Document w6p7RoY4VO5n85xQ6kZwvxoo

FW: <External Message> HUD Daily Briefing (2-4-25) From: To: Date: Attachments: "Ballard, Daniel L" (b) (6) "Lee, Jessica K. EOP/OMB" (b) (6) Tue, 04 Feb 2025 07:24:07 -0500 HUD Daily Briefing (2-4-25).docx (442.6 kB) From: HUD Daily (b) (6) Sent: Tuesday. February 4, 2025 7:18:23 AM (UTC-05:00) Eastern Time (US & Canada) To: a) (6) _ Subject: <External Message> HUD Daily Briefing (2-4-25) 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. otsENTok 4:3 11 IQ * ik 111111w1= 43.4A+ DEN) HUD DAILY BRIEFING Prepared for the Office of Public Affairs, U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development By TechMIS HUD.TechMlS.com Mobile User Copy TO: DATE: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development & Staff Tuesday, February 4, 2025 7:00 AM ET HUD News and Opinion PAVE seems to be disappearing. What else is next? (HousingWire.com) - full text Housing Advocates Warn that Trump Is Going to Use HUD for Mass Deportations (NOTUS1 JNYJ NYC housing officials blame late Section 8 rent payments on federal disarray (Gothamist, NY) - full text JVA1 Housing Authority embarks on crafting community planning project (Bristol Herald Courier, VA) - full text 1 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000693 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0022410 [IL] High-ranking Chicago Housing Authority director fired amid ongoing staff exodus (Chicago Tribune, IL) - full text (IL] Illinois man gets three years in prison for mortgage fraud (The Legal Description) - full text fWli Milwaukee housing authority reportedly 'misused' millions in federal funds (HousingWire.com) full text [WI) $2.8M misused within Milwaukee's public housing authority. CFO says (Wisconsin Public Radio, WI) - full text fTX1 Austin groups granted $14M in federal funding to address homelessness (KXAN. TX) - full text (TX] Austin's homeless services get historic $14M boost from HUD (KVUE News Online, TX) - full text fTX1 HUD awards $14M to Austin-area homeless services groups (Austin Monitor, TX) - full text National Housing News Bessent Takes the Helm on US Debt Sales After Blasting Yellen (Bloomberg) - full text Treasury's Bessent Named Acting CFPB Director as Chopra Departs (Inside Mortgage Finance) full text Trump names Treasury secretary Scott Bessent as acting director of the CFPB (HousingWire.com) - full text Trump taps Treasury's Bessent as acting CFPB director (National Mortgage News) - full text Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent Named CFPB Acting Director (National Mortgage Professional) full text New CFPB director Bessent orders agency to stop working (HousingWire.com) - full text Treasury's Bessent tells CFPB staff to stop everything (National Mortgage News) - full text New CFPB acting director orders huge halt to bureau's activity (MPA Magazine) - full text E.P.A. Tells More Than 1.000 They Could Be Fired 'Immediately' (New York Times) - full text The EPA Just Locked Its Own Employees Out of Doing Their Jobs (The New Republic) - full text Trump pauses Canada, Mexico tariffs after border pledges (The Hill) - full text Trump Pauses Harsh New Tariffs on Canada and Mexico. Easing Homebuilder Fears of Higher Construction Costs (Realtor.com) - full text U.S. home-price growth softens, but the LA wildfires hinder a broader market recovery (HousingWire.com) - full text Weak demand is forcing more home sellers to reduce their asking price (HousingWire.com) - full text Savings From Fannie Title Pilot Could Reach $2B Over Time (Inside Mortgage Finance) - full text 2 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000693 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0022411 [PA] West Philadelphia apartment building trades for more than $38M (Philadelphia Business Journal, PA) - full text (MI] A Selling Point in This IPO - Mortgage Finance (Inside Mortgage Finance) - full text Broadcast (TV and Radio] (NY] Payment delays occur for NYCHA landlords after funding freeze (WNYC-FM NPR New York, NY) (NY] Funding for Syracuse's Children Rising Center now on pause (WSTM-TV NBC Syracuse, NY) [FL] Panama City officials speak about affordable housing struggles (WJHG-TV NBC Panama City. FL) [FL] Veteran receives new home in Volusia County thanks to HUD grant (CFLN-TV Spectrum News Orlando, FL) [FL] Pinellas County has limited time to create HUD-approved plan for access to funding (BAYS-TV Tampa. FL) (TNN Birchstone Village new home for Nashville families from run-down properties (WSMV-TV NBC Nashville, TN) jMOIColumbia Housing Authority awarded HUD grant for veterans (KMIZ-TV ABC Columbia, MO) [WI] Former HACM employee speaks out on sudden shakeup in agency (WTMJ-TV NBC Milwaukee, WI) [TX] Homeless Response System partners in Austin/Travis County awarded funding for unhoused people (KEYE-TV CBS Austin, TX) [NE] Housing petition gains enough signatures to be on Lincoln ballot in May (KLKN-TV ABC Lincoln, NE) [AZ] Tucson's city council to consider transferring Tucson House to Wisconsin construction firm (KUAZ-FM NPR Tucson, AZ) ICA] Eureka board of supervisors meeting will address HUD grant agreement (KAEF-TV ABC Eureka. CA) Housing Supply New tariffs could raise home prices and sideline potential buyers (CNBC) - full text How the Trump administration's tariffs and deportations could affect the housing market (Bankrate.com) - full text Why Americans are moving in with strangers twice their age (VOX) - full text 2025 Office-to-Apartment Conversions Hit New Record Highs (The Mortgage Point) - full text [ME] 4 big housing ideas from Maine lawmakers (Bangor Daily News, ME) - full text 3 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000693 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0022412 IVT1This State Is Building 'Lego Block' Homes in 96 Hours To Help With Housing Gap (Realtor.com) - full text [OH] Overwhelming' majority of Central Ohioans favor zoning changes to build more housing, study shows (Columbus Business First, OH) - full text JUT] Local company tackles Utah's skyrocketing housing market with tiny homes (KUTV.com, UT) full text Homeownership More Than 170 New Homebuyer Assistance Programs Launched in 2024 (The Mortgage Point) full text JMA1 Leo's Home prepares Greenfield house for sale to first-time homebuyer (Recorder.com, MA) full text fUT1 Are HOAs headed for more state oversight? Should they be? (Deseret News, UT) - full text [CA] Who gets to build? Los Angeles fires expose the weakness of U.S. home insurance. (MarketWatch) - full text [CA] This California couple's modular home order became a 'total nightmare,' and left them without a house (San Francisco Chronicle, CA) - full text [CA] State Farm seeks emergency rate increase averaging 22% after L.A. fires (Los Angeles Times) - full text ICA] State Farm Seeking Interim 22% Rate Hike for Homeowners in Wake of LA Wildfires (Insurance Journal) - full text [CA] State Farm seeks 22% emergency rate hike after receiving 8,700 wildfire claims (San Diego Union Tribune, CA) - full text JCA1 State Farm asks for emergency 22% increase for California premiums, but critics cry foul (USA Today) - full text [CA] State Farm seeks an emergency insurance rate increase after LA wildfires. It's the latest blow to California's housing market (CNN) - full text [CA] State Farm Seeks Emergency California Rate Hike After LA Fires (Bloomberg) - full text [CA] California Homeowners Hit With Sudden 22 Percent Insurance Rate Increase (Newsweek) full text Climate Resilience and Sustainabilitv The climate crisis is set to erase $1.47 trillion in US home values. Here are 5 areas predicted to get hit hard. (Business Insider) - full text Climate change to obliterate $1.5 trillion in U.S. home values (CBS News MoneyWatch) - full text Climate Change Could Erase $1.47 Trillion in Property Values by 2055, Study Says (Realtor.com) full text 4 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000693 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0022413 Climate risk will take trillion-dollar bite out of America's real estate, report finds (USA Today) - full text [MA] Federally funded climate projects in Mass. face uncertainty under Trump (WBUR, MA) - full text Disaster Recovery Who gets more disaster aid? Republican states. Experts explain that and more about FEMA (APNews.com) - full text ENClAsheville to host public meetings on federal disaster funds, unmet community needs (13 WLOS, Asheville, NC) - full text JNC] New governor tests relations with North Carolina lawmakers with aid request for Helene recovery (APNews.com) - full text [FL] U.S. Marine Corps veteran and his wife receive a new home in Volusia County (Spectrum Central Florida News 13, FL) - full text [TX] 'We deserve to see recovery' - Houston residents demand more government support months after Hurricane Beryl (Prism Reports) - full text JTX1 After Hurricane Beryl, Texas lawmakers push for generators at senior living facilities (The Texas Tribune, TX) - full text [OR] Rebuilt housing community for fire survivors opens on McKenzie River (Oregon Public Broadcasting, OR) - full text JCA1 In Altadena, Black Households Were Most Likely to Burn, Study Finds (Capital B) - full text JCA1 L.A. fires hit family wealth. Daunting challenges await those trying to recover it (Los Angeles Times)_- full text ECA1 The LA fires have a shocking price tag -- and we'll all have to pick up the tab (VOX) - full text ECA1 LA Should Requisition Empty Housing for Fire Victims (Jacobin) ICA1What is the FAIR Plan and will it be fair to wildfire victims? (Los Angeles Daily News, CA) - full text [HI] FEMA completes over 165 temporary homes for Lahaina fire survivors (KHON 2, HI) - full text Nil FEMA completes temporary housing community for Maui wildfire survivors (Hawaii News Now, HI) - full text Homelessness JVT1 'It's not insurmountable: ' St. Albans Community Summit brings people together to talk addiction, homelessness (St Albans Messenger, VT) - full text ff\IY1 De Blasio-era mental health teams see staffing shortage while new ones launch (Crain's NY Business, NY) - full text 5 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000693 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0022414 [NJ] 'On high alert all the time' - The homeless find hope at Project Homeless Connect in Morristown (Morristown Green, NJ) - full text [NJ] Volunteers in Paterson face new obstacles counting homeless people, including ICE raids (North Jersey.com, NJ) - full text JWV1 Huntington homeless shelter being moved to new location (WOWK, WV) - full text ISC1 CEO braves freezing temperatures for 24 hours on a bench to inspire action against homelessness (Upworthy) - full text JGAI Atlanta City Council to vote on creation of Homelessness Task Force after Cornelius Taylor death (WSB-TV ABC 2 Atlanta, GA) - full text JGA1 Atlanta City Council to vote on moratorium for homeless encampment sweeps after man's death (WSB-TV ABC 2 Atlanta, GA) - full text [GA] Atlanta City Council approves homelessness task force, pause on encampment sweeps (Rough Draft Atlanta, GA) - full text [GA] Atlanta City Council passes legislation addressing homelessness after man killed during encampment cleanup (11 Alive, GA) - full text [FL] Florida Condo Fees Crisis Could Trigger 'Next Wave of Homeless People,' Lawmaker Says (Realtor.com) - full text [FL] Winter Park Police Department launches new program to help combat homelessness (Spectrum Central Florida News 13, FL) - full text [FL] Marathon homeless camp cleared after residents file lawsuit over Florida law banning public camping (WLRN, FL) - full text [MO1 Lenexa weighs code change to expand shelter capacity as need for homeless services grows (KSHB-TV NBC 41 Kansas City, MO) - full text fMO1. Count of homeless in St. Joseph helping to pinpoint strategies (St. Joseph News-Press, MO) full text [Ml] 5 Things About The New Homeless Shelter Planned In Michigan (WKFR-FM 103.3, MI) - full text [OH] Elon Musk threatens funding for central Ohio Lutheran homeless health center (WOSU Public Media, OH) - full text JILL Lake County volunteers search deep into the night for the homeless; 'They left their warm homes to seek out our unhoused neighbors' (Chicago Tribune, IL) - full text [WI) La Crosse launches year 2 of homeless action plan (Wisconsin Public Radio, WI) - full text [WI] Western Wisconsin leaders want more aid for homelessness. Can the state help? (Online La Crosse Tribune, WI) - full text [MN] Minnesota homeless shelters face 'overwhelming' need, challenges to operation (Minnesota Public Radio, MN) - full text 6 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000693 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0022415 [TX] Director of One Love Longview fears what's next for homeless population after organization shuts down (News-Journal, TX) - full text [TX] Local pastor provides meals, haircuts and care for people experiencing homelessness in San Antonio (KSAT 12, San Antonio, TX) - full text JTX1 Houston's homeless could face state camping ban, expanded civility ordinance from Whitmire (Houston Landing, TX) - full text JOK] Despite Growing Homelessness, Oklahoma Lawmakers Look to Punitive Measures (Oklahoma Watch, OK) - full text [CO] How many homeless people live in Pueblo County? 2025 point-in-time count to offer snapshot (Pueblo Chieftain Online, CO) - full text JCO1 One year later, Arapahoe County updates regional approach in addressing homelessness in Colorado (CBS Colorado, CO) - full text JAZ] Glendale new housing project builds hope for homeless veterans (12News.com, AZ) - full text [NV] Homeless camping ban in effect across Clark County, but Chair says there's not enough beds for all unhoused (FOX 5 KVVU-TV, NV) - full text MA] Fire destroys pair of motorhomes in Hillyard neighborhood, highlighting precarious living conditions brought on by housing crisis (Spokesman-Review.com, WA) - full text [WA] Announcement nears for Bremerton's homeless shelter solution (Kitsap Sun, WA) - full text JWAI. Burien, other cities tighten homeless laws (Seattle Times, WA) - full text [OR] Oregon judge pauses camping ban enforcement in city at heart of Supreme Court homelessness ruling (APNews.com) - full text [OR] Portland Mayor Announces 50 New Beds To Combat Homelessness And Aid Addiction Recovery (News Radio 750 KXL, OR) - full text [OR] In Conversation: Jacen Greene, Homelessness Researcher, Portland State University (Oregon Business, OR) - full text [CAI Sacramento quietly ramped up criminal citations to homeless people. 'I can't afford to pay it' (Sacramento Bee, CA) - full text [CA] Napa Exploring Plan To Convert Two Apartment Buildings Into Long-Term Supporting Housing (KSRO, Santa Rosa, CA) - full text JCA1 Carlsbad gets $3 million grant to help homeless people living in vehicles (San Diego Union Tribune, CA) - full text [HI] County Awards $10.1 Million in Grants to Address Homelessness and Housing Needs (KWXX, Hilo, HI) - full text Fair Housing [NY] EDITORIAL: State needs to ensure fairness in housing (The Daily Gazette, NY) - full text 7 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000693 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0022416 J.NElLincoln for Fair Housing tops 15,300 petition signatures (Civic Nebraska, NE) - full text JNE1 Organizers say fair housing petition in Lincoln surpassed signature requirements (Channel 8 Eyewitness News. Lincoln, NE) - full text l'NE1 Lincoln Fair Housing coalition turns in nearly double the signatures needed for balltot initiative (Lincoln Journal Star, NE) - full text INE1Signatures submitted to put Lincoln renter protections on ballot in citywide election (NETNebraska.org, NE) - full text Federal Housing Administration and Multifamily Housing More homebuyers seek government-backed loans as an affordability lifeline (HousingWire.com) full text JPA1 PA judge decides reverse mortgage gets first-priority in foreclosure dispute (HousingWire.com) - full text Public and Indian Housing 1NY1 Funding shortfall puts key piece of East Adams Redevelopment Project on hold (WAER 88.3 Syracuse University, NY) - full text INY] East Harlem community comes together to deliver repairs for neighbors (PIX11, NY) - full text JSCI Barry Hall appointed interim CEO of Columbia Housing following Yvonda Bean's departure (WLTX, SC) - full text JSC1Columbia Housing CEO resigns Yvonda Bean to take Housing CEO position in Indianapolis (CarolinaPanorama, SC) - full text EVAll RRHA starts evictions for residents not complying with second chance repayment program (WRIC TV, VA) - full text JOH' 2 suspects in 2020 Moody Manor shooting get prison time; 3rd expected to plead (Toledoblade.com, OH) - full text I'Mli Evart Housing Commission secures $1.3M tax credits for housing project (Big Rapids Pioneer, MI) - full text IWIl Superior reconsiders services to public housing under new ownership (Superior Telegram, WI) - full text JWIl Dodge County Housing Authority Completes New Affordable Housing Units with State Grant (Daily Dodge, WI) - full text fCO1Aimee Cox named to the Colorado Springs Housing Authority's Board of Commissioners (Colorado Business Journal, CO) - full text Community Planning and Development [TX] Fort Worth officials propose moving Southside Community Center to Hazel Harvey Peace Center (Star-Telegram, TX) - full text 8 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000693 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0022417 Ginnie Mae GAO pushes Ginne Mae to step up mortgage crisis drills (National Mortgage News) - full text Affordable Housing [ME] Standish debates rent control ordinance (Portland Press Herald, ME) - full text [NH) Kennebunk's 80-unit workforce housing project faces pushback - 'A lot of issues' (Seacoast Online. NH) - full text CTI New Haven mayor talks about affordable housing, education during address (NBC Connecticut, CT) - full text JCTI Calls for more housing development, greater eviction protection (NBC Connecticut, CT) - full text (NY) 4 Rockland County Affordable Housing Projects Get Funding (New City Patch, NY) - full text (PA) City Council considers bills that tackle one of Philly's biggest challenges: Affordable housing (KYW Newsradio - Audacy, PA) - full text (PA) Gauthier introduces bills to speed up affordable housing production (Philadelphia Sunday Sun, PA) - full text (MD) Affordable housing program in Hagerstown gets support from Governor Moore (DC News Now, DC) - full text [NCI Brooklyn Village developer proposes cutting number of apartments in first phase by half (WFAE 90.7, NC) - full text (GA1 Englewood affordable housing project developers land $28.3 million in financing (Atlanta Business Chronicle, GA) - full text (FL] Panama City needs more affordable housing (WJHG, FL) - full text ITNl Nashville families move to new complex for better lives (WSMV, TN) - full text JAL] Senior apartment building sells for $4.75M (Birmingham Business Journal, AL) - full text (ALI Applications opening soon for new affordable senior housing in Birmingham (WBRC. AL) - full text fMI1 Gov. Whitmer proposes $2B for affordable housing (WILX, MI) - full text [Mlj Whitmer: New state fund aims to boost worker housing in Michigan (Michigan Advance, MI) full text jMI1VVhitmer announces employer-assisted housing program (Michigan Center Square, MI) - full text (Mli Embattled apartments owe thousands in fees to township near Ypsilanti (Michigan Live, MI) full text 9 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000693 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0022418 [IN] Housing advocates saw promise in a new evictions bill. Now they aren't sure. (WISH-TV, Indianapolis, IN) - full text (IL) Rental housing proposed for former Haeger Potteries site in East Dundee (Chicago Daily Herald, IL) - full text [IL) Glen Ellyn affordable housing development to be discussed Thursday (Chicago Daily Herald, IL) - full text [WI] Funding for local rent assistance program running low. officials warn (WKOW TV, Madison, WI) - full text (WI] Here's why landlords are not to blame for sky high Milwaukee rents (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, WI) - full text [WI] Federal money for rent help ending as evictions rise (Wisconsin State Journal, WI) - full text [WI] Packers' $250K grant helps fund tiny home village for veterans in Green Bay (WeAreGreenBay.corn, WI) - full text [TX) 59 homes were supposed to go up in a South Dallas neighborhood. Where are they? (Dallas Morning News, TX) - full text [OR] Putting together the pieces of Oregon's affordable housing puzzle - Beat Check podcast (Oregonian, OR) - full text [WAJ Seattle voters weigh whether and how to fund social housing (KNKX, WA) - full text [CA] San Diego affordable housing developments threatened by Trump's tariffs (10News.com, CA) - full text (CAI San Diego Scraps Downtown Affordable Housing Project (GlobeSt.corn) [CA] San Diego just moved to preserve affordable housing. Here's what that involves. (San Diego Union Tribune, CA) [CA] San Diego moves to preserve affordable housing built with public money (NBC San Diego, CA) - full text ICA] San Diego moves to preserve affordable housing with new ordinance (KFMB-TV. CA) - full text [CA] City council passes ordinance to preserve affordable housing in San Diego (FOX5 San Diego, CA) - full text [CA] IB City Council Passes Ordinance To Protect Renters, But It's Too Late For Some (Imperial Beach News, CA) [CA] Affordable housing project for teachers faces appeal (Almanac Online, CA) - full text [CA] New Affordable Housing Development Survives L.A. Fires (Affordable Housing Finance) - full text [HI] Community weighs in on future plans for Aloha Stadium with questions about affordable housing (Hawaii News Now, HI) - full text 10 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000693 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0022419 fHI] Major changes ahead for Maui tenants, landlords as eviction moratorium ends (Hawaii News Now, HI) - 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 PAVE seems to be disappearing. What else is next? (HousingWire.com) - full text HousingWire.com [2/3/2025 4:55 PM, Sarah Wolak, 243K] As the Trump administration continues its crusade against diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, it appears that the Property Appraisal and Valuation Equity (PAVE) policies are being swept away amid a laundry list of actions. Once led by Marcia Fudge, secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), and Susan Rice, a White House domestic policy adviser under the Biden administration, the PAVE task force was established in 2021. Its goal was to combat appraisal discrimination and promote fair and accurate appraisals for all, regardless of race or ethnicity. 11 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000693 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0022420 Over the weekend, however, web pages associated with PAVE have barred consumer access by displaying a blank page with the message, "You are not authorized to access this page." Other pages, including a speech read by Fudge to mark the first anniversary of the creation of the task force, have also been taken down. "At this point, the website change seems mostly symbolic since the key changes introduced under the PAVE plan remain in place," said Dallas Kiedrowski, the owner and certified residential appraiser of Olympic Valuation. "For example, the GSEs' Selling Guide was updated in 2024 to classify `subjective language' as an `unacceptable appraisal practice,' and USPAP's ethics rule was revised to explicitly address bias and discrimination.". "One could argue these updates should have been implemented long ago as they align with fair housing principles, but since they were introduced under the PAVE banner, it will be interesting to see how federal agencies engage moving forward," Kiedrowski added. "Will the FHFA push the GSEs to roll back the recent Selling Guide changes? Will the ASC pressure the Appraisal Foundation to reverse the USPAP revisions?". Kiedrowski thinks that the websites going dark is related to the Trump administration's hastiness to delete everything tied to DEI. "I would bet money on the fact that they're going to put out something anti-PAVE," he said. On Friday, Jan. 31, NPR reported on a roundup of webpages purged by the Trump administration, including several from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention with references to LGBTQ+ health and the website of the National Institutes of Health's Sexual & Gender Minority Research Office. The administration has not publicly acknowledged the websites going dark. "The bottom line is that accurate appraisals are essential to a functioning mortgage market, and wherever appraisals are artificially high or low, that's unhealthy for the market and Realtors and mortgage bankers. Mortgage lenders and a wide range of affordable housing advocates understand this basic fact," said David Dworkin, president and CEO of the National Housing Conference. "Ultimately, I'm not convinced that lasting change is going to occur as the result of a government program. There has been a lot of good work done by the PAVE task force and you can't reverse engineer that, but ultimately, it's going to be up to the consumers of appraisals to ensure that they are accurate, and that should go on regardless of what this administration or any administration says or does.". Dworkin added that he's not shocked the PAVE website has gone dark."We're going to have to revisit this nation's commitment to civil rights and examine whether we believe in what we've been saying for the last 50 years," he said. "Clearly, not everybody does, but those of us who are committed to civil rights and fair housing are going to have to step up in ways we had not thought necessary in the past.". The move aligns with Project 2025, a series of proposals published by conservative think tank The Heritage Foundation that many of the Trump administration's early actions appear closely aligned with. Under the proposals, the administration should look to put 12 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000693 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0022421 an immediate end to the "Property Appraisal and Valuation Equity (PAVE) policies and reverse any Biden administration actions that threaten to undermine the integrity of real estate appraisals.". Return to Table of Contents Housing Advocates Warn that Trump Is Going to Use HUD for Mass Deportations (NOTUS) NOTUS [2/4/2025 5:00 AM, Amelia Benavides-Colon] Housing advocates across the U.S. are preparing for the possibility of President Donald Trump using the Department of Housing and Urban Development as a tool to enact his immigration agenda. The Trump administration's blocked freeze on federal aid has caused panic among housing advocates, unsure of which HUD programs could be affected. Combined with Trump's promises to crack down on immigration and a proposed rule from his first administration targeting mixed-immigration-status households funded through HUD, housing advocates think it's just a matter of time before his administration turns its focus to housing. "While the current executive actions that have been rolled out by the second Trump administration don't specifically focus on housing or benefits, there is already a chilling effect across communities," said Adriana Cadena, director of the nonprofit advocacy group Protecting Immigrant Families. Return to Table of Contents [NY] NYC housing officials blame late Section 8 rent payments on federal disarray (Gothamist, NY) - full text Gothamist [2/3/2025 12:43 PM, David Brand, 1758K, NY] New York City officials say the fallout from a proposed federal funding freeze caused them to delay rent payments on Monday to landlords who lease apartments to tens of thousands of tenants with Section 8 housing assistance. The New York City Housing Authority administers the federal Section 8 program for roughly 100,000 households in the five boroughs, with the agency receiving nearly $2 billion a year from the Department of Housing and Urban Development and distributing it to private landlords at the beginning of each month. Landlords expected to see the monthly rent checks deposited in their bank accounts on Monday morning, but many of the deposits were missing, according to interviews. "I can't cover the mortgage without those payments," said Alina Suriel, who leases units to Section 8 recipients at two homes she owns in the Bronx. "It's so stressful." Jay Martin, senior vice president at the landlord trade group New York Apartment Association, said at least a dozen property owners with hundreds of apartments contacted him on Monday because they were concerned and confused about the missing payments. Christiam Velez, a real estate agent who connects landlords with tenants who use rental 13 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000693 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0022422 assistance, said seven landlords had called her to ask about their missing Section 8 payments by 10 a.m. Monday. "My phone is like a hotline right now," she told Gothamist. "All my small landlords are absolutely freaking out." In response to questions from Gothamist, NYCHA spokesperson Michael Horgan blamed the delay on confusion resulting from a Trump administration directive last week ordering federal agencies to pause payments. The White House rescinded the order shortly after it was issued, and after sparking widespread confusion among dozens of government agencies and those who receive federal payments. "Due to recently issued federal guidance and related implications for the expenditure of federal funds, NYCHA was not able to process payments in accordance with its normal operating procedures," Horgan said in an emailed statement. "As of this morning, NYCHA has received funding for the Section 8 program and has immediately begun processing. Property owners will receive the electronic funds transfer within one business day." Horgan said the agency was still awaiting guidance about whether it would receive the money on Friday. In response to the confusion created by the order, the White House issued a fact sheet indicating it would not have applied to rental assistance. But the Section 8 program was included on internal guidance issued to federal agencies which described federal initiatives subject to review under the order, the New York Times reported. The Department of Housing and Urban Development did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Housing experts and landlords said the delayed payments and ongoing confusion threaten to undermine rental assistance voucher programs by sowing seeds of doubt among landlords who worry the funding could be cut, or that their payments won't arrive on time. "Landlords' confidence in the programs is what makes them successful," said Rachel Fee, executive director of the nonprofit New York Housing Conference. "Payment delays and funding uncertainty can send shockwaves through the affordable housing community, affecting building owners and tenants." Velez, the real estate agent, said this was already the case, adding that concern began building last week after property owners questioned whether the Trump administration's funding-freeze order could affect their bottom lines. She said one landlord told her he would prefer to rent his apartment to tenants who do not use a housing voucher, even though he would earn about $800 less a month. Velez said she rents five apartments to tenants with Section 8 vouchers in properties she owns, and counts on the money to pay her mortgage. "If we make [loan] payments late, we get penalized," said Velez. "Can we penalize the government for making late payments?" Suriel, who owns a pair of two-family homes in the Bronx, said Section 8 vouchers cover nearly 90% of the rent from tenants in two apartments. She said she understands the importance of the rental assistance program because her family used vouchers to help pay the rent when she was growing up. 14 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000693 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0022423 Suriel said she wished NYCHA had informed landlords about any delays, especially amid the confusion from the federal level. "There could have been a notice," she said. "Nobody knew what was happening and we don't know if it could happen again." "One day is significant," said Martin from the New York Apartment Association. "We really need to make sure the government and NYCHA make sure this doesn't happen again." Return to Table of Contents [VA] Housing Authority embarks on crafting community planning project (Bristol Herald Courier, VA) - full text Bristol Herald Courier [2/3/2025 9:50 PM, David McGee, 59K, VA] The Bristol Virginia Redevelopment and Housing Authority is enlisting volunteers -- a lot of them -- to gather information and fulfill a federal planning grant aimed at improving the greater Virginia Hill neighborhood. Last September, the authority learned it is one of 13 nationwide to receive a $500,000 Choice Neighborhoods grant from the Department of Housing and Urban Development. They also have $100,000 in matching funds to help drive the work. Authority and city officials hosted over 50 community and faith leaders and other stakeholders last week to seek their assistance in developing the long-term plan. Their goal is to secure a federal implementation grant of up to $50 million, to help bring those plans to life. 'It's going to be a long-term process and what we want to do is come away with the best available plan," Lisa Porter, executive director of the BRHA, told attendees. "Its to improve housing but also to look at commercial development. Be thinking about how you want the neighborhood to look.". The grant study area includes the neighborhoods north of Bristol Virginia City Hall, northeast and southeast of Virginia Middle School, south of Court Street and west of MLK Jr. Boulevard. It also includes the embattled former Virginia Intermont College campus that recently saw five major buildings decimated by fire. The property is owned by Chinese interests and has become a haven for the homeless. The area encompasses all of the authority's existing public housing -- Rice Terrace, Sapling Grove, Mosby Homes, Village at Oakview, Johnson Court and Stant/Jones -- neighborhoods and the former Virginia Intermont College campus on Moore Street. The authority operates some of the oldest public housing in Virginia and part of the goal is to secure funding to help replace those buildings, but this is much more than public housing, Rich Pannell of the Housing Authority said. They have 30 months to complete the plan and submit it to the Department of Housing and Urban Development. "Another key part of this program is the research, the assessment we are going to have to do. We are going to look at everything in our neighborhoods. We want to look at housing, not just public housing but market rate housing, commercial endeavors -- businesses in the area -- institutions of faith. We'll be looking at our nonprofits; at all of the assets our community has -- our parks, our library and downtown. We'll be doing an assessment of all these resources that our 15 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000693 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0022424 community has to offer," June Mcllquham of the city's planning department said. She added they would also look at gaps not served by existing resources. "This is going to be a community survey on steroids. . .It's going to be an honest examination of what is going on in our community," she said. The work will focus on three primary areas: housing, neighborhoods and people, Pannell said. "One of the problems we have faced over the past couple of years is just not having the resources to properly maintain some of our public housing units," Pannell said. "Part of this plan will be to project financially viable housing options . . . Their idea is you have public housing right next door to market rate housing to break up the little concentrations we have of public housing and bring other residents in as well.". The human component is equally important. "We want to improve the outcomes of households in the target neighborhood relating to income, employment, health and education," he said. "We want to be able to provide resources and the tools people need to advance and improve their quality of life.". This will include employment, transportation. businesses and health care. "We'll be looking at a lot of things targeted specifically at improving the lives of people," Pannell said. It is important that residents in the area participate and help draft the plan, he said, because officials want this to be a vision shared by people who live there. Return to Table of Contents [IL] High-ranking Chicago Housing Authority director fired amid ongoing staff exodus (Chicago Tribune, IL) - full text Chicago Tribune [2/3/2025 2:10 PM, Lizzie Kane, 4917K, IL] The Chicago Housing Authority has seen major turnover in recent months, with four top officials resigning and a high-ranking aide being fired over an inspector general investigation that found alleged financial and ethical misconduct. Records obtained by the Tribune show that two high-ranking employees left with separation agreements that will pay them through their last day, with a third being paid over 4'4 months beyond his last day and a fourth being paid three months beyond her last day. The shakeups at the CHA, which is one of the largest public housing authorities in the country and provides housing for 65,000 households, come as the agency searches for a permanent replacement for former CEO Tracey Scott. CHA officials disclosed the turnover in response to open records requests filed by the Tribune. Eric Garrett, CHA's former chief operating officer, and Ellen Sargent, former deputy chief of building operations, resigned Jan. 3. Shiwei Zhou, CHA's former treasurer, resigned Dec. 31. Ellen Harris, CHA's former general counsel, resigned in August. Ryan Ross, CHA's former senior director of asset management, was fired in September. The Office of the Inspector General found in the third quarter of last year that Ross, and other employees, cost CHA over $19,000 in "unnecessary expenses" for construction work. Ross also violated CHA procurement policies; compromised an OIG investigation into the work of a CHA contractor; was involved in a "troubling workplace environment . . . 16 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000693 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0022425 in which at least six employees expressed fear of reprisal for questioning management or raising concerns"; and had "long-term violations" related to secondary employment, "conflicts of interest and financial relationships with a CHA Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) vendor, exhibited repeated lapses in ethical judgment, and made false statements." In regards to the relationship with the voucher vendor, the OIG reported that Ross "engaged in a scheme to conceal the vendor's real estate assets from ongoing criminal proceedings, by briefly taking legal ownership of the HCV properties." Ross also had a "close friendship" with a direct subordinate, which "involved financial assistance and employment" in Ross' unauthorized secondary employment, the OIG report said. Ross' department head, Garrett, the OIG said, "more likely than not" knew of this relationship and secondary employment and did not follow CHA's procedures to address the issues. Garrett and the other employee involved received a "written reprimand" for their actions, the OIG report said. CHA spokesperson Matthew Aguilar said the agency could not comment on personnel matters but called the staff turnover "a routine part of any organization." "These changes, whether voluntary, mutual or based on organizational needs and/or performance expectations, ensure the agency is structured to fulfill its mission and responsibilities to the public," Aguilar said in a written statement. Harris referred the Tribune to CHA for comment. Ross, Garrett, Sargent and Zhou did not return requests for comment. Ross received his last paycheck Sept. 20, 2024, the official date of his termination. His last day of work was Sept. 18, 2024. Garrett will stay employed with CHA through Feb. 28 and receive his current salary as severance through July 18, according to his separation agreement. Sargent's separation agreement states that her last day of employment is March 6, and she will maintain her current salary through that same date. Zhou will receive her current salary through March 31. Harris maintained her salary through Nov. 29, 2024, her last day of employment. Ross started at CHA as a quality control analyst in 2011 and rose through the ranks. Garrett also reached his position after numerous promotions during his 26-year tenure. Sargent had worked at CHA for 11 years in a couple different roles. Zhou began her role in March 2023. Harris served as general counsel for about two years. In the midst of the personnel changes and included in the final 2024 quarter's OIG report, an OIG audit found that CHA's department of building operations "failed to monitor capital construction projects." The OIG cited issues similar to some of the reasons listed for Ross's firing. Aguilar said the "deficiencies" cited in the audit "have not affected" the agency's ability to add new CHA-subsidized housing, saying its capital construction team primarily oversees renovations and repairs of existing properties, not new construction. "CHA is continuing our commitment to enhancing and improving our processes and addressing internal infrastructure to advance our mission of providing housing for more 17 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000693 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0022426 than 135,000 Chicago residents," Aguilar said. "We have accepted the OIG's quality control recommendations and are updating contracting procedures, training efforts and internal review process to improve compliance and cost control." Kathryn Richards, CHA's inspector general, said she has been "encouraged" by recent efforts to "improve CHA's internal controls and management oversight." "I'm optimistic that with a renewed commitment to transparency and continuous improvement, the agency will move in the right direction," Richards said. At CHA's January board meeting, an amended ethics policy to require all employees to disclose their and family members' involvement in all federal housing programs was approved. Previously, the policy had only required disclosure if they were involved in the Housing Choice Voucher program, the primary federal housing voucher program. Formerly known as Section 8, it allows public housing authorities to provide subsidies to low-income residents to find housing in the private market. The policy change, CHA said, was made following an OIG recommendation, but the housing authority declined to comment on if it directly related to Ross's termination. Leonard Langston has been promoted on an interim basis, CHA said, to chief property officer to plug a hole caused by some of the recent resignations. Elizabeth Silas, CHA's deputy counsel, has been serving as CHA's acting general counsel. CHA declined to comment on when a permanent replacement will be hired as general counsel. The agency said the deputy chief of building operations position has been posted, and CHA is currently interviewing for the treasurer role. CHA did not comment on the status of the COO position. Scott, who served as CEO for 4 1/2 years, was replaced in the interim by Angela Hurlock, the chairperson of the board. CHA has had six permanent CEOs in the last 20 years, not including a number of interim CEOs such as Hurlock. CHA is launching a national search for a permanent replacement and will be forming a search committee made up of CHA board members, resident leaders and government partners "to ensure a broad range of perspectives," Aguilar said. The agency said it hopes to have a new CEO by this summer. Return to Table of Contents [IL] Illinois man gets three years in prison for mortgage fraud (The Legal Description) - full text The Legal Description [2/3/2025 2:47 PM, Staff, 1K] Yale Schiff, a businessman from suburban Chicago, received a three-year prison sentence for federal bank fraud on Jan. 27, in connection to a case in which he obtained millions of dollars in credit using stolen identities and forged documents. According to prosecutors, Schiff, 50, of Riverwoods, Ill., perpetrated his crimes by falsifying application documents to financial institutions by lying about his employment, income, and encumbrances on collateral. Once he'd been granted the mortgage loans on false pretenses, Schiff then filed false documents with the Cook County Recorder of Deeds, causing the fraudulent release of the liens and keeping the loan proceeds for himself. 