largely been for higher-income renters in trendy, gentrifying neighborhoods. Meanwhile, there's been a net loss of housing units in neighborhoods that have been affordable for decades. Most South Side and West Side neighborhoods have witnessed much more demolition than construction since 2000. But if you think the city's lack of housing affordability is a problem for just the poor or those on the verge of homelessness, you'd be wrong. While Chicago offers more than you'll find in some other cities struggling with soaring rents, the affordability footprint here is shrinking for everybody. Even for a household earning the citywide median income, just under $75,000 in 2023, affordability is also evaporating -- and fast. In 2000, the Loop was the only community area where a household earning the citywide median couldn't reasonably afford to rent half the apartments. By 2022, that list had grown to seven communities. Regardless of whether it's too expensive to build, there's too much red tape in public financing or there's a lack of widespread support for it, we need to figure out how to build and preserve housing within reach for the masses. A good place to start is by realizing that the poor aren't the only ones in need of affordable housing. [IN] New data shows Indiana is among the worse states for access to affordable housing (Indiana Public Media, IN) - full text Indiana Public Media [3/14/2025 5:33 PM, Timoria Cunningham, 105K, IN] For every 100 extremely low-income renters in Indiana, there are only 38 affordable and available housing options. That's according to a new report released by Prosperity Indiana and the National Low Income Housing Coalition. Nationally, more than a third of extremely low-income renters work. Another third are seniors. And many others have a disability, are students or caregivers. The data shows that the shortage of affordable housing results in people spending more than they can afford on a place to stay. Those who spend over 30 percent of their income on housing and utilities are considered "costburdened." And people who spend over 50 percent are considered "severely cost burdened." People who struggle to pay rent also tend to have trouble paying for other basic necessities -- often sacrificing things like food, health care or child care to ensure they have somewhere to live. Andrew Bradley is the Senior Director of Policy and Strategy with Prosperity Indiana. "If they have a flat tire or an unexpected cost, then suddenly they're choosing between going to work and making rent or being able to pay for their children's school supplies and paying rent," Bradley said. This is the case for Indiana resident Renae Berry. In August 2023, Berry was escaping what she called a "toxic situation," causing her to search for housing. It wasn't until October 2024 Berry was able to find affordable housing. Berry sometimes works multiple 219 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000246 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0023560 jobs to help pay her bills and still finds it difficult. "It's groceries sometimes that we have to sacrifice, it's cleaning supplies, it's whatever, one thing for another, and it's always a constant cycle of that, no matter how much work I'm putting in," Berry said. The report calls on lawmakers to fully fund federal housing programs, support initiatives to avoid evictions, and prevent policies that create new barriers to affordable housing. Advocates also want Gov. Mike Braun to create a commission for housing safety, stability and affordability. [IN] Thousands struggle to afford housing in Indiana amid potential federal cuts (WRTV, Indianapolis, IN) - full text WRTV [3/14/2025 5:04 PM, Meredith Hackler, 231K, IN] VIDEO. Thousands of residents in the state are struggling to afford safe housing, according to data from the National Low Income Housing Coalition. This situation may worsen if federal funding cuts impact housing programs nationally and locally. Renae Berry has firsthand experience with the challenges of finding affordable housing. "I started looking for affordable housing in August 2023; it took me until October 2024 to find a place and get settled," said Berry, who lives in a one-bedroom apartment with her teenage daughter. Despite working 40 hours a week, she was unable to find an affordable two-bedroom unit. "There is just so much of a gap between what people can afford and what people make in an hour. We shouldn't have to sacrifice medical care and be in survival mode just to have a place over our heads," she added. The housing crisis is affecting not only low-income communities. Andrew Bradley from Prosperity Indiana noted that 47% of all renters are "housing cost-burdened," meaning they spend more than 30% of their income on housing. "Some places won't rent to you if you don't make three times the monthly rent," Bradley stated. Non-profit organizations dedicated to addressing housing issues are concerned that the crisis may worsen due to impending federal funding cuts. The Fair Housing Center of Central Indiana has already begun to feel the effects. "Grants that go to non-profit organizations like mine to fight housing discrimination were terminated. The notice didn't give a reason as to why the grants were terminated," Executive Director Amy Nelson remarked. "I've worked in fair housing since 1997 through several different administrations, and I have never seen this happen before." The Fair Housing Center is already restricting programs due to financial limitations. While they support audits, Nelson expressed concern that the cuts could disproportionately impact the most vulnerable residents in Indiana. "No analysis or evaluation as to what outcomes that program has achieved is just simply not the way to do that," she said. Despite a 1.4% decrease in the housing gap over the past year, experts warn that if the trend continues, it would take 70 years to close the gap in affordable housing availability. In central Indiana, the housing market remains competitive. According to the MIBOR Realtor Association, which covers 17 counties, the median home sales price in January was $292,000. Homes were on the market for an average of 38 days, with a supply of 2.5 months of inventory available. Additionally, the average rate on a 30-year mortgage rose this week, ending a seven-week decline. Mortgage broker Freddie Mac reported a 220 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000246 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0023561 rate of 6.65%, up slightly from 6.63% the previous week but lower than 6.74% a year ago, indicating some improvement over the past year. [IL] How DuPage County could expand affordable housing (Chicago Daily Herald, IL) - full text Chicago Daily Herald [3/16/2025 10:00 PM, Katlyn Smith, 622K, IL] A nonprofit affordable housing developer will add nearly four dozen units to the suburban supply with a new Glen Ellyn apartment building designed by the same architect as the town's public library. On the heels of Glen Ellyn trustees approving those plans, DuPage County officials have outlined how they could encourage similar projects and promote more affordable housing throughout the county. Some ideas under consideration include creating a land bank and establishing an affordable housing trust fund. "We think that it will be two really major tools in the toolbox for expanding housing opportunities in DuPage County," said Colby Sledge, local policy principal at Grounded Solutions Network, the county's consultants. DuPage leaders made affordable housing a priority about two years ago. At that time, county board Chair Deb Conroy announced an ad hoc committee on the issue. "There's a willingness to work towards solving the issue in a variety of ways," Sledge said. "And that's amazing. It shows the leadership at the county level and at many of the cities and towns as well, that they're willing to take this on." The county already has eased various zoning requirements. Most notably, the board set aside $5 million for an affordable housing program from county budget surplus funds in fiscal 2022 ($2.5 million) and fiscal 2023 ($2.5 million). "The purpose of these next steps," Jeremy Custer, the county's senior adviser, said, would be to "make that $5 million allocation more effective in addressing this need." Over the past 18 months or so, county officials have examined the issue with the help of the Grounded Solutions Network, a national nonprofit membership organization focused on long-lasting affordable housing. DuPage has been part of a cohort group with a North Carolina county through the network's "ForEveryoneHome" initiative. "DuPage