18 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000693 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0022427 Schiff then used the same mortgaged properties for multiple loans, fraudulently removing the liens and pocketing the balance each time. This caused lenders to take heavy financial losses. Fake and stolen identities were used to commit the fraud; Schiff bought cars under these false names, removed liens, and sold them for profit. He also opened bank accounts and credit lines using these identities, funding them with money from other fraudulent sources, including cards belonging to an elderly woman in care and a deceased friend. Schiff pleaded guilty in connection to this case in 2023. In addition to the prison sentence, U.S. District Judge Mary M. Rowland ordered him to pay nearly $3 million in restitution. The sentence was announced by Morris Pasqual, acting U.S. attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, Douglas DePodesta, special agent-in-charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI, and Ruth Mendonca, inspector-in-charge of the Chicago Division of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. "(The) defendant, over the course of at least 13 years, engaged in a calculated, sustained, prolonged, multi-faceted scheme to defraud multiple financial institutions, individual buyers of property, and individuals whose identity he used," Assistant U.S. Attorney Sheri Mecklenburg said in the government's sentencing memorandum. "Defendant's conduct was prolonged, willful, and widespread.". Schiffs brother, Jason Schiff, of Lincolnwood, Ill., and a business associate, David Izsak, of Chicago, were also charged as part of the federal investigation. Jason Schiff pleaded guilty to causing a false report and statement to be made to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Jason Schiff was sentenced to three years of probation and ordered to pay $306,610 in restitution. A jury convicted Izsak on 10 counts of financial institution fraud. Izsak is awaiting sentencing. Return to Table of Contents [WI] Milwaukee housing authority reportedly `misused' millions in federal funds (HousingWire.com) - full text HousingWire.com [2/3/2025 2:28 PM, Chris Clow, 243K] Officials with the Housing Authority of the City of Milwaukee (HACM) are reportedly moving to aggressively cut costs, following a leadership change and audit of its financial situation. The agency's new chief financial officer reportedly identified as much as $2.8 million in misappropriated federal funds that he said were used inappropriately by his predecessors. The move came about during a meeting of the Housing Authority Board of Commissioners on Friday afternoon, reportedly the answer to a "mystery that confounded agency leaders, the mayor's office and federal regulators for nearly two years," according to reporting at the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. In April 2023, federal auditors were confounded by $3 million in "unexplained variances" in HACM's balances, and the prior finance team came up with nothing after an investigation lasting nearly two years. But HACM recently appointed Brad Leak to its finance team, moving to make him the CFO last month. Leak traced the misallocation within months, the Journal Sentinel reported. The source of the financial discrepancy reportedly came from the misallocation of funds tied to U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)'s Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) program for rental assistance, widely referred to as "Section 8" vouchers. Leak addressed the allocation in 19 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000693 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0022428 the meeting according to local reporting by a CBS affiliate in Milwaukee. "During interviews with the former finance director, it appeared that the reason for the transfer [was that] the agency was encountering serious cash issues at the time and needed to borrow from one program to the other," Leak said. Charlotte Hayslett, who chairs the board of commissioners for HACM, issued a tearful apology to the city's residents at the meeting on Friday afternoon, the reporting said. The funds were apparently directed toward payroll and "other items," instead of to the HCV program. The funds were reportedly misused under the prior leadership team, which was in office from 2019 to 2022. HACM also addressed the misallocation in an announcement this week, where it said it has partnered with HUD on a recovery plan. "In addition to adopting the Milwaukee Recovery Plan with the HUD, HACM notified officials that previous fiscal management deficiencies and accounting errors had allowed restricted federal funds to be used incorrectly for some administrative costs and staff salaries," the announcement said. "As a result of these previous decisions and a changed fiscal position, HACM also notified officials that its rating agency had adjusted its bonds to A- from its previous A+ ranking.". The new interagency agreement requires "agency staff to follow a defined timeline and take distinct action steps to address a range of issues, including fiscal management, tenant services, housing conditions, facility operations, and related matters," the announcement said. There is also a new fiscal auditing process in place, and effort will be made to upgrade the physical condition of HACM properties. Leak said that without prompt action, HACM could be facing bankruptcy. When asked about this, he made clear that bankruptcy would have been a possibility if the leadership team had done nothing. "So the intent was not to say we will be going to bankruptcy in 45 days, it was that if we did not swiftly act and during this week, we would be in the bankruptcy situation," Leak said according to the CBS affiliate. Some of the corrective actions include a 45-day delay in the payment of some expenditures, the firing of 20 staffers, a hiring freeze, a $1.6 million payment plan to the organization's pension board, and a payment plan to the city for overdue taxes to the tune of $1.1 million. Return to Table of Contents [WI] $2.8M misused within Milwaukee's public housing authority, CFO says (Wisconsin Public Radio, WI) - full text Wisconsin Public Radio [2/3/2025 7:03 PM, Nick Rommel, 537K, WI] Charlotte Hayslett's voice cracked with emotion as she spoke to Milwaukee's public housing residents in a city conference room last week. "To our residents, on behalf of this commission, we apologize to you all," said Hayslett -- recently-appointed chair of the Housing Authority of the City of Milwaukee's board -- to applause and echoes of "amen.". Between 2019 and 2022, the authority known as HACM improperly diverted $2.8 million from its Section 8 voucher program funds into its central office to cover payroll and benefits for staff, Chief Financial Officer Brad Leak announced at the meeting. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. The $2.8 million discrepancy in HACM's books had attracted federal regulators in 2022. Now, the agency 20 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000693 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0022429 is making cuts. It recently laid off 24 employees as a first step back to financial health, Leak said. New leadership reveals mistakes that led to financial crunch. Rising material costs during the COVID-19 pandemic hit HACM as it was building its Westlawn Gardens development, said interim Secretary-Executive Director Kenneth Barbeau, who's been in the role since Jan. 2, 2025. "We could've tried to cut back and scale back what we were building and what we were doing," he explained. "Instead, we moved forward, we incurred the costs.". Crunched for cash, agency leaders started siphoning money from the Section 8 voucher program -- a separate pool -- into their corporate office, primarily to cover payroll and benefits. "You cannot cross those lines," said Leak, who was hired by HACM in December 2024 and promoted to CFO in late January. He said only income from housing projects can pay for administrative expenses. Leak said he didn't need long to reconcile the books and discover the misuse of funds. "The folks before me had high integrity," he said. "They just ran into tough times. And they just did not have the wherewithal to move forward with transparency.". HACM's previous director, Willie Hines, retired on Jan. 1, 2025. Now, "lean and mean" is Leak's prescription for HACM's financial ills. "The next six to 10 months is cutting back the corporate fat," he said. Leak said staff cuts would not affect resident-facing services, and that HACM is filling vacancies by promoting from within. A recent forensic audit of HACM found that none of the $2.8 million were embezzled to anywhere outside the organization, Leak said. It was Leak who delivered the bad news about HACM's finances at Friday's meeting. But the fact that the disclosure was made at all seemed to break a dam in the room. "Typically, people want to hide this information" said Hayslett, a former HACM resident, to calls of "yes" around the room. "This is not being hidden.". Residents of HACM properties, complaining of bedbug and rat infestations, filed a lawsuit against their landlord in August after organizing for years around substandard living conditions. Hayslett called last week's meeting a "new day" for the agency, promising transparency. "You don't have to run exposs and do all of this other craziness," she said. "I will be knocking on your doors.". HACM's seven-person oversight board is appointed by Milwaukee's mayor. Four of its five current members started their terms after November 2024. Board member and Milwaukee Alder Sharlen Moore said the board hopes to present their picks for the two vacancies to Mayor Cavalier Johnson in the next 30 days. Many HACM residents came to the meeting with Common Ground, the community organizing outfit that's been working with public housing residents. One of them was Florence Riley, who lives in the Westlawn Gardens development. "Already, from being nominated in, they're listening to us, asking our opinion," Riley said of HACM's new board. "So that's a good thing." [Editorial note: consult source link for audio] Return to Table of Contents 21 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000693 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0022430 [TX] Austin groups granted $14M in federal funding to address homelessness (KXAN, TX) - full text KXAN [2/3/2025 5:07 PM, Grace Reader, 1849K, TX] VIDEO. Austin-Travis County groups working to address homelessness have been awarded funding from U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), according to the Ending Community Homelessness Coalition (ECHO). Eight organizations will receive a cumulative nearly $14 million, which will go toward housing, services for people experiencing homelessness and "system coordination," a release from ECHO said. "These federal resources strengthen our local initiatives to ensure that more people have access to the support they need to thrive," said Austin Mayor Kirk Watson. "I want to thank former Acting HUD Secretary Adrianne Todman for supporting Austin's homeless response efforts. And I look forward to working with HUD Secretary nominee Scott Turner, who knows Texas and knows first-hand what can be accomplished when we work together.". The eight groups that will receive funding are: Caritas of Austin Ending Community Homelessness Coalition (ECHO) Housing Authority of the City of Austin (HACA) Housing Authority of Travis County (HATC) Integral Care LifeWorks The SAFE Alliance Sunrise Community Church (Sunrise Navigation Center) Some of the nearly $14 million will go toward permanent supportive housing projects, which include wrap around services, and in this case will address homelessness in certain populations: youth, survivors of domestic violence and people with severe mental illness, according to ECHO. Return to Table of Contents [TX] Austin's homeless services get historic $14M boost from HUD (KVUE News Online, TX) - full text KVUE News Online [2/3/2025 6:39 PM, Jeff Bell and Matt Coutu, 1109K, TX] VIDEO. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is helping nonprofits in Travis County with their response to homelessness. HUD is sending nearly $14 million to Austin and Travis County to help address homelessness. It's $2 million more than last year and the largest amount our area has ever received for homeless services. The money will provide housing and supportive services to unhoused people. The grant will fund 16 different projects across eight local organizations. Among them, three new permanent housing developments will help youth domestic violence survivors and people with serious mental illness. The money comes as Austin expands its efforts to address homelessness. On Thursday, Austin City Council approved a new 10-year plan that calls for more than 4,000 new housing units and more than 500 additional shelter beds. The money will also help 22 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000693 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0022431 provide services like health care and case management to ensure people stay housed long-term. The organizations receiving funding include: Caritas of Austin Ending Community Homelessness Coalition (ECHO) Housing Authority of the City of Austin (HACA) Housing Authority of Travis County (HATC) Integral Care LifeWorks The SAFE Alliance Sunrise Community Church (Sunrise Navigation Center) "We are grateful to all of the agencies funded by the Continuum of Care grant who work tirelessly and passionately to meet the needs of our unhoused neighbors," said ECHO Vice President of Homelessness Response System Strategy Kate Moore. "Federal funding from HUD, through the Continuum of Care grant, ensures essential services can continue in our homelessness response system and that can't happen without our community partners. In addition, the new funding to Lifeworks, Integral Care and the SAFE Alliance will house and support hundreds of people who are the most vulnerable in our unsheltered community in PSH projects throughout the Austin/Travis County community.". The awards to Austin and Travis County providers are part of the nearly $3.6 billion in assistance HUD will provide to communities across the country this fiscal year. "We are grateful to HUD for recognizing the critical work being done by local organizations to address homelessness in Austin," said Austin Mayor Kirk Watson. "This funding for community organizations will provide essential support to help meet the immediate needs of individuals experiencing homelessness while also supporting housing solutions. These federal resources strengthen our local initiatives to ensure that more people have access to the support they need to thrive. I want to thank former Acting HUD Secretary Adrianne Todman for supporting Austin's homeless response efforts. And I look forward to working with HUD Secretary nominee Scott Turner, who knows Texas and knows firsthand what can be accomplished when we work together.". Return to Table of Contents [TX] HUD awards $14M to Austin-area homeless services groups (Austin Monitor, TX) - full text Austin Monitor [2/4/2025 1:05 AM, Chad Swiatecki, 45K, TX] Organizations in Austin and Travis County will receive nearly $14 million in federal funding to support housing and services for individuals experiencing homelessness, marking the largest award to date from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's Continuum of Care program. The funding represents a $2 million increase from last year and will support 16 projects across eight local organizations. Recipients of the grants include Caritas of Austin, the Ending Community Homelessness Coalition, the Housing Authority of the City of Austin, the Housing Authority of Travis County, Integral Care, LifeWorks, the SAFE Alliance and Sunrise Community Church. 23 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000693 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0022432 The funding will support three new permanent supportive housing projects for youth and young adults, survivors of domestic violence and people with serious mental illness. These projects build on ongoing housing developments such as Espero Rutland, Pecan Gardens, Seabrook Square II and Cairn Point Cameron, which either opened or broke ground in 2024. Last week, City Council adopted a new system model outlined in ECHO's 2024 State of the Homelessness Response System report. The model identifies the need for 4,175 new permanent supportive housing units, 550 additional shelter beds and 2,355 rapid rehousing units to address homelessness over the next decade. Return to Table of Contents National Housing News Bessent Takes the Helm on US Debt Sales After Blasting Yellen (Bloomberg) - full text Bloomberg [2/3/2025 6:00 AM, Liz Capo McCormick, 21617K] After repeatedly blasting Janet Yellen last year over her department's strategy for issuing federal debt, it's now up to Scott Bessent to make the call on sales of Treasuries, with bond dealers conflicted over what he'll do in a pivotal release due Wednesday. In the past four straight so-called quarterly refunding plans, the Treasury has advised that it didn't expect to increase issuance of longer-dated securities "for at least the next several quarters," after a final bump up at the start of last year. Many dealers see that changing, in part because of past comments from Bessent, potentially watering it down to "a few" or "a couple" of quarters. The former hedge fund manager, before he was picked by President Donald Trump as Yellen's successor, was one of a number of Republicans who charged Yellen with having artificially held down sales of longer-maturity Treasuries -- which affect things like mortgage rates -- to boost the pre-election economy. He also in August criticized the advance notice in the refunding statement as "the first time ever" the Treasury had offered forward guidance. "This is going to be the key point of the statement on Wednesday," said Mark Cabana, head of US rates strategy at Bank of America Corp. "I can't help but think it's a new administration, they want to have their own guidance." Should Bessent, who has yet to build out his team at the Treasury after being sworn in to the job just last Tuesday, remove the guidance entirely, dealers cautioned longer-term Treasuries may drop in anticipation of increased supply. Several still see the previous language being retained for now, although a number of them viewed it as a close call. One challenge is that longer-term Treasury yields have jumped the better part of a percentage point since September -- in part due to concerns about fiscal deficits and inflation in light of Trump's plans for more tax cuts and tariff hikes. With higher levies set to kick in across-the-board on Canada, Mexico and China starting Tuesday, the refunding this week takes place at a time of particular uncertainty about the rates outlook. As of late Friday, 10-year notes yielded well over 20 basis points more than bills, which mature in up to a year, making them more costly to the Treasury, and raising the stakes for any move to boost longer-dated sales. "It's a very different world now than back in 2023, when Yellen decided to lean more on bills," said Jason Williams, a strategist at 24 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000693 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0022433 Citigroup Inc. "Bill yields back then were higher than those on coupon-bearing debt, but that's not the case now and the absolute level of yields is also higher. Even if Bessent does want to extend the weighted average maturity of US debt, he'd want to do it in a slow and orderly fashion." After a string of increases beginning in August 2023, the Treasury has kept its quarterly refunding auctions, which span 3-, 10- and 30-year maturities, at $125 billion. Even relatively modest shifts in size can have a market impact. Yields climbed after the August 2023 boost, and they dropped in the wake of a November 2023 move to temper the ramping up of issuance of longer-dated debt. Given outsize US fiscal deficits, the amount of debt the Treasury has to sell over time continues to climb, and dealers say increased sales of longer maturities is inevitable at some point. The Treasury on Monday is set to release an update on broader borrowing needs and cash-balance estimates. JPMorgan Chase & Co., Citigroup, Santander and Societe Generale are among firms that expect Bessent to leave his predecessor's guidance intact for now. Still, the consensus among dealers is that long-term debt issuance doesn't actually move higher until the November refunding, with some seeing potential for a bump as soon as August. Cabana at Bank of America thinks it's possible the guidance will disappear completely -- something that could lead some investors to see an increase in sales as soon as the May refunding. BofA's Katie Craig, along with Cabana, wrote in a note to clients last week to expect Bessent to ask the Treasury Borrowing Advisory Committee, a panel of bond market participants, to undertake a study of investor demand for a potential boost in long-term debt sales. The Fed The politics of the issue came to the fore in mid-2024, with a paper by economists Stephen Miran -- whom Trump has nominated to lead the White House Council of Economic Advisers -- and Nouriel Roubini accusing Yellen's Treasury of manipulating the issuance of Treasuries. Yellen firmly rejected that idea, and one of her top lieutenants delivered a detailed speech to counter "misconceptions." Meantime, there are other considerations, including uncertainty over when the Federal Reserve will halt its steady reduction in holdings of Treasuries -- currently running at up to $25 billion a month. While Chair Jerome Powell last week offered no hint on when that might end, when it is phased out, that will reduce the amounts the Treasury needs to borrow from the public. The Treasury specifically asked dealers in a quarterly survey this month for their views on Fed balance-sheet policy changes ahead. Along with a high degree of uncertainty about the fiscal outlook, "these are the two main factors that make the decision-making process a little bit more complicated moving forward, which on its own argues for maybe being a little bit less committal" in Wednesday's statement, said William Marshall, Goldman's head of US rates strategy. "There's a cost to giving guidance and then not following through." Keeping the status quo for issuance sizes would put next week's refunding auctions on course for the following: 25 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000693 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0022434 $58 billion of 3-year notes on Feb. 11 $42 billion of 10-year notes on Feb. 12 $25 billion of 30-year bonds on Feb. 13 The Treasury on Wednesday is also seen keeping issuance of floating-rate debt unchanged, while continuing to nudge sales of Treasury Inflation Protected Securities, or TIPS, higher. Yet another complication for Bessent is managing the world's biggest bond market under the constraints of the federal debt limit, which kicked back in at the start of January. Any drawn-out episode in Congress over raising or suspending the limit will force the Treasury to slash bill issuance and spend down its cash buffer. "Once Bessent is kind of settled and we are through the debt-limit issue, then maybe they start poking around at longer-term issuance," said Blake Gwinn at RBC Capital Markets. "So this meeting could be kind of a wash." Unless the Trump administration is able to rein in the deficit, now seen running at an historically high 6% or more of GDP for years to come, bigger auction sizes are looming -- with consequences for yields, according to Marc Seidner, chief investment officer of non-traditional strategies at Pacific Investment Management Co. "That suggests to us that there should be a greater risk premium, a greater term premium in long-term debt and a steeper yield curve." Jean Boivin, head of the BlackRock Investment Institute, sees 10-year yields headed back to 5% or above, from around 4.5% currently. While there's high uncertainty around the administration's specific plans, "tax cuts and other things will definitely continue the deficit's trajectory." Return to Table of Contents Treasury's Bessent Named Acting CFPB Director as Chopra Departs (Inside Mortgage Finance) - full text Inside Mortgage Finance [2/3/2025 12:58 PM, Shannon Clark, 4K] Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Director Rohit Chopra posted his resignation letter on social media platform X Saturday, roughly 12 days after Donald Trump was sworn in as president. In sum, few in the financial services industry thought he would last that long. The night before, Trump named Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent as acting director of the powerful consumer watchdog agency. "This letter confirms that my term as CFPB Director has concluded," wrote Chopra. "I know the CFPB is ready to work with you [President Trump] and the next confirmed director and we have devoted a great deal of energy to ensure continued success." Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-MA, said in response to Chopra's departure (firing), Trump "campaigned on capping credit card interest rates at 10% and lowering costs for Americans," and in order to do that, Trump needs a strong bureau and director. She added that if Trump and Republicans "decide to cower to Wall Street billionaires and destroy the agency, they will have a fight on their hands." Before becoming a senator, Warren was one of the architects of the CFPB. Return to Table of Contents 26 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000693 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0022435 Trump names Treasury secretary Scott Bessent as acting director of the CFPB (HousingWire.com) - full text HousingWire.com [2/3/2025 12:11 PM, Chris Clow, 243K] The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) announced on Monday that Scott Bessent, the recently appointed secretary for the U.S. Department of the Treasury, will also serve as acting director for the CFPB following the firing of Rohit Chopra over the weekend. "On Jan. 31, 2025, President Trump designated Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent as acting director of the [CFPB]," the bureau announced on Monday. Initial reports had suggested that Zixta Martinez, the bureau's deputy director, would be assuming the role of acting director. Instead, Trump named Bessent, an official who is largely recognized as more aligned with the Trump administration's objectives. Martinez joined the bureau prior to its official founding in 2011 and assisted in getting it off the ground following its authorization by the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act. She was named deputy director in 2021. "I look forward to working with the CFPB to advance President Trump's agenda to lower costs for the American people and accelerate economic growth," Bessent said in a statement announcing his role with the bureau. The news comes as the CFPB is under renewed fire from Republicans empowered by the November election results. While Chopra remained in the top position at the bureau longer than most expected, his firing was widely anticipated due to the general opposition Republicans have had to the CFPB for the majority of its existence. Republican lawmakers recently renewed their efforts to dismantle the bureau, with Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) introducing a bill designed to cut off its source of funding from the Treasury department. Should the measure pass Congress and be signed into law by the president, Bessent would likely be in a position to implement it from both ends. Recently, Senate banking committee chairman Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.) suggested that the administration would issue "a blockbuster announcement sometime soon as relates to who will be over at the CFPB." It's unclear if he was referring to Bessent or a potential new permanent director. But other reports have suggested that the White House and its transition team had been running into challenges in locating someone they felt would be a suitable candidate, as well as legal issues that govern temporary appointments. Return to Table of Contents Trump taps Treasury's Bessent as acting CFPB director (National Mortgage News) - full text National Mortgage News [2/3/2025 11:13 AM, Kate Berry, 35K] The Trump administration has named Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to be acting director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau after firing CFPB Director Rohit Chopra over the weekend. Trump would be elevating an advocate of his 'American First' agenda to temporarily lead an agency that most Republicans want to eliminate. 27 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000693 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0022436 CFPB Director Rohit Chopra was fired on Feb. 1. A press release posted on the CFPB's website said that Bessent was named acting director on Jan. 31. Bessent said in the press release: "I look forward to working with the CFPB to advance President Trump's agenda to lower costs for the American people and accelerate economic growth.". President Trump waited nearly two weeks before removing Chopra because the administration was reportedly waiting for Bessent -- and other possible nominees -- to be confirmed by the Senate. The Federal Vacancies Reform Act requires that temporary heads of agencies can only be chosen from Senate-confirmed appointees or from top managers at the agency itself, which gave Republicans a very short list from which to choose. That short list included Bessent, 62, a billionaire hedge fund manager who founded Key Square Capital Management and a former chief investment officer at Soros Fund Management. Bessent was confirmed as Treasury Secretary a week ago and was sworn in on Jan. 28. Bessent is a key advocate of extending trillions of dollars in expiring tax cuts by cutting funding to federal programs. He has said he would be open to releasing Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac from government conservatorship, one of the ways in which the Trump administration hopes to pay for re-upping the 2017 corporate tax cuts passed during Trump's first term. The administration is taking a page from the same playbook in Trump's first term by picking an acting CFPB director who holds two jobs at once. The first Trump administration named former Trump Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney to lead the CFPB while he also headed the Office of Management and Budget. In both cases, Trump is picking a director who is expected to move quickly to freeze existing rules and enforcement actions, while also halting and starting to rescind all nonbinding interpretive rules, guidance and proposals. One of Mulvaney's first moves was to strip the agency's fair-lending office of enforcement powers, demoting the fairlending division, which had previously been equal alongside supervision and enforcement. It is unclear what will happen to fair lending given the executive order Trump signed in his first week seeking to undo all diversity, equity and inclusion programs in the government, including equal employment opportunity offices. Several Democrats voted against Bessent's Treasury confirmation including Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., ranking member of the Senate Banking Committee and the architect of the CFPB, citing his attitude toward financial deregulation. "We don't need less oversight of the giant banks and Wall Street movers and shakers," Warren said on the Senate floor. Bessent's final confirmation vote was 68-29. Though the CFPB was created as an independent agency whose single director could not be fired by the president except "for cause," the Supreme Court handed the agency's opponents a victory in 2020 by ruling that the president could fire the CFPB's director at any time without cause. As a result, though the CFPB director typically is given a fiveyear term, the position now changes hands when a new party comes into power. Banks are expected to cheer the change because the Trump administration wants to 28 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000693 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0022437 dramatically scale-back, if not kill the CFPB outright. Under a Trump appointee, the CFPB is expected to back off of penalties for corporate wrongdoing, provide less restitution given to consumers, and stop targeting CEOs and top executives in lawsuits and consent orders. The banking industry has high hopes that a Trump CFPB will rescind several rules that were finalized in the past six months under Chopra. The Consumer Bankers Association has called for an acting director to halt the CFPB's $5 overdraft fee rule, $8 credit card late fee rule and 1033 open banking rule. Multiple banking trade groups want all three rules rescinded, and the effective dates of each extended, with new watered-down rules reproposed or even dropped. It also is unclear whether a Republican director will defend the CFPB's credit card late fee rule, which is currently in litigation. An aggressive rollback of the CFPB's recent actions could also run counter to President Trump's populist campaign rhetoric, in which he called for a proposed 10% cap on credit card interest rates. That conflict could be especially pronounced if the administration seeks to nullify rules under the Congressional Review Act, which allows Congress to rescind major rules issued by federal agencies. Under that law, both houses of Congress must pass a resolution nullifying a rule within a relatively tight 60 legislative day time frame, meaning vulnerable lawmakers would have to affirmatively vote on nullifying a rule, which could be difficult with Republicans' narrow three-seat majority in the House. Return to Table of Contents Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent Named CFPB Acting Director (National Mortgage Professional) - full text National Mortgage Professional [2/3/2025 12:56 PM, Aaron Marsh] On Jan. 31, 2025, President Donald Trump designated Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent as Acting Director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB). "I look forward to working with the CFPB to advance President Trump's agenda to lower costs for the American people and accelerate economic growth," Bessent said in a statement. Bessent was just sworn in as Secretary of the Treasury on Jan. 28. News of the president dismissing Rohit Chopra as director of the CFPB came Feb. 1, and there was speculation as to what it would mean for actions taken by CFPB, particularly recently. There was a flurry of activity at CFPB during the wind-down of President Joe Biden's time in the Oval Office, for example, including a final rule banning medical debt from credit reporting and a lawsuit accusing Rocket Homes and others of a "kickback and steering" scheme. It seemed some of those action items could potentially be put on pause. Or, on the other hand, would it be business as usual, to continue the current CFPB trajectory, just under different leadership? Peter Idziak, senior associate at mortgage law firm Polunsky Beitel Green, told NMP, "Although Chopra recently attempted to highlight the two consumer financial protection issues on which he and President Trump agreed -- debanking and credit card interest rate limits -- it was always clear his days as Director were numbered." "The only 29 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000693 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0022438 surprise in Chopra's firing was that it took Trump almost two weeks to do so," ldziak added. He noted there had been talk in Washington that the Trump administration was waiting until they had a nominee or someone favorable who could serve as acting director before firing Chopra. "It's not entirely clear why Trump decided to fire Chopra," ldziak said. "I'd expect Scott Bessent's appointment as Acting Director of the CFPB to shift the Bureau's focus away from what the industry felt was a heavy-handed and adversarial approach under Chopra to a more constructive and common-sense relationship with the financial firms the Bureau regulates." "Bessent has recognized that the CFPB was statutorily created by Congress, so I don't believe he will seek to unilaterally 'delete' the Bureau, as Elon Musk has previously called for," ldziak continued. "But I expect he will move quickly to rescind several rules passed under Chopra that have proven costly to the industry and likely resulted in higher costs for consumers." Reporting by Bloomberg Law indicates that Bessent has "ordered the CFPB to stop all rulemaking, communications, litigation, and other activities," per a Monday email to CFPB staff obtained by the news outlet. "Director Chopra's departure marks a pivotal moment for the CFPB and its regulatory approach," noted Ian P. Moloney, senior vice president and head of policy and regulatory affairs at the American Fintech Council. "Under his leadership, the Bureau pursued exceptionally proactive rulemaking and enforcement strategies that, while aimed at consumer protection, frequently lacked meaningful industry engagement and clarity." "As a result, innovative banks and fintech companies did not have proper 'rules of the road,' often stifling responsible innovation," Moloney commented. "It's clear the Trump Administration has a different approach to regulation in financial services," Moloney contended. "With this new leadership and regulatory approach, we will likely see a recalibration of the CFPB's recent enforcement and rulemaking activities -- both in cadence and substance -- including a review of actions taken by the Bureau in the recent past to ensure they comport with the administration's platform." Return to Table of Contents New CFPB director Bessent orders agency to stop working (HousingWire.com) full text Housingwire.com [2/3/2025 4:07 PM, James Kleimann, 243K] In his first official action as acting director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), Scott Bessent ordered staffers to stop bureau activities, including the issuance of final rules, settlement enforcement actions, or participation in legal cases. Agency staffers have also been instructed to suspend the effective date of any final rules that have not yet gone into effect, according to reporting from Bloomberg and NPR. Bessent, who was confirmed as Treasury Secretary last week, took over as Acting CFPB Director on Monday after President Donald Trump fired Director Rohit Chopra. 30 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000693 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0022439 Citing confidential sources, Bloomberg reported that White House officials have not determined whether Bessent will lead the CFPB as acting director until a permanent director is found, or if he will hand off responsibilities to a new acting head. NPR reported that Bessent instructed CFPB staff not to issue any communications of any type, including research papers. The Trump administration's move to stop the CFPB's work "means inviting scammers and swindlers into working families' bank accounts," said Jesse Van Tol, President and CEO of the National Community Reinvestment Coalition. "It means instability, uncertainty and exposure. Chaos only benefits bad actors. I urge Secretary Bessent to restore this key regulator and watchdog to active duty swiftly.". Bessent's appointment appears to signal a large-scale rollback of agency actions under the Biden administration. The new regime could target rules capping overdraft fees, banning the use of medical debt by credit-reporting companies, Bessent's appointment appears to signal a large-scale rollback of agency actions under the Biden administration. The new regime could target rules capping overdraft fees, banning the use of medical debt by credit-reporting companies, and the nonbank registry rule. Senator Tim Scott, the chairman of the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs, told a group of reporters in late January that he will be reviewing the CFPB's funding structure and identifying any functions already done by other federal agencies for potential cuts. And Senate Republicans, led by Ted Cruz, have publicly stated their desire to "zero out" the Federal Reserve's budget allocation for the CFPB, though they likely don't have the 60 votes needed. HousingWire recently compiled a list detailing all of Trump's actions that impact housing. Return to Table of Contents Treasury's Bessent tells CFPB staff to stop everything (National Mortgage News) full text National Mortgage News [2/3/2025 1:05 PM, Kate Berry, 35K] Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, who was named acting director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, has directed the agency's staff to halt all rules and enforcement actions. Within an hour of Bessent being formally named to lead the agency, the CFPB's staff were instructed to halt nearly all work, according to a memo sent to staff obtained by American Banker. The memo stated that Bessent has been named acting director, effective Jan. 31, and that he "is committed to appropriately stewarding the agency pending new leadership.". Bessent -- or his as-yet unnamed advisors -- has dozens of important decisions to make regarding what comes next including whether the agency plans to defend past CFPB actions and rules in court. On Monday the CFPB asked for an adjournment of a lawsuit challenging the bureau's $8 31 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000693 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0022440 credit card late fee rule. Oral arguments had been scheduled to take place Monday in the case, Chamber of Commerce vs. CFPB, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas. Bessent's directive compelled CFPB lawyers to ask for an adjournment in the case. Other investigative hearings also are being postponed, banking experts said. The memo began by stating that "in order to promote consistency with the goals of the administration, effective immediately, unless expressly approved by the acting director or required by law, all employees, contractors and other personnel of the Bureau are directed: Not to approve or issue any proposed or final rules or formal or informal guidance.". The memo followed with five other bullet points with instructions to staff "to suspend the effective dates of all final rules that have been issued or published but that have not yet become effective." Among them are the $5 overdraft fee rule and the $8 credit card late fee rule. Most of the CFPB's recent rules have been challenged and are in active litigation, and it is unclear whether a new acting director will choose to defend or settle certain lawsuits. Staff also was directed "not to commence, take additional investigative activities related to, or settle enforcement actions," and "not to issue public communications of any type, including publication of research papers.". The memo enacts a hiring freeze. Staff was told "not to approve or execute any material agreements, including related to employee matters or contractors." Staff also were directed "not to make or approve filings or appearances by the Bureau in any litigation, other than to seek a pause in proceedings.". The memo, which was unsigned but came from the office of the director, stated that if employees had any questions, to "please raise issues through your existing management for consideration by the acting director.". Several employees, who spoke on condition that their names not be used to avoid retaliation, said the memo instructs the agency to stop nearly everything including any internal work on investigations. Supervision, however, was not mentioned, and other areas of the bureau that appear not to be impacted include consumer response and consumer education. It is unclear if examinations will continue given that the memo only put a halt to investigations. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Massachusetts, who is the ranking member of the Senate Banking Committee, said in a statement that Bessent should reverse course. "Secretary Bessent just sent a signal to giant corporations and big banks that it is open season to cheat, trick, and trap hard-working American families," Warren said. "Secretary Bessent must reverse course, and if he doesn't, I will use every tool at my disposal in the Banking Committee to hold him accountable -- along with any company that lines its pockets at the expense of American taxpayers.". The memo was not a surprise to many banking experts given that President Donald Trump issued an executive order immediately after his inauguration telling all agency heads to stop all rulemakings. He sent a similar order in 2017, as did President Joe Biden in 2021, though at the time it was unclear if the order covered independent agencies like the CFPB. 32 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000693 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0022441 Several of the CFPB's senior leaders remain in place, including General Counsel Seth Frotman, Supervision Director Lorelei Salas and Enforcement Director Eric Halperin. Frotman's term expires in October. However, the CFPB's six political appointees, also known as Schedule C appointees, have departed, including Erie Meyer, chief technologist and senior advisor; Jan Singelmann, chief of staff; Angela Hanks, associate director of external affairs; Julie Morgan, associate director of the CFPB's Office of Research, Monitoring, and Regulations; and Allison Preiss, a senior communications advisor. Rob Nichols, president and CEO of the American Bankers Association, said the trade group has long claimed that many of the actions taken by former CFPB Director Rohit Chopra exceed the bureau's statutory authority and "harmed our economy and imposed significant costs on American consumers.". "We urge Secretary Bessent to begin reversing the damage caused by these misguided regulatory actions and stand ready to support his efforts to chart a better course for the Bureau," Nichols said in a press release. The Consumer Bankers Association had called on the new administration to extend the effective dates of the CFPB's recently-enacted overdraft rule, the credit card late fee rule and the 1033 open banking rule. Multiple banking groups want all three rules rescinded, pending litigation settled and new proposals reissued. (Separately, on Friday the House Financial Services Committee posted a draft resolution to overturn the CFPB's $5 overdraft fee rule under the Congressional Review Act.). The Trump administration sent a mass email to federal employees last week telling 2.3 million civil service workers to return to the office full-time, and also giving them a socalled buyout offer of resigning by Feb. 6 or face further action. Many banking experts expect the administration to terminate all senior staff with political positions. Trump also issued an executive order to strip civil service protections from federal employees and re-categorize thousands of civil servants as political appointees, enabling the administration to fire them. Return to Table of Contents New CFPB acting director orders huge halt to bureau's activity (MPA Magazine) full text MPA Magazine [2/3/2025 12:56 PM, Fergal McAlinden] Donald Trump's pick for acting director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) has ordered staff to end any activity related to enforcement matters and litigation and suspend the effective dates of pending rules in his first hours in the job. Scott Bessent, the former hedge fund manager who was confirmed as US Treasury Secretary last week, has taken over as acting director of the bureau after Trump fired Rohit Chopra on Saturday. The sweeping halt on agency activity was taken to "promote consistency with the goals of the administration," POLITICO said an email to agency staff on Monday revealed. 33 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000693 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0022442 Bessent said in a CFPB statement Monday that he would be working with the regulator to "advance President Trump's agenda to lower costs for the American people and accelerate economic growth," although it's not clear whether Trump is actively searching for a more permanent replacement for Chopra. Appointed by Joe Biden to lead the watchdog, which oversees consumer protection in the financial sector, Chopra unexpectedly remained in his post for nearly two weeks under the new administration but was dismissed by Trump on February 1. The regulator, established in the wake of the 2008 financial crisis, has faced recent criticism within the mortgage industry for what mortgage lawyer Peter Idziak, senior associate at Polunsky Beitel Green, described as a perceived "heavy-handed and adversarial approach under Chopra." It's also in the crosshairs of Elon Musk, head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), who's called for the agency to be eradicated entirely. But that's unlikely to happen under the new acting director, according to Idziak. "Bessent has recognized that the CFPB was statutorily created by Congress, so I don't believe he will seek to universally `delete' the Bureau, as Elon Musk has previously called for," Idziak said. "But I expect he will move quickly to rescind several rules passed under Chopra that have proven costly to the industry and likely resulted in higher costs for consumers." The Consumer Bankers Association (CBA) took aim Monday at what it described as the "partisan policies" enacted by Chopra and welcomed Bessent's appointment. "We're hopeful that Secretary Bessent will take into account the real-world ramifications regulations have on America's leading banks, the millions of consumers they serve, and the economy as a whole," CBA president Lindsey Johnson commented. However, Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), who originally proposed the agency's creation in 2007, said Chopra had held Wall Street accountable during his time leading the CFPB and helped protect Americans from junk fees and predatory lending. She emphasized the agency's centrality to some of Trump's election promises. "President Trump campaigned on capping credit card interest rates at 10% and lowering costs for Americans," she said. "He needs a strong CFPB and a strong CFPB director to do that. But if President Trump and Republicans decide to cower to Wall Street billionaires and destroy the agency, they will have a fight on their hands." Whether Trump intends to permanently strip back the CFPB remains unclear for now, although leading mortgage industry figures have underlined the positive role played by the agency as a consumer watchdog. Speaking with Mortgage Professional America last week, Better.com president and chief financial officer Kevin Ryan highlighted the need for a balanced approach to regulatory oversight. "I think some deregulation is going to help. I don't think I appreciated when I joined an originator how much time you'd actually spend as a CFO with the CFPB. Any given state can come in at any given moment and do an exam," he said. "Now: I understand it. It's the single largest financial transaction that 99% of Americans will ever have, and the single most important asset they'll ever have -- their home." 34 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000693 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0022443 "So I understand it, and the world was put in jeopardy in 2008 in part from shoddy underwriting and aggressive marketing, and probably some borrowers who were impure in their intentions and what they did. So I get the `why' -- although these pendulums swing and sometimes they can swing too far." Bessent marks the latest Trump pick for key agencies and departments linked to the mortgage and housing sectors, following a host of other appointments in recent weeks. The president tapped Scott Turner, whose nomination is still pending Senate confirmation, to lead Housing and Urban Development (HUD) while Bill Pulte was chosen to head the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA), which oversees government-sponsored enterprises (GSEs) Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Return to Table of Contents E.P.A. Tells More Than 1,000 They Could Be Fired `Immediately' (New York Times) full text New York Times [2/3/2025 10:20 AM, Lisa Friedman, 161405K] The Trump administration has warned more than 1,100 Environmental Protection Agency employees who work on climate change, reducing air pollution, enforcing environmental laws and other programs that they could be fired at any time. An email, reviewed by The New York Times, was sent to staff members who were hired within the past year and have probationary status. Many of those employees were encouraged to join the E.P.A. under the Biden administration to rebuild the agency, which had been depleted during President Trump's first term. Others are experienced federal workers who had taken new assignments within the agency. Many had been hired to work on programs that Congress created through two recent laws, doing things like helping communities replace lead pipes, remediating toxic sites and funding clean energy projects aimed at reducing the greenhouse gas emissions that are heating the planet. "As a probationary/trial period employee, the agency has the right to immediately terminate you," the email states. Molly Vaseliou, an E.P.A. spokeswoman, said in a statement that "our goal is to be transparent." She declined to answer questions about the email, though, including whether Lee Zeldin, the agency's new administrator, intended to terminate employees and, if so, for what reason. "On his first day in office, he engaged directly with career staff across E.P.A.'s headquarters - spanning two city blocks in downtown D.C. -- listening to their insights and perspectives," Ms. Vaseliou said. "Ultimately. the goal is to create a more effective and efficient federal government that serves all Americans." At 9:21 a.m. on Monday, E.P.A. employees received another email notifying them of that the agencywide intranet was out of service. Without the internal agency network, employees cannot access documents or other information needed for their jobs. The email from E.P.A.'s Office of Mission Support reads "Access to work.epa.gov is current unavailable" and that technical specialists were working to resolve the issue. It was not immediately clear if the outage was related to efforts to reduce the work force. Asked about the email, Ms. Vaseliou said "There was an outage." 35 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000693 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0022444 Other federal agencies have been directed by the Office of Personnel Management to submit lists of probationary employees, but E.P.A. workers appear to be the first to receive notice that they may be immediately dismissed. Leaders at the American Federation of Government Employees, which represents unionized E.P.A. employees, called the move a clear attempt to gut an agency that Mr. Trump dislikes. Through the E.P.A., the Biden administration developed aggressive regulations to curb planetwarming pollution from power plants, automobiles and oil and gas wells. "E.P.A. is at the center of the bullseye for President Trump's vindictive purge of public servants," said Michelle Roos, executive director of the Environmental Protection Network, a group of agency alumni. She called it "the most chaotic and vindictive transition in the history of the Environmental Protection Agency." Two E.P.A. employees who received the email said it had caused them to rethink the Trump administration's offer to federal employees to resign but be paid through the end of September. The employees, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they are concerned about being fired, said they had initially dismissed that offer as untrustworthy. Being informed that their jobs are particularly precarious has caused them to rethink their options, both said. Probationary employees are considered easier to fire because they do not have the full range of civil service protections, but rules still exist, said Marie Owens-Powell, president of the federation of government employees union, which represents about 8,000 E.P.A. workers. "There has to be cause, and the cause can't be because you're a Democrat and it's a Republican administration," Ms. Owens-Powell said. The union is consulting lawyers about whether the administration can fire workers based on a simple declaration of a change in agency priorities, she said. Ms. Owens-Powell said the Trump administration had placed about 15 E.P.A. employees who were working on diversity, equity and inclusion efforts on administrative leave. She said the next likely targets are those working on environmental justice, or programs to help marginalized communities that suffer from disproportionate amounts of air and water pollution. Staffing at the E.P.A. peaked in 2004 during the George W. Bush administration, when there were 17,611 employees, according to the agency. Those levels ebbed and flowed slightly, but began to take a sharp dip during the Obama administration amid Republican control of the House and Senate. When Mr. Trump entered the White House in 2017, the E.P.A. had 15,408 employees. The following year that number dropped to 14,172 as political appointees reversed regulations, shut scientists out of decision-making and shrank the agency's budget. The Biden administration sought to reverse those losses. The agency currently employs about 15,130 people around the country, a level slightly higher than when Ronald Reagan was president. Return to Table of Contents The EPA Just Locked Its Own Employees Out of Doing Their Jobs (The New Republic) - full text 36 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000693 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0022445 The New Republic [2/3/2025 12:47 PM, Ellie Quinlan Houghtaling, 6986K] More than 1,100 Environmental Protection Agency employees could be at risk of spontaneously losing their jobs, according to a Trump administration memo. Employees at risk include individuals who have spent less than a year in their current role, even if they were longtime employees of other divisions or departments. "As a probationary/trial period employee, the agency has the right to immediately terminate you," the email, obtained Monday by The New York Times, states. A spokeswoman for Lee Zeldin, the newly minted administrator of the environmental agency and a longtime Trump ally, told the Times that "our goal is to be transparent." She did not elaborate on when or why the mass layoff would begin. "On his first day in office, [Zeldin] engaged directly with career staff across E.P.A.'s headquarters--spanning two city blocks in downtown D.C.--listening to their insights and perspectives," the spokeswoman, Molly Vaseliou, told the publication in a statement. "Ultimately, the goal is to create a more effective and efficient federal government that serves all Americans.". On Monday morning, agency employees were notified that their intranet was out of service, leaving them unable to do their jobs as they could not access internal documents or data, reported the Times. It is not clear if the intranet outage was directly related to efforts to cut the EPA staff. The result: Morale at the agency is in freefall, with some employees feeling the pressure to finally consider Trump's controversial "buyout" offer, which would pay them through September on the condition of their resignations. "It's bad," Marie Owens-Powell, president of the EPA union, told CBS News on Friday. "I've been with the agency for over 33 years and I've never seen anything like this.". "As far as we can tell, EPA workers were the only ones to receive a notice from their agency, intended to go to probationary employees to terrorize and scare them into thinking they were on their way out," she said. Hundreds of EPA grantees have also been locked out of their funds, according to Michelle Roos, president of the Environmental Protection Network. She told CBS that it has left organizations across the country unable to do the work for which the federal government has already approved funding. Roos also told the Times that the EPA had long been at the center of the "bullseye" in the forty-seventh president's mission to nix large swaths of civil servants, and that the drastic move to downsize EPA staff would be the "most chaotic and vindictive transition in the history of the Environmental Protection Agency.". Legal experts claim that the Trump administration's move to choke congressionally appropriated funding from federal agencies is "unconstitutional" and "unauthorized by law.". "Ninety-five percent of the funding going to EPA has not only been appropriated but is locked in, legally obligated grant funding," Jillian Blanchard, vice president of climate change and environmental justice for Lawyers for Good Government, told CBS. "The Constitution does not give the president a line item veto over Congress's spending decision.". Return to Table of Contents Trump pauses Canada, Mexico tariffs after border pledges (The Hill) - full text 37 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000693 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0022446 The Hill [2/3/2025 6:35 PM, Aris Folley and Taylor Giorno, 16346K] The announced delay on the 25 percent tariffs against Canada -- set to start Tuesday -- came after Trump and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's second conversation Monday. Trump said Canada agreed to secure the northern border and work to combat the flow of fentanyl into the U.S., adding that it will implement its $1.3 billion border plan and agreed to take other steps to secure the border. "As President, it is my responsibility to ensure the safety of ALL Americans, and I am doing just that. I am very pleased with this initial outcome, and the Tariffs announced on Saturday will be paused for a 30 day period to see whether or not a final Economic deal with Canada can be structured. FAIRNESS FOR ALL!" Trump posted online. Trudeau, while announcing the pause on social platform X, outlined Canada's new plans, which will appoint a "Fentanyl Czar," list cartels as terrorists, "ensure 24/7 eyes" on the U.S.Canadian border and launch a joint strike force with the U.S. to take on crime, fentanyl flow and money laundering. Trump and Trudeau both signed a new intelligence directive on organized crime and fentanyl with $200 million in funding, they said. The agreement with Canada mirrors the same deal Trump struck with Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum earlier Monday, ahead of implementation of 25 percent tariffs on Mexico. They announced Mexico will send to the U.S. border 10,000 soldiers tasked with stopping the flow of fentanyl and immigrants entering the U.S. illegally. Trump on Saturday signed off on the tariffs on both Mexico and Canada and 10 percent tariffs on China. There has not been an announcement about the tariffs on China, though China's Ministry of Commerce said it would file a legal case against the U.S. at the World Trade Organization. Return to Table of Contents Trump Pauses Harsh New Tariffs on Canada and Mexico, Easing Homebuilder Fears of Higher Construction Costs (Realtor.com) - full text Realtor.corn [2/3/2025 6:12 PM, Keith Griffith, 45860K] President Donald Trump has temporarily suspended stiff new tariffs on Canada and Mexico, easing the fears of homebuilders who had warned the measures could raise the cost of key building materials used in home construction. On Saturday, Trump announced a 25% additional tariff on imports from Canada and Mexico and a 10A) additional tariff on imports from China, describing the duties as punitive measures designed to stem illegal immigration and drug trafficking. Hours before the tariffs were due to take effect at midnight on Monday, Trump suspended them for 30 days for Mexico and Canada, after extracting promises from those countries to step up border enforcement. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum agreed to send 10,000 national guard members to patrol Mexico's side of the Southern U.S. border, while Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced new measures to crack down on fentanyl, cartels, and organized crime at the northern border. The suspension of the extraordinary tariffs came as a relief to homebuilders, who had expressed fears that they could raise the cost of building homes, exacerbating an ongoing housing shortage and affordability crisis. About 38 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000693 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0022447 70% of the softwood lumber used in residential construction is imported from Canada, while the same share of gypsum used in drywall originates in Mexico, according to the National Association of Home Builders. "Tariffs on lumber and other building materials increase the cost of construction and discourage new development, and consumers end up paying for the tariffs in the form of higher home prices," said NAHB Chair Carl Harris. However, a senior White House official told Realtor.com that the proposed tariffs against Mexico and Canada were intended as emergency measures to address national security concerns, rather than as long-term economic policy. "This is very narrowly focused on national security," the official said. "The point of these tariffs was to convey the severity of what we're facing domestically, and what's going on with what's coming over the border.". That message, and subsequent events, suggest that in this case, Trump was more interested in using tariffs as leverage to extract policy concessions than in carrying out a protectionist trade policy with America's cross-border neighbors. Trump's 10% additional tariffs on China were still due to take effect at 12:01 a.m. on Tuesday. As well, the 30-day pause on new tariffs for Canada and Mexico raises the possibility of a renewed trade war after the deadline passes, if Trump's demands on border security are not satisfied. "As President, it is my responsibility to ensure the safety of ALL Americans, and I am doing just that," Trump wrote in a post on his Truth Social website. "I am very pleased with this initial outcome, and the Tariffs announced on Saturday will be paused for a 30 day period to see whether or not a final Economic deal with Canada can be structured.". Some residential construction experts reacted with alarm to Trump's proposal, raising special concerns about the Canadian lumber that is used in the majority of new homes. Canadian lumber imports are already subject to a 14.5% U.S. tariff, and the new punitive duties that Trump threatened would have raised that rate to nearly 40%. Tariffs, which are taxes on imported goods, are typically paid to the government by the U.S. business importing those goods. In most cases, the cost is passed along to consumers in the form of higher prices. "New tariffs, especially on Canadian lumber, will directly add to the cost of new construction," says Realtor.com senior economist Joel Berner. "We expect builders, who are very conscious of their margins to begin with, to pass these new costs along to buyers in the price of newly built homes.". On the other hand, Stephen Haines, president of Georgia-based homebuilder Artisan Built Communities, told Realtor.com that tariffs were relatively low on his list of concerns, saying he viewed Trump's trade moves mainly as bargaining tactics. "Trump's a business guy first, and he does things for shock and awe, because it works," says Haines. Haines says he is worried about the U.S. housing shortage and affordability crisis for homebuyers, but adds that his biggest concerns are high interest rates, overbearing zoning rules, and supply-chain bottlenecks. "If a tariff only impacts one cost code or a couple of cost codes in my budget, the interest rate still is a much bigger factor, for both me and for my underlying buyer," he says. "We do have an overall crisis on affordable housing, and so the tariffs could play a part in it. But to me, it's not the most imminent threat." Return to Table of Contents 39 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000693 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0022448 U.S. home-price growth softens, but the LA wildfires hinder a broader market recovery (HousingWire.com) - full text HousinqWirescom [2/3/2025 5:59 PM, Kennedy Edgerton, 243K] Last year saw the softest home-price growth in more than 10 years, according to an analysis by ICE Mortgage Technology. Despite that and other positives, the LA wildfires are still making an impact on the housing market at the local and national levels. On Monday, ICE released its February 2025 Mortgage Monitor report, which is based on the company's public datasets. The reports analyzes "tens of millions of loans across the spectrum of credit products and more than 160 million historical records." According to February's report, annual home-price growth ended 2024 at 3.4%. That was softer than in 2011 -- when the market was still recovering from the housing crash and Great Recession. Alongside that, inventory levels also showed promise, increasing by 22% during the year. Inventory reached its highest level since mid-2020, with Southern states leading the way. Andy Walden, the company's head of mortgage and housing market research, highlighted markets in the South and West as hubs for improvement. "At the current rate of improvement, another 15% of markets, primarily in the South and West would be on pace to see inventory levels normalize this year," he said in a statement. Markets in the Midwest and Northeast not only aren't keeping up with the inventory growth in the South and West, they might also be major contributors to U.S. home-price growth, according to Walden. "Given the disparity of inventories across the country, it is no surprise to see 18 of the 20 strongest housing markets from a price growth perspective located in inventory-starved portions of the Midwest and Northeast," he added. Despite normalizing inventory levels, mortgage delinquencies continue to present a challenge. National mortgage delinquency rates sit below pre-pandemic levels. But Federal Housing Administration (FHA) and U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) mortgages tell a different story. ICE reported that FHA and VA delinquencies have steadily risen since the pandemic. Meanwhile, conventional and portfolio-managed loans are still performing relatively well. These delinquencies evidently aren't sending more homeowners into foreclosure. ICE said that foreclosures have dropped to record lows, with the exception of the postpandemic foreclosure moratorium period. Moving away from the broader market, ICE addressed the impacts of the LA wildfires. According to Walden, many homeowners in Southern California missed mortgage payments in the aftermath of the deadly blazes. "ICE's McDash Flash daily data suggests that nearly 5% fewer homeowners inside California's Palisades and Eaton fire zones had made their January mortgage payment by mid-month, when compared with the same time in December," Walden said. He also noted that homeowners who did pay likely made payments before the fires, so more accurate data on missed payments will come next month. Beyond that, municipal bonds aren't safe from the wildfires either. ICE said that 140 municipalities reported having some exposure to the wildfires. "This represents perhaps 40 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000693 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0022449 the first time the bond market has experienced a nearly immediate repricing of municipal debt due to a natural disaster," Walden explained. Return to Table of Contents Weak demand is forcing more home sellers to reduce their asking price (HousingWire.com) - full text HousingWire.com [2/3/2025 3:45 PM, Mike Simonsen, 243K] There are some really interesting price trends happening across the country right now. I mentioned last week how weakness in demand had led some of the measures for home price changes to slide into negative territory compared to a year ago. This week, another signal of future sales prices slipped in a bit of a surprising way, another factor showing weakness in homebuyer demand and weakness in price trends. These are not catastrophic signs. Inventory of unsold homes on the market ticked down fractionally this week. There are fewer homes for sale now than a week ago. It's not uncommon for January to have a little up and down in the inventory numbers. If inventory were jumping each week, that would be notable, but it's not. As inventory builds and, as there are fewer offers from homebuyers, more sellers feel the need to reduce the asking price of the homes for sale. Price reductions ticked up this week, which is unusual for the last week of January. Let's take a look at the data for the final week of January 2025. Price reductions jump In recent weeks, I've shared how the data shows weakness for home prices. Prices are not falling or crashing, but most of our home price metrics are barely positive from last year at this time. Essentially home price appreciation is flat vs last year at this time. We regard this metric, the percentage of homes on the market with price reductions from the original list price, as a leading indicator for future sales prices. Looking backward at the housing market, we can see sales prices are not appreciating compared to 2024. Looking forward, we see weakness too in future transactions. Price reductions actually inched up this week by 10 basis points. About 33.1% of the homes on the market have taken a price cut from the original list price. That's up from 33% last week. It's a pretty small move, but it's in the wrong direction. Almost always this early in the year, price cuts are declining. Normally, fewer folks need to cut their price in the spring. At this time, of year there's new inventory and new buyers are shopping. In recent weeks, we can see that those buyers are waiting. Sellers who don't get an offer may choose to cut their price. So normally there would be fewer price reductions at this time of year. But this week price reductions ticked up. And notably, this is the first instance of an uptick in price reductions in January in over 10 years. There are few offers being made right now, so more sellers are finding the need to reduce their asking price. That trend is likely to continue until mortgage prices come back down. Home prices contract The median price for home sales contracts entered this week was at $389,700. That's up a percent for the week and is 2.5% more expensive than home 41 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000693 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0022450 sales in the same week a year ago. In the scale of housing, 2.5% is basically zero. While there are plenty of markets that have home price gains from a year ago, there are also a lot of markets where home prices are declining. This week saw a little uptick in the active market so the median price for all the homes on the market is now $424,900 which is exactly unchanged from a year ago. This might reverse the trend and push home prices higher in 2025. Consider a scenario where the government follows through with these tariff threats, and at the same time reduces government spending. A shrinking U.S. economy would likely push bond yields lower. Lower yields on the 10-year treasury leads to lower mortgage rates. This is the scenario that happened in 2019 in the last tariff trade war. The economy slowed, so rates fell. By early 2020, mortgage rates were pretty low. By the time the pandemic hit, the housing market was already heating up. I don't have any ability to predict which of the taxes get enacted or whether they stay enacted. I don't have a view on how dramatically the financial markets react. One side effect of chaos is bond yields fall. Wouldn't that be an ironic headline? "As the economy tanks, home prices soar!" We continue to expect a little climb in this number over the next few months as the prime days of the home buying season are still to come. Even in a weak demand environment, home prices will lurch higher in the spring. Home sales tend to cluster around the big round numbers, and you can see the cap here at $400,000 last May. Because of this clustering effect, it's hard to see the market busting past that plateau this year. Inventory is a teeny bit lower than last week There are 635,000 single-family homes unsold on the market now. That's actually a tiny fraction fewer than a week ago. It's not uncommon for inventory to bounce up and down a bit in January, bouncing along the bottom before inventory starts building in earnest for the spring. It seems like we've already passed the low point of inventory for the year. That's very early in the year for supply to start growing. Our down moves are smaller, the up-ticks are bigger than they have been in a long time. We can see the same dynamic that's driving the price reductions driving inventory. There are a few more sellers each week, but the demand is light, so inventory continues to build. There are 27.7% more homes on the market now than a year ago. This isn't a new trend but it is maybe a little faster than we anticipated. We've forecasted 15% gains in inventory for the calendar year 2025 over 2024. The current forecast model is showing 17% gains by the end of the year_ New listings drop There were just under 49,000 new listings unsold for single-family homes this week. That's actually fewer than a week ago though it's still 10% more than last year at this time. When we include the new listings already in contract to be sold, it totals almost 4% more sellers than a year ago. That's a little disappointing, to be honest. I am hoping for 5-10% seller growth each week. I believe that would be healthy for transactions. In this chart the purple line at the far left is the 2025 year taking shape. Each week has more sellers and more homes unsold newly listed than a year ago. Last year's line is in 42 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000693 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0022451 blue here. That growth is pretty consistent. It's still not a lot of sellers. The gray lines are past years and while 2025 has more than 2024, it's still fewer sellers than in years past. In the fifth week of the year in 2020 for example, just before the pandemic hit, we counted nearly 74,000 new listings. That 50% more sellers than we had this week. The takeaway for the new listings data is that while seller volume continues to inch higher that's a good thing and the market coulduse even more sellers. Pending home sales are restricted Ultimately home sales are restricted in the same way that new listings are restricted. We're moving less. We're moving less across town and moving less across the country. I've been expecting this trend to ease a bit in 2025, with a slight resumption of people moving to the sunbelt. But the trend is barely budging so far. There were 56,000 newly pending home sales this week. That's a nice nearly 8% increase fro the week prior. This is the time of year when you'd expect home sales to grow each week. So that's good. In fact, home sales were actually a tiny fraction higher than last year at this time. There were 1% more sales than the same week a year ago. Sales have been averaging nearly 5% fewer than at the start of 2024. So I guess any positive reporting is good news? That's what we're looking at with this chart. The 2025 purple line has been trending lower than the 2024 blue line. This week bucked the trend with a little positive move to 56,000 new contracts started. In total, there are now 282,000 single-family homes in contract. That's 3.5% fewer than a year ago. There are fewer sales pending now than last year at this time. These are sales that will mostly close in February, so by our count the February home sales headlines when they're released in a few months, will be pretty bearish on sales. Who knows what happens with the timing of mortgage rate moves during the year, but if we're lucky, maybe by summer mortgage rates have eased, so 2025 shows a gain in home sales at that time. That's just speculation but it's something to watch for later in the year. Return to Table of Contents Savings From Fannie Title Pilot Could Reach $2B Over Time (Inside Mortgage Finance) - full text Inside Mortgage Finance [2/3/2025 12:56 PM, Dennis Hollier, 4K] Fannie Mae's automated title insurance underwriting pilot program could generate an estimated $96 million a year in consumer savings, according to a research paper from the George Mason University Antonin Scalia Law School. The paper's authors -- Andrew Rodrigo Nigrinis, an economist at Legal Economics, and GMU law professor Todd Zywicki -- said those savings could reach $2.19 billion over time if the pilot is made permanent. The title initiative, which encompasses only mortgage refis with loan-to-value ratios 43 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000693 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0022452 below 80%, is a part of Fannie's effort to reduce closing costs for homebuyers. It does that by removing the requirement for borrowers to purchase title coverage. Title insurance is not a substantial fraction of the cost of buying a home, but it's one of the largest contributors to closing costs. Return to Table of Contents [PA] West Philadelphia apartment building trades for more than $38M (Philadelphia Business Journal, PA) - full text Philadelphia Business Journal [2/3/2025 9:28 PM, Ryan Mulligan, 5054K, PA] A West Philadelphia apartment building near City Avenue has traded hands for $38.35 million. The Duffield House Apartments at 3701 Conshohocken Ave. were sold by Blue Bell-based Depaul Group to Duffield House Holdings LLC, a limited liability company linked to Premier Properties of Lakewood, New Jersey, according to Philadelphia property records. The 11-story building was built in 1965 and most recently assessed at $37.1 million, city records show. Duffield House has 272 unit with a mix of studio, one-bedroom and twobedroom apartments, according to its website. Rents start at $1,235 per month for studios, $1,375 for one-bedrooms and $1,815 for two-bedrooms. Amenities on the property include a pool and fitness center. The property is located just off of City Avenue and the Schuylkill Expressway. It sits near several other apartment buildings including the Helston Apartments, River Park House Condominium, West River Apartments and Greenbrier Club Apartments. Premier Properties is no stranger to City Avenue. The company spent nearly $10 million to gut renovate the 302-unit, 22-story Premier at City Line, a project that was completed in 2022. Elsewhere in the region, the company owns the Townhomes at Gateway in Bensalem and the 483-unit Chalet Gardens Apartments in Camden County's Pine Hill. When reached by phone, a representative for Premier Properties declined to comment. The Duffield House sale is the third significant multifamily transaction in West Philadelphia since September. The Philadelphia Housing Authority purchased the 360unit Brith Sholom House at 3939 Conshohocken Ave. for $24 million, then acquired the 17-story, 233-unit Dane at 2201 Bryn Mawr Ave. for $51 million. Nearby, the 106-unit Bryn Mawr Apartments at 5100 Lebanon Ave. recently went up for sale. The property also sits near the planned Wynnefield Heights Square development, a condo and townhome community that is being built at 4050 Conshohocken Ave. Return to Table of Contents [Ml] A Selling Point in This IPO - Mortgage Finance (Inside Mortgage Finance) - full text Inside Mortgage Finance [2/3/2025 12:59 PM, Brandon Ivey, 4K] A single-branch depository in Michigan is working on an initial public offering of stock, highlighting its mortgage business, a sector which some banks shy away from. 44 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000693 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0022453 Northpointe Bank of Grand Rapids late last month filed documents with the Securities and Exchange Commission for an IPO, which could raise upwards of $200 million. Founded in 1999, the bank originates mortgages and provides warehouse financing to nonbank mortgage companies. Northpointe also accepts deposits online. And that's about it. "In the U.S., we are the only single-family mortgage dedicated commercial bank and will be the only publicly traded, mortgage dedicated bank after this offering." management said in its S-1 filing with the government. According to figures compiled by Inside Mortgage Finance, Northpointe ranked ninth in terms of warehouse commitments at Sept. 30. Return to Table of Contents Broadcast (TV and Radio) [NY] Payment delays occur for NYCHA landlords after funding freeze (WNYC-FM NPR New York, NY) WNYC-FM NPR New York [2/3/2025 7:33 PM, Staff, 380,549] reports landlords who rent apartments to about 100,000 Section 8 recipients were supposed to get their February payments on Monday. A NYCHA spokesperson blamed the payment delays on confusion following a Trump Administration directive to freeze federal funding. Return to Table of Contents [NY] Funding for Syracuse's Children Rising Center now on pause (WSTM-TV NBC Syracuse, NY) WSTM-TV NBC Syracuse [2/3/2025 5:17 PM, Staff, 22,808] reports a $32 million project set to help transform one of Syracuse's poorest neighborhoods is on pause. With that, a promise made to families to develop the Children Rising Center is unable to come to fruition. Return to Table of Contents [FL] Panama City officials speak about affordable housing struggles (WJHG-TV NBC Panama City, FL) WJHG-TV NBC Panama City [2/3/2025 7:00 PM, Staff, 13,884] reports the cost of housing has risen and the need for more affordable housing has increased. Panama City officials spoke about the opening of a housing waitlist on Monday, which quickly filled up and closed an hour later. Return to Table of Contents [FL] Veteran receives new home in Volusia County thanks to HUD grant (CFLN-TV Spectrum News Orlando, FL) CFLN-TV Spectrum News Orlando [2/3/2025 6:38 PM, Staff, 14,141] reports a U.S. Marine Corps veteran and his wife received a new home on Monday in Volusia County. His home had to be replaced due to flooding from Hurricane Ian in 2022. The replacement 45 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000693 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0022454 project was made possible through a Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery program provided by HUD. Return to Table of Contents [FL] Pinellas County has limited time to create HUD-approved plan for access to funding (BAYS-TV Tampa, FL) BAYS-TV Tampa [2/3/2025 9:07 PM, Staff, 17,571] reports nearly $1 billion has been set aside for Pinellas County and the city of St. Petersburg. In order for HUD to clear the funds however, local governments have 90 days to create an approved plan. with funds being potentially used to repair homes, build affordable housing and help small businesses. Return to Table of Contents [TN] Birchstone Village new home for Nashville families from run-down properties (WSMV-TV NBC Nashville, TN) WSMV-TV NBC Nashville [2/3/2025 6:16 PM, Staff, 38,554] reports Birchstone Village is bringing new hope to nearly 170 families in Nashville whose previous dwellings were run down. The new apartments are a one-of-a-kind collaboration between HUD and Trent Development, formerly First Cumberland Properties. Return to Table of Contents [MO] Columbia Housing Authority awarded HUD grant for veterans (KMIZ-TV ABC Columbia, MO) KMIZ-TV ABC Columbia [2/3/2025 7:35 PM, Staff, 10,125] reports the Columbia Housing Authority was awarded more than $170,000 from HUD. The money will help support the allocation of 28 Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing programs and help with assistance for local veterans in finding stable homes. Return to Table of Contents [WI] Former HACM employee speaks out on sudden shakeup in agency (WTMJ-TV NBC Milwaukee, WI) WTMJ-TV NBC Milwaukee [2/3/2025 7:02 PM, Staff, 23,486] reports some employees laid off last week by HACM are speaking out. Alice Young, a former HACM employee, spoke about the sudden shakeup and what she wants to see happen. Young says the authority apologized to tenants but not to the staff they let down. Return to Table of Contents [TX] Homeless Response System partners in Austin/Travis County awarded funding for unhoused people (KEYE-TV CBS Austin, TX) KEYE-TV CBS Austin [2/3/2025 7:37 PM, Staff, 11,135] reports HUD awarded Austin/Travis County Homelessness Response System partners nearly $14 million. The money will go toward funding multiple projects that will provide housing and support services to unhoused people. 