County and its neighbors see less of a housing supply gap and more of a housing supply mismatch," Sledge said in an interview. "In other words, there are lots of folks who are on either end of the spectrum, where they're paying a lot of their income toward housing needs, or they're paying very little of their income toward their housing needs." A land bank would enable the county to turn what are liabilities -- vacant land or land that's not being really used -- into the potential for housing for residents at a more affordable rate, Sledge explained. Land banks have the ability to acquire, renovate and sell properties. There are more than 500 properties owned by various county entities totaling nearly 1,300 acres, or about 2 square miles, according to county staff. Not all those properties are readily buildable and would need to be vetted before a project takes place. Sledge commended Conroy and the board for setting aside the $5 million. Of that allocation, the county board has only spent $150,000, which was used for the contract with Grounded Solutions. "What the county now needs," Sledge said, "is the ability to set up the housing trust fund so that they can consider a variety of initiatives to support housing in the county, whether that be creating new affordable housing, maybe helping with rehabilitation or preservation of existing affordable housing, or assisting in that 221 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000246 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0023562 development through some sort of grant or loan." In Glen Ellyn, the nonprofit Full Circle Communities intends to create affordable housing on part of an old hotel site near the Roosevelt Road corridor. No less than 55% of the units will be reserved as supportive housing for people with disabilities, per the terms of a redevelopment agreement approved by the village board. The county also has set aside $1.75 million for the Glen Ellyn project, but it has not yet been allocated to the developer. It cannot be officially provided until they complete additional tasks, including an environmental review, according to county staff. An official agreement would come forward later this year for county board approval. Those dollars are provided from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The Full Circle development is planned for individuals or households with a range of income levels. Now under construction is an affordable senior housing complex in Addison. "We work very closely with the municipalities. They're 100% in charge of all of the regulatory requirements where we are one of the financing agents," said DuPage Community Services Director Mary Keating. The ad hoc housing solutions committee would put together the regulatory framework for the county to set up a land bank and housing trust, Custer told the board last week. "I think the work that DuPage County is doing now," Sledge said, "is going to really help its residents in the near and long-term future." [WI] Affordable housing: 44-unit Gateway Apartments could finish construction by fall (Sheboygan-Press, WI) - full text Sheboygan-Press [3/13/2025 6:06 AM, Alex Garner, 89K, WI] Construction is under way on the anticipated 44-unit affordable apartment project off Erie Avenue, which could finish this fall. Karin Kirchmeier, CEO at Partners for Community Development, said Gateway Apartments construction could finish by October, with leasing starting soon after that. She said the project has experienced some roadblocks, like weather. The project is valued at $9.85 million. The 0.62-acre plot was vacant, formerly occupied by four homes that were demolished before the project began. Construction was expected to finish in early 2025, according to the initial approved conditional use permit, but an amended CUP extended the construction deadline to February 2026. The city allocated $3.6 million in ARPA funds and $250,000 in Community Development Block Grant funds to the project. The three-story building will offer 35 one-bedroom, four two-bedroom and five three-bedroom units and underground parking, according to building plans. The property will be managed by Partners, which also manages affordable townhomes Sunnyside Townhomes. Qualifying renters must have incomes below 60% of the Sheboygan County median income, which ranges from $36,480 for a one-person household to $68,760 for an eight-person household, according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's 2024 adjusted home income limits. Addressing affordable housing, homelessness and neighborhood stabilization and revitalization were identified as priorities in the city's 2020-2024 Consolidated Plan needs assessment, supported by data from the American Community Survey and HUD's Comprehensive Housing Affordability Strategy. 222 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000246 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0023563 [MN] St. Paul: Balsam on Broadway opens in Lowertown, one of several housing developments for downtown (TwinCities.com, MN) - full text TwinCities.com [3/16/2025 5:05 AM, Frederick Melo, 796K, MN] A grand opening ceremony was held on Thursday, March 13. 2025 for the Balsam on Broadway, 128 units of affordable housing in a new six-story residential building at 540 Broadway St. in Lowertown St. Paul. (Frederick Melo / Pioneer Press). After opening 128 units of affordable housing in St. Paul's Lowertown neighborhood, developers Mike Hudson and Willy Boulay followed that up by moving in. The co-founders of Broadway Street Development now keep their offices at the Balsam on Broadway, a six-story, $70 million residential building that welcomed its first tenants in December. Built to replace a one-story commercial-industrial building, downtown St. Paul's latest residences are located at 540 Broadway St., just across Interstate 35E from Regions Hospital and north of Interstate 94 and CHS Field, an area better known for surface parking lots, government office buildings and industrial warehouses than chic living quarters. That didn't phase Broadway Street Development, which embraced the opportunity to install as much style as substance into a transit-connected structure with plenty of local flair and a wide range of rents. Those rents range from 30% percent area median income up to 80% AMI, rare breadth in an affordable housing industry that often leases out new construction at 60% AMI. "We love downtown St. Paul. I live in St. Paul," said Hudson, whose previous projects have included the Canvas Apartments, which opened last year in northeast Minneapolis. Balsam on Broadway ranges from a single studio apartment to three-bedroom luxury units offering two bathrooms, balconies, in-unit washers and dryers and kitchen islands. Five units reserved for high-priority homeless placements receive support services from Simpson Housing Services. Balsam on Broadway consists of 21 one-bedroom, 56 two-bedroom, 50 three-bedroom units and a single studio apartment. 20% of the units are priced to be affordable to households earning 30% of area median income, with rents from $610 to $890 per month. 50% of units are targeted to households earning 60% AMI, with rents from $1,350-$1,860 per month. 30% of units are targeted to households earning 80% AMI, with rents from $1,500 to $2,500 per month. Art by St. Paul-based muralists -- including Hmong and Somali artists who invoke their heritage in paint -- drapes the building's ground-level lobby and greets elevator riders at each floor, a far cry from the generic pastels common to new housing developments. A sizable wall mural on the second floor, for instance, depicts the exterior of Lowertown's original Red's Savoy Pizza, which closed in 2017. Tricia Heuring, a consultant with Public Functionary of northeast Minneapolis, said she took pains to make sure artists lived or worked in St. Paul. Burlesque of North America, a St. Paul-based graphic design firm that got its start in graffiti art, showcases its art collection in the sixth-floor club room. next to the roof deck. Back on the ground level, a children's play area is fashioned like an indoor playground with an elaborate slide and climbing structure. An electronic screen displays the latest 223 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000246 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0023564 Metro Transit schedule in real-time. Housing demand at the Balsam on Broadway had been brisk, until it wasn't. Half the units were pre-leased at 30% and 60% of area median income and fully occupied between a Dec. 20 opening and Jan. 1, according to the developers. Boulay noted the Balsam on Broadway has