46 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000693 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0022455 Return to Table of Contents [NE] Housing petition gains enough signatures to be on Lincoln ballot in May (KLKN-TV ABC Lincoln, NE) KLKN-TV ABC Lincoln & Hastings-Kearney [2/3/2025 6:08 PM, Staff, 10,362] reports a fair housing petition has gained enough signatures to be put on the ballot in May election. The petition looks to ban source-of-income discrimination from landlords and received close to 6,500 more signatures than required. Return to Table of Contents [AZ] Tucson's city council to consider transferring Tucson House to Wisconsin construction firm (KUAZ-FM NPR Tucson, AZ) KUAZ-FM NPR Tucson [2/3/2025 8:08 PM, Staff, 53,290] reports Tucson's city council will consider transferring Tucson House--the city's largest public housing site--to a private Wisconsin construction firm. The public housing program faces serious considerations over its financial future. Return to Table of Contents [CA] Eureka board of supervisors meeting will address HUD grant agreement (KAEF-TV ABC Eureka, CA) KAEF-TV ABC Eureka [2/3/2025 9:10 PM, Staff, 12,146] reports a board of supervisors meeting is scheduled to take place in Eureka on Tuesday. One of the items on the agenda is a grant agreement with HUD in regards to funding available through the Youth Homelessness Demonstration Program. Return to Table of Contents Housing Supply New tariffs could raise home prices and sideline potential buyers (CNBC) - full text CNBC [2/3/2025 1:45 PM, Diana Olick, 36472K] VIDEO. The U.S. housing market was already struggling under the weight of high mortgage interest rates, a low supply of existing homes for sale and historically high home prices. Now tariffs on building materials are adding even more pressure. About 30% of softwood lumber consumed in the U.S. is imported, largely from Canada. Wallboard, known as gypsum, is imported from Mexico. The 25% tariff President Donald Trump levied on goods from the two key trading partners will make those products that much more expensive. The Mexico tariffs were postponed Monday for a month, but they are still on the table. "More than 70% of the imports of two essential materials that home builders rely on -- softwood lumber and gypsum -- come from Canada and Mexico, respectively," Carl Harris, chairman of the National Association of Home Builders, wrote in a release. "Tariffs on lumber and other building materials increase the cost of construction and discourage new development, and consumers end up paying for the tariffs in the form of 47 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000693 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0022456 higher home prices.". Home prices are already up well over 40% since the start of the pandemic and were still 3.8% higher in November, compared with the previous November, according to the latest read from the S&P Corelogic Case-Shiller national home price index. That annual increase was higher than the 3.6% in October. Duties on building materials could make the market even harder for buyers. "We believe this could make worse the affordability crisis for first-time buyers," wrote Jaret Seiberg, housing policy analyst for TD Cowen Washington Research Group. "On the plus side, it could increase pressure on Congress to enact policies that encourage more entry-level construction including expanded tax credit programs.". Prospective home buyers leave a property for sale during an Open House in a neighborhood in Clarksburg, Maryland. The NAHB is asking the Trump administration to exempt building materials from the 25% tariffs, noting his executive order on the first day of his presidency that sought to "expand housing supply.". While the U.S. has ramped up lumber production in recent years, 70% of the country's sawmill and wood product imports - $8.5 billion -- come from Canada. They are already subject to a 14.5% tariff, so Trump's new policy would raise it to over 39%. And 71% of lime and gypsum product imports are from Mexico, totaling $352 million. Other materials, such as steel and appliances, are sourced from China. Trump put an additional 10% tariff on goods from China on Saturday. New duties on imports from China, Canada and Mexico could raise construction material costs by $3 billion to $4 billion if they all take effect, affecting builders' ability to complete projects, according to the NAHB. The tariffs are likely to hit smaller homebuilders with tighter margins harder, but big builders are not immune. "Even with a smaller portion of our lumber coming from Canada, and some materials from Mexico, we will all be affected -- which, in turn, can impact consumers and their ability to purchase a home in the short-term," said Sheryl Palmer, CEO of Arizona-based homebuilder Taylor Morrison. "In a time where some consumers are still struggling to overcome higher interest rates, my sincere hope is that these will be short-lived.". Builders are already contending with a labor shortage that is only getting worse after the Trump administration started mass deportations of undocumented immigrants. Roughly 30% of construction workers are estimated to be immigrants, and a significant share of those workers are undocumented, according to the National Immigration Forum, an immigration advocacy group. "You can run them all out of the country, but who's going to build houses?" said Bruce McNeilage, CEO of Nashville-based Kinloch Partners, a single-family rental home developer. While the bulk of the effect of tariffs is on new housing construction, the existing market could also feel the effects. If the costs of other consumer goods increase, all potential buyers will have less spare cash to save for a down payment. There was also an expectation that interest rates would fall this year, but if inflation heats up again due to the tariffs, rates could even rise. This layering of both economic realities and emotional perceptions of personal wealth could hit the all-important, upcoming 48 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000693 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0022457 spring market hard. Return to Table of Contents How the Trump administration's tariffs and deportations could affect the housing market (Bankrate.com) - full text Bankrate.com [2/3/2025 3:00 PM, Andrew Dehan, 10931K] Two big issues that President Trump campaigned on have the potential to create a massive impact on the housing market: tariffs and mass deportations. Many experts believe these two policies will lead to higher home prices, exacerbating today's alreadytough homebuying market. The conversation around these proposals is constantly shifting, so let's break down the possibilities of what tariffs and mass deportations could mean for home values and housing overall. How could tariffs affect the housing market? Trump has proposed many different tariff scenarios from his time as a candidate through until now, including a 10 percent universal tariff and varying tariffs on goods from specific countries. The scenarios are constantly changing, with new tariffs being imposed on Canada, Mexico and China -- and then being altered almost immediately (as was the case with 25 percent tariffs on Canada and Mexico being postponed). A tariff on Canada isn't a fee paid by the Canadian government, but rather, a tax paid by a company for bringing a Canadian product into the U.S. That additional cost is often passed on to the consumer. What exactly is a tariff? "Tariffs are taxes collected by the federal government on companies importing goods," says Mark Hamrick, senior economic analyst at Bankrate. That means a tariff on Canada isn't a fee paid by the Canadian government, but rather, a tax paid by a company for bringing a Canadian product into the United States. And how exactly does that affect housing? For starters, think of homebuilding. Much of the lumber used to build new homes in the U.S. comes from, you guessed it, Canada. So, if there's a 25 percent tariff on imported goods from Canada and an American homebuilding company wants to buy $200,000 of Canadian lumber, they'll need to pay an additional $50,000 to import that lumber. They can then choose to pass some -- or all -- of that additional cost on to the consumer, says Hamrick, causing home prices to jump. "Any tariffs implemented on construction materials, especially if they are difficult to substitute away from by importing from other countries, would likely have an inflationary effect, making building and renovating homes more expensive," says Chen Zhao, senior manager of economics at Redfin. The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) offered specifics in a February 1 statement: "More than 70 percent of the imports of two essential materials that homebuilders rely on -- softwood lumber and gypsum (used for drywall) -- come from Canada and Mexico, respectively," said NAHB chairman Carl Harris. "Tariffs on lumber and other building materials increase the cost of construction and discourage new development, and consumers end up paying for the tariffs in the form of higher home 49 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000693 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0022458 prices.". Tariffs on building materials increase the cost of construction, and consumers end up paying in the form of higher home prices. Another portion of the tariff game to consider is the potential response from other countries. For instance, if the U.S. levies a tariff on goods imported from Mexico, Mexico could do the same to goods imported from the United States -- and in fact has already vowed to do so -- further complicating an already uncertain situation. Along with higher new-construction home prices and renovation costs, tariffs could constrain affordability even more by resulting in higher mortgage rates. "As [tariffs] lead to higher prices and higher inflation, that could affect both short-term interest rates. like those set by the Federal Reserve, and long-term rates, which are related to mortgage rates," says Hamrick. How could deportations affect the housing market? Along with tariffs, the issue of mass deportation could have an outsize impact on housing. But when and how remain uncertain. "While immigration reform certainly seems like a high priority for President Trump, we still don't know what this will look like," says Zhao. "He did take multiple actions on day one to slow migration across the U.S. border, but more extreme deportation scenarios haven't been implemented yet.". If Trump's administration implements the level of mass deportations he campaigned on, it is likely to have a very damaging effect on the housing market -- not to mention the economy as a whole. "Any restrictions that slow migration or deport immigrants is likely to result in higher construction costs, since immigrants make up roughly 30 percent of the construction labor force," Zhao says. "This would in turn further strain housing supply and push up prices.". The NAHB projects that America will need about 2.2 million new skilled construction workers in the next three years to overcome the current housing deficit. "Deportations could negatively affect the supply of labor, including for the construction industry," says Hamrick. After all, "immigrants also work, consume and pay taxes, contributing to economic growth. If they are lessened or no longer present in the U.S., that diminishes economic activity.". What could the government do to offset rising prices? We've seen how these policies could negatively impact the housing market, causing prices to rise. But is there anything the federal government could do to try to mitigate these rising home prices? According to Hamrick, one way the government could address supply issues and high housing costs is to invest in building and renovating affordable housing. Another way would be to provide tax incentives and subsidies to homebuyers. "The administration could provide targeted subsidies or tax credits for first-time homebuyers, as well as low-income families, aiming to make housing more affordable," says Hamrick. "Some paths could include tax breaks for home purchases and down payment assistance.". Of note: Providing incentives to purchase homes could result in even higher demand, straining an already low supply of housing. That's where another aspect of the administration's policies could have an impact: deregulation. 50 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000693 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0022459 On day one of his presidency, Trump signed an executive order to lower housing costs, citing regulatory costs as a prime factor. "President Trump understands that America is facing a housing affordability crisis, and the only way out of this crisis is to remove barriers like unnecessary and costly regulations that are raising housing costs and preventing builders from building more attainable, affordable housing," the NAHB's Harris said in a statement. However, some of the regulations that could be dismantled include those by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which could have a much larger economic and public-health impact. In the end, while much ink has been spilled on what could happen due to the new administration's policies, what actually will happen is still fluid. "Questions involving tariffs and deportations and their specific impacts are difficult to answer because we know very little about the specifics," says Hamrick. "In other words, we don't know exactly how this is going to work out.". There are a few smart moves homebuyers can make regardless of the political or economic climate, even when prices are high and the future is uncertain. If you are looking to buy a home despite the times, here are a few basic tips to follow: Shop around for the best rate: Different mortgage lenders can offer very different rates, and comparison shopping to make sure you get the best deal you can is crucial. A lower rate can save you thousands over the course of your loan. Check your credit score: The higher your credit score, the lower the rate you're likely to be eligible for. If yours is on the low side, consider taking some time to pay down your bills and build up your score before you begin your house hunt. Rethink your desired location: Real estate is a very local game, and housing prices can vary widely from one town to the next, or even one neighborhood to the next. Consider expanding your geographic boundaries a bit to see if you can get a better deal just outside your ideal location, rather than right in the heart of it. Consider a condo: Single-family homes - freestanding houses on their own lots of land -- typically cost more than a condo or townhome. Often quite a bit more: According to data from Redfin, the median price of a single-family home in December 2024 was $443,370, while for a townhouse it was just $377,611, and condos and co-ops were even lower at $366,100. This option gets you on the homeownership ladder for much less money, and you're still building equity just as you would with a freestanding house. Return to Table of Contents Why Americans are moving in with strangers twice their age (VOX) - full text vox [2/3/2025 6:00 AM, Rachel Cohen, 8878K] Denise Poirier was facing a pivotal moment. After teaching in Maine public schools for more than three decades, she was preparing to leave her career for what would likely be a lower-paying job, while also navigating other major changes: adjusting to life after the end of a 28-year marriage, downsizing from a house to a condo, and her third son moving out. 51 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000693 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0022460 One afternoon, as Poirier listened to local news, she learned about Nesterly, an online platform matching older homeowners with younger renters seeking affordable housing. The company had just launched a statewide partnership and pitched a simple concept: In exchange for below-market rent, some tenants could help with light chores around the house. "I'm a natural worrier about money; I just am that type of person," Poirier told Vox. "With my youngest son moving out, I thought, `Hm, I have a little extra room.' I've always liked young people -- I taught high school and underresourced youth -- and I thought maybe this could be a good way to supplement my income." Soon, she matched with Joseph Anzalone, a 20-year-old student at Southern Maine Community College who also juggled a full-time job at the Hyatt hotel in Portland. Poirier wasn't looking for help with mowing or shoveling, just someone to keep their space clean and handle their own dishes. Anzalone was drawn to the idea of a quieter, off-campus space that, at $850 a month, cost hundreds less than a typical apartment in the area. After signing a Nesterly agreement, which is like a rental lease but also includes expectations around shared spaces, quiet hours, guests, chores, and smoking, he moved in last August. "We got pretty close," Anzalone told Vox. "We had fun watching the presidential debate, played debate bingo, and since my family lives in Florida, she invited me to Thanksgiving with hers." Poirier and Anzalone's arrangement highlights a trend emerging across the country, one that harnesses changing demographics and an acute housing shortage. When Noelle Marcus, who would go on to found Nesterly, was studying urban planning at MIT, one statistic caught her attention: 54 million spare bedrooms sat empty each night in American homes. "And that's using a very conservative methodology, only counting occupied housing units," said Marcus. "That's a lot of real estate." According to ApartmentList, about 60 percent of homes in the US now have at least one spare bedroom. The opportunity is particularly notable among "empty nest households" -- Zillow reports roughly 21 million such homes where older residents living with no children have at least two extra bedrooms. And with baby boomers retiring and birth rates declining, census data projects that by 2030, adults over 65 will outnumber children under 18 for the first time in US history. With a nationwide housing shortage and developers having largely abandoned building new entry-level homes, the idea of "unlocking" millions of unused bedrooms -- through intergenerational home-sharing -- is gaining traction. Between 2017 and 2022, the number of families sharing living spaces with non-relatives increased by more than 500,000, suggesting growing acceptance of the practice. But the benefits can extend beyond just aiding young renters or seniors on fixed incomes: Advocates see intergenerational living as a powerful tool against social isolation. Studies examining the outcomes of such households are limited, but existing research finds that seniors often report feeling more connected and in better health than those living alone. For younger residents, particularly students from disadvantaged backgrounds, research suggests that their academic performance improves when living 52 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000693 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0022461 in mixed-age communities. "I've seen situations where an 18-year-old kid is good friends with the 73-year-old retired Marine Corps sergeant, and you never would have predicted that but they've lived together for five to six years," said Atticus LeBlanc, the CEO of Padsplit, another company founded to facilitate home-sharing arrangements. Many home-sharing programs now actively encourage these cross-generational connections. "It's really a win-win for everyone," said Marci Alboher, a leader with CoGenerate, a nonprofit focused on bridging age differences. "It's not just one generation showing up to serve and rescue another." While multigenerational living among relatives has long offered a way for families to share resources and manage caregiving, intentional home-sharing between unrelated people traces its modern American roots to Philadelphia in the early 1970s. That's when Maggie Kuhn, forced to retire at age 65 from a job she loved at the Presbyterian Church, founded the Gray Panthers. The organization advocated for Social Security, Medicare, and against workplace age discrimination, and grew into a movement with 100,000 members across 30 states within its first decade. As part of this work, Kuhn opened her Philadelphia home to "panther cubs" (younger activists), an experience that led her to establish the National Shared Housing Resource Center in 1980. That organization would go on to help establish hundreds of homesharing programs across the US, fielding thousands of inquiries annually by the late 1980s. Kuhn viewed home-sharing as both a form of affordable housing and a way to combat social isolation. Kuhn's ideas about intergenerational housing have found new urgency in West Philadelphia. The city's historically Black neighborhood of Mantua is seeing more longtime residents pushed out as Drexel University expands nearby. Over the past decade, the area's white population has increased by 73 percent, while rents have risen by 44 percent. Most concerning, there's been a startling 454 percent increase in the number of households that spend more than half their incomes on rent. In response, leaders, through the Mantua Civic Association, are partnering with Drexel to match students with older residents in the area. Again, the goal is twofold: helping longtime residents maintain or achieve homeownership while providing more affordable rental options for students. This vision gained traction in 2021 when leaders received state and philanthropic funding to help existing Mantua residents make repairs on their duplexes so homeowners could start home-sharing. Now, leaders are partnering with a local developer to build a $60 million mixed-use project that will include 18 duplexes and triplexes specifically meant for intergenerational home-sharing. Older Mantua residents will buy the properties, and rent out some units to help cover their mortgages. These home-sharing programs will recruit renters from Drexel's longstanding community-based writing workshop, a free arts program for students and local Philadelphians. Leaders plan to incorporate journaling and storytelling sessions into their 53 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000693 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0022462 home-sharing model -- called Second Story Collective -- and already have their sights on expanding to university-adjacent areas beyond Philadelphia. In 2022, they received a $1 million National Science Foundation grant to explore replicating this model nationwide. "Higher education is in crisis, and students and faculty are craving a new way of being more impactful," said Rachel Wenrick, executive director for arts and civic innovation at Drexel's community partnerships office. "This offers that, while bringing university resources to bear on solutions the neighborhood itself has identified." While such institutional partnerships show promise, sustaining intergenerational housing can be difficult. The model pioneered by Kuhn often struggled with sustainability and hundreds of home shares ultimately shut down after just a few years. Finding reliable renters that homeowners trusted, handling legal and administrative tasks, and collecting payments proved overwhelming. "The Gray Panthers had popularized intergenerational home-sharing with these same values of helping people age in place and creating more affordable housing options," said Marcus of Nesterly. "But they were very labor intensive and paper-driven." Today, automated background checks and payments, secure messaging, and video call portals are supposed to modernize the process and make it more convenient than it was in the '80s and '90s. Yet technology itself can present new barriers, particularly for seniors who may struggle with both awareness of and access to online platforms. Savenia Falquist sees these challenges firsthand. As executive director of HomeShare Oregon -- founded in 2021 to address the state's housing crisis - she's realized that digital solutions aren't enough. "What I feel and where we're going is we need to build capacity across the state to have coordinators in regions that go work directly with folks," she told Vox. "They need help putting photos on their pages, and support to match those folks with renters." The barriers extend beyond technology. Alfa Hernandez, who directs a home-share program through the Homeless Intervention Services of Orange County, California, points to deeper concerns about safety. "Seniors like the idea of companionship, but even though we're there to facilitate and do monthly check-ins and screenings, they're more prone to identity theft and falling for scams, so I think that's why there's more fear to participate," she told Vox. Many still view sharing their private living space with strangers as a last resort. Just as ride-sharing in Uber or Lyft had to overcome being seen as weird or risky before becoming mainstream, home-sharing faces similar cultural barriers. Local regulation compounds these challenges - some communities still have outdated laws that enforce traditional nuclear family living arrangements. Their zoning codes define "family" as those related by blood, marriage, or adoption, with occasional exceptions for "domestic servants." These restrictive rules can be wielded against not just home-sharing programs, but also larger, often immigrant, intergenerational families living together. "The laws are enforced when people want them to be," said LeBlanc of Padsplit. "If you have a neighbor who doesn't want affordable housing in their neighborhood ... then you 54 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000693 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0022463 absolutely see an issue with it." Despite these barriers, several states have begun updating their housing policies. Over the past few years, Colorado, Iowa, Oregon, and Washington have all passed laws banning or restricting family-based occupancy limits. At the federal level, the Department of Housing and Urban Development took a step in 2021 by allowing housing vouchers to be used for shared housing arrangements. The conversation is expanding beyond just policy changes. Last spring, leaders in housing, finance, and social services convened for a Harvard University symposium on the future of intergenerational housing. Their October report emphasized design choices that could foster connection -- even spaces as mundane as lobbies and stairwells are being reconsidered. In one New York City housing complex, the laundry room was placed next to the rooftop garden so that parents and grandparents could play with children, practice tai chi, or tend to gardening projects while washing their clothes. Some jurisdictions are learning from parallel efforts. After California eased restrictions on accessory dwelling units in 2016, developers built over 80,000 new housing units over the next six years, providing a model that states like Massachusetts, Oregon, and Vermont have since followed. Marcus, of Nesterly, sees potential for similar momentum in home-sharing if more local governments create supportive policies. She points to the UK's Rent a Room Scheme, where homeowners can earn tax-free rental income by renting rooms in their primary residence. In Tampa, Florida, 61-year-old Quantia Hollowell shares a six-bedroom Padsplit home with five people. Though initially drawn to the more affordable rent, she's formed an unexpected bond with Bennie, a housemate two decades her junior. Her "adopted son" drives her to medical appointments and helps with errands. "Bennie, he loves me and I love him," she said. "Every day we hug each other." What started as a practical solution became something neither of them expected. Return to Table of Contents 2025 Office-to-Apartment Conversions Hit New Record Highs (The Mortgage Point) - full text The Mortgage Point [2/3/2025 2:22 PM, Demetria C. Lester, 2K] The number of office-to-apartment (O-to-A) conversions is on the rise, and by 2025, there will be about 71,000 units planned, breaking new records. This increase coincides with fierce competition among tenants and a widespread lack of rental flats. A new RentCafe report revealed the share of future projects, anticipated growth, and which metros are set to lead in 0 -to-A conversions. This movement goes beyond simply building new homes; it also represents a move toward sustainable, neighborhoodcentered urban areas that meet the changing needs and preferences of contemporary American cities. Therefore, turning offices into homes is a sensible solution to the expanding housing need as remote work continues to change the nature of the workplace and a sizable portion of office space in the U.S. is still vacant. There is a significant amount of carryover of unfinished projects from year to year, even 55 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000693 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0022464 while the number of office-to-apartments conversions is increasing, suggesting greater interest in this kind of retrofitting. This implies that other elements such as the viability of conversion, building expenses, and regional incentives are involved. Only 3,709 of the 55,339 office-to-apartments that were in some stage of development in January of last year were finished by December, meaning that 51,630 units remained unfinished until 2025. At the beginning of 2025, this, along with 19,021 additional proposed conversions, indicates a noteworthy 28% increase in the pipeline year-over-year. Modern Buildings Being Reused, Conversions Rise Across U.S. Markets. The most common adaptive reuse project type is notably creative office-to-apartment conversions, which make up about 42% of the 168,500 upcoming conversion projects. This is a significant increase from the previous year, when this category accounted for 38% of all conversions. This follows stagnating rents, falling commercial property values, and increasing vacancy rates in office buildings nationwide. All of this increases the financial viability of converting workplaces into distinctive living areas. It's interesting to note that this trend has grown significantly in recent years. The amount of planned office-to-apartment conversions, for example, was 23,100 units in 2022 and nearly doubled to 45,200 units in 2023. The pipeline then reached 55,300 future apartments in 2024, marking the continuation of the growth. As of 2025, the number of offices that need to be transformed has reached an all-time high of 70,700. This notable growth demonstrates how America's cities are changing due to changes in work patterns and living preferences. Therefore, it is evident that adaptive reuse is playing a significant role in changing urban landscapes as office spaces are redesigned to satisfy the demand for housing. The rise in adaptive reuse projects incorporating newer structures built during the 1990s and 2010s suggests a significant change. Even while just 1.27% of finished projects made use of these more recent structures, the percentage rises to 7.03% for projects in the future. This rise indicates that people are becoming more interested in reusing contemporary buildings (perhaps because they are easier to modify for new purposes and fulfill modern standards). According to CommercialEdge's Conversion Feasibility Index (CFI), over 1.2 billion square feet of office space nationwide--or 14.8% of the whole office inventory--are deemed eligible for conversion. Which Metro Has the Largest O-to-A Conversion Pipeline? It seems the "Big Apple" seems to stay on some sort of list when it comes to the housing market, doesn't it? With 8,310 office buildings scheduled to be converted to residences, the New York metro area is leading the way. Washington, D.C., which led last year, now comes in second with 6,533 more apartments to be transformed. Los Angeles comes in third with 4,388 anticipated conversions, an astounding 80% rise over the previous year. Not to be outdone, major cities like Atlanta, Dallas, and Chicago are now adopting office-toapartment conversions, following the national trend. Many communities are simplifying the conversion procedure and providing financial incentives to encourage conversion projects even more. For example, in New York City, 56 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000693 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0022465 tax exemptions of up to 90% are available for renovated buildings that contain at least 25% affordable flats. In a similar vein, the Housing in Downtown initiative in Washington, D.C., offers 20-year tax breaks for conversions from commercial to residential space. Additionally, the approval process is being intentionally made simpler by cities like San Francisco and Minneapolis. While San Francisco has updated construction rules, altered the Planning Code, and established a special financing area to enable these conversions, Minneapolis just eliminated the need for public hearings. Future Office-to-Apartments by Metro Area: Future office-to-apartment conversions as of 2025: 8,310 units. Share of office-to-apartment conversions as of 2025: 53%. Office space suitable for residential conversion: 305.4 million square feet. With 8,310 of these cutting-edge units presently under construction, the New York metro area tops the country in office-to-apartment conversions, up 59% over the previous year. In particular, NYC has the largest office market in North America, with around 730 million square feet of space. Additionally, almost 80 percent of the Big Apple's office space is located in Manhattan alone. Additionally, there is room for more office-to-apartment conversions--more than 305.4 million square feet, or nearly 46% of the metro's total office inventory--out of the available office space in the area. One notable project is the renovation of Pfizer's former global headquarters at 219 E 42nd St., which is anticipated to result in 536 rental units. Future office-to-apartment conversions as of 2025: 6,533 units. Share of office-to-apartment conversions as of 2025: 62%. Office space suitable for residential conversion: 61.3 million square feet. After dropping out of the top slot since last year, Washington, D.C., now ranks second in terms of office-to-apartment conversions. Although only 14% of the metro's 61.3 million square feet of office space inventory consists of eligible conversion candidates, its 2025 pipeline includes 6,533 future flats, representing a 12% year-over-year growth. The Universal Buildings project, located at 1825-1875 Connecticut Ave. NW, is a significant conversion in the neighborhood. The land, which is more than one million square feet in size, will be developed into The Geneva, a residential complex with at least 69 affordable apartments among its 525 new units. Future office-to-apartment conversions as of 2025: 4,388 units. Share of office-to-apartment conversions as of 2025: 49%. Office space suitable for residential conversion: 83 million square feet. Thousands of homes have been destroyed by wildfires in the Los Angeles area, making the already acute housing scarcity in the metro area worse. However, with over 4,400 planned units--or 49% of all anticipated adaptive reuse projects--innovative office-toapartment conversions are probably going to help meet some of this growing demand. Furthermore, it is determined that over 83 million square feet of office space, or 25% of 57 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000693 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0022466 the metro's total office inventory, should be renovated. The ARCO Tower makeover, which will convert the 33-story office skyscraper at 1055 Seventh St. into brand-new apartments, is one noteworthy project that will achieve this goal. Metros With More Than 100% YoY Growth in O-to-A Conversions: With each metro's pipeline more than doubling since 2024, four of the top 20 metros had impressive year-over-year growth in office-to-apartment conversions. More specifically, with 1,787 prospective conversions, Charlotte, NC, doubled, demonstrating its dedication to adaptive reuse. Omaha, NE, saw a 141% increase as well, with an anticipated 1,294 of these ambitious conversion projects. The 1,418 prospective conversions in Jacksonville, FL, further south, signify an astounding 150% increase. At the same time, Boston experienced a massive 160% pipeline increase, the largest among the top 20. At that time, there were 1,167 planned conversion projects. These sharp rises demonstrate how office-to-apartment conversions are becoming more and more common as each metro aims to turn vacant premises into much needed housing. At the regional level, with over 22,000 projects, the South leads the office-to-apartment conversion trend. In particular, the top three cities for upcoming apartment construction are Atlanta, Dallas, and Washington, D.C. With over 18,200 expected conversions, the Northeast comes in second. Of course, with 8,310 potential apartments, New York is the clear winner here. Pittsburgh comes in second with 1,250, and Bridgeport, CT, with 1,473. The Midwest comes in second with 18,038 upcoming renovation projects. With 3,606 planned residential units, Chicago leads the field here, followed by Minneapolis (1,873) and Cincinnati (1,753). Lastly, with 12,291 units to be converted, the West lags behind. With 4,388 units, Los Angeles leads the region, followed by Phoenix (1,634) and Denver (1,398 units). Return to Table of Contents [ME] 4 big housing ideas from Maine lawmakers (Bangor Daily News, ME) - full text Bangor Daily News [2/3/2025 1:00 AM, Zara Norman, 756K, ME] Maine legislators have submitted a score of bills aimed at alleviating the state's acute housing shortage. Many of those bills correspond to recommendations issued by a new state report that came out last week and outlined some of the barriers to Maine doubling its housing production and meeting lofty state goals. Here are four of those big ideas you can expect to see debated in Augusta this session. One of the big barriers to housing development outlined in that new state report was zoning, and municipalities' highly restrictive development approval processes that "incentivize higher cost homes" and limit growth. Republicans have submitted bills that would streamline those processes and cut fees for developers. One would exempt towns with a population of less than 10,000 people from having to abide by Maine's uniform building and energy code, which the sponsor, Rep. Jack Ducharme, R-Madison, said is overly stringent for small, rural towns who share code enforcement officers. 58 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000693 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0022467 "We all want to be energy efficient just due to the fact that energy is so expensive. But some of the things written into this code create a lot of difficulties for people building houses, and whenever you create difficulties for people building houses, you increase costs," Ducharme said. Two other Republicans have also submitted bills that would amend how towns approach zoning by updating setback variances and limiting impact fees charged for developments. In order to build at least 76,000 homes by 2030 while facing a budget shortfall, state legislators are on the hunt for a permanent source of funding for both affordable housing projects and homeless shelters. There is at least one bond proposal aimed at housing, and Rep. Traci Gere, D-Kennebunkport, has submitted bills that would create sources of ongoing funding to support projects "that build and preserve affordable and attainable housing," she wrote in an email. One bill is taking an inventive approach. Rep. Lynn Copeland, D-Saco, would impose a fee on booking hotels, short-term rentals or RV camping reservations in Maine in order to support the state's shelters. But Gov. Janet Mills and legislative Republicans have generally stood against these kinds of tax increases. There is lots of data around home prices and values, especially given the proliferation of the online real estate sites Zillow and Redfin. But local housing data is often spotty. For example, the federal U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development runs a townby-town database of building permits, but the information is often incomplete and some cities don't provide it. Gere, who co-chairs of the housing committee, is submitting a bill that would require municipalities to regularly report building permit data to the state. The hope is that will help policymakers better understand where to focus efforts to ramp up housing production, she said. Another bill seeks to create a registry of mobile home parks in Maine. Though a list of licenses of manufactured housing dealers is kept online by Maine's manufactured housing board, it's hard to sort through and difficult to differentiate between park owners and home dealers. The measure from Sen. Cameron Reny, D-Bristol, would produce a full list of parks in Maine, opening up the potential to track other metrics across parks like rents and owners. One takeaway from last week's state report was that Maine is stifling a homemade solution to its housing crisis: ready-made manufactured homes, which used to be big business in Oxford County before the 2008 recession. Lawmakers have submitted bills that would invest in manufactured housing and seek to preserve manufactured home communities. Two legislators have submitted bills that would implement rent stabilization measures in Maine's mobile home communities, similar to a referendum passed in Old Orchard Beach last November. Bills from both freshman legislator Rep. Cassie Julia, DWaterville, and Rep. Cheryl Golek, D-Harpswell, would introduce an annual cap on how 59 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000693 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0022468 much a park owner can increase rent, with an option to appeal to the municipality if one is needed beyond that sum. The bills have been motivated by fears around out-of-state corporate buyers purchasing Maine mobile home parks and increasing lot rents, placing vulnerable tenants at risk of eviction. Rep. Golek said her bill would exempt resident-owned communities from the rent hikes. "I'm not against a corporation making an offer, but I think that when these predatory practices come into play, the government should step in and protect the people at that point," Golek said. Return to Table of Contents [VT] This State Is Building `Lego Block' Homes in 96 Hours To Help With Housing Gap (Realtor.com) - full text Realtor.com [2/3/2025 5:01 PM, Kiri Blakeley, 45860K] A New England state is hoping to help the housing crisis with what it's calling "Lego block" homes and which can be built in four days. Normally, houses are built on-site with a large crew of workers who put together everything from the foundation to the walls to the plumbing to the finishes. In Vermont, with its harsh winters, this can take an average of nine to 13 months. Huntington Homes builds houses assembly-line style in a sprawling 100,000-square-foot factory in East Montpelier, VT. These so-called Lego block modules are built, shipped on a truck to the site, and then assembled by crane on a plot of land. "We can build a whole house in 12 eight-hour shifts-so, 96 hours," co-owner Jason Webster told VT Digger. How factory-built homes can help the housing crunch The company builds approximately 70 homes a year in its shop. In 2023, only 2,000 homes total were built in the Green Mountain state, according to data recently compiled by the Department of Housing and Community Development. This is only about a quarter of what Vermont officials say is needed to keep prices affordable for the average resident. One solution is off-site, mass-produced homes, which include modular, manufactured, tiny, 3D-printed, and Huntington's Lego block units. They are costeffective and can be built in a few days rather than months. All indoor construction means goodbye to delays caused by weather events, as well as difficulties finding skilled on-site construction labor, of which there is a nationwide shortage. Why aren't there more mass-produced homes? While factory-built homes are common in places like Quebec and Europe, buyers in the U.S. tend to want the custom-built "dream" house. Mass-produced homes have only a few floor plans to choose from and don't have the massive amount of choices that Americans are accustomed to. Huntington Homes offers a compromise to the customer stuck on uniqueness. While its cheaper pre-packaged TruHomes have only four floor plans to choose from, its Stock Homes have 75. It also offers Custom Homes, which cost 60 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000693 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0022469 more. A buyer can upgrade select finishes, but everything else with a TruHome is pre-selected for maximum savings in cost and time. The construction offers a bit of customization, however. You can choose to have the company oversee full assembly of the module on your site or have your own contractor pour the foundation and prepare the site. The company offers a set crew to assemble the modules. The second option is less expensive. The cheapest home, the Nullhegan, is $188 per square foot, almost half of the median home price in Montpelier, where the company is based. This plan comes with two bedrooms and a bathroom in 1,288 square feet of living space. The company says its homes are best suited for those with less of a need for space, such as buyers who are downsizing or want a starter home. Of course, the cheap price doesn't include the land the home needs to sit on. Huntington Homes houses are massproduced, but you wouldn't know it from looking at them. These are not your typical mobile homes. The homes' New England farmhouse aesthetic is right on trend. In fact, half of the homes are shipped to clients in places like Cape Cod and Nantucket, MA, upscale markets known for timeless, tasteful architectural styles. The interior is sure to please any HGTV fan, with wood floors, ceiling planks, and details such as farmhouse cabinets and subway tile backsplash. The houses are also made to be highly energy efficient, low VOC, and completely electric with no fossil fuel mechanical equipment. They have a high amount of recycled content with little plastic or vinyl, and solar panels can be added if you want to go off-grid. "A factory-built house looks and feels indistinguishable from stick-built homes," says Bruce Ailion of Re/Max Town and Country to Realtor.com. "If I were a seller, I would feel no need to disclose a home was factory-built versus stick-built. The buyer would likely not be able to tell the difference.". How Vermont is hoping mass-produced homes can solve its housing crisis With traditional homebuilding, "you might be able to build two units, four units, 10 units, even 20 units, right on a particular site," Jeff Lubell, a housing researcher, told VT Digger. "But in a factory, you can build a hundred units a year. You can build 200 units a year.". Developers are getting in on the game. Last year, local developer Summit Properties bought 45 duplexes and townhomes from Huntington Homes, which will be sold as part of a new mixed-income housing development in Middlebury, VT. Summit's chief operating officer Zeke Davisson told the outlet this would save up to 10% on costs, which will be passed along to the buyer. Co-owner Webster said he hopes to work more with Vermont developers in the future. While the promise of a home assembly line future sounds like the solution to the lack of affordable housing, there is a downside. This kind of factory has an extremely difficult time weathering a housing downturn, such as the one that blew apart the industry in 2008. Even Huntington Homes is still making only half the houses it did in 2007, before the housing bust. This fear makes states leery about investing in more homebuilding factories. There is also the question of resale. There is no evidence that assembly-line homes suffer a slower appreciation in value, but some buyers may prefer homes built the 61 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000693 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0022470 old-fashioned way. "From my experiences, there is a bit of a stigma attached to a factory-built home versus something built from the ground up," says Cara Ameer, an agent licensed in California and Florida. But it depends on the area, she says. "If there is a lot of that type of inventory, then it may not have as negative of a perception versus if there are plenty of traditionally built single-family homes.". However, Martin Orefice, CEO of Rent To Own Labs, has a different take: "Once manufactured homes hit the resale market, they're usually just thought of as homes, especially if they have essential features like a proper foundation, good insulation, and standard utilities," he says. He adds that manufactured homes are "just the right size to fit the chronically underserved starter home segment of the market, so they tend to go fast and command good prices.". For now, with states like Vermont desperate for more housing, the Lego block home makes perfect sense. Return to Table of Contents [OH] Overwhelming' majority of Central Ohioans favor zoning changes to build more housing, study shows (Columbus Business First, OH) - full text Columbus Business First [2/3/2025 6:31 AM, Bonnie Meibers, 5054K, OH] A majority of Central Ohioans support building more kinds of housing and the zoning changes that would be necessary to do so. "It was overwhelming in every sense," said Carlie Boos, executive director of the Affordable Housing Alliance of Central Ohio. "There was overwhelming need demonstrated in the survey and overwhelming support for policy solutions just across the board. Overwhelming was the only word that came to mind when we started looking at it." The new study from the Affordable Housing Alliance of Central Ohio was released Monday, fittingly dubbed "Overwhelming." The study found that a majority of respondents are personally affected by Central Ohio's housing shortage, or they know someone who is; a majority of Central Ohioans are in support of building more "missing middle" housing; and there is broad support for zoning changes to help bring more housing online. The alliance conducted the survey in partnership with Measurement Resources in the fall of 2024. Respondents were from dozens of Central Ohio communities. A majority of Central Ohioans support zoning reforms to expand housing choice and reduce costs, the survey found. "I think the overwhelming support for housing reforms is the biggest take away," Boos said. "I think that weight of public enthusiasm is really impossible to ignore." From passing zoning laws that would allow office conversion to housing or allow more housing near transit, to allowing nonprofits or churches to more easily build housing on land they own, or allowing homes to be built closer together, most respondents approved of such zoning changes. Policies such as converting office buildings or transit-centered development had the support of about 85% of respondents. Boos said she was surprised to see that, when compared to a similar nationwide survey, Central Ohioans were more pro-housing than the rest of the country in almost every 62 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000693 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0022471 category. Opposition to several zoning changes in the survey was mostly in the single digits. "There was an absolute lack of NIMBY," Boos said. "What this report does really well is define the silent majority, which is very obviously pro-housing." The study also found that 78% of respondents said they would support "missing middle" housing on all kinds of residential lots. For the purposes of the survey, missing middle housing was classified as the concept of increasing the availability and affordability of homes through allowing more duplexes, triplexes or townhomes that are compatible with a neighborhood. It is common in Columbus neighborhoods such as Victorian Village, Clintonville and German Village. "People are looking for neighborhoods that are more diverse, that have more housing styles, that have more options," Boos said. "It's that walkability. People want to be able to hit the coffee shop and be able to get flowers on the way to see a friend at a restaurant. And they want to do all of it without jumping in the car." Housing variety plays a role in housing choice. "One of the themes that we are understanding ... is that people want more control and more choice over the kinds of housing that they have access to and the budget that they have to spend on their housing," Boos said. Boos said the study's goal was to provide an understanding of how people want to address the region's housing crisis. She said Central Ohio has done a lot of research defining its housing shortage. "This is a way to continue the conversation," she said. And while understanding what people see as viable solutions to the crisis is important, Boos said she knows there is an avenue for these things to become policy someday. "The policies that were studied in this had such overwhelming support," she said. "It will be influential for how we navigate forward as a community. Things like accessory dwelling units, duplexes and missing middle housing, the ability to do more mixed-use housing inside of commercial zones, ... those are the questions of today that will inform the policies of tomorrow." Return to Table of Contents [UT] Local company tackles Utah's skyrocketing housing market with tiny homes (KUTV.com, UT) - full text KUTV.com [2/4/2025 12:38 AM, Jamie McGriff, 807K, UT] VIDEO. For many people, securing an affordable home in today's housing market is tough. Potential homebuyers are often being priced out. Elliot Taylor is already feeling that pain as a recent college graduate who landed a job as an engineer for Washington County. "If I had to plug my income into [an affordability] calculator) it would basically cut me out of about 90% of homes that are being built here or are currently built," Taylor said. For the time being, he's living with his parents. "I would like to have a place of my own and not spend that money on rent and actually build some equity," Taylor said. The financial challenges tied to real estate are being felt especially hard in southern Utah. It's impacting businesses in some form or another, including those people who may not think of it outside of grocery stores and fast-food restaurants. RAM Aviation, 63 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000693 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0022472 Space and Defense is feeling the pains of the real estate market in St. George. Recruiting new employees to Utah is proving to be difficult even with competitive offers. The housing market is outpacing RAM's compensation and is discouraging potential employees from moving to Utah. It is also impacting employees that are here, George Robinson, CEO of RAM, said. "We have employees that commute from Nevada, Cedar City, Apple Valley, and Enterprise," Robinson said. "So some of these employees have commutes of over an hour.". Robinson said the challenges of affordable housing and quality of life for employees forced the company to weigh its potential options of moving operations out of St. George. "There's no supply shortage, there's plenty supply of land, but when you can charge a million dollars for an acre of dirt here in southern Utah, which is what the going rate is for property for housing, it's so less expensive in other areas of the country," Robinson said. "It's obviously a concern,.". While RAM doesn't want to leave St. George, Robinson said the high cost of living is now bad enough to consider a move. Scott Messel, Community Development Director for Washington County, said while this topic is not going away, potential solutions are being discussed. "You know, the days of the first home being a detached suburban home on a 10-thousand square foot lot, it's just not there anymore," Messel said. To address this issue, Messel said the county has an ordinance permitting a tiny home as a stand-alone residence but only in certain areas. "It's the unincorporated portions of Washington County that are outside, kind of more of the rural areas," Messel said. Tech real estate company Zillow found Utah home prices have nearly doubled in value compared to 8 years ago. The average home now costs more than half a million dollars. In Washington County, a solution is on the horizon. BoxHouse has studied the market and come up with options. As a Utah-based real estate development company, the company found ways to create compact modern housing. Jeff Staples, President and COO of BoxHouse, said the general baseline for its homes starts under $100,000, with a price point of roughly $80,000. "And so the goal is to re-configure and re-invent how housing is produced," Staples said. There are multiple floorplans with various square footage options for potential buyers to discuss with the company. Some are as small as 380 square feet and offer amenities like a full-size washer and dryer and a full-size fridge. "People hear the square footage and think, 'Gosh! That doesn't offer a lot.' But every amenity you have in a traditional home, you have in these," Staples said. Staples explained that some of the major components of the home are outsourced and then assembled in the U.S. Once delivered to the customer, homes could go up on a site and be fully functional in one or two days. This kind of home could put the American dream within financial reach for people who would otherwise be priced out. However, the challenge of zoning is adding time to the process of people securing an affordable home. "We have thousands on our waitlist to buy these homes and that's not an exaggeration. The hard thing is, the municipalities that desperately want affordable housing, don't quite know how to classify us yet or what to do," Staples said. In Utah, some cities and counties do allow tiny homes, but only on land with a pre- 64 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000693 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0022473 existing residence. But in other states, Staples said the process to figure that out zoning moves a little faster. "I think that Utah is just a little far behind. They're not difficult to work with, just, catching up if you will. So, is it tricky? Absolutely! Do I think they're intentionally slowing progress? No, I don't," he said. There's also the challenge of getting the homes financed. Staples said that the banks are a bit behind as well. Some are reluctant to offer mortgages to people interested in buying a tiny home. Staples is hopeful banks will come around soon and work with customers as the demand for affordable housing grows across the country. Return to Table of Contents Homeownership More Than 170 New Homebuyer Assistance Programs Launched in 2024 (The Mortgage Point) - full text The Mortgage Point [2/3/2025 3:26 PM, Den Shewman, 2K] Homebuyer assistance programs increased by 172 (7%) in 2024, and the number of entities offering them increased by 75 year-over-year, according to the latest Homeownership Program Index (HPI) report from Down Payment Resource (DPR). That brings the total number of programs available to prospective buyers up to 2,466. "We are pleased to see state and local agencies adapting to the current and ongoing housing affordability crisis by adding new programs and expanding their criteria to allow for the purchase of multi-family and manufactured housing," said Rob Chrane, Founder and CEO of DPR. "We're also seeing more flexibility in how funds can be used--a down payment, closing costs or buying down their interest rate. In a market with few homes for sale and escalating prices, down payment assistance has become vital for many buyers in helping them to become homeowners and start building wealth through equity.". The number of U.S. homebuyer assistance programs increased by 22 over the past quarter: A 1% increase over the previous quarter, and a 7% year-over-year increase The largest share of program gains year-over-year was from grants: The most substantial year-over-year gains were seen in grant programs (50), combined assistance programs (49), and below-market-rate (BMR)/resale-restricted programs (21). Local housing finance agencies added the most programs in 2024: Local housing finance agencies introduced 72 programs, a 60% year-over-year increase. Non-profits added 50 programs, and municipalities added 46 programs during this period. Multi-family and manufactured housing programs continue to grow: Programs supporting multi-family purchases increased by 17% year-over-year, rising from 686 in Q4 2023 to 805 in Q4 2024. Similarly, programs for manufactured housing grew by 14% year-overyear, from 804 in Q4 2023 to 914 in Q4 2024. By the end of 2024, 196 programs offered incentives for special groups: This breaks down to 68 programs offering special funding for educators, 54 programs for protectors, 49 programs for military veterans, 47 programs for firefighters, 44 programs for healthcare workers, and 47 for Native Americans. 65 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000693 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0022474 Click here for a more detailed analysis of the Q4 2024 HPI findings, including infographics and examples of the programs described above, and click here for a complete list of homebuyer assistance programs by state. Return to Table of Contents [MA] Leo's Home prepares Greenfield house for sale to first-time homebuyer (Recorder.com, MA) - full text Recorder.com [2/3/2025 5:56 PM, Anthony Ca mmalleri, 65K, MA] Grove Street resident Wendy Robinson, 82, bought her two-story home for $116,000 five years ago. As she plans to downsize, she's opted into a new pilot program run by the housing nonprofit Leo's Home to make repairs on the house so it can be sold to a firsttime home buyer. The 64 Grove St. property, Leo's Home Executive Director Sam Shanky said, marks the nonprofit's first project. Leo's Home will oversee capital repairs on the property to bring it into compliance with the Federal Housing Administration and in return, Robinson agreed to allow the nonprofit to list the house for a reasonable, but not top-dollar, asking price. "Home ownership and wealth are really tied together and, philosophically, I don't think it's a good thing for the country, for the community, or the people who don't have much wealth," Robinson said. "This is a win-win. I get help fixing up my house, financially, but also having somebody else to help, and in return you take a little less on the sale.". Touring the home, Shanky pointed out that the house has knob-and-tube wiring with direct insulation -- an electrical system that Shanky said is antiquated and can be a fire hazard. He noted that there was some lead wiring in the basement, and the basement floor had a large hole in it, alongside a number of channels for drainage. Shanky said Leo's Home plans to begin work on the home within the next few weeks, noting that the organization has access to electricians and repair personnel willing to complete improvements on the home for tens of thousands of dollars below market value. He clarified that Leo's Home will not work to acquire any property, but will instead act as a medium to ensure the house is made available to a first-time home buyer. "What I really would like to create is a pipeline for accessibility for home ownership, and I'm hoping that there are other people like Wendy who are in positions similar to this one," Shanky said. "There's certainly some percentage of folks who are in a position like this, where they're in a house that they know needs more work than they can really put into it, or is a little bit bigger than it needs to be for someone like Wendy [Robinson], who's living by herself.". Admitting that Leo's Home has not been in existence long enough to boast or defend any kind of record, Shanky said he hopes to expand the program in the future, opening it to a wider variety of homeowners and income-qualified buyers. He said he'd like to implement a step-down purchasing system similar to Springfield's City of Homes initiative, in which homes can be sold for an incrementally larger sum each year after it is initially purchased. "We are absolutely going to be as this sort of rolls out in a more concrete way, in a more 66 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000693 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0022475 robust way," he said. "What I hope to create is some kind of ... a step-down purchasing -- some way to do it such that we're not working on houses that are immediately flipped. What they're doing in Springfield is called step-down purchasing. The first year, it's even and then every year, you can sell the house for an extra 3% more or something like that.". Return to Table of Contents [UT] Are HOAs headed for more state oversight? Should they be? (Deseret News, UT) - full text Deseret News [2/3/2025 4:41 PM, Amy Joi O'Donoghue, 4126K, UT] Homeowners associations, or HOAs, are growing as an affordable way to get into a housing unit without the hassle of outdoor upkeep. Along with the growing popularity, however, HOAs can present their own set of problems that may end up in lawsuits. Utah lacks an HOA ombudsman to help homeowners, but a legislative bill may change that. One Utah lawmaker wants to establish an ombudsman office to issue advisory opinions for homeowner association disagreements when a dispute arises between the association and its members, while another lawmaker seeks education requirements for HOA board members. Why the interest this legislative session? Some of the members' horror stories are the kind where you sit back, grab a bag of popcorn and find yourself either spitting it out or choking on it in disbelief at the drama you wouldn't expect from an expected idyllic living situation. Your lawn is mowed and snow is shoveled by someone else. There is a community common grounds for children to play and often a swimming pool to cool the heat of summer. HOAs are intended to erase the stress of residential repairs; a monthly fee helps tamper those costs. Some Utah residents, however, are finding the dream they signed up for has morphed into a nightmare. Robert Tee Spjute, a founding partner of Robertson Alger & Spjute, said he has HOAs as clients but also represents residents caught up in an endless onslaught of fees, assessments, collection agencies and litigation. "I would say that some associations, some that I represent, are actually fantastic at taking care of issues and the management company is fantastic," Spjute said. "Some that I can think are great, but oftentimes, especially when we get kind of these midsized or even smaller associations, oftentimes the association is paying a management company, right? There are a lot of different management companies and they're great and others are not so great.". Often, when a member gets in arrears (often due to a fine or fee for a purported broken rule) the HOA board ceases communications with the resident and bounces all communications to a management company, where the amount of money escalates. It then goes to a law firm, where communications can drag on and drag on for months -- with costs continuing to compile. In the case of Lon Galloway, his online portal to pay membership dues was cut off. His problems started with the HOA in 2016 when he received approval to rent his unit as 67 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000693 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0022476 an Airbnb. He said he was given the OK to proceed because using the unit in that manner was not disallowed. Two years later, he received notice that he needed to evict his tenant. Attached was a $50 fine. Galloway said he would pay it. He did not hear back, but evicted the tenant. About a month later, he received a fine for more than $2,000. "I feel like during that time I was just going nowhere. They just dug in their heels and just wouldn't respond. They wouldn't do anything, waiting for that exact moment where they can finally basically fine me for whatever they wanted at that point. And that's exactly what they did," Galloway said. "So they as soon as that 60-day mark hit, they put a lien on my property.". The money he owed began to accumulate, reaching $3,000 and eventually $13,000. He had to hire an attorney, because even though he was paying the monthly fee in full, he found out half of that was going to a collection company. He was making payments through an online portal, but that option was shut down for him because he was in arrears. "So I had a lien for about $1,800 but then less than a month later, I had about $6,000 negative in my account. And then I think a few weeks later then that, I received a letter from a collections law firm saying that they're on collections to demand it double again.". Galloway found an attorney and took it court in a case that is still pending. By then his bill was upward of $30,000. The case remains unresolved. Galloway and others say what is needed is an HOA property ombudsman to put a break on this runaway train. Rep. Neil Walter, R-St. George, is running a bill to establish such an office. HB217 and set limits on the amount of fees that can be assessed by a homeowners association. It also would establish and invoke the power of the office to issue an advisory opinion. Rep. Cheryl Acton is running HB262. The GOP representative from West Jordan wants to establish some minimum education requirements for board members for ethics and leadership, roles as a fiduciary, rule and creation of enforcement, as well conflict resolution and duty to community. Consider this from IHOA Property Management, especially as it relates to the state's goal of providing more affordable housing: There are 3,650 HOAs in Utah. 644,000 people in Utah live in HOA communities (about 18.8% of the population). The average Utah HOA has 176 residents living in 57 homes. For every HOA home in Utah, 3.9 homes are unaffiliated. HOA households in Utah average 3.08 residents, and the statewide average is 2.95; HOA households are 4.55% larger. The homeownership rate in Utah is 70.3%, down 0.42% since 2020. In addition according to the U.S. Census Bureau, 84% of new construction of single family homes sold in the United States in 2022 were in an HOA, with reporting from CNBC. Spjute, the attorney, argues that alternative dispute resolution has been built in as a component to other states that have an office of an HOA ombudsman to avert the financial burdens often inflicted on socially and economic disadvantaged people who end up in HOAs and in trouble. Nevada and some other states have that provision on the books. Such a measure may have helped St. George resident Rolland Brown, who found 68 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000693 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0022477 himself with leak after leak on the roof of his 30-year-old unit. He called the HOA board and eventually they sent a roofer out to fix the problem. Then, seven days later, the fixed roof sprung another leak. "I should be the poster child for what is going on here. In my case, you have these very large communities, some of them are $2-, $3-, $4-million real estate ventures, and you have individuals at the helm, meaning they're at the board level that have no clue what they're doing," Brown said. "That is scary, and not only that, they know that they have a war chest that they can use against you. And it is just absolutely unbelievable how these HOAs are a self-willed run riot, and they do whatever they want to do, and they know that individuals don't have the wherewithal or the financial capacity to stick up for themselves, and it's a nightmare.". Brown hired an independent contractor from Colorado to inspect his "new" roof. "We flew him out. He looked at the roof and said, I don't quite know how to tell you this. And I said, just tell me the truth. He said, `Roland, this roof has no less than 18 building code violations.- . The HOA continued to stand firm on the first repair, despite evidence that showed the fix would not hold up. "They're not doing what they're supposed to do. And when we read the conditions, covenants and restrictions, the verbiage, the legal verbiage in there, plainly stated that the association is responsible for the upkeep, maintenance and replacement of the exteriors, ie, roofs, gutters, downspouts, etc." Brown added. "So there are governing documents laid out in very plain English that somebody in the sixth grade level could understand on what needed to happen.". Brown got the attorneys involved and went to court, adding he -- unlike many others -- had the financial ability to take the fight to the association. In the judgment, the court said there is no reward for "bad behavior," and awarded Brown $200,000 - $177,000 for his own fees and trouble while the rest went to pay for a new roof up to code. That new roof is about three-quarters completed. "These boards have no experience, they have no business moxie. They have no common sense. And you know, the vendors that are supposed to be supporting them, ie the property management companies and the law firms, they give them lip service," Brown said. "It's just so sad what's going on. They're giving them bad advice. And a lot of the board of directors -- these vendors, if you will, want them to utilize them, and they'll tell them anything just to get them to use their service.". What Brown and others say is that the state needs is an HOA ombudsman and the teeth that goes along with it -- alternative dispute resolution and not for petty things. "The state needs to ... come up with a alternative dispute resolution that needs to be placed in the Community Association Act, which governs homeowners associations," Brown said. "There needs to be a statute put in there mandating alternative dispute resolutions, and it needs to be specific for certain areas, because if you open it up for everybody it will be a rat race," Brown said. "It needs to be specific to the contract.". He's not talking about hedges not trimmed to specifications or flags placed in the wrong position or the wrong color of dogs. The ADR needs to come into play when serious problems arise. Even the national Community Associations Institute outlined in its 2024 69 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000693 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0022478 state priorities the need for states to embrace alternative dispute resolution as a preferable option to litigation for housing related disputes within a HOA community. None of Utah's bills introduced so far this session include that provision. Return to Table of Contents [CA] Who gets to build? Los Angeles fires expose the weakness of U.S. home insurance. (MarketWatch) - full text MarketWatch [2/3/2025 11:52 AM, Andrew Hoffman, 4068K] Scientists have been warning that we are entering a "new normal" of increasingly extreme weather events caused by climate change. Insurance companies are now attaching a price tag to this. While there has been a growing crisis in insurance for years, the scale and scope of the Los Angeles wildfires brings the issue to a new level, challenging us to ask new questions about how, where and what we build in a changing climate. Climate change is fueling more severe weather across the U.S. The average number of billion-dollar disasters in the U.S. rose from 3.3 per year in the 1980s to 18.3 per year in the 10 years ending in 2024, with all years adjusted for inflation. Along with this more than fivefold increase in billion-dollar disasters came rising insurance costs -- exacerbated by weather disasters striking densely populated areas more frequently, the rising costs of labor and materials to rebuild homes, outdated building codes and payouts for new kinds of perils. These costs are straining the insurance sector. In the U.S. over the past decade, insurers paid out more in claims than they received in premiums. Those losses are increasing, as 2024 was the third most expensive year for weather disasters, with $320 billion in global losses. To remain solvent, insurance companies are increasing premiums and reducing coverage limits, capping payouts and increasing deductibles. U.S. home-insurance premiums rose 34% between 2017 and 2023. Still, insurers lost money on homeowners coverage in 18 states in 2023. Since 2018, more than 1.9 million U.S. home insurance policies have not been renewed. That reality has increased the rates of both policy cancellations and non-renewals, particularly in areas defined by the U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency as being most at risk from extreme weather events. Since 2018, more than 1.9 million home-insurance policies have not been renewed, according to a December 2024 congressional investigation. As the insurance landscape becomes increasingly dire, about 7.4% of U.S. homeowners gave up on insurance altogether, leaving an estimated $1.6 trillion in property value at risk. The Pacific Palisades and Eaton fires took the lives of 27 people, forced another 180,000 to evacuate, burned almost 28,000 acres, and destroyed more than 12,000 structures. But these are not your average neighborhoods. Pacific Palisades is home to celebrities including Arnold Schwarzenegger, Reese Witherspoon and Tom Hanks. It's where the average home price was close to $3.5 million, according to Zillow - almost five 70 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000693 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0022479 times the California average and 10 times the national average. The average home price in Altadena, where the Eaton fire took place, was almost $1.3 million. As a result, the economic losses from these fires have been estimated at a staggering $135 billion to $150 billion, making this the costliest natural disaster in California history, far higher than the $16.5 billion record set by the 2018 Camp Fire in Northern California. The area impacted is not immune to the unfolding insurance crisis; at least a dozen of the largest property insurers, making up 80% of the California market, had withdrawn from offering wildfire coverage or stopped selling new policies altogether before the fires. Of the properties burned in L.A., only about 25%, or $30 billion in value was insured. Los Angels communities destroyed by fire must ask hard questions about how -- or whether - to rebuild. Without insurance, owners cannot get a mortgage, drive a car, build an office building or enter into contracts. Homes or communities that are deemed too dangerous to insure face the risk of falling property values, which means that governments take in less tax revenue and the community suffers from a lack of funds for schools, police and other basic services. In the wake of the fires, California's insurance commissioner issued a one-year moratorium on policy non-renewals and cancellations in areas affected by the wildfires. But this is a stopgap measure. In this "new normal," the long-term solutions should come after examination of deep questions about how people can live in a changing climate. The first lesson is that we cannot eliminate risk. The causes of the L.A. fires were a combination of extremely dry conditions due to reduced precipitation, a water system that was not designed to fight this scale of a conflagration, and Santa Ana winds that reached as high as 90 mph and carried burning embers to ignite fires for miles. This event was uncontrollable and unstoppable - and can happen again. Faced with that reality, some new questions need to be asked about the ways in which we build our homes. These include: 1. Where should we build? One factor in the insurance crisis is that Americans keep moving to areas that are at high risk of extreme weather events. Though local and state officials have already issued executive orders to begin the rebuilding process in Los Angeles, it is worth at least asking if this is wise. The Federal Emergency Management Agency has begun to ask this question, compelling disaster claimants to rebuild on safer ground or to a standard that mitigates long-term risks. Understanding these regional disaster risks leads to an understanding of climate havens -- places where the risks are lower and therefore, the need for insurance protection is less. 2. How should we build? California requires that insurers give discounts to homeowners who install fire-resistant roofs or make other changes to reduce their risks. But building codes can mandate these more resilient homes. By one estimate, investing $3.5 billion in making the two-thirds of U.S. homes not currently up to code more resilient to storms could save insurers as much as $37 billion by 2030. In the Los Angeles region, that means new codes for fire-resistant siding and roofing, fire suppression systems in and around the home, more sophisticated fire detection systems and strict codes around landscaping and vegetation. 71 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000693 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0022480 3. How should our communities be designed? The Los Angeles water system was designed to fight a handful of house fires at once, not an entire neighborhood. So, as the neighborhoods rebuild, what kind of a water system will be installed, and who will pay for it? Going further, neighborhoods should be rebuilt to anticipate future weather disasters by condensing the living areas, creating large areas of open space that can be managed with regular prescribed burns, more and wider roads to allow quicker evacuations and easier access for fire equipment and pre-engineered firebreaks if and when another wildfire begins. Only about 4% of American homeowners have flood insurance, even though 90% of catastrophes in the U.S. involve flooding. 4. How do we understand risk in our own lives? Not just municipalities, homeowners need to become much more knowledgeable about the risks they face in a changing climate. Importantly, they need to understand what their insurance policy covers, what is excluded and what kinds of upgrades might be necessary. For example, the Insurance Information Institute reports that only about 4% of American homeowners have flood insurance, even though 90% of catastrophes in the U.S. involve flooding. 