drawn nurses who work at Regions Hospital and other downtown employees. Now comes the tougher part -- filling sizable units priced at 80% of area median income at a time when interest in luxury housing in St. Paul has slowed. "They're still moving," Hudson said. "It's a little closer to market rate, so it takes a little longer.". At 1,275 square feet, a three-bedroom, two-bath luxury unit rents for $2,500 per month, and yes, that's technically considered affordable housing for a family earning 80% of area median income, which was a household income of about $98,000 for a family of four last year. A one-bedroom, one-bath unit at 80% AMI rents for $1,500. Additional amenities include a fitness center, in-unit washers and dryers, bike parking, pet spa and 5,200 square feet of office space that serves as Broadway Street Development's new headquarters. The development, which has a solar array, is in the certification process to become a LEED Silver building and the developers hope to eventually obtain LEED Gold status. A grand opening ceremony on Thursday morning drew St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter and Council Member Cheniqua Johnson, who chairs the city's Housing and Redevelopment Authority, and both delivered congratulatory remarks. The $70 million development required an elaborate layer cake of financing to become a reality, including backing from the city of St. Paul, the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development and Ramsey County. Additional financing partners included Ready Capital, US Bank, the Greater Minnesota Housing Fund and Colliers Securities. Development partners included LS Black Constructors, Tushie Montgomery Architects, Loucks, Inc., ERA Structural Engineering and the engineering firm Emanuelson-Podas, Inc. It's no secret that downtown St. Paul has lost some major retailers and office employers like Cray Supercomputers and TKDA Engineering over the years, leading to the virtual implosion of commercial buildings like Alliance Bank Center, which asked all its lease holders to move after nearly losing its utilities this past week. Housing has been a brighter spot for downtown, despite high interest rates and opposition within the industry to the city's voter-backed rent control ordinance. Indianapolis-based developers Flaherty and Collins were recently awarded tentative developer status to move forward with 300 units of housing and additional commercial space in two buildings to be constructed on either side of the Green Line's downtown Central Station off Fifth and Cedar Streets. The goal is to have a land purchase agreement in place with the city of St. Paul and the Metropolitan Council for a 20-story apartment tower and a six-story building by the end of 2026 and begin construction soon after. Around the corner at 4th and Wabasha Street, PAK Properties is closing on the 224 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000246 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0023565 purchase of the historic Commerce Building, which spans 100 affordable units. Property owner CommonBond Communities had been unable to keep up with costs, and the purchase agreement was contingent on $1.22 million in debt forgiveness from the city, which the city council approved on Wednesday. The sale of the Commerce Building, a former 1912 office tower, will result in the partial immediate repayment of municipal loans that would have otherwise come due to the city in 2037 and 2041, thereby freeing up more money for affordable housing development in the near future. Just blocks away, PAK Properties is seeking financing for an office-to-residential conversion of the Hamm Building on St. Peter Street, with the goal of keeping the first floor and lower levels of the building unchanged, including the retail, restaurant and theater spaces, while adding 129 residential units on the upper floors. Developer Carl Kaeding and the Kaeding Development Group are adding 174 high-end apartments to Stella, a former Ecolab tower on Wabasha Street, including multiple twostory penthouses. The historically-sensitive redevelopment of the 1970s-era office tower into housing will include 2,300 square feet of public-facing retail on the main floor. Chris Sherman and Sherman Associates are weeks away from moving the first residents into the converted Landmark Tower on St. Peter Street, which has undergone its own transformation from an office tower into 187 units of residential housing. [CO] A big house in Grand Junction, now home to 20 troubled men, tests Colorado's new affordable housing law (Colorado Sun, CO) - full text Colorado Sun [3/15/2025 6:14 AM, Nancy Lofholm, 595K, CO] When men began moving into a home on a historic cul-de-sac near St. Mary's Hospital in January some residents in the close-knit neighborhood of midcentury homes on large lots wondered if maybe a fraternity was setting up in their midst. The neighbors quickly got clues that the newly sold Grand Junction home was no frat house. On two occasions, men in shackles and handcuffs were dropped off at the home by Denver- and Eaglearea law enforcement vehicles. Local police cars turned up in front of the 4,800-squarefoot home on at least seven occasions. Ambulances made three visits. Men were seen smoking cigarettes and marijuana on the curb. A neighbor found one man lying in the gutter. Empty airline-sized bottles of booze were turning up in the street. The new residents sometimes stood in front of the house glaring at nearby neighbors. They were observed out on the streets in the middle of the night. Neighbors complain that some of the men staying at the home have yelled at them. Neighbors in Bookcliff Heights who have been rattled by all this began investigating and found a local nonprofit called A Special Place had leased the nine-bedroom home on Bookcliff Drive that last sold in January for $610,000. It had been named Rene's House and turned into a residence for 20 men with psychiatric and criminal backgrounds and court-related problems. "Their crimes are unknown to us. Who are these men and why are they dropped off handcuffed with their feet shackled?" neighbor Thane De Puey asked. "Do my wife and I need to carry bear spray when we work in our yard?" The owner of Rene's House, Grand Junction City Councilman Cody Kennedy, and the operators of the home had given no notice or information about this new use to 225 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000246 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0023566 neighbors. Kennedy said notice was not required because Rene's House is not a group home; it is a residence for a group of men who have chosen to live together. His assertion reveals an unintended consequence of a state law change that went into effect last year -- and that could affect any neighborhood in Colorado. At the urging of university and ski towns that were in a bind for affordable housing, the Colorado legislature last year passed House Bill 1007, a law that removed limits on how many unrelated people can live together, as long as health and safety standards are met. "I had a feeling there were going to be unintended consequences. I had a feeling there would be problems," said state Sen. Janice Rich, R-Grand Junction, who voted against the measure. Rich said she has asked the Colorado legislature's legal department to review the law and determine if facilities like A Special Place are a consequence of a law drafted to do something else. If so, she plans to introduce a measure to tweak the law in next year's session. The city of Grand Junction also has questions about turning residential homes into quasi-criminal justice treatment centers. "There was no outreach to the community on this. It's pretty concerning because it feels like this is part of the criminal justice system," Mayor Abe Herman said. "There are no guidelines on whether it should be allowed." Kennedy, a former Grand Junction police officer turned real estate investor, argues that the way Rene's House is operating is all above board and for a good cause. "I have a master lease on that house with an organization. I have no say in who comes and goes," Kennedy said. Kennedy owns two other downtown Grand Junction homes that he leases to A Special Place for the same purpose. One of the homes is designated for 16 women and gender-fluid residents. The other is for 10 men. Those two homes have not been the subject of public complaints. A Special Place's website states the homes are for "treatment, and psychiatric services for homeless individuals diagnosed with serious mental illness at risk of courtinvolvement with a focus on contemporary clients on Colorado's Western Slope." A Special Place's website goes on to state the homes were established with a special focus on individuals who may not be competent to stand trial. The website calls the homes an alternative to having such individuals "languishing in jails and putting a strain on tax payers, the legal system, and law enforcement." A Special Place's list of services provided at the homes include housing, transportation, food and physical and mental health care. Residents can include the seriously mentally ill, criminals, domestic violence victims and sex offenders. The state's register of sex offenders has listed two men at the Bookcliff Drive address, but they are no longer registered there. The house had previously been used as a group home for up to eight developmentally challenged residents who lived with a family that provided care for them. It had served in that role for years, and neighbors, including retired physicians and lawyers, hadn't objected. The home hadn't been the nexus for disturbances. It was licensed as a group home and had regulatory oversight. Kennedy said he has owned rental properties for more than 20 years and in the past provided homes for Afghan resettlement programs. He said he has not had problems with any of his other rentals. He blames the problems at A Special Place's Bookcliff 226 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000246 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0023567 Drive home on a not-in-my-backyard attitude from the neighbors. He said if the neighbors had greeted the new residents with plates of cookies rather than criticism, the whole brouhaha might have been avoided. "It's unfortunate this has come off as a NIMBY thing. The neighbors were really discriminatory," he said. "It's shameful. We are doing something so good and so needed. Mental health is a critical need when it comes to housing in our community." Rich Tuttle, a part-time deputy district attorney who is handling mental and behavioral issues for the 21st Judicial District, was not aware of the neighborhood complaints about Rene's House, but he said in his work with A Special Place he has seen only a benefit to the community. "They are a great resource for us," he said. "They have a good reputation in the criminal justice system." Tuttle pointed out that if the men placed at Rene's House were not there they likely would be on the streets and unsupervised. He said the kind of men placed there could be living, unknown to neighbors, in many parts of the city. Mayor Herman said the criminal justice link to A Special Place's homes needs to be looked into: if it is part of the criminal justice system, it needs to be licensed as such. He said so far Rene's House problems have not risen to the level of complaints that ended up with the city shutting down a homeless shelter called Amos Hangout House last year for being an unsafe nuisance. The home generated numerous noise and nuisance complaints when upward of 4O unrelated homeless people were packing into the house to sleep. Exactly what A Special Place is, and conflicting information about what goes on inside the home on Bookcliff, has raised the level of concerns. In an email to a neighbor and comments to The Sun, Kennedy said the home can't be considered a group home because no medical care and no activities of daily living, such as meals, bathroom help and counseling are provided at the home. There is no 24/7 supervision, he said. But A Special Place's website lists around-the-clock care, counseling and medical services, such as the administration of antipsychotic drugs, as part of the program. Neighbors have called and emailed A Special Place director Carrie Shahbahrami for weeks with no response to their questions about how Rene's House operates. Shahbahrami, who is a licensed psychiatric nurse practitioner, also runs a Grand Junction-based psychiatric treatment clinic Lifespan Psychiatry of Colorado. That clinic is the umbrella organization for the nonprofit A Special Place. The website for Lifespan indicates it contracts with the Colorado Behavioral Health Administration to provide court-ordered outpatient restoration at no cost to participants. Twenty-first Judicial District Attorney Dan Rubinstein praised Shahbahrami's work with A Special Place. "When we have someone in our jail and we need to find a place for them, Carrie's is the first place we call," he said. Rubinstein also called Shahbahrami's efforts "a way to solve problems that keep getting dumped." Neighbors say they feel like they are the ones who are getting dumped on. Victoria Patsantaras, who lives across the street from Rene's House, said she no longer feels comfortable even going out to get her mail. She said men outside the home glare at her. "It's just enough to feel slightly menacing," she said. Patsantaras helped to compile 29 227 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000246 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0023568 pages of information about A Special Place that neighbors sent to the city council this week. "Our neighborhood does not exercise intolerance or discrimination," Patsantaras wrote to the city council. "Nor are we making a political statement or preference." Kennedy doesn't see it that way. He blames the upcoming April city council election for all the noise about A Special Place. Some houses in Bookcliff Heights have recently sprouted signs for his opponent, but the neighbors say that has nothing to do with their objections to Rene's House. Who owns the home is not their complaint, they say. It's about what is happening there. Even though Kennedy stresses that his involvement in A Special Place is only tangential as a master lease holder, his involvement has become an issue for the neighbors and his fellow council members. Kennedy previously sided with a different set of complaining neighbors after the city opened a downtown day-time resource center where homeless people could go for food, to get connected with services, to shower and to temporarily store some of their belongings. Business owners near the facility just south of downtown complained that the people hanging around the area were doing drugs, drinking and creating disruptions. As a city councilman, Kennedy pushed for closing the resource center. It is scheduled to cease operations at the end of this month. When it comes to A Special Place, Kennedy threatened the neighbors in Bookcliff Heights that they could be violating the civil rights of the men living in Rene's House by complaining about their presence. "I would encourage all neighbors to avoid engaging in intolerance or discrimination toward the residents of the property and make sure you respect their right to privacy," he wrote in an email to a neighbor. "These individuals have the same rights as anyone else to live in a safe and stable home." The neighbors say they just want a safe and stable neighborhood again. [CO] Denver jury awards tenants more than $10 million in lawsuit over neglected apartment complex (Denver Post, CO) - full text Denver Post [3/14/2025 4:15 PM, Sam Tabachnik, 2656K, CO] A Denver jury on Thursday awarded millions of dollars to former tenants of an apartment complex over systematic neglect and habitability concerns. More than 2,000 residents of the Mint Urban Infinity apartment complex at 1251 S. Bellaire St. near Glendale will receive rent credits for the months they lived in the building as well as $200 per unit per month in damages. Jason Legg, one of the attorneys representing the residents, said the estimated total payout will be between $13 million and $15 million. "I am completely overjoyed," said Brandon Smith, one of the plaintiffs and tenant organizers. "I feel really proud. This is one of the happiest moments of my life." Smith moved into Mint Urban in April 2021. On move-in day, the elevators were broken, forcing Smith -- recovering from a torn ACL -- to lug his belongings up four flights of stairs. The next weekend, he came home from dinner to see the hallway filled with smoke and none of the smoke alarms working. A dryer had caught on fire. A month or two later, the air conditioning and hot water went out. Smith, working from home in 105-degree heat, was drenched in sweat from morning until night. He barely slept. "I was pushed to the brink of exhaustion," Smith, 36, said. On day seven without hot water, Kristin Jones had had enough. She and Smith started knocking on doors, forming a resident coalition. They heard stories of mold and 228 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000246 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0023569 cockroach infestations, collapsed ceilings