5. Who gets to build? The costs of new infrastructure, new building types, and new insurance coverage will not be cheap. Who will pay for them? Should only the wealthy be allowed to live in high-risk areas as they can afford to rebuild with less insurance, or even no insurance? This is perhaps the most difficult question of all. The Los Angeles fires are a sign of things to come. According to the World Meteorological Organization, 2024 was the warmest year on record. The rise in extreme weather is expected to continue until greenhouse-gas concentrations in the atmosphere are abated. Homeowners insurance is just the proverbial canary in the coal mine -- the first to detect the costs of a changing climate and inject them into the economy in a way that individual consumers can feel. Some estimates of the overall potential global economic damage from climate change reach a present-discounted value as high as $22.5 trillion by 2100, not only in property damage but also in declining crop yields, food shortages, early deaths, breakdown of infrastructure networks, water shortages, air pollution, and more. The new normal has only just begun. Return to Table of Contents [CA] This California couple's modular home order became a `total nightmare,' and left them without a house (San Francisco Chronicle, CA) - full text San Francisco Chronicle [2/3/2025 7:00 AM, Laura Waxmann, 4368K] At this time last year, Brooke and Zach Davis fully expected that their family would celebrate Thanksgiving and Christmas in their new, factory-built home on a quiet hillside in Soquel, an unincorporated area in Santa Cruz County. They had spent hundreds of thousands of dollars to knock down the 750-square-foot house on the property where they had been living with their three school-aged children for the past 15 years. They poured a new foundation and persuaded their neighbor to 72 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000693 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0022481 lend a slice of his land for the installation of a crane pad. All of this was done at the direction of Arizona-based Connect Homes, a modular builder that promises to construct housing and shelters that could be dropped into most urban locations in less than half the time of traditional construction, and at roughly half the cost. When the Davises put down a $86,300 deposit on their 2,000-square-foot modular home in January 2O24, they were promised that it would be manufactured by June. Then, the company said, it would take but a few months to ship, "crane in" and assemble project components on their property -- "four months was the absolute max," Zach Davis said he was told. Given the region's weather conditions, the home needed to be built ahead of the wet winter season. "We felt it was reasonable to expect that we would be in by Thanksgiving," he said. Thanksgiving came and went, and so did Christmas. Now, a year later, work on the couple's property is at a standstill as they rent a home in Aptos, about 4 miles south. With each passing day, they're losing money and hope now that the company filed for liquidation last month. The Davis family is among a group of California homebuyers who have been left waiting by Connect Homes, which has not responded to repeated inquiries from the Chronicle. The homebuyers say the company took their money while failing to deliver the product, and has repeatedly dodged their questions about delivery. Industry stakeholders say it's not an uncommon story in the modular housing construction space, which, in recent years, has seen a number of companies, backed by top investors seeking to disrupt the trillion-dollar construction industry, face sudden financial turmoil, and even bankruptcy. The most prominent fallen star, perhaps, was Silicon Valley startup Katerra, which was valued at more than $4 billion at its peak in 2O19. The company had set out to revolutionize multifamily housing construction by handling all aspects of the process in one factory. By the summer of 2021, Katerra filed for bankruptcy. Anchored Tiny Home, which sold accessory dwelling units out of Fair Oaks (Sacramento County), filed for bankruptcy in October. Modular startup Veev, which had a manufacturing facility in Hayward and offices in Israel, had raised some $60O million before folding in 2023. And Vallejo's modular home builder Factory OS is still building affordable housing, but most of its assets were acquired by a private equity consortium last year. Connect Homes' apparent collapse comes at a time when Bay Area housing advocates and policy makers are looking to factory-built housing as a potential solution to the high cost of building everything from supportive housing for the homeless to higher end apartments. Yet many contenders have fallen short of profitability, wiping out billions in investment. "One of the biggest challenges that any of these companies face is that you're trying to both advance a business with new innovation and new processes, and you're also trying to do it in an industry that has to change how it thinks about engaging with subcontractors, design and even timelines," said Factory OS CEO Kevin Brown, before discussing the challenges of maintaining a productive pipeline of orders. "That is a really difficult thing for young companies, to be able to build a company and maintain that pipeline all at the same time." 73 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000693 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0022482 Meanwhile, a substantial amount of risk often falls on the buyers, who must put down thousands of dollars in deposits for early material procurement and account for issues such as unforeseen site conditions, design and permitting timelines. Brooke Davis said she has developed insomnia from the daily stress that her family's situation has created, and the $460,000 they've spent on a home that has yet to arrive. "Honestly, we could lose all of our life savings," she said, breaking into tears while talking about the ordeal. "We have three kids, and we want them to go to college." And, because of how Connect Homes filed for liquidation, the Davises may never see that money again. The Davis children were getting older and they needed more space. The family liked their home's location, a roughly 8,000-square-foot plot in Soquel. But, a local contractor confirmed what the couple suspected: There wasn't much value in redeveloping their residence. "Time was passing, and so we were looking for an option that could go quickly and provide us with a home for our family that met our needs," Zach Davis said, adding that "speed and value" were priorities. A modular home, with the benefits of reduced waste and community disruptions and less decision-making involved than with traditional, ground-up construction, made sense for them. Brooke and Zach Davis did their homework. They reached out to a list of companies across the state that seemed to fit the bill, but were unimpressed by their results. "A lot of it was smoke and mirrors," Zach Davis said. Then, they landed on the website for Connect Homes. "No sticker shock. No delays. No headaches," the company, which, at the time, was based in Southern California, still promises on its website. "From design to manufacturing to installation, Connect Homes handles it all." Best of all, for the Davises, Connect Homes could point to finished projects. The company was founded in 2012 by architects Jared Levy and Gordon Stott, who years earlier helped launch Los Angeles-based architecture firm Marmol Radziner Prefab, which produced high-end prefabricated homes. Connect Homes was conceived because the partners wanted to bring that luxury modular quality to a wider market at more affordable prices. So, they developed a patented system of modules that "click together like Legos," according to the company's website. By 2013, Connect Homes touted its first success story: a 1,600-square-foot home in Sonoma. Two years later, graphic designer Ben Munday moved into his Connect Home in Orinda in the East Bay, where Brooke Davis grew up. It was Munday who responded to Zach Davis' initial query to Connect Homes in July 2021 -- by then, he was working as the company's Northern California representative. The Davises scheduled a tour of the Munday family home and discovered satisfied customers. "As a business model, we felt it could be the future," Brooke Davis said. By November 2021, the couple completed a refinance of their Soquel property, using up all equity to build their modular project. They completed a topographical survey and 74 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000693 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0022483 gathered other information about their project site, as requested by Connect Homes. At the start of 2022, they signed a design services agreement, and spent the next two years talking to Connect Homes architects and project managers about the customization and permitting of their home -- which would feature 81/2-foot ceilings and floor-to-ceiling windows. Connect Homes charged the Davises an estimated $15,000 during this planning phase. The family received permits for their project last January. A vision of the home of their dreams was corning together. But, in retrospect, there were red flags from the very beginning. The first bad omen for Zach Davis was all the people who left Connect Homes during the design period of his family's house. "The turnover was kind of high, and their processes just didn't seem really dialed in. For a company that's building homes on an assembly line, you would think that they would just kind of have answers," Zach Davis said. "But, we were in COVID, and at the time we didn't really know what to expect." The turnover seemed to spill indiscriminately through the company. One architect left before details of their project were finalized. Another who subbed in "disappeared" after a few months. A project manager who was assigned to the Davises was laid off as their home was reportedly nearing production and, months later, the last remaining project manager assigned to the job was furloughed several times before ultimately being laid off. Yet, through it all, there were consistent updates. A project manager checked in via email with a reassuring update in April of 2024: "We will be ready for the site assessment visit in June with delivery in late June or early July." Communication from the company dropped off soon after. In May, Brooke Davis pressed the project manager on the lack of updates. She wanted to know "if there is a delay in production of our house and what the reason is." Once again, she was reassured that the project was on track, this time by a senior director, who said in an email that a team was working on procuring "long lead orders" such as steel frames, doors and windows needed to start production. Former Connect Homes employees told the Chronicle that a round of layoffs occurred in May, which some described as a first sign of growing instability. In mid-June, a finance executive reached out to the Davises to request that the couple show "evidence" for the remaining balance of the project's total costs, or proof of about $507,700. By this point, they had already paid over $287,800. A week later the Davises' project manager informed them of "deficiencies in the steel frames" for their home that had been detected by a quality control inspection, requiring the frames to be rebuilt. They were told this would push the production of their house to the end of July. Despite the delay, the Davises were billed for over $170,000 for the production phase of their project in early July. They made the payment, but a required, pre-delivery site inspection of their property by a company representative was never scheduled. On Aug. 14, the Davises received an emailed letter from CEO Deborah Casper-Stone 75 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000693 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0022484 informing them that Connect Homes was "working through liquidity challenges." "This has caused us to slow operations while we work with our lender and also explore options with new potential capital sources to address the problems," Casper-Stone wrote, but added that "several promising leads" had emerged: "We hope to have an update soon." Brooke Davis turned to Reddit and found stories eerily similar to her own family's. "Total nightmare. Where are you in the process? The lack of communication has been truly shocking. We know nothing other than they're working on an acquisition," a Reddit user posted four months ago. Others complained about the Connect Homes' website being down too often, or its phone number being disconnected, with customers unable to receive updates. All of those in the Reddit thread had been ghosted by Connect Homes in the fall, when much, if not all, of the company's workforce was laid off and its new factory in Arizona went dark without warning, after less than a year in operation. "The most frustrating part about the whole debacle really was the complete lack of communication," said Kelly Danner, who paid Connect Homes roughly $80,000 for the design and procurement of materials for a home at Point Reyes Station. "We all had to fish for scraps of information." Since December, the Chronicle has made multiple attempts to reach leadership at Connect Homes, including Casper-Stone. The company's phone line has been disconnected throughout that time, and all of the Chronicle's queries to executives, investors, and board members of the company have gone unanswered. But, interviews with former Connect Homes employees and half a dozen construction experts ranging from developers to engineers paint a potential picture of how the company's once promising and innovative business plan unraveled. Connect Homes isn't the first company in the modular industry to get caught up in the tangle between needing to discover, fine-tune and execute novel manufacturing systems while also accounting for new risks, running profitably and scaling up fast enough to meet investor expectations -- and it almost certainly won't be the last. But that is unlikely to stop innovation, particularly as housing costs continue to rise. "The problem with the tried and true (traditional construction) is that in many markets, the cost of building is rising significantly higher than inflation. The numbers are going to get worse each year," said Danny Haber, whose Oakland-based housing design and development firm oWOW uses prefabricated components. Dean Lewis, director of mass timber and prefabrication at global contractor Skanska, said it's "only a matter of time until someone approaches one product and figures out how to develop it, deploy it successfully, and create a steady backlog," but added that investment, certainty for investors, and "cooperation from jurisdictions to develop and change their processes" are needed for that to happen. A former Connect Homes project manager who was laid off from the company last summer told the Chronicle that he perceived the departure of CEO Greg Leung in 2023 as reflecting a difference in opinion about the company's future direction. Leung, who had led Connect Homes since 2020, was more about "product" while Casper-Stone, 76 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000693 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0022485 Leung's successor and the company's former chief financial officer, was more about "manufacturing and finances," according to the ex-employee. The Chronicle attempted to interview Leung but was unsuccessful. Another high-profile departure from Connect Homes came early last year when Levy, one of the founding architects, stepped away suddenly after more than a decade. Levy did not respond to multiple inquiries from the Chronicle, but he did speak to website Builder about his outlook on the modular homes sector in March 2024. "Sometimes I fear in the prefab space there have been too many companies with solutions looking for a problem. We have had a couple of high-profile failures in our space that have made the capital-raising environment more challenging," Levy told Builder. "The reality is that if you want to disrupt the housing industry, you sort of need to build big things. And that takes capital." As well as orders for projects. A former architect who left Connect Homes voluntarily in 2022 said: "It was a new company, and when you looked down the assembly line, there was not an incredible amount of pipeline." The architect estimated that the "batting average" for single-family home projects in the Connect Homes assembly line "going all the way" was around 30%. He said he saw many projects fall through for many reasons, including customers changing their minds. Another former employee -- a project manager who was laid off early last year amid Connect Homes' move to Arizona -- said that during his time with the company, it was "definitely running in the red marginally per project ... But it was enough to be, I think, digestible to the company, because it was getting outside funding, since it was still relatively young and a startup." The company had struggled to secure investment past initial funding rounds, records show. According to Crunchbase, Connect Homes raised $19.8 million since 2019, with its latest funding raised in 2021. In a 2023 press release, Connect Homes stated that it had delivered 122 homes and a total of 8,000 modules, and built 37 ADU's in California since 2012. In the construction realm, those aren't massive numbers. The former architect who had left the company in 2022 said that around that time, Connect Homes had begun focusing on its "commercial wing," which built multi-unit projects sold to developers. The company had also been vying for government contracts in recent years to build shelter projects. "This was a totally new idea and they were prototyping it as a next direction to expand the company. ... One of the big problems was keeping the assembly line going," the exemployee said, referring to multifamily housing projects that the company was exploring. Another former employee, a project manager who parted with the company last summer after a furlough, said that by that time Connect Homes was working on its biggest multifamily project, consisting of 80 modules, for a developer in Idaho. Each module was typically 8 feet by 40 feet; a five-module single family home typically spanned 1,600 square feet. 77 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000693 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0022486 "The thinking was once we get this project going, all these other big projects that we already have lined up will also blow up. .. . We would go into this new factory and be able to build at this huge capacity," the project manager said. But by the time he left, the project had not hit the production line, he said. Connect Homes appears to have fumbled a major contract that could have filled its pipeline for the next three years. The company last year vied for multiple Federal Emergency Management Agency, or FEMA, contracts to build and install temporary housing units in Maui, Hawaii, following the devastating Lahaina fire of 2023. The contracts were good for one year, with two renewal options. Final proposals were due on May 24, by 2 p.m. Eastern Time. Connect Homes submitted its bid at 2:04 p.m., and was rejected, public records show. As the Davises went into contract for their modular home at the start of last year, Connect Homes announced that it would be opening a new factory in Mesa, Ariz., in the first quarter of 2024. The move would allow the company to service an even broader U.S. market. In a post to Linkedln, Casper-Stone said that the company's California factory was "bursting at the seams." The Mesa factory would be three times its size, and capable of manufacturing 5,000 square feet per week, the company said in subsequent statements. But in late March, the Davis family received an email from Connect Homes announcing the closure of its California factory two days later. A legal notice filed in January with California's Employment Development Department, showed that Connect Homes had laid off 75 employees in the San Bernardino factory closure. The unexpected news both confused and alarmed the couple. "We thought they would be in two places. It was not clear from the beginning that they were shutting down that factory," Brooke Davis said. "Transportation costs are something we pay for. We reached out and said this can't slow down our timeline and shouldn't add costs. They reassured us that we don't have to pay for the extra miles." In December, a homebuyer in Napa was the first customer to sue Connect Homes. Eric Lamb sued Connect Homes and Casper-Stone, alleging that the company concealed from him that it was in "dire financial straits" when he signed a purchase agreement for a roughly $670,600 home that has yet to materialize. Lamb alleged that he has already paid Connect Homes $380,204 toward the project -- a sum that does not include $300,000 to prepare his property for installation. Lamb's attorney declined comment on his behalf. The lawsuit eerily mirrors the Davis family's conundrum: The couple said Connect Homes has already charged them for about 60% of the total cost of their modular project, which is just over $800,000. They've also spent about $270,000 on site work, which involved hiring a contractor. And, yet, the family has been clinging to the shreds of hope they were fed by Casper-Stone in the months before she went silent. Connect Homes filed for what is known as an assignment for the benefit of creditors, or ABC, on Jan. 14, public records show. This process is best understood as an "out of 78 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000693 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0022487 court liquidation" -- not a bankruptcy proceeding, but essentially a "glorified foreclosure," according to San Francisco bankruptcy attorney Ivan Gold, of real estate law firm Allen Matkins. What this means for the abandoned Connect Homes customers is not yet entirely clear, though the filing shows that the company has millions of dollars in liabilities, with about $5 million owed to a group of 18 customers. In total, the company reported more than $32.2 million in liabilities, of which $20 million are payments owed to its lender. Gold, the bankruptcy attorney, said that the problem with most ABCs, or the type of liquidation process that Connect Homes is pursuing, is that "they end up being a vehicle to pay off the secured debt," referring to debt owed to lenders. Unsecured debt, which usually includes customers and vendor liabilities, ranks much lower on the list of creditors who can expect to be compensated, he said, "We don't need many fingers to count the numbers of ABCs that have produced a return to unsecured creditors." He encouraged the company's aggrieved customers to seek legal counsel. Danner, of Point Reyes Station, said she feels like her family is "one of the lucky ones." "We were weeks away from giving them a big deposit on production," she said, adding that she learned about the turmoil at the company before she made the payment. "I just hope the other customers can rebuild." The Davis family has filed a complaint with the Santa Cruz County District Attorney's Office, which is under review. Brooke Davis said she's unsure what's next. "Suing a company that already can't cover its debts just seems like a way to lose more money," she said, adding that the family may try stick build, or on-site construction, to finish their home, but said that if the family is forced to borrow more money to finish the job, "we may not be able to afford to live here." Brooke Davis said a former Connect Homes employee recently reached out to the family to inform them that their modular home is "90% done and sitting in the warehouse." "This is a kick in the gut," she said. "Based on very limited communication from Connect Homes we had hopes that a deal would be made to restart operations. Now that hope is basically gone." Return to Table of Contents [CA] State Farm seeks emergency rate increase averaging 22% after L.A. fires (Los Angeles Times) - full text Los Angeles Times [2/3/2025 4:21 PM, Laurence Darmiento, 17996K] State Farm General, California's largest home insurer, asked state officials for an emergency rate hike averaging 22% Monday, saying the Los Angeles County fires have put the company in dire financial straits. The insurer, a subsidiary of State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Co. of Bloomington, Ill., said the company has already received at least 8,700 claims and paid more than $1 billion to customers. It expects to pay out "significantly more," with the fires being the costliest natural disasters in its history. "As the insurance commissioner, you can have a very significant impact on [State Farm General's] ability to continue operating in California by immediately approving the requested interim rate changes," the company said in a letter to state Insurance 79 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000693 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0022488 Commissioner Ricardo Lara. The company is also asking for rate hikes of 38% for rental dwellings and 15% for tenants, with the rates taking effect May 1. State Farm said the latest request is necessary to rebuild the company's capital base so it will not have to "further constrain" the company's ability to provide home insurance in the state. Insurance industry ratings agencies have said they expected premium increases due to the fires. The California insurer said it has lost $2.8 billion over the nine-year period ending last year, including gains from investment income. It also noted State Farm General's financial rating was downgraded last year by AM Best. The company said it will access reinsurance it acquired from its parent to pay claims from the Los Angeles-area fires. State Farm General, which had about a 20% share of the homeowners insurance market in 2023, insures about 1 million homeowners in the state and has 1.8 million other policies in force. The proposed rate hike is likely to be controversial. In June, the company filed for a 30% rate increase for its homeowners polices, a 36% increase for condo owners and a 52% increase for renters. That request took state officials by surprise, with Lara saying it raised "serious questions about its financial condition.". That rate hike request is still pending. State Farm said it is prepared to issue refunds for customers who pay the interim emergency rates if the department approves lower increases for the rate hikes it sought last year. The company previously received a 6.9% bump of its homeowner rates in January 2023 and a 20% hike that went into effect in March of last year. "To protect millions of California consumers and the integrity of our residential property insurance market, the department will respond with urgency and transparency to recommend a course of action for Commissioner Lara," the Department of Insurance said Monday in response to the request. The department added that any rate hike would be approved only if it is justified under Proposition 103, the 1988 ballot measure that gave the commissioner the authority to review, adjust and reject proposed rate hikes. Los Angeles advocacy group Consumer Watchdog disputed that State Farm General was in financial trouble, saying that the company made underwriting profits of $1.4 billion from 2020 to 2023 and that parent State Farm Mutual had "$134 billion in the bank.". "Filling State Farm's bank accounts shouldn't fall on the backs of California homeowners recovering from disaster," it said. State Farm Group, led by State Farm General's parent company, was given a superior financial rating in December by AM Best. In March, State Farm General announced it would not be renewing 72,000 home, apartment and other property policies in California, citing soaring reconstruction costs, increasing wildfire risks and outdated state regulations. That followed its decision in May 2023 to stop writing new business, homeowners, and other personal property and casualty insurance in the state, with the exception of personal auto insurance. Last month, after the scale of the L.A. County fires became apparent, State Farm modified its decision and said it would offer renewals to any policyholder affected by the Palisades, Eaton and other county fires whose policies had not lapsed before the fires' start on Jan. 7. The insurer estimated that it would apply to roughly 70%, or 1,100, of the 1,626 residential policies it had in Pacific Palisades' primary ZIP Code when it announced the non-renewals last year. It later expanded the 80 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000693 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0022489 renewal offer to any Los Angeles County policyholder on those same terms. The company said it had about 250,000 residential policyholders in the county. Return to Table of Contents [CA] State Farm Seeking Interim 22% Rate Hike for Homeowners in Wake of LA Wildfires (Insurance Journal) - full text Insurance Journal [2/3/2025 2:22 PM, Staff, 194K] State Farm General said on Monday it is asking the California Department of Insurance to immediately approve interim rate increases, including 22% average for homeowners. The carrier, the state's top homeowners insurer, is partly blaming the devastating Los Angeles wildfires for the request. "As of February 1st, State Farm General (Fire only) has received more than 8,700 claims and has already paid more than $1 billion to customers," a statement from the company reads. "State Farm General will ultimately pay out significantly more, as collectively these fires will be the costliest disasters in the history of State Farm General.". Preliminary data show insurers have paid out more than $4 billion for losses from the biggest two of the Los Angeles-area wildfires that swept through the region and destroyed tens of thousands of homes earlier this month. Claims figures from insurers released by the California Department of Insurance on Jan. 30 show that 31,210 claims have been filed for home, business, living expenses and other disaster-related needs. According to CDI, $4.2 billion in claims have been paid. According to the State Farm statement, the costs of the wildfires will further deplete capital from State Farm General. "Capital is necessary so an insurance company can pay for any future claims for the risks it insures," the statement reads. "Last year, one rating agency downgraded State Farm General's financial strength rating due to its capital position. With further capital deterioration as a result of the wildfires, additional downgrades could follow. If that were to happen, customers with a mortgage might not be able to use State Farm General insurance on the collateral backing for their mortgage.". State Farm asked the CDI to immediately approve interim rate increases "to help avert a dire situation for the more than 2.8 million policies issued by State Farm General, including 1 million State Farm General homeowners customers, and the insurance market in the state of California. State Farm General has had an outstanding filed rate increase pending since June 2024," according to the statement. The increase is needed to align cost and risk and enable State Farm to rebuild capital. Over the last nine years, the lack of alignment has meant that for every $1 collected in premium, the carrier has spent $1.26, resulting in more $5 billion in cumulative underwriting losses, according to State Farm. In May 2023, State Farm stopped writing any new policies in California. "State Farm General still insures high concentrations of risk in California that could generate financial losses multiple times larger than the company's surplus," the statement from the carrier reads. "A smaller capital base will further constrain State Farm General's ability to provide coverage. Reinsurance will assist us in paying what we owe to customers.". Insured losses from the Palisades and Eaton fires are likely to rise. At this point losses look to be heading toward early estimates from modelers of up to $40 billion. In releasing fourth quarter results, Chubb last week said the wildfires are 81 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000693 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0022490 expected to cost the insurer $1.5 billion in the first quarter. Other carriers have yet to report on insured losses. Following State Farm, the state's biggest homeowners insurers are Farmers Insurance Group, Liberty Mutual Insurance Companies, CSAA Insurance Group, Mercury Insurance Group, Allstate Insurance Group, Auto Club Enterprises, USAA Group and Travelers Group, according to AM Best's latest data. Severe wildfire seasons made insurers wary. CalFire data show that seven of the state's 10 most destructive wildfires have occurred in the last 10 years. Carriers began pulling back from the state's homeowners market, blaming wildfire losses as well as regulations. They also began requesting steep rate increases. In response, California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara introduced his so-called Sustainable Insurance Strategy to increase coverage in wildfire-distressed areas of the state. Lara in December announced a catastrophe modeling and ratemaking regulation that will allow carriers to use the models as a factor in setting and getting rates. The changes to the regulations were well received by the insurance industry, but they may do little to immediately sooth the impact from the L.A. fires, which are expected to cause property insurance carriers to raise rates, reduce coverage options, or both, in California and other at-risk areas, according to S&P. Preliminary estimates from Moody's RMS are for insured property losses to be as much as $30 billion from the fires. Catastrophe modeler KCC said insured loss from privately insured and California FAIR plan policies to residential, commercial and industrial properties, and autos from the Palisades and Eaton Fires will be close to $28 billion. Estimates issued by Verisk peg insured losses to property from the Palisades and Eaton fires between $28 billion and $35 billion, which includes losses to the California FAIR Plan. The highest figures issued on insured losses so far include a high of $40 billion put out last week from Keefe Bruyette & Woods analysts. CoreLogic indicated a $35 to $45 billion range of insured losses for two major fires in Los Angeles. Return to Table of Contents [CA] State Farm seeks 22% emergency rate hike after receiving 8,700 wildfire claims (San Diego Union Tribune, CA) - full text San Diego Union Tribune [2/3/2025 4:22 PM, Pat Maio, 2212K, CA] State Farm General requested a 22% emergency rate hike in California on Monday, Feb. 3 to cover losses from the Los Angeles County wildfires and stop its "financial deterioration," the company wrote in a letter filed with the state's insurance commission. The property insurer, the state's largest and a subsidiary State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Co., said it has received more than 8,700 claims from the Jan. 7 fires in Pacific Palisades and Altadena areas. The company said it has paid more than $1 billion to customers. The company is seeing signs of rapid deterioration of its capital structure, according to the letter sent to Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara by Dan Krause, State Farm's president and chief executive officer. Krause wants Lara to take "emergency action" to help protect California's fragile insurance market by immediately approving interim rate increases on its filings, with rates to become effective May 1. Besides the average 22% 82 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000693 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0022491 rate increase in homeowners' insurance policies, State Farm requested a 15% hike for renters, 15% for condo owners and 38% for rental dwellings. "We know we will ultimately pay out more, as those fires will collectively be the costliest in the history of the company," wrote Krause. The rate increases are needed to help avert a dire situation for more than 2.8 million policies issued by State Farm, including 1 million homeowners, the letter states. Wildfire costs will further downgrade the company's debt ratings from Wall Street credit agencies, which are expected if the rate increases aren't approved, the letter further states. Insurance Department spokesman Gabriel Sanchez said Monday that State Farm's latest rate filing raises "serious questions" about the insurer's financial condition. "State Farm General continues to collect insurance premiums paid by Californians and pay out claims to its existing customers," Sanchez said in a statement. "There is no law or regulation that prevents an insurance company from continuing to bill customers for premiums in a wildfire emergency. The commissioner's moratorium authority only applies to cancellations and non-renewals.". State Farm's request will not be an easy one to decide, Sanchez said. With 9.1% of the California's property market share in 2023, State Farm wrote more than $8.7 billion worth of premiums, according to the California Department of Insurance. In May 2023, State Farm stopped writing new business, homeowners, and other property and casualty insurance in the state, with an exception for auto policies. Nearly a year ago, State Farm noted the "swift capital depletion" was "an alarm signaling the grave need for rapid and transformational action," and "rapid review and approval of currently pending and future rate filings," according to State Farm's letter sent Monday to Lara. In March 2024, the company cited wildfire risks, reconstruction costs and state regulations as to why it would not renew over 72,000 home, apartment, condo and other property policies. Last June, State Farm requested a 30% rate hike for its homeowners policies, a 36% increase for condo owners and a 52% increase for renters. It is still being reviewed. Sanchez said that his department plans to respond with "urgency and transparency" to recommend a course of action in order to protect "the integrity" of the state's residential property insurance market. Last year's three rate filings were made under a little known "variance" in rate making formulas that insurance companies can use when they believe their solvency is threatened, Sanchez said. He said that Lara has the authority to order a rate hearing if an agreement with State Farm can't be reached. The commission staff plans to make an "urgent formal recommendation" to Lara, he said. Return to Table of Contents [CA] State Farm asks for emergency 22% increase for California premiums, but critics cry foul (USA Today) - full text 83 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000693 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0022492 USA Today [2/3/2025 5:50 PM, Andrea Riquier, 89965K] Citing what it calls a potentially "dire situation," State Farm on Monday asked California for permission to hike insurance rates by an average of 22%. In the wake of the Los Angeles-area wildfires that occurred in January, the insurer said, it has already paid out more than $1 billion to customers, after receiving more than 8,700 claims. And because insurance premiums have been kept artificially low for many years, it was unable to collect the premium dollars it needed. "Insurance will cost more for customers in California going forward because the risk is greater in California," the company said in a press release. "Higher risks should pay more for insurance than lower risks. Over the last 9 years, the lack of alignment between price and risk means that for every $1.00 collected in premium, State Farm General has spent $1.26, resulting in over $5 billion in cumulative underwriting losses.". But some consumer advocates question that argument. State Farm "has been quite profitable in California over the last several years," Doug Heller, the director of insurance for the nonprofit, left-leaning Consumer Federation of America, told USA TODAY. "They have built up an incredible fortune in order to deal with crisis. If they feel that they are going to need rate hikes in the future they have a right to go through the process, but to be putting on the emergency siren seems more like trying to bully the state into handing over cash while we're trying to recover from disaster.". Pay less to protect your home: Best home insurance policies. Industry trade publication data show that in California, State Farm's second largest state by written premium dollars as of 2023, its losses were lower than industry averages, Heller said. Meanwhile, the company holds a comfortable surplus -- what's left over after claims and administrative overhead -- equivalent to more than 10% of the surplus held by the entire property & casualty insurance industry. State Farm declined to comment in response to USA TODAY's questions, referring only to a previously-issued press release. Last fall, the LA Times reported that the company was accused of trying to boost the profits of its parent company while claiming financial distress and asking for a 30% rate hike for California policies. And last June, the company made three requests for extraordinary "relief' from the standard rate-setting process in California, using a legal process known as a "variance," often used by insurance companies when they believe their solvency is threatened. Those requests included a 30% premium hike for homeowners' insurance, according to industry reports. "State Farm General's rate filings raise serious questions about its financial condition," said Gabriel Sanchez, press secretary for the California Department of Insurance, in an email to USA TODAY. "To protect millions of California consumers and the integrity of our residential property insurance market, the Department will respond with urgency and transparency to recommend a course of action for Commissioner Lara.". While the biggest of the fires that ravaged Los Angeles have now been contained, it will take longer to tally the monetary damages. So far, the state's Department of Insurance 84 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000693 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0022493 shows that over $4 billion of claims have been paid. Homeowners are feeling the effects of increasing climate risk through their insurance premiums. On Monday, data analytics firm First Street released a report forecasting more than a trillion dollars worth of lost real estate value as insurance costs and natural disasters continue to rise. Insurance is a business built on projecting into the future, Heller noted. "You don't pay for the last disaster with the next premium. (The company has) already collected premiums for this," he said. If State Farm needs a rate increase, Heller said, it should file a request through normal, non-emergency, channels and let regulators and citizens inspect it. Return to Table of Contents [CA] State Farm seeks an emergency insurance rate increase after LA wildfires. It's the latest blow to California's housing market (CNN) - full text CNN [2/3/2025 4:33 PM, Samantha Delouya, 22417K] State Farm General, California's largest insurance provider, has requested an emergency interim rate hike averaging 22% for homeowners from state officials on Monday, citing a "dire" financial situation after destructive Los Angeles wildfires last month. In a letter to California's Commissioner of Insurance, Ricardo Lara, State Farm said it has already received more than 8,700 claims and paid over $1 billion to customers in the wake of the wildfires. "We know we will ultimately pay out significantly more, as these fires will collectively be the costliest in the history of the company," the letter said. State Farm said the emergency interim rate hike was necessary to "help avert a dire situation for our customers and the insurance market in the state of California.". California homeowners already face some of the highest insurance premiums in the country, as insurers have deemed a large percentage of the state to be at high risk for wildfires. That's squeezed homeowners and, in other cases, kept people out of the market entirely. In a statement, the California Insurance Commission said State Farm General's request raises "serious questions about its financial condition" and that the agency will "urgently" respond to the request. State Farm General is the subsidiary of State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company that operates in California. The subsidiary is the state's largest provider of fire insurance, with more than 2.8 million policies in California, according to the company. According to the company, State Farm General's surplus available to pay out claims has been depleted, in part due to claims paid out as a result of natural disasters. In its letter, State Farm said it has three applications for rate increases that have yet to be approved by the state's insurance commission and that an interim increase was necessary to "preserve its claims-paying capacity.". 85 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000693 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0022494 However, Carmen Balber, the executive director at Consumer Watchdog, a consumer protection nonprofit in California, questioned whether granting a rate increase to State Farm General was necessary. "Shame on State Farm for trying to take advantage of disaster and fill its bank accounts on the backs of recovering California homeowners," Balber said in a statement. Insurance companies, including State Farm, have been pulling back on offering coverage in the state, forcing some homeowners to go without fire insurance or to use the state-sponsored insurance plan, called the California FAIR plan, which has higher premiums and less coverage. In May 2023, State Farm said it would stop writing new policies in California. Last year, the company also said it wouldn't renew 30,000 homeowner policies, though that process is still ongoing. Last month, after the Palisades and Eaton fires in Los Angeles destroyed thousands of homes, the state's insurance commission barred insurance companies from not renewing or canceling homeowners insurance policies in wildfireaffected zip codes. Return to Table of Contents [CA] State Farm Seeks Emergency California Rate Hike After LA Fires (Bloomberg) - full text Bloomberg [2/3/2025 6:25 PM, Eliyahu Kamisher, 21617K] State Farm, the largest home insurer in California, is asking for an emergency rate hike from state regulators as it warns that multibillion-dollar payouts from the Los Angeles wildfires threaten its balance sheet and the broader insurance market. The company is seeking a 22% average hike in rates for homeowners and 15% for renters and condominium owners, according to a letter Monday to California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara. Insurance for rental dwellings need to rise 38%, it said. The new rates would take effect May 1. "The importance of our ask for your immediate help to protect all Californians cannot be overstated," State Farm said in the letter. Authorizing higher rates would send a crucial message to "solvency regulators, rating agencies" and company leadership that the insurer "has a chance to begin rebuilding capital to sustain itself.". The insurer said its wildfire payouts have already topped $1 billion and are expected to rise further, putting "very significant pressure" on its financial strength and ability to pay claims. Last month's blazes killed at least 29 people and destroyed 11,000 homes in places including Pacific Palisades, a wealthy Los Angeles enclave, and Altadena, a middle-class area. Total damages are expected to amount to tens of billions of dollars in one of the costliest disasters in US history. Insurance companies paid out $4.2 billion in claims related to the Eaton and Palisades fires as of Jan. 30, according to a claims tracker started by the state insurance regulator. More than 31,000 claims have been filed and roughly 14,400 were partially paid. California's insurance regulator said it would review State Farm's request while disputing some assertions in the company's letter. "The department will investigate these rate applications thoroughly to ensure Californians are charged the appropriate justified rates as required under Proposition 86 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000693 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0022495 103," Gabriel Sanchez, a spokesperson said, referring to a consumer-protection law. State Farm's letter drew criticism from Consumer Watchdog, a California insuranceadvocacy organization, which argued that the company hasn't provided the data to back up its dire predictions. "It's an outrage for State Farm to take advantage of this tragedy and fill its bank accounts on the backs of recovering California homeowners," Executive Director Carmen Balber said in an email. "There's also no process under the law for an 'emergency' rate increase. The company will have to show its math to get an increase.". California's insurance market has been in crisis for years as companies have pulled out or curtailed coverage due to what they describe as a combination of increasingly damaging wildfires, surging rebuilding costs and regulatory burdens. The insurance commissioner has approved a new plan that takes effect this year allowing insurers to request higher rates with faster regulatory approval in exchange for expanding coverage in wildfire-prone areas. The state authorized a 6.9% hike for State Farm in 2023 and a 20% increase last year. The company also has a pending request for a 30% rate hike, although Balber said it wasn't immediately clear if the company intends to pursue that increase as well as the 22% emergency boost. Return to Table of Contents [CA] California Homeowners Hit With Sudden 22 Percent Insurance Rate Increase (Newsweek) - full text Newsweek [2/3/2025 6:13 PM, Suzanne Blake, 56005K] California homeowners will be seeing an insurance rate hike of more than 20 percent from State Farm following the devastating wildfires that devasted the southern part of the state last month. As the Golden State faces increasing numbers of environmental disasters, many insurance companies have raised rates on homeowners who have higher home damage risks as a result of wildfires. Among a series of wildfires that broke out in January, the Palisades fire consumed 23,448 acres and resulted in 12 fatalities. The destruction included 6,837 structures destroyed and 1,017 damaged. The concurrent Eaton fire burned through 14,021 acres, claiming 17 lives and destroying 9,418 structures, with an additional 1,070 homes and businesses damaged. According to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire), both fires are now 100 percent fully contained. State Farm General, California's largest home insurer, in a Monday letter sent to the California Department of Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara, asked state insurance regulators to allow it to enact an immediate rate increase in order to avoid a "dire situation.". The insurance company asked to approve a rate hike that would be 22 percent for the average California homeowner. The price increase would go to 15 percent for condo owners and 38 percent for rentals as the company is on the line for damages from the recent wildfires. "We are requesting that you take emergency action to help protect California's fragile insurance market by immediately approving interim rate increases on these filings," the letter, which was signed by State Farm General executives, stated. At the beginning of 2024, State Farm had $1 billion to pay out insurance holders' claims, and by February of this year, State Farm had paid out more than $1 billion in claims just related to the Los Angeles wildfires. State Farm General covers more than 2.8 million policyholders in California and has been seeking a 30 percent rate increase to prevent the insurer from 87 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000693 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0022496 leaving the state altogether. State Farm General covers 20 percent of all premiums in the Golden State, but in 2023, it reported a net loss of $880 million. The company has already ended offering new policies in California for more than a year and is also looking to non-renew thousands of customers. This comes after State Farm canceled hundreds of homeowners' policies last summer in Pacific Palisades--the same area which was ravaged by the wildfire. The move was justified by the company as an attempt to avoid "financial failure" as the frequency and severity of wildfires is growing in the Golden State, especially in at-risk zones. "Our number one priority right now is the safety of our customers, agents and employees impacted by the fires and assisting our customers in the midst of this tragedy," a spokesperson for State Farm told Newsweek last month. State Farm said in a statement on its website: "Insurance will cost more for customers in California going forward because the risk is greater in California. Immediate emergency interim approval of additional rate is essential to more closely align cost and risk and enable State Farm General to rebuild capital. We must appropriately match price to risk. That is foundational to how insurance works. Higher risks should pay more for insurance than lower risks.". Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara's office said in a statement: "To protect millions of California consumers and the integrity of our residential property insurance market, the Department will respond with urgency and transparency to recommend a course of action for Commissioner Lara.". Alex Beene, a financial literacy instructor for the University of Tennessee at Martin, told Newsweek: "Californians would likely be much more understanding about a rate increase following such a massive tragedy if there hadn't been a major price hike last year to current insurance rates. No one's denying rebuilding costs have escalated dramatically in recent years, and with those increases come higher costs to insuring properties in the state. However, past rate hikes were supposed to factor in risks such as wildfires and other natural disasters that are prevalent in different areas in California. A rate increase may be needed after the unprecedented tragedy that's occurred, but such a sizable one is going to definitely leave many Californians angry and confused.". Kevin Thompson, a finance expert and the founder and CEO of 9i Capital Group, told Newsweek: "It's clear that climate change is shifting the landscape--literally. Across the country, more areas are facing extreme weather events... This rate increase is necessary for insurers to offset the growing risk of severe weather and extreme events. Higher premiums will be required for companies to continue operating in certain states while managing their exposure to catastrophic losses. Without these adjustments, insurers may simply pull out of high-risk markets, leaving homeowners with fewer coverage options.". Insurance costs are rising across the country, not just in California, experts say. "What many don't realize is that we all share the financial burden of these disasters, regardless of where we live," Thompson said. "A wildfire in California doesn't just affect Californians; it ripples across the industry, impacting premiums in places like North and South Dakota as insurers spread out their risk.". Because regulations haven't kept pace with the speed of climate change, Thompson said reinsurers are absorbing the costs of rebuilding and restitution, which eventually trickles down to homeowners. 88 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000693 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0022497 "The affordability of homeownership isn't just about mortgage payments. Rising insurance premiums and property taxes are becoming just as significant in pricing people out of the American Dream," he said. "In areas hit hardest by hurricanes, wildfires, or floods, insurance costs are skyrocketing, making it even more difficult for families to buy or keep their homes.". In its letter, State Farm General asked that the rate hikes go into effect on May 1, 2025. Return to Table of Contents Climate Resilience and Sustainability The climate crisis is set to erase $1.47 trillion in US home values. Here are 5 areas predicted to get hit hard. (Business Insider) - full text Business Insider [2/4/2025 4:13 AM, Dan Latu, 52415K] The impacts of the climate crisis will erase $1.47 trillion in home values across the US by 2055, a new study from research firm First Street found. The effects will not be spread equally across the country. In some areas, home price gains may be able to outpace losses, but some places will be harder hit. First Street estimated that 40% of propertyvalue losses will be concentrated in places it calls "climate abandonment" communities. In these locations -- primarily in California's Central Valley, at risk of wildfire, and coastal New Jersey, at risk of flood and wind damage -- a combination of population decline and rising insurance premiums are predicted to drive down home values. First Street found that 21,750 neighborhoods spread across the US, or 26% of current US census tracts, qualify as what it calls climate abandonment" communities. Recent extreme weather events highlight the staggering cost of natural disasters fueled and worsened by climate change. Last year, back-to-back hurricanes Milton and Helene devastated parts of Florida and the Southeast, with Milton alone causing up to an estimated $28 billion in insured losses. Recent Los Angeles wildfires are expected to total close to $250 billion in total damages. Over the next several decades, First Street's researchers predict more extreme weather events will recalibrate the places Americans find safe to call home. When the population dwindles for any reason, home prices are likely to fall due to a lack of demand. Consider the way Hurricane Sandy affected the Jersey Shore. Many lower-income residents of New Jersey living along the Atlantic coast were unable to rebuild in those areas due to the soaring cost of flood insurance. Amanda Devecka-Rinear founded the New Jersey Organizing Project, a nonprofit to improve disaster recovery funding, after driving around Long Beach Island, located in Ocean County, and seeing rows of abandoned houses. "People just got pushed out or had to walk away or had to sell their places because they could never cobble together the funding to get back," Devecka-Rinear told Business Insider in 2022. Below are Ocean County and four other communities First Street highlighted for their risk of "climate abandonment" and, therefore, property value declines. The percentages for each county are forecasts from First Street from 2025 to the year 2055. Kern County, known as the energy capital of California, is located inland, about a two-hour drive north of Los Angeles. Its biggest cities include Delano, Ridgecrest, and Bakersfield. 89 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000693 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0022498 Sacramento County, located an hour north of San Francisco, is home to the state capital, Sacramento. Monmouth County is home to several popular Jersey Shore vacation spots, including Asbury Park, Belmar, and Sea Girt. Ocean County is located directly south of Monmouth County and includes other popular destinations for Jersey Shore beachgoers, including Seaside Heights, Barnegat Light, and Mantoloking. Fresno County is located just north of Kern County. Fresno County was the site of 2020's Creek Fire, which burned for 112 days and was the third-largest single fire in state history. Return to Table of Contents Climate change to obliterate $1.5 trillion in U.S. home values (CBS News MoneyWatch) - full text CBS News [2/3/2025 4:57 PM, Kate Gibson, 52225K] VIDEO. Climate change will wipe out about $1.47 trillion in U.S. home values over the next three decades and hasten economic gaps in U.S. communities, a report released on Monday finds. Already high insurance rates are escalating, rendering large portions of the nation's largest cities unaffordable, according to a study by First Street Foundation which analyzes the effects of climate change on real estate. As property values across the country decline by almost $1.5 trillion in total, other properties will increase in value to the tune of $244 billion. By 2055, climate-driven weather is expected to hike homeowners' insurance premiums nationwide by an average of 29.4%, the organization found. At the same time, climaterelated migration from extreme heat, wildfires and flooding will have 55 million Americans relocating within the U.S. over that 30-year period, beginning with more than 5 million this year. "Climate change is no longer a theoretical concern; it is a measurable force reshaping real estate markets and regional economies across the United States," according to Jeremy Porter, First Street's head of climate implications research. "Our findings highlight the urgent need to understand how rising insurance costs and population movements are transforming the economic geography of the nation.". The three biggest Sun Belt states -- California, Florida and Texas -- have taken on more than 40% of the country's $2.8 billion in natural disaster costs since 1980. And in another 30 years, the First Street data estimates a more than fourfold increase in premiums in Miami, a tripling in Florida's Jacksonville and Tampa, and in New Orleans, and a doubling in Sacramento, California. The data projects that some counties in California, Florida and Texas will experience net declines of 10% to 40% in their property values by 2055. The last month saw dozens of people killed, tens of thousands evacuated and thousands of structures damaged or destroyed in the Los Angeles area due to wildfires. Return to Table of Contents Climate Change Could Erase $1.47 Trillion in Property Values by 2055, Study Says (Realtor.com) - full text Realtor.com [2/3/2025 3:21 PM, Snejana Farberov, 45860K] Growing risks triggered by climate change are projected to erase a staggering $1.47 trillion in U.S. home values and cause the displacement of tens of millions of people in 90 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000693 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0022499 the next 30 years, according to a new study from First Street. The climate risk assessment company's novel analysis published on Monday projects that, by 2055, more than 70,000 neighborhoods across the country may see local home values dramatically diminished by climate risks, resulting in the jaw-dropping eight-figure property value loss. A combination of various factors could set off the potential plunge in real estate values in the coming decades, including skyrocketing insurance costs associated with increasingly frequent and devastating natural disasters, and climate-related migration caused by changing demand. In other words, chronic climate changes, such as rising sea levels or drought, combined with wildfires, like the ones that overwhelmed Los Angeles County last month, hurricanes, and tornadoes--are expected to cause insurance premiums to rise. Rising insurance costs, in turn, will encourage people to leave high-risk areas and move to more climate-resilient locations. First Street's 44-page report estimates that home insurance premiums will surge by 29.4% in the next 30 years. Meanwhile, over 55 million Americans will "voluntarily relocate" within the U.S. to areas less susceptible to climate risks by 2055, beginning with 5.2 million this year alone. The counties that are expected to be hit the hardest by climate-related population exodus are Fresno County, CA (-45.8%), Ocean County, NJ (-33.3%), and Monmouth County, NJ (32.4%), according to First Street's detailed analysis. The Sun Belt--the U.S. region stretching across the Southeast and Southwest-is expected to bear the brunt of the climate-related migration. This marks a sharp reversal from a decades-long trend that saw Americans head to the Sun Belt in search of a better quality of life, more affordable and larger homes, better weather, and often, lower insurance costs. But climate change is fundamentally disrupting this dynamic by making once-desirable parts of the Sun Belt both riskier and more expensive. Since 1980, the three largest Sun Belt states--Texas, Florida, and California--have absorbed more than 40% of the nation's $2.8 trillion in natural disaster costs. "Recent climate-related events weigh heavy on the minds of homeowners and home shoppers alike," says Realtor.com senior economic research analyst Hannah Jones. "Home shoppers must consider the high price of home insurance as they set their budget and decide where to call home.". Homeowners in the Sun Belt are already feeling the squeeze, with insurance premiums rising faster than mortgage payments. Between 2013 and 2022, insurance as a share of mortgage payments jumped from 7%-8% to over 20% of total mortgage costs. The five largest metros facing the most dramatic insurance premium spikes are all located in that sun-drenched part of the U.S., with Miami facing an eye-watering 322% increase, followed by Jacksonville, FL, with 226%, Tampa, FL, with 213%, New Orleans with 196%, and Sacramento, CA, with 137%. Despite the growing insurance costs, some locations, including counties in the Miami and Tampa areas, as well as in Houston, are expected to continue to experience population growth on the strength of the local economies and other amenities, which make those regions attractive to homeowners 91 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000693 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0022500 despite the risks. Houston in particular is an example of how strong economic fundamentals can override climate risks, according to the First Street report. Despite experiencing multiple largescale natural disasters, with Hurricane Ike in 2008 and Hurricane Harvey in 2017, which cost the metro a combined total of more than $200 billion, Harris County, which is home to Houston, has grown by 1.3 million residents since 2000. And the median home values in the area shot up 58% from 2017 to 2022, outpacing national averages. "This resilience suggests that robust local economies and strong market demand can, at least temporarily, outpace any value losses from even severe climate risks," the report states. However, experts warn that this climate resilience in high-risk areas is likely temporary. "As climate-related risks build, buyer demand is likely to fade in affected areas, which could lead to falling home prices," Jones says. "Buyer demand could return if prices fall enough to adjust for climbing insurance costs, but the risk of catastrophic weather events may not be enough to convince home shoppers.". Return to Table of Contents Climate risk will take trillion-dollar bite out of America's real estate, report finds (USA Today) - full text USA Today [2/3/2025 10:17 AM, Andrea Riquier, 89965K] As natural disasters and extreme weather events become more common, the U.S. real estate market will lose more than a trillion dollars in value as Americans move away from riskier areas and toward those expected to be more resilient, a new report finds. But the great climate migration of the coming decades won't be linear. Americans will likely continue to flock to many of the areas that face the most peril, as local amenities and favorable economic conditions outweigh the mounting costs of climate risk. The report, Property Prices in Peril, from climate analytics firm First Street, categorizes neighborhoods throughout the country in one of several buckets. "Climate abandonment" areas are where climate risks and insurance premiums are high enough that population is declining; "risky growth" areas are where perils are high and premiums are rising, yet other social and economic factors keep people moving in; and "climate resilient" areas attract population because the risks and costs remain contained. "Tipping points" are areas that are risky enough to teeter on the brink of losing population. A fifth category refers to areas that face little climate risk yet continue to lose residents because of lack of economic opportunities. Notably, risky growth areas -- think of the major metros in Texas as one example -- are projected to see 76% population growth over the coming 30 years, while climate abandonment areas will lose 38% of their population. First Street reckons that, on average, risky growth areas will see a 1.7% decline in property values over the coming three decades. That's a broad national average, however; one of the most impacted areas, Tampa, Florida, could see as much as a 25% decline in home prices. Climate abandonment areas will see the biggest losses, averaging 6.2%. 92 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000693 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0022501 All in all, First Street thinks the value of real estate will decline by over $1 trillion by 2055. That's partly because many people will leave big parts of the country that are now experiencing growth, and partly because property values will have to adjust downward to compensate for higher insurance costs. The other key point from First Street's ongoing analysis of climate risk - first profiled by USA TODAY in October -- is that in most cases, risk is hyperlocal. One city or metro area may contain neighborhoods that fall into several of the broad categories, and Americans already have many years of experience sorting themselves away from riskier parts of town and into safer ones. "In climate migration in general, we're still not seeing these large macro level movements of people from, you know, Houston or Miami to Minnesota or Michigan or something like that," said Jeremy Porter, First Street's head of climate implications research, in an interview. "Instead, what we see is within cities, people want to live around their family. They want to have the same job, they want the kids to go to the same schools. But they're trying to find places that are relatively less risky in those metro areas.". That means it might be more accurate to refer to cities and metro areas as having high or low levels of climate risk. A risky growth area within that community might have better schools, nicer homes, and so on -- and it would become a "tipping point" before enough people are leaving that it becomes a "climate abandonment" area. Where are America's climate havens? While Porter shies away from declaring any particular area a "climate haven," First Street's report does point to parts of the Midwest as being among the most likely to be resilient over the coming decades. Dane County, Wisconsin, and Franklin County, Ohio, top the list. It may seem difficult to make projections on such complicated topics so far into the future, and it's made even more challenging by the fact that climate change may be altering the dynamics of how Americans think about where to live even faster than before. "We definitely track all five different categories in historic patterns," Porter said. "I think we are seeing an increased rate of response to climate exposure, and I think a lot of it has to do with just the point that we're at right now in time where we're having more frequent, more severe climate exposure events.". Having climate data readily available for people who are house hunting and making other decisions also helps, Porter thinks. "There's just an increase in awareness.". Return to Table of Contents [MA] Federally funded climate projects in Mass. face uncertainty under Trump (WBUR, MA) - full text WBUR [2/3/2025 3:00 PM, Miriam Wasser and Barbara Moran, 1205K, MA] Tina Quagliato Sullivan's eyes light up when she talks about the nearly $20 million federal grant Springfield won last year. The money, one of many "community change grants" the Environmental Protection Agency awarded to disadvantaged communities, will cover an array of projects aimed at reducing pollution and blunting the effects of climate change. They include home weatherization and lead paint removal; a road 93 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000693 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0022502 improvement project; and converting two city buildings to geothermal energy, so they can serve as heating and cooling centers. "None of these projects would really be possible without this funding," said Sullivan, Springfield's deputy development officer for housing, community services and sustainability. Sullivan was about to make her first grant-related office hire when President Trump signed several sweeping executive actions, including one dubbed "Unleashing American Energy." Trump's directives set off a head-spinning series of government edicts, lawsuits, court orders, phone calls and emails from EPA headquarters, which froze, then unfroze -- at least for now -- access to federal funds. The latest came Monday morning, when the EPA sent an email that seemed to allow grant recipients to move forward with funded projects. The email cited a recent temporary restraining order issued by a federal judge. "There still remains an awful lot of unknowns, but for the time being, I think we're thrilled," Sullivan said. "We intend to move forward.". The reprieve may be temporary. Uncertainty lingers for this and many other projects, as Trump works to unwind some of the Biden Administration's signature environmental, climate and energy initiatives, many of which fall under the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. These initiatives include the EPA's $7 billion Solar For All program, which awarded Massachusetts $156 million to help install solar panels in low-income communities. The EPA also recently awarded $35 million to Boston to expand its electric school bus fleet; $3 million to create a community advisory council in East Boston, and nearly $500,000 for workforce development in Worcester. Many of these projects seek to widen access to renewable energy and address disproportionate exposure to pollution and climate hazards among low-income communities and residents of color. The Trump administration has different priorities: promoting drilling for oil and gas, eliminating government subsidies for electric vehicles and charging stations, and curtailing funding for climate change and environmental justice initiatives. States, cities and nonprofits across the country that received EPA grants under former President Joe Biden got an email on Jan. 28 telling them this money was on hold, pending a review of grants to ensure they align with the Trump administration's goals. Maria Hardiman, a spokesperson for the state's office of Energy and Environmental Affairs, called the Solar for All funding "critical," and said in an email that "Massachusetts is continuing to monitor the status of federal grants to support affordable clean energy programs for our residents and businesses.". For Sullivan, the process has been "incredibly unclear" and the possibility of the government reviewing -- and possibly revoking -- a signed contract is troubling. " The best case scenario is that the federal government honors the executed binding contract that they signed with the city," she said. And the worst case scenario? The federal government decides not to honor the contract, she added, "and then the city explores its legal options.". Former EPA Regional Administrator David Cash said he's not surprised the Trump administration is " pushing the limits of what is legal," and he's concerned about the status of these grants. "Even though the courts have said that the administration needs to follow through with these grants, if they don't, what happens then? What's the mechanism for enforcement and accountability?" he asked. "It's just an act of brazen, 94 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000693 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0022503 bad governance.". In a Jan. 28 email, an EPA spokesperson said the agency is "continuing to work diligently to implement President Trump's Unleashing American Energy Executive Order issued on January 20 in coordination with the Office of Management and Budget.". The EPA declined to offer further comment on Monday, instead referring questions to the Department of Justice, which also offered no comment. Return to Table of Contents Disaster Recovery Who gets more disaster aid? Republican states. Experts explain that and more about FEMA (APNews.com) - full text APNews.com [2/3/2025 12:30 PM, Seth Borenstein, 47097K] Federal disaster aid is nearly everywhere. About 94% of Americans live in a county that has gotten Federal Emergency Management Agency help for disasters since 2011. But disaster aid -- for decades a mostly bipartisan issue -- is suddenly a political hot button after Hurricane Helene last year and this year's California wildfires. President Donald Trump and a conservative think tank have floated the possibility of shifting disaster response to the states, including eliminating FEMA or curtailing federal handouts. "Most states don't even have the ability, including Florida, to manage these disasters," without federal money and help, said Craig Fugate. Fugate has been a county emergency manager in Florida, head of the state of Florida's disaster office under a Republican governor and director of FEMA under President Barack Obama. Most states simply don't have enough money to handle big disasters, said Susan Cutter, director of the University of South Carolina's Hazards Vulnerability & Resilience Institute. "They're going to suffer because they don't have capacities to deal with it without federal help.". Experts say every state gets millions in federal help -- and a little more goes to Republican states and congressional districts. New York University's Rebuild By Design, a nonprofit that focuses on disaster prevention, created an atlas of the 795 non-medical and non-technological federal disasters since 2011, which they called climate disasters. It found that every state and all but a few hundred counties have been helped. "It's clear that climate is not a red or blue challenge," said Amy Chester, the atlas creator and Rebuild by Design's director. "Communities are suffering whether you are a red state or blue state.". Since 2011, more than $68.2 billion in FEMA aid has been spent on disasters that don't include the pandemic or oil spills. And that's payments just to governments, not people. Tens of billions more came -- mostly from Housing and Urban Development -- to people needing individual help to rebuild. States with Republican governors or two Republican senators tend to have more disasters and get slightly more money per person than states with Democratic governors and senators, according to an Associated Press analysis of Rebuild by Design's data. States that now have Republican governors have gotten an average of $222 per person in FEMA aid since 2011 with 475 federal declared disasters in 27 states. The 23 states with Democratic governors average 15% less at $193 per person over 320 disasters. The six swing states that voted for Joe Biden in 2020 and Donald Trump in 2024 -- and states with split U.S. Senate delegations -- get considerably less FEMA aid per person, 95 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000693 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0022504 averaging only $35 per capita. Those purple states have 15% of the country's population but get only 2.5% of the FEMA aid. Overall, states that voted for Donald Trump in 2024 averaged 15% less in FEMA funds per person than those that voted for Kamala Harris, but that's mostly skewed by the six swing states of Nevada, Arizona, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Michigan and Georgia that get less than their share. Red states with 42.7% of the population have 56.6% of the number of federally declared disasters and get half the FEMA aid. Blue states with 42.2% of the population and 35.8% of the number of disasters get 47.5% of the FEMA aid. The disaster-heavy states that former FEMA chief Fugate calls his "frequent fliers" also tend to be more Republican. About two-thirds of the top 15 states in total FEMA funds. FEMA spending per person and number of federally declared disasters are Republican. Those include Florida, Louisiana, Alaska, Tennessee, Oklahoma and Mississippi. Twelve congressional districts have had at least a dozen federally declared disasters since 2011; threequarters of them are represented by Republicans. Those are in Kentucky, Louisiana, New Hampshire, Oklahoma, Texas, Vermont and West Virginia. Disaster aid and declarations are "less political now than 40 years ago, 30 years ago," South Carolina's Cutter said. The first thing that has to happen in any disaster is the state has to ask the president to declare it a federal disaster, which lets the money flow, Fugate said. In general, the federal government pays 75% of the cost with state and locals picking up 25%. But in the biggest disasters the state share can shrink to 10% or even close to nothing, especially if Congress steps in. In disasters, government bills pile up quickly. States may have a hard time even making payroll because of that and that's where FEMA can step in early, helping with initial payments sometimes within 30 days. And FEMA simply has specialized expertise. In California, for example, the state's wildfires mean tons of debris -- much of it toxic -- has to be cleared and quick, Fugate said. FEMA can ask the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers -- experts who cleared World Trade Center debris -- to take charge, making it faster and cheaper for taxpayers. Experts also worry that states will struggle to stop waste, fraud and abuse that are currently harder with FEMA due to federal procurement laws. "When Charlotte County (Florida) got flattened in Hurricane Charley (in 2004), you as a taxpayer rebuilt all of our fire stations. You rebuilt our schools," Fugate said. The state could not have done it alone, he said. Return to Table of Contents [NC] Asheville to host public meetings on federal disaster funds, unmet community needs (13 WLOS, Asheville, NC) - full text 13 WLOS [2/3/2025 9:04 AM, Kelly Doty, 1530K, NC] City leaders will host a series of public meetings in February about the Community Development Block Grant -- Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) program and take feedback on "unmet disaster-related needs" in the community. Each of the six scheduled meetings will include a presentation on the CDBG-DR program, the process the city must follow to receive and allocate the funds, and the requirements set by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). 96 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000693 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0022505 After the presentation, the public is invited to share feedback on unmet disaster-related needs in their communities. Those comments will be incorporated into the draft Action Plan and inform which programs and activities receive funding. CDBG-DR is a federal disaster recovery program that must be used to address unmet disaster-related needs, particularly in housing, economic revitalization, and infrastructure restoration. "Public participation is a critical part of this process, and the City encourages all residents to attend a meeting, learn more about CDBG-DR, and share their perspectives on recovery needs," an Asheville spokesperson said in a news release Friday, Jan. 31. Public Meeting Schedule: Feb. 10, 2025: 3-4:30 p.m. (Virtual) Feb. 12, 2025: 4-5:30 p.m. at West Asheville Library Feb. 18, 2025: 6-7:30 p.m. (Virtual) Feb. 19, 2025: 6-7:30 p.m. at Skyland/South Buncombe Library Feb. 24, 2025: 6:30-8 p.m. at Grant Southside Community Center Feb. 26, 2025: 6-7:30 p.m. at East Asheville Library Visit publicinput.com for more information on the meetings and to register. City leaders said the draft Action Plan will be published in March and that more public feedback will be collected before the plan is submitted to HUD for approval in April. Return to Table of Contents [NC] New governor tests relations with North Carolina lawmakers with aid request for Helene recovery (APNews.com) - full text APNews.corn [2/3/2025 5:21 PM, Gary D. Robertson, 47097K] North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein asked state legislators Monday to roughly double their spending so far on recovery from Hurricane Helene, warning that waiting will cause more business closings, housing construction delays and students falling behind. Speaking in a mountain county hit by the historic flooding, the new Democratic governor said he wants his $1.07 billion request enacted now by the Republican-controlled General Assembly -- rather than wait for the two-year budget that starts in July, for which he'll make an additional Helene appeal. At a news conference at a food bank in Mills River, about 260 miles (420 kilometers) west of Raleigh, Stein said the funds are urgently needed in the first half of the year "so that people can get their lives back together." "If we do not act, some businesses will not be here in the summer, and we will miss an entire building season before the winter weather comes again," he warned, calling the funds a high priority. The largest chunks of his proposal, which contains no tax increases, would fund grants for struggling businesses; help repair and rebuild homes; clean up farm debris; fix private bridges and roads; and replace revenues spent or lost by local governments. There's also money for summer school in districts that lost at least 15 instructional days shortly after Helene's rampage last September. 