and water leaks. In October 2021, Smith filed a class-action complaint against Cardinal Group Management & Advisory and Glendale Properties, the management and ownership of Mint Urban, alleging the company was violating Colorado's warranty of habitability laws that require rental units in the state to meet minimum safety and health standards. Jessie Koerner, a spokesperson for Cardinal, said the company is "disappointed in the outcome" of the lawsuit, adding that the verdict will have a "material adverse impact" on affordable housing in Denver. After an eight-day trial in Denver District Court this month, the jury found the apartment management and ownership violated the warranty of habitability statutes, awarding a 31.42% rent reduction per unit per month from October 2018 through June 2022. The jury also found the companies violated their obligations to maintain the property under the lease. Legg, attorney for the residents, said he believes the case to be the first class-action certified for warranty of habitability violations in the state, and one of the first in the country. "I hope this sends the message clearly that it's not good business to see how much you can maximize your profit margin by neglecting properties," he said. Smith said he felt immense relief Thursday when the jury came back with the verdict. "This lawsuit sets a precedent that tenants don't have to put up with this stuff," he said. "If you continue with awful conditions, you're gonna pay for it." [WA] Hundreds rally at state capitol for rent control bill (KIRO-TV, Seattle, WA) full text KIRO-TV [3/14/2025 7:51 PM, Madeline Ottilie, 1087K, WA] VIDEO. Hundreds of people rallied outside the state Capitol Friday in support of a bill that would place limits on annual rent increases. House Bill 1217 passed in the Washington state House a few days ago and has moved into the state Senate. If passed, the bill would cap annual rent increases at 7% and bar any rent increase during a tenant's first year. It does include several exemptions, including for residential construction that's less than 12 years old. Tenants who came to the rally Friday said rising rents are crushing them. "The new owners raised the rent $150," said Caroline Hardy, an Aberdeen resident who lives at a mobile home park. "The next year, it went up $110." Hardy said she and most of her neighbors are senior citizens on fixed incomes. "It's looking like a lot of us are going to end up homeless," she said. Supporters of the bill, including the Washington Low Income Housing Alliance, say the rent cap would still allow landlords to make a profit and pay for maintenance costs, while bringing stability to renters' lives. Critics, like Washington's Republican Party Chairman Rep. Jim Walsh, argue it would hurt housing development in a time when the state desperately needs more housing units. "If you control rent, you take away the financial incentive to build more housing units," Walsh said. Walsh said making it easier for developers to build more units would resolve the scarcity problem. "Rent control will not make more housing," he said. "All it does is try to fix the costs of the existing inventory." 229 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000246 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0023570 A state report found more than half of Washington renters were rent burdened in 2023, meaning they paid at least 30% of their income to their rent. Among Washington's largest cities, rents remain highest in Seattle ($2,000), according to Zillow Rental Data. Rents were cheapest, among large cities, in Tacoma ($1,650). Rent increased over the last year in Seattle, Everett, and Tacoma (up the most, based on dollar amounts), according to Zillow. Rent dropped sharply in Olympia, down $200 on average, compared to a year ago. A similar companion bill is also moving forward in the state senate. [WA] Clark County eviction support program on shaky ground financially (Columbian.com, WA) - full text Columbian.com [3/15/2025 6:08 AM, Alexis Weisend, 349K, WA] Clark County has one of the few court-affiliated programs in the nation to support people throughout the eviction process. Despite record eviction filings with no end in sight, the program could die in 2026. "I think it'll be an increased burden on the court statewide (if the program ends)," said Steven Morrison, executive director of Community Mediation Services, which operates the program. Community Mediation Services and Clark County Superior Court formed the program, called Access to Community Eviction Support, in late 2023 after a wave of eviction filings hit Clark County. (Clark County's Eviction Resolution Pilot Program, a pandemic-era mediation service that kept 73 percent of tenant-landlord disputes from going to court, had just sunsetted.). In 2023 and 2024, Clark County had the highest level of eviction filings per capita out of any county in Washington. Attorneys and the court are still struggling to keep up with the load, which is about one eviction filing for every 242 people in Clark County, according to Washington Administrative Office of the Courts data. To slow the flow, Clark County Superior Court applied for funding from the National Center for State Courts for an eviction diversion program and received a $361,940 grant to form Access to Community Eviction Support, known as ACES. (Last year, the program's costs totaled about $117,000, according to the court.). Although one of ACES's goals is eviction diversion, its main goal is to resolve the root cause of an eviction, said Casey McDougall, the program's only case manager. ACES directs people to free legal services and rental assistance, but it also refers people to mental health services, housing resources, job and educational support, and conflict resolution. Addressing underlying issues may prevent the eviction from occurring or keep the cycle from continuing, he said. "I hate seeing reoccurring cases coming back to court," McDougall said. Alternative methods to rental assistance are especially important because rental assistance funds are running low in Clark County. Clark County went from dishing out about $30 million in both 2021 and 2022 to $6.8 million in 2024. The number of households receiving assistance through county funds dropped nearly nine-fold. The county will devote just $2.8 million toward rental assistance over the next three years. Even if rental assistance is available, it can often 230 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000246 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0023571 be a "Band-Aid fix," said Morrison of Community Mediation Services. Rental assistance will likely not stave off an eviction forever if a tenant is consistently struggling, he said. "It buys time, but it doesn't work to alleviate the barriers that those individuals were suffering," Morrison said. Some landlords in Clark County agree with the holistic philosophy and reach out to McDougall on behalf of tenants before taking them to court, McDougall said. Even if losing housing seems unavoidable, McDougall will work to prevent tenants from becoming homeless by connecting them to housing resources. Sometimes, he hears from someone only after they've been evicted. "There have been times where people reach out to us, and they're living in their car," he said. McDougall guides people through the eviction process, which can be complex and confusing, he said. He also helps people plan ways to get to court if they have a transportation barrier or a schedule conflict. That's important because a tenant not showing up for an eviction hearing almost always results in an automatic eviction, according to attorneys. "Being prepared -- really, it's so helpful because they get to see the entire process," McDougall said. Although it doesn't seem as though eviction filings will slow in Clark County, ACES may not exist in a year and a half. That's when the last available funding from the National Center for State Courts runs out for the program. Clark County Superior Court received $90,485 for ACES from Sept. 1, 2025, through Aug. 31, 2026. However, about $30,000 of these funds will be used for the creation of self-help packets for landlords and tenants. "This way, when the grant is fully expended, it will leave behind a tangible, lasting outcome for years to come," said Whitney Blighton, Clark County Superior Court's senior management analyst. Case Management Services has applied for multiple grants to fund ACES itself, Morrison said. "But with our current political state, there's a lot of freezes in awards and grant funding, and there's a lot of hesitancy from funders to award programs because they don't know if the money is going to be there," Morrison said. Both Morrison and McDougall surmise that an end to ACES would have a direct effect on eviction filing levels and the ability of people to navigate the eviction process. "I would suspect we'd see a lot of confusion, and that always scares me," McDougall said. "I feel like that would probably come back.". Stay informed on what is happening in Clark County, WA and beyond for only. This story was made possible by Community Funded Journalism, a project from The Columbian and the Local Media Foundation. Top donors include the Ed and Dollie Lynch Fund, Patricia, David and Jacob Nierenberg, Connie and Lee Kearney, Steve and Jan Oliva, The Cowlitz Tribal Foundation and the Mason E. Nolan Charitable Fund. The Columbian controls all content. For more information, visit columbian.com/cfj. [CA] Pasadena has new rental protections in the wake of the Eaton Fire (LAist, CA) - full text 231 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000246 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0023572 LAist [3/15/2025 8:00 AM, Evan Jacoby, 954K, CA] The Pasadena Rental Housing Board this week passed a suite of amendments to its housing regulations meant to protect displaced residents, while helping to ensure a stable recovery from the Eaton Fire for both tenants and landlords. Ryan Bell, chair of the Pasadena Rental Housing Board, spoke to LAist to help explain what's changed. 1. Protections for unauthorized occupants and pets If you're now sharing your rental with people or pets who were victims of the fire, you cannot be penalized, even if it's in violation of your lease. "Some leases say you can't add occupants without permission or that you can't have a pet," Bell says. "Those lease provisions are superseded temporarily." This could affect anyone from Palisades to Altadena sheltering with friends and family in Pasadena, Bell says. The amendment comes after a similar state protection, created through an executive order issued by Gov. Gavin Newsom, expired in early March. It wil l remain in effect for 90 days from Feb. 28 (that's the middle of the last week of May). 2. Fee refunds for landlords who lost entire buildings. A prorated refund is available for landlords who paid the annual rental housing fee of $214.71 per unit. "There were apartment units that burned all the way down. And landlords had already registered those units and paid the fee," Bell says. Bell says only about a dozen landlords will be affected by the amendment but adds that it isn't fair to pay a fee "for something that simply doesn't exist anymore." 3. Allowing temporary rent reductions Landlords can now temporarily lower rents without changing the base rent. Much of Pasadena's rental stock is subject to rent control laws, which cap annual rent increases at 3% above the base rent. "But if a landlord wants to help me out because, say, I lost income due to the fire," Bell says, "they could give me three months of a $500 discount and then raise it back to $2,000 without penalty." Bell says the idea came from a landlord. "We thought, yeah, that makes sense," Bell says. "That's an opportunity for a landlord to offer some generosity if they could and wanted to." There is no maximum amount of time that landlords can offer a reduced rate, but they must provide tenants with at least 30 days' notice before restoring the original rent. 4. Short-term rentals Tenancy is typically established if you stay longer than 30 days somewhere, including a motel or a hotel. To prevent displaced residents from having to move every 29 days, Newsom suspended this rule temporarily. "We essentially adopted that as well, locally, and gave it a little bit longer deadline," Bell says. The regulation applies anywhere that pays a transient occupancy tax, including hotels, motels and Airbnbs. It expires May 1. 5. No evictions for nonpayment L.A. County recently adopted a resolution preventing evictions for nonpayment if the tenant has been financially harmed by the fires. The city of Pasadena is reinforcing those protections by passing local regulations. Tenants must also prove that they are seeking 232 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000246 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0023573 income replacement, such as a new job, unemployment insurance or a wildfire relief grant. The result, Bell says, is that "if you lost your job due to the fire or were otherwise financially impacted, you can't be evicted for non-payment for six months." [CA] Yuba City can't keep state funds for affordable housing unless it finds $7 million it doesn't have (Sacramento Bee, CA) - full text Sacramento Bee [3/14/2025 8:00 AM, Jake Goodrick, 1467K, CA] More than $7 million stands in the way of an affordable housing project that has been in the works for years. And neither Yuba City nor Habitat for Humanity Yuba-Sutter have it in hand. The city and nonprofit have partnered for more than three years on Merriment Village Apartments, a planned 218-unit complex for low-income housing on Walton Avenue, north of Franklin Road, with an estimated cost exceeding $75 million. Now the two sides are scrambling to resolve the funding gap and save the project to avoid returning more than $24.6 million in state dollars received through the California Department of Housing and Community Development's Homekey program. The state agency granted the funds to build a four-story building with 80 units as the first phase of the larger project. But with construction required by contract to begin in the coming weeks, the nonprofit reached out to city officials requesting a $7.5 million line of credit to make up the shortfall, triggering a quick "no" in response while raising the need for another solution on short notice. "We all agree that this is a good project," said Yuba City mayor Dave Shaw at a special meeting Monday. "The city wants it to go forward. We have to overcome a gap funding issue." After holding a special meeting this week, the city and nonprofit are hoping to reconcile with the state agency to keep the housing project alive. The project began in early 2022 when city and Habitat for Humanity officials selected the nearly 7.5-acre site on Walton Avenue. In addition to seeking the Homekey dollars, the city and nonprofit partnered to seek funding from Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities, another state program. For its part, the city waived nearly $1.8 million in fees and in October received Homekey program funds -- more than $24.6 million -- directly from the state. The Homekey program aims to fund and coordinate state and local partners to expand more quickly housing options, particularly for those who are homeless or near homelessness. The city and nonprofit only had about 15 months to finish the project when they were awarded more than $24 million in funds last February. By last July, the nature of the very short deadlines became more clear. State requirements pegged construction of the first building to complete a year after the funds were awarded, which would have been in February, with full occupancy required by this May. Joseph Hale, CEO of Habitat for Humanity Yuba-Sutter, on Monday told city officials that the nonprofit had invested about $3.7 million into the project over the past 18 months. He said the organization has a variety of revenue streams throughout the year that can go toward the project costs, and that it would not plan to tap into the line of credit. But council members, dealing with budget problems of their own, quickly ruled that out. "You burned almost two years of circling around and around and around, trying to find a wish and a prayer, and that to me is not a sound way of going about developing 233 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000246 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0023574 something that is so important to this community," said Councilmember Michael Pasquale. Last summer, council members expressed concern over the project timeline and the city's obligation to repay the funds if agreed terms weren't met. That's also when Habit for Humanity informed the city of the roughly $7 million gap between grant funding and construction bids. The city and nonprofit in July entered a contract that put responsibility for the shortfall on Habitat for Humanity, which put together a plan to account for that funding. After first denying the nonprofit's request for more time, the state agency in January extended the timeline to allow for construction to complete in October 2026. However, the urgency escalated earlier this month when Habitat sent the city an email asking for an unsecured line of credit for $7.5 million to cover the funding gap. City officials rebuffed that request, expressing confusion and frustration, particularly in light of recent financial struggles that have caused the city to cut back on services. "It struck me as odd knowing what I think most people know about our financial situation here in the city that someone would ask us for a $7.5 million unsecured loan," Boomgaarden said. "That's tough, right? We're not flush at all." With construction now required to begin in April, to comply with the state contract, the city and nonprofit are on short notice hoping to work with the state agency on finding a solution. "Time is not a luxury that we have," Shaw said. To salvage the project and avoid returning more than $24.6 million to the state, council members talked about either scaling back the project's first phase or asking the state housing agency for more funding. In February, Long Beach returned $5.6 million to the state after failing to find land to settle 33 tiny homes -- which the city had already bought for $2 million -- that would have served as temporary housing for homeless people, the Long Beach Press-Telegram reported. Yuba City council members floated whether to ask for the funds that Long Beach returned. "California is in need of a housing correction," said Councilmember Toni Cole. "Things are really out of control and I feel like this kind of challenge is going to become more frequent." Johnny Burke, Yuba-Sutter Homeless Consortium executive director, said that the fate of housing projects such as Merriment Village could affect other housing and homelessness funds Yuba and Sutter counties receive due to new accountability measures that Gov. Gavin Newsom announced in February, tying local progress on housing to future state funds. Burke said that over the past six years, about $10 million of such funds have come to the counties and the homeless consortium. "Somehow, someway we need to make this happen," he said. [CA] Affordable housing on Costa Mesa Senior Center lot could get green light from council (Los Angeles Times) - full text Los Angeles Times [3/14/2025 5:03 PM, Sara Cardine, 13342K] A proposal to build 70 units of affordable senior housing on the parking lot of the cityowned and operated Costa Mesa Senior Center has been in the works for years but could finally see the light of day Tuesday. That's when a request for the entitlements needed to move the project forward -- 234 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000246 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0023575 reviewed and approved by the Costa Mesa Planning Commission in December -- are scheduled to come before the City Council in a public hearing. Put forth by Irvine-based nonprofit developer Jamboree Housing Corp., the plan calls for the subdivision of the 2.66-acre senior center lot, located at 695 W. 19th St., which would create a separate 1.5-acre parcel on the eastern side. A four-story, 93,972-square foot Spanish Revival-style building standing 57.5 feet tall would feature 35 units for low-income seniors and 34 units of permanent supportive housing for very-low income residents 55 years and older, along with one two-bedroom manager's unit. Occupants identified for the supportive housing would also receive assistance from case workers as well as life improvement services, such as financial literacy classes and help finding employment. No on-site medical services are being proposed for the complex, according to a staff report for Tuesday's meeting. Although the structure would be built on the current site of the Senior Center's 145space parking lot, the housing units would sit atop a ground-floor lot with 59 spaces, while another 74 spaces are proposed for an on-site surface parking lot. City officials in July 2020 entered into an exclusive negotiating agreement with the Irvine-based nonprofit that allowed it to study the feasibility of the site for low-income senior housing. While the agreement expired in 2022, plans have continued to progress. The project has been floated by Jamboree representatives at two community meetings held in February and December last year. Participants at those events lodged their concerns about accessibility to the center and parking lot during construction, as well as noise, dust and traffic impacts. Others support the plan for the needed housing it would bring, particularly for low-income seniors, and its location within a transit-rich area with shopping and public amenities, like the nearby Norma Hertzog Community Center. The City Council meeting begins Tuesday at 6 p.m. at Costa Mesa City Hall, 77 Fair Drive. For the meeting agenda, visit costamesaca.gov. [CA] City of San Diego to Transform Old Serra Mesa Library into Affordable Housing for Veterans and Families (Times of San Diego, CA) - full text Times of San Diego [3/15/2025 11:45 PM, Debbie L. Sklar, 330K, CA] The city of San Diego is taking a step toward increasing affordable housing by converting a long-vacant building. A long-term ground lease with a nonprofit developer will transform the former Serra Mesa Library site into affordable housing. Priority for h alf of these homes will be given to military veterans, providing supportive services for those experiencing or at risk of homelessness. The San Diego City Council has approved a 65-year lease agreement with Community HousingWorks, allowing the nonprofit to develop the 0.34-acre lot at 3440 Sandrock Road into 59 affordable homes. The Serra Mesa Apartments will consist of 56 onebedroom units, three two-bedroom units, and one unrestricted two-bedroom manager's unit. Designed to support those at the greatest risk of homelessness, these homes will be restricted for 55 years to households earning between 30% and 60% of the area's 235 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000246 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0023576 median income. Thirty of the units will be specifically designated for veterans in need of stable housing. The development is part of Mayor Todd Gloria's Homes for All of Us initiative. "Serra Mesa Apartments is precisely the type of project my policies are designed to incentivize -- affordable housing on underused public land, in high-resource neighborhoods with easy access to quality jobs, transit, schools, and essential services," said Mayor Todd Gloria. He added that the "project demonstrates our commitment to ensuring lower-income families and our veterans can afford to live in communities that provide the opportunities and stability they deserve.". A ground lease ensures that while the city retains ownership of the land, the developer will construct and manage the housing, sharing revenue with the city. Once the lease expires, all improvements will revert to city control. The new development will feature 22 parking spaces, community room spaces, a computer lab, laundry facilities, a case management and resident services area, bike parking and a second-story courtyard with seating, trees, and greenery. Once financing is finalized, construction is expected to take approximately 26 months. "This is a great opportunity to activate a vacant community space into much-needed affordable housing while serving those who have willingly served our nation," said Economic Development Director Christina Bibler. The former Serra Mesa Library closed in 2006 when the new Serra Mesa-Kearny Mesa Branch Library opened on Aero Drive. The building was repurposed for storage until 2019. In 2020, the City issued a request for proposals. To support the development, the City Council also approved a $4 million Bridge to Home loan. This program, launched by Gloria in 2021, directly invests in affordable housing projects to assist with financing. The Bridge to Home program has funded 17 projects, totaling 1,353 affordable homes. Six additional projects are expected to go before the City Council later this year. [AK] Opinion: Affordable housing emergency threatens stability of over 1,000 households in Anchorage (Anchorage Daily News, AK) - full text Anchorage Daily News [3/15/2025 11:33 AM, Meg Zaletel, 564K, AK] Anchorage is facing an escalating affordable housing emergency, with more than 1,000 households at risk of eviction due to rising rental costs and a lack of available and affordable housing options. This emergency is part of a broader, ongoing housing crisis that has been worsening over the past several years, driven by insufficient housing development, rising construction costs and economic challenges that have left many residents unable to afford stable housing. Yet the magnitude of this emergency caught us by surprise. The combination of soaring rents, stagnant wages and limited housing supply has left many residents unable to afford even the most basic housing options. Demand for assistance is far exceeding capacity with a recent rental assistance application opportunity open for just a few days collecting applications for over 1,300 households with funds to cover only about 20. While we've known about Anchorage's housing crisis 236 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000246 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0023577 for years now, the magnitude of need for immediate relief is shocking: 1,300 households, 808 with children. In all, more than 2,300 children are on the brink of no longer having a home. Additionally with almost 3,000 people in our community experiencing literal homelessness, nearly 1,800 emergency shelter beds are at full capacity and unsheltered homelessness remains at about 500 individuals. The homelessness response system is already at capacity having seen high inflow for several consecutive months and insufficient resources available to exit people to housing. The magnitude of the new need combined with an already overtaxed system and a lack of adequate funding has Anchorage at a tipping point. Inaction is not an option. We need immediate rental assistance to keep people housed and rapid rehousing resources to help those who have already fallen into homelessness find stability again. While some relief may be available very soon, it is not at scale to meet the need or buy our community enough time for other solutions. The longer we wait, the more families will be forced onto the streets, further straining our social services and emergency response systems. Rental assistance programs are a proven, cost-effective strategy to prevent homelessness by providing financial support to tenants who are behind on rent due to unforeseen circumstances. Additionally, rapid rehousing funds play a critical role in helping those experiencing homelessness secure permanent housing quickly, preventing the cycle of long-term homelessness and its associated costs. The community must come together for immediate action on rental assistance and rapid rehousing funding. Immediate investments in rental assistance and rapid rehousing programs will provide relief to vulnerable households while the community can come together to strategize mid- and long-term solutions, identifying a path toward stabilizing rents and increasing the production of more affordable housing units. We have a critical opportunity to act now and prevent hundreds of families from losing their homes. Waiting for perfect conditions is not an option -- there will always be risks. True leadership requires courage and sacrifice, especially in moments like this. Boldness comes from knowing our actions will impact others. Now is the time for our community to take bold action together and for each other. Housing is an issue that impacts everyone and in the end it's about protecting the health, safety and economic stability of our entire community. Meg Zaletel is executive director of the Anchorage Coalition to End Homelessness. She is also a member of the Anchorage Assembly. Headlines The Washington Post (3/15/2025 6:00 AM) After L.A. fires, scorched lots are selling fast Democratic split widens as Senate averts shutdown Jittery over lava? So are Brazil's farmers. 237 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000246 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0023578 At Justice, Trump gives speech fit for a campaign Bill may expand Trump's control over spending If peace comes, Putin may face the ire of 'turbopatriots' (3/16/2025 6:00 AM) Trump moves to gut agencies, repeal Biden's energy record Storms kill 28 in central U.S. as risk of tornadoes peaks Judge bars Trump use of 1798 law to deport Warning Iran, U.S. strikes at Houthis Even as Russia's shadow deepens, Belarus maintains its balancing act The not-so-quiet talk on the next pope (3/17/2025 6:00 AM) Trump loyalist's VOA plans are thrown into limbo Sole survivor of 2005 crash finds purpose in all the pain Wartime power used to deport some migrants Migrant couple arrested despite protected status Without Medicaid, 'I would lose everything' Some tourists drop plans for U.S. travel, citing Trump Weather system fuels tornadoes, wildfires and dust storms across U.S. The New York Times (3/15/2025 6:00 AM) The Senate votes to avert a shutdown after Schumer relents. Putin Demands Ukrainian Troops in Kursk Region of Russia Surrender The Blood Moon Rises: A Total Lunar Eclipse 'You're Tough': How Mexico's President Won Trump's Praise Trump Demands Major Changes in Columbia Discipline and Admissions Rules (3/16/2025 6:00 AM) How New York's Mayor Wooed Donald Trump Why China Is Worried About Trump's Tariffs on Mexico Why Maids Keep Dying in Saudi Arabia Young Democrats' Anger Boils Over as Schumer Retreats on Shutdown He Was Once the 'Subway Ninja.' He Would Like to Explain. (3/17/2025 6:00 AM) How Ukraine's Offensive in Russia's Kursk Region Unraveled One Devastating Storm System: What to Know About the Havoc It Fought to Save the Whales. Can Greenpeace Save Itself? Fear of Trump's Tariffs Ripples Through France's Champagne Region Slowly, Ukrainian Women Are Beginning to Talk About Sexual Assault in the War How a Columbia Student Activist Landed in Federal Detention The Wall Street Journal (3/15/2025 and 3/16/2025 6:00 AM) Consumer Sentiment Tanks as Americans Expect More Pain Ahead Senate Passes Bill Averting Shutdown, After Critical Boost From Democrats Generation Xanax: The Dark Side of America's Wonder Drug Netflix, Amazon and Peacock Go Big on Popular YouTubers Carmakers Are Reinventing the Gear Shifter and Drivers Are Lost (3/17/2025 6:00 AM) Big Retailers' Hardball Tariff Playbook: Haggle, Diversify, Raise Prices 238 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000246 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0023579 In Yemen Strikes, Trump Takes On a Group That Has Outlasted Powerful Foes The Met May Have Millions in Stolen Art. It's Not Waiting to Be Asked to Return It. The Days of Set-and-Forget Investing Just Ended for Many Americans How to Fix a Pothole the British Way: Public Shaming ABC News (3/17/2025 6:00 AM) Iranian general raises prospect of response amid US strikes on Houthis Man who last saw missing Pittsburgh student Sudiksha Konanki thought she took 'her things and left' Trump and Putin to speak Tuesday. Trump says CBS News (3/17/2025 6:00 AM) U.S.. Israel interested in three countries resettlement of Gazans, sources say Rubio says "we're going to keep doing it" after arrest of Columbia activist Judge blocks Trump from using wartime Alien Enemies Act to deport immigrants CNN (3/17/2025 6:00 AM) Trump says he will speak to Putin on Tuesday, may have 'something to announce' on Ukraine Fire rips though North Macedonia nightclub. killing 59 people 'Ethnic cleansing!' Videos show Syrian government-aligned forces reveling in massacre of minorities in coastal town Fox News (3/17/2025 6:00 AM) Trump responds after deported 'monsters' receive rough welcome at notorious Central American prison US military shoots down Houthi drones as Trump's 'decisive' strikes continue Trump says he will be speaking with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday NBC News (3/17/2025 6:00 AM) Peruvian fisherman lost for 95 days in Pacific Ocean returns home Houthis vow to retaliate after rebel group says U.S. strikes on Yemen kill at least 53 Trump administration touts deportations under Alien Enemies Act after a judge temporarily blocked its use Washington Schedule President The White House (3/17/2025 6:00 AM) 1:00 PM Press Briefing by the White House Press Secretary 2:45 PM The President departs The White House en route John F. Kennedy Performing Arts Center 2:55 PM The President arrives John F. Kennedy Performing Arts Center 3:00 PM The President participates in a Kennedy Center Board Meeting and Tour 5:05 PM The President departs John F. Kennedy Performing Arts Center en route The 239 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000246 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0023580 White House 5:15 PM The President arrives The White House Vice President The White House (3/17/2025 6:00 AM) See source link. Schedule not yet available. Senate Senate (3/17/2025 6:00 AM) There are no public events scheduled. House of Representatives House of Representatives (3/17/2025 6:00 AM) There are no public events scheduled. {End of Report} 240 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000246 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0023581