97 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000693 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0022506 "We can ensure that our students are set up for long-term academic success.," Stein said. "All of these components are necessary to building a safer, stronger and more resilient western North Carolina, and they are needed now." The state legislature already appropriated last fall well over $900 million for relief and rebuilding efforts and earmarked a couple of hundred million more for that purpose in the future. New House Speaker Destin Hall has said getting bipartisan early-session Helene funding bill to Stein's desk was a top priority. Advancing Monday's package could provide an early test for Stein, who was sworn in last month, in his efforts to find consensus with Hall and Senate leader Phil Berger. While Republicans control both chambers, they are one seat short of a veto-proof majority. GOP Rep. Jake Johnson of Polk County, who served on a bipartisan Helene advisory committee organized by Stein last year, spoke at the news conference with an optimistic tone. "We will start reviewing the governor's proposed budget and figuring out how we can get these dollars to people who need them the most right now," Johnson said. Berger spokesperson Lauren Horsch said Monday that the Senate is reviewing Stein's proposal and anticipates considering Helene legislation in the coming weeks. Even with the money already put toward the recovery, Horsch added, "there is still more we can do. North Carolina state officials reported over 100 deaths from Helene with 74,000 homes and thousands of miles in both state-maintained and private roads damaged. The state budget office estimated that Helene caused a record $59.6 billion in damages and recovery needs. Congressional legislation approved in December and other federal actions are projected to provide over $15 billion to North Carolina for rebuilding. Helene made landfall last Sept. 26 in Florida's Big Bend and swept far inland, upending life throughout the Southeast. Officials have warned that rebuilding from the widespread loss of homes and property would be lengthy and difficult. Stein's request to spend money currently sitting in two reserves emphasizes speed. The $150 million sought for a home reconstruction, repair and buyout program is designed so such work can begin immediately while awaiting the distribution from Washington of similar housing assistance, which could take a year. The state program could assist at least 225 of 5,100 homes estimated to need rebuilding, Stein's request says. Stein also wants $150 million for two business grant programs designed to provide up to $75,000 to companies that suffered significant sales and economic losses, it physical damages. Stein said on Monday that "taking on additional business debt is simply not the answer for small businesses that are already struggling." In a special session last week, Tennessee lawmakers approved Gov. Bill Lee's $470 million package offering further aid for communities ravaged by Helene in the northeast part of that state. The package will help local governments cover loan interest on recovery costs, fuel agricultural and business recovery, fund disaster-related 98 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000693 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0022507 unemployment aid, and pay for rebuilding a badly damaged high school. Return to Table of Contents [FL] U.S. Marine Corps veteran and his wife receive a new home in Volusia County (Spectrum Central Florida News 13, FL) - full text Central Florida News 13 [2/3/2025 5:54 PM, Devin Martin, 244K, FL] A special and life-changing homecoming took place in Volusia County on Monday. U.S. Marine Corps veteran Leo Laliberte and his wife Deborah received a new home that had to be replaced due to flooding from Hurricane Ian in 2022. Through Volusia County's Transform386 initiative, the Laliberte's now have a new spot to call home, and they couldn't be any happier. A Volusia County couple experienced a life-changing homecoming on Monday. Their home had to be replaced due to flooding from Hurricane Ian in 2022. Through Volusia County's Transform386 initiative, the Laliberte's now have a new spot to call home. Leo and his wife Deborah moved to Port Orange from Massachusetts about five years ago. And when they arrive in Florida, they never thought they'd lose their home. "There's so many people involved in this, it's hard to thank everybody," Leo said. They did not see their new home until Monday, and as they walked through it, they made the most out of the little things. "In a word, I think it's gorgeous," Deborah said. "Having been married to this man, I know that it's well done.". This replacement project was made possible through the Community Development Block Grant-Disaster Recovery Funding provided by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Reconstruction of the home took 57 days. The county is looking to complete more projects like this one. "We've completed approximately nine, but 90 are in the construction process right now and we've got about 500 to 600 total that are actively moving through the process," Dona Butler, director of the office of Recovery and Resiliency for Volusia County said. If you are a Volusia County resident and would like to apply for Transform386, visit this link. [Editorial note: consult source link for video] Return to Table of Contents [TX] `We deserve to see recovery' - Houston residents demand more government support months after Hurricane Beryl (Prism Reports) - full text Prism Reports [2/3/2025 5:25 PM, Uyiosa Elegon, 60K] Hurricane season only lasts six months, but for Gulf Coast communities, recovery efforts never end. Houston resident Wilbert Cooper is still recovering from Hurricane Beryl after the storm caused two trees to fall and damage his home last summer. "I don't see a recovery because it's always something else happening," Cooper said. "After one storm, there's another storm.". Resilience amid relentless climate crisis and political theater seems ever more difficult for Cooper, his neighbors, and local disaster relief advocates. Cooper's home was without power for days alongside 2.5 million other homes, schools, and businesses during the Category 1 hurricane, which passed directly over the Houston area on July 8. 99 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000693 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0022508 As hundreds of thousands of residents struggled to find food and contact loved ones, several local volunteers helped him remove the trees. Half a year later, he said his neighborhood has a long road to recovery. "You still have a few houses with tarps on the roof," Cooper said. "You have houses with trees in them. You have houses that are not being rebuilt. You have a house that's been rebuilt that nobody's living in because they're worried about the mold.". Cooper's grim reflections are familiar to Fred Woods, a resident and community activist. His family has lived in the neighborhood for over a century. Woods feels that his community and other Houston-area communities deserve better recovery assistance. "We do our best," Woods said. "We try to help ourselves, we pay our taxes, we pay our fair share, and we don't deserve to suffer. We deserve to be cared for, especially in our hour of need, and we deserve to see recovery.". The city of Houston has a long history of neglecting the well-being of its Black neighborhoods. In 1979, Northwood Manor, a neighborhood in northeast Houston, was a site of controversy as residents sued the city and the state of Texas for choosing to build a garbage landfill in the neighborhood. At the time, Texas Southern University professor Robert Bullard and his graduate students found that all five city-owned landfills and six of the eight city-owned incinerators were placed in predominantly Black neighborhoods. In the aftermath of Hurricane Beryl, Woods refused to see history repeat itself. As president of the Northwood Manor Civic Club, he coordinated with several organizations and pressured elected officials in the city and county to meet his neighbors' needs. He was successful in getting immediate needs met, but Woods said he is concerned that governmental decision-making has hindered progress. "It does not help that our state government is in constant conflict with our local governments," Woods said. "Not getting any of the Harvey money from 2017 made it that much worse when Imelda hit in 2019 [and] when Beryl hit in 2024.". The "Harvey money" was the $1.3 billion Harris County and Houston requested to recover from Hurricane Harvey, a devastating storm that hit Texas and Louisiana in August 2017. Although Harris County and Houston sustained the most damage, the Texas General Land Office (GLO) determined that neither locale would receive money from the $1 billion in federal relief funds that arrived in the state in 2021. Last month, the Department of Housing and Urban Development determined that Texas discriminated against residents based on race and national origin when distributing Hurricane Harvey federal aid. Christina Lewis, Region VI director of the Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity, wrote that the GLO "focused mitigation resources in communities that benefited smaller populations of rural White Texans over communities of urban Black and Hispanic Texans, particularly those closer to the coast and more prone to flooding from hurricanes and other natural disasters.". "The United States was founded on racism and slavery," said Felix Kapoor, the codirector of Home Repair and Community Organizing at disaster recovery group West Street Recovery (WSR) and a member of the community advocacy group Northeast 100 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000693 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0022509 Action Collective (NAC). "Slavery and racism still is a very big part of what we do and who we are, and I think it takes a lot of the elite--the folks in power and those with privilege--to really sit down and unpack, what does it mean to be anti-racist?". Both WSR and NAC have been central to disaster relief and preparedness for residents like Cooper as well as to widespread advocacy efforts, including the discrimination complaint against Texas. Kapoor said he considers the aftermath of a disaster as an opportunity to locate and repair long-term systemic inequities, with impacted residents leading the way. "We want this to be a solidarity--not charity--model," Kapoor said. "We want this to be something rooted in mutual aid so that this grows. A long-term and sustainable recovery requires people living in the neighborhoods to have the [home repair] skills and be able to put attention and have experience towards what recovering, responding, and preparing for a disaster looks like.". In January, the Houston area experienced below-freezing temperatures. Many residents and experts worried the state's power grid couldn't handle the incoming demand, given the widespread outages the area experienced after Winter Storm Uri in 2021. Stefania Tomaskovic, coalition director of the Coalition for Environment, Equity and Resilience (LEER), said any power discrepancy can be potentially life-threatening for residents. "A lot of the people we work with in northeast Houston are vulnerable community members, many of them elderly. Many of them have health conditions, and that lack of power really impacts their well-being." Some older residents could fall ill due to a lack of air conditioning or be unable to refrigerate essential medications, Tomaskovic said. Utilities company CenterPoint Energy faced the most public outrage after Hurricane Beryl because thousands of residents struggled without electricity as heat-index values rose to the 100s. The company's outage tracker was unavailable immediately after the storm, so many residents used the Whataburger app to monitor power restoration efforts. CenterPoint is a regulated monopoly, meaning that the state of Texas has given it the exclusive right to be the sole electricity provider in the area. Tomaskovic and residents have focused their advocacy on the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUC), the state body that sets regulations for utility companies such as CenterPoint. Over the years, CEER has intervened in a utility rate case hearing and provided extensive public comment on the state's attempt to create resilient infrastructure and energy efficiency programs. The PUC issued a report in November 2024 on CenterPoint's handling of Hurricane Beryl, recommending that Texas lawmakers improve communication between utilities and customers during disasters. This recommendation is partly due to public outrage and engagement from groups such as CEER. "When the outage tracker went down for days, people had no way of knowing when help was coming," state Sen. Molly Cook (D-Houston) told Prism in an emailed statement. "That's unacceptable. We need stronger oversight, investments in resiliency, and clear accountability when utilities fail to meet basic service standards.". 101 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000693 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0022510 Cook said she has filed multiple bills to help address the situation, including proposals to study the feasibility of burying power lines in high-risk areas, designate electric services as essential for senior living facilities where people rely on elevators, and require the PUC to ensure utilities strengthen infrastructure for communities that need it most. It remains to be seen how the PUC will grapple with resident advocacy as CenterPoint defends its interests, aiming to push more than $1 billion worth of costs of repairing Hurricane Beryl's damage onto Houston-area customers. As the Gulf of Mexico warms every year, increasing the likelihood of more destructive storms, Tomaskovic believes a focus on creating resilience is a pathway through the ongoing climate crisis. "Resilience can sometimes be this buzzword of 'the ability to be punched down and get back up,'" Tomaskovic said. "And that kind of description really hurts me because a lot of the people we've worked with have gone storm after storm after storm. And I would like for us to get to a point where it's not about being punched down. It's about being lifted up and getting to a spot where these storms aren't doing the level of damage to people's homes and people's lives.". Return to Table of Contents [TX] After Hurricane Beryl, Texas lawmakers push for generators at senior living facilities (The Texas Tribune, TX) - full text The Texas Tribune [2/3/2025 6:00 AM, Tern Langford, 1609K, TX] When a storm hits the Texas coast during the summer hurricane season, state Sen. Borris Miles knows among the first calls he'll get is from a constituent letting him know power is down at an independent living complex, shutting off air conditioning for older Texans. "'Senator! You got these people here,"' he said, recalling a plea from a caller when Hurricane Beryl knocked out power to an assisted living facility last summer. "'What are we going to do?"' Miles, a Houston Democrat, is thankful for residents like these. But as the number of storms have increased, so has the frustration for southeast Texas lawmakers who want better solutions. That's why Miles and four other coastal lawmakers have filed at least six bills that would require nursing homes, assisted living facilities and even some apartments that market to the 55 and older set, to have emergency generators on site. In Texas, there are 1,193 nursing homes serving more than 86,000 patients and 2,004 assisted living facilities housing 49,574 residents. Miles' House Bill 732 would require certain lowincome housing for seniors living independently to have backup power. In recent years, Miles has seen more of these facilities being built in Houston. Often living in multistory apartment buildings, residents of this type of housing do not receive care, so little information, including on their health conditions, are collected. But after a storm knocks out power, the vulnerable conditions of these residents surface, as some in wheelchairs and walkers become trapped in 102 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000693 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0022511 elevators that are inoperable, Miles said. "We need to take care of people," he said. SB 481 from state Sen. Carol Alvarado, DHouston would require emergency plans at nursing homes and assisted living facilities to include generators. Nursing homes, which as the name suggests, offer more intense medical support to patients compared to assisted living facilities, which are senior apartments that provide meals and some assistance to its residents. HB 1199 by Rep. Christian Manuel, DBeaumont, calls for emergency generators that have the capacity to run for a minimum of 72 hours in such facilities. "Texans know firsthand the impact of being without power, particularly in elder care facilities where the stakes are incredibly high," Manuel said in a statement. Rep. Suleman Lalani, DSugar Land, has filed HB 1467 that would require nursing homes, assisted living and independent housing for seniors to have generators. Another one of his bills, HB 863, would create a shared database of where senior independent living communities are and include each complex's emergency plan, which is required by the state for assisted living and nursing homes. The database would be accessible to emergency response officials. "Things happen and then people make noise and then people go quiet," he said, remarking on past failed attempts to get a generator bill passed. "I think I have a unique opportunity and responsibility being a physician...I cannot go back and say 'Oh,' I will let it go." History of generator bills and pushback In this century alone, Texans have seen damage and death from hurricanes Rita in 2005, Ike in 2008, Harvey in 2017 and last July's Beryl, not to mention more freak storms like Uri's freeze in 2021 and last year's wildfires in the Panhandle and a windstorm in the Houston area. All have taken the power down for hours, days and in the case of Beryl, weeks. Former state Rep. Ed Thompson of Pearland became a champion for senior facility residents following a simple spring storm in 2018 that caused a power outage in his district. After arriving to check on a nearby senior facility, he was stunned to find an illprepared staff. Residents had been in a hot and dark facility for hours. When he asked a worker about the facility's emergency plan, he was incensed that it relied mostly on calling families to pick up their relatives or for those who had no family, just sending them to the local emergency rooms. "That lit a fire in me," he told the Tribune last week. Calls for generators to be required equipment, particularly at assisted living facilities, are nothing new, but bills in the last two legislative sessions have died, including Thompson's in 2023. His legislation stalled in committee after facing opposition from the nursing care and assisted living industries, which raised concerns, mostly about generator' costs, which is estimated to be at least $200,000 or more for a facility. That's why this session, Rep. Ana Hernandez, DHouston, has filed HB 2224 which would require backup power for elevators for 48 hours after a power loss. "A significant reduction in cost," she said. Past bills that have failed, she said, have focused on 103 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000693 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0022512 keeping the entire facility powered. "It is inhumane to leave an elderly person abandoned without electricity in temperatures over 100 degrees for days, or even weeks," Hernandez said. "Not having at least one elevator poses a high safety risk of elderly people being trapped on upperlevel floors, prohibiting residents from escaping a fire or seeking medical care." It's not clear whether the smaller price tag on such a requirement will get the buyin of the influential longterm care industry. The Texas Health Care Association, now headed by former state Sen. Travis Clardy, represents most of the state's nursing homes and he says his members already have generators but any blanket requirement for equipment that has to be purchased and maintained, perhaps once every few years, is a costly state mandate. "I think our membership would prefer to be able to see that channeled into higher quality care," Clardy said. Requirements during a storm When a storm heads for Texas, the state Health and Human Services Commission sends out emergency alerts to providers, putting them on notice that their emergency plans should be ready for use in case of a loss of power. The agency also contacts the facilities directly to check on the health and safety status of residents. Last year, some 80 longterm care facilities were without power three days after Hurricane Beryl made landfall on July 8. According to the agency, both assisted living facilities and nursing homes are always responsible for the safety of residents including during a storm. Emergency preparedness plans, which all assisted living and nursing home facilities must have, include a list of contacts workers will call in the event of a power outage and how they will evacuate residents if they need to do so. Since 1996, state law has required all new nursing homes to have an emergency generator that powers safety features such as emergency lighting and exit signs, fire alarm systems, nurse call systems, telephones and medication and lifesaving equipment. Assisted living facilities are not required to have a generator. That said many assisted living facilities have some type of power back up to keep food or medications refrigerated. But cooling and heating all living areas is not something that has been explicitly required for assisted living facilities or nursing homes. Since 2016, federal law requires generators in nursing homes in new and replacement nursing homes or for all nursing homes that have indicated in their emergency plans they would rely on emergency power to provide heating and cooling or other critical systems. However, the agency does not regulate other types of housing such as independent, senior, or congregant living facilities. These entities do not hold a state license and are not required to report any information to the state health agency. Carmen Tilton, vice president of public policy for the Texas Assisted Living Association said her industry has been a willing collaborative partner with lawmakers on the issue of requiring generators. After Hurricane Harvey, her organization worked with the state to to hammer out a 104 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000693 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0022513 regulation that requires facilities to keep temperatures inside no colder than 68 degrees and no hotter than 82. "The state doesn't say you have to check a box," she said. The agency leaves it to industry to determine how they will meet that standard. It could be cooling one room inside a facility with fans and portable generators and bringing residents into that one room or if assisted living facilities wanted to purchase and maintain a larger generator, they can do so without the state determining the size, or how much fuel to keep on hand at all times. That flexibility is what the assisted living industry wants to keep in place, Tilton said. "We recognize that everyone's setup is a little bit different," she said. "We're not fighting these bills. We're trying to find out how to make them work under our existing regulations." AARP Texas, which is advocating for generators in assisted living facilities, wants more clarity in law, not just in the administrative code. The code is too often and too easily changed, said Andrea Earl, an associate state director of advocacy and outreach at AARP Texas. "There's no assurances in law that healthy temperatures will be maintained at all times in the residential spaces of Texas' longterm care facilities," she said Some local governments are not waiting on the legislature to act. Earlier this month, Harris County announced it was incorporating into its fire code a requirement for generators for all nursing homes and assisted living facilities located in unincorporated areas. There's already been pushback. "The new mandate is problematic in many ways and would needlessly require communities to reconfigure existing systems," said Diana Martinez, the assisted living association's president and CEO, in a statement. "Generators are not a onetime expenditure nor are they a panacea. Generators do fail." Return to Table of Contents [OR] Rebuilt housing community for fire survivors opens on McKenzie River (Oregon Public Broadcasting, OR) - full text Oregon Public Broadcasting [2/2/2025 8:28 PM, Tiffany Eckert, 741K, OR] It's been more than four years since the Holiday Farm fire destroyed hundreds of homes along the McKenzie River. Last Friday, Homes for Good held a grand opening to celebrate a completely rebuilt housing community where a mobile home park once stood. About 100 people showed up in heavy rain to check out the brightly painted modular houses on the former site of Lazy Days RV Park. Eleven-year-old fire survivor Parker Crabb cut the ribbon. "My grandma lost her house. It was scary," he said. "Grama's definitely gonna get a house here!" Parker's grandmother is Yvette Oyervides. She lived in her home in Blue River for 22 years until it burned to the ground in 2020. "It was devastating," she said. Hugging her grandson, Oyervides said she's happy to see Lazy Days rebuilt. "We are supposed to be getting a place here. They're really nice," she added. The new Lazy Days Community was built by Homes for Good. Executive Director Jacob 105 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000693 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0022514 Fox said the houses have fire-resistant metal roofs and concrete siding. He added that the units are footprinted away from vegetation and the landscape design is intentional. Also, there are water tanks and generators on the property so that if there was another fire event, he said, the sprinklers could still be run. Fox said the two-bedroom modular homes are designed for up to a family of four. "We have 20 [units] here today that are ready to move into," he said. "And then we have 10 more smaller units that we're about to order and we will have them available in April." Fox said first priority will go to applicants displaced by the fire. Immediate priority goes to people who lost their mobile home or RV when the Holiday Farm fire tore through Lazy Days. "Second priority," he said, "will be people in the fire footprint, who were displaced." Homes for Good is Lane County's housing agency. It works with Oregon Housing and Community Services and assigned case managers to help individuals and families who were displaced by the Holiday Farm Fire connect with housing opportunities. Fox said from the outset, the new Lazy Days community will be a combination of renters and homeowners with "rent-to-own" opportunities for residents. "And the ultimate goal is that this park would be owned and maintained and managed by the people who live here," he said. Lane County Commissioner Heather Buch represents District 5--East Lane County. At the event, she noted the numerous grand openings she's attended over the last year as the Blue River community continues to rebuild itself. "Lane County is committed to the long-term recovery of the McKenzie River community," Buch said. "It is in my heart and I am profoundly honored to work on behalf of the people who live here and support their recover." Sophia Francia read aloud a joint letter from Oregon's U.S. Sens. Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden. In part, the letter said: "The journey to this point has been long and challenging. In the face of adversity, the community has shown incredible resilience and determination.". Francia, who works in Merkley's office, read on. "Lazy Days is taking tangible steps toward the future where everyone has access to a safe affordable home. To the fire survivors here today, your strength and perseverance is an inspiration to us all.". Oregon Housing and Community Services Director Andrea Bell spoke of the humanity of the McKenzie River community. "Part of what I want to offer you all today is a deep sense of gratitude. Gratitude for your compassion for one another. We are here in the rain and the cold because we are united by a common cause. That common cause is one of humanity, it's one of compassion. When a challenge comes our way -- we know that we have a group of people who will bring our best - for the sake of humanity." While many of the attendees of the Grand Opening were locals, several out-of-town folks arrived by bus. LTD provided free rides from Eugene to the site at 52511 McKenzie Highway, Blue River. The Lazy Days Mobile Home and RV Park, with 21 mobile home spaces and 15 RV 106 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000693 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0022515 spaces, was completely destroyed during the Holiday Farm Fire on Sept. 7, 2020. Homes for Good purchased a portion of Park on the north side of the McKenzie Highway in December 2021. Lane County approved Homes for Good to provide 20 spaces for modular/manufactured homes and an additional 10 spaces for park model RVs as well as a community building, open space and a park. Site work started mid-June 2023. All the modular Homes were built by IdeaBox. The 20 modular homes ready for occupancy have numerous ADA features including bath grab bars, wide exterior and interior doors and aisle ways sized for wheelchair access. One of the homes is an ADA Unit with fully accessible kitchen cabinets and appliances and fully accessible bath. According to Homes for Good, most of the funding for the rebuild and construction of 30 homes at Lazy Days has come from the State of Oregon and in a joint letter, U.S. Sens. Merkley and Wyden cited $1 million toward the project through the Community Initiative Project in the financial year of 2022. Additional funding came from Lane County/Business Oregon and Department of Environmental Quality for the community septic system and a grant from the Department of Housing and Urban Development. Return to Table of Contents [CA] In Altadena, Black Households Were Most Likely to Burn, Study Finds (Capital B) - full text Capital B [2/3/2025 9:00 AM, Adam Mahoney, 66K] The Jones family lost their home of 55 years on Altadena's foothills. They were far from the only ones. The Eaton Fire that exploded in early January tore through more than 9,000 structures in the heart of Altadena, devastating a historically Black neighborhood that had persevered for generations through discrimination and, more recently, gentrification. A new UCLA study confirms what many in the community already knew: Black residents in Altadena were most likely to see their homes damaged or destroyed, and they face a steeper financial climb to rebuild. "The devastation in our community was a man-made type of situation [utility and evacuation failures] that probably could have been prevented," said Adonis Jones, known as Coach AD, who is a well known mentor of young children in Altadena. His family just began the long winded process of wading through FEMA and insurance paperwork. "We knew we were the most affected." Now that the flames have died down and residents can slowly sift through the ashes, the study found that Black residents were nearly 1.5 times more likely than their neighbors to experience major property damage. And Black victims were older and living in financial situations that will make it significantly harder to recover compared to the broader community. The study used U.S. Census Bureau data mapped out against the areas that were hit by the fire to gain a greater understanding of the demographics affected. The numbers are stark: 61% of the city's Black households fell within the fire's perimeter, compared to 50% of non-Black households. Ultimately, nearly half of Black residents saw their homes 107 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000693 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0022516 reduced to rubble, far higher than the 37% rate for non-Black residents. For many, the road ahead will be filled with obstacles -- accessing insurance payouts, rebuilding costs, and the ever-present pressure of gentrification. But for a community that has fought to stay rooted in Altadena despite the odds, the fight for recovery is just beginning. "It felt like from day one, they, emphasis on they, wanted us to sell and to leave, but we're not going anywhere," said Jones, who pointed out that when President Donald Trump visited LA's fire scorched areas, he only visited the more white and wealthy community of Pacific Palisades. The Eaton fire, aided by hurricane-force winds, rained down embers like a storm over Altadena's westside where most of the city's Black and Latino residents lived. And, as Capital B has reported, despite this part of the town sitting in the fire's direct path, they were the last to receive evacuation orders. Lawsuits and investigations into the exact reason why are now pending. "The notification system was horrible. We were sitting in the dark with no power all day, but my wife wanted to stay until we got notified," Jones said. "When I could see the red sea coming over the mountains, I knew we just had to go, but a lot of people stayed.". The destruction in the community is staggering, and for many residents, it feels like the latest chapter in a long fight to hold onto a place they had already struggled to call home. "I always tried to keep this place a secret because I didn't want it taken from me," said Cienna Benn, a graduate student at the University of California, Irvine, whose working class family was displaced by the fires. "I've done all I could to protect it. I know we all did." The study warns that as the community rebuilds, those already struggling to break into homeownership may find themselves locked out altogether. By 1970, 70% of Black households in Altadena owned their homes -- nearly double the rate of Black homeowners elsewhere in the county. A decade later, Black residents made up almost half of Altadena's population. But then came gentrification. Property values climbed to well over $1 million, longtime families were pushed out, and by 2020, Black residents made up just 17% of the city. That number had started to tick back up in recent years. Then the fire came. For the Black families still holding on, the financial weight of homeownership has been crushing. Using census data, the study found that nearly half spend more than 30% of their income just to keep their homes. Even more overwhelming, more than 25% dedicate over half their income on housing costs. By contrast, only about a third of nonBlack homeowners in Altadena are considered cost-burdened, and 13% are in severe financial strain. The share of older Black residents also adds another layer of vulnerability. Several victims interviewed by Capital B said the owner of their family home was well into their 80s. They built this community, but now they face a new wave of predatory practices. Some, in the middle of the firestorm, have said they've received phone calls from 108 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000693 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0022517 investors asking if they were willing to sell before the ashes had cooled. If outside buyers swoop in and if longtime Black residents are pushed out yet again, residents and advocates worry that Altadena wont ever be the same. "Altadena's Black community has long served as a symbol of resilience and opportunity in the Los Angeles region, but the Eaton Fire exposes how decades of segregation and the legacy of redlining practices have left Black households more vulnerable," said Lorrie Frasure, a professor of political science and African American studies at UCLA. "The recovery process must acknowledge this historic legacy and provide tailored support that ensures the restoration and future of this vibrant community." Return to Table of Contents [CA] L.A. fires hit family wealth. Daunting challenges await those trying to recover it (Los Angeles Times) - full text Los Angeles Times [2/3/2025 6:00 AM, Don Lee, Andrew Khouri, 17996K] It took a decade of scrimping and saving for the Ramirez sisters to buy their first house, a fixer-upper in Altadena. Nine years later, they bought another, and after a few more years, a third, all within a few blocks of each other. By 2013, the three single women all had their own homes, and they enjoyed watching their properties rise in value to more than $1 million each -- the kind of wealth that their immigrant father, a California bracero, could never have imagined. Now, after the Los Angeles fires burned all three homes to the ground, the Ramirez sisters are back to square one. They are once more living together in one house, a fourbedroom short-term rental in San Fernando, paying almost $8,000 a month. And they're again pooling their funds as they look to buy a house together: Their goal, just as before, is to continue living together until each of them rebuilds her own home -- and regains the wealth they have lost. That's a daunting challenge, and how close the Ramirez sisters come to success may determine how bright the future of much of Los Angeles turns out to be. To begin with, like the owners of many of the almost 12,000 homes destroyed by the fires, the Ramirezes are likely to find they're underinsured. Their policy coverage limit may not be enough to rebuild similarly sized houses on their lots, or their final settlement may be negotiated down to less than what they might otherwise get, which is common. After previous California wildfires from 2013 to 2020, almost 40% of homeowners' insurance claims were underpaid, with households receiving settlements that were 28% lower than the expected rebuilding costs, according to research by Federal Reserve Bank economists in San Francisco and Philadelphia. The gap may be even bigger today because of the expected surge in cost due to unusually high demand for contractors and supplies. All of which means the Ramirezes will need to take out a loan on top of the mortgages they already have on their incinerated houses. Losing a house in a fire or other disaster does not cancel a preexisting mortgage. So rebuilders may need to work more or longer than they had planned in order to meet the extra expenses. And the rebuilding process 109 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000693 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0022518 will be long and grueling, further complicated by the Trump administration's crackdown on unauthorized immigrant workers who are a critical source of labor for construction and other industries. The cleanup alone will take many months. "I'm hopeful, but I'm a little scared," said Teresa Ramirez, a social worker who at 58 is the oldest of the three sisters. On Saturday, she and her sisters, Alicia and Maria, their brother, Tony, and Teresa's son, Leo, went together to see the charred remains of their homes. All that is left standing at Teresa's house are the chimney and fireplace, a metal fence and two orange trees in the back. The destruction caused by the Palisades and Eaton fires is staggering. Total economic damage has been estimated as high as $250 billion. What homeowners lost is certainly in the tens of billions of dollars. Some didn't have fire insurance at all. Many of those who are covered saw a substantial part of the equity that they had amassed over many years suddenly vanish. For most people, the home is their primary asset. their nest egg and source of financial security. It's also the foundation of generational wealth -- wealth that could be passed on to their children for education, raising families, starting a business and other things that can make future generations stronger and more secure. Historically, that kind of progress has made communities and whole countries grow stronger. Along the way, those promising futures have helped bridge economic and generational divides, brought a level of social cohesion to neighborhoods and spurred broad growth. The question facing both individuals hoping to rebuild and the larger communities they belong to is whether, and how widely, that dynamic prevails after a catastrophe as enormous as the L.A. County fires. "Those homes represented social stability and transferred wealth in a multiethnic community," said G.U. Krueger, a longtime Los Angeles housing economist who has done work for the California Public Employees' Retirement System, among other clients. "Grandparents, parents and their children could support each other through their life stages in celebrating their successes and helping in times of economic and social stress," Krueger added. "They represented a haven of stability in a chaotic world, which could soon be a utopian memory." In Altadena, the heart of the Eaton fire, some 6,000 homes, or about 40% of all residential units, were destroyed, according to census data and a Times analysis. Before the fires, it was a middle-class city with mostly older homes (built before 1960) and a diverse population of 43,000 that was about half Latino and Black. Many bought into the community decades ago when it was far cheaper, and over time experienced significant appreciation. As of December, the average price of a home in Altadena was about $1.2 million, a fivefold increase from 2000, based on data from Zillow. Most have substantial equity in their homes. Some have paid off their loans, or nearly so. Teresa Ramirez's neighbor on Olive Avenue, Paul Wallace, a retired civil engineer, 110 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000693 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0022519 bought his three-bedroom house 23 years ago. He has just 21/2 years left on a 15-year mortgage, and says he has reserves to pay that off. Wallace plans to rebuild, although he, too, worries about the cost. Others, after refinancings and cash-outs, have bigger mortgages. Teresa Ramirez's is $460,000. Overall, homeowners in Altadena, on average, carried a mortgage balance of $515,000 at the end of last year, according to Moody Analytics' analysis of credit files for The Times. The Palisades fire, by comparison, destroyed more than 5,500 homes, about 60% of all residential units. The city of 21,500 is older (median age 47), richer (median household income over $200,000) and more than half of the houses were built after 1960. Palisades home values, on average, have more than doubled since 2010 to $3.7 million. With an average mortgage balance of $1.7 million, the typical owner had racked up $2 million of equity wealth as of last year. Its residents include the rich and famous, as well as other well-to-do individuals who have personal resources to rebuild. But there are also homeowners who bought decades ago when homes weren't as pricey, and others who lived in more modest units. Katia and Adam Hausman said they stretched to purchase a Pacific Palisades condo in 2012 for just under $550,000. In the years that followed, they advanced in their careers, remodeled their unit and brought their daughter, Mila, home from St. John's Hospital, turning their two-bedroom dwelling into a place of safety and comfort. Last month, they watched live on TV as their home burned. The couple said they want to return and think their insurance will cover the cost to rebuild the interior of their condo. But that's only one piece of the puzzle. Adam Hausman, a real estate broker, said he's not sure their homeowners association's master insurance plan will be enough to reconstruct the exterior of the building. If the money is there, the process won't be quick. Hausman, 53, estimates it would be five years until they could move back in. In the meantime, they'll need to pay the mortgage on their destroyed condo, as well as costs for temporary housing, expenses Hausman said their insurance isn't close to covering. To make it work, the couple set up a GoFundMe page and are prepared to move somewhere they can live cheaper for now. "We cannot afford to do this in Los Angeles," said Katia Hausman, 47, who works in technology. Wildfires, in particular, throw up additional barriers for people to rebuild. Unlike after a flood when water recedes, fire often leaves behind lots of toxins that can require expensive remediation that can also delay insurance payouts. It can take up to 18 months for the Army Corps of Engineers to assess and remove debris, including hazardous materials, and prepare soil reports before construction can begin. Homeowners who aren't well-off often hit a wall, unable to pay for the litany of costs. Eventually such households throw in the towel and sell to developers or wealthier individuals. Others settle for what they can get from insurers, pay off their mortgages and leave the area. 111 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000693 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0022520 Government disaster recovery aid from the Federal Emergency Management Agency and elsewhere is supposed to lessen the chance of that happening, but financial assistance is often slow to arrive. "Unfortunately, we have a housing recovery system that is extremely broken from a policy perspective and it gets worse the further down the income and wealth ladder you go," said Andrew Rumbach, a senior fellow with the Urban Institute think tank. After the Tubbs fire in 2017 destroyed more than 2,600 residential properties in Santa Rosa, the city made extraordinary efforts to manage the rebuilding process and hired an outside firm to help with permitting and other logistics. Even then, more than seven years later, one-fifth of what was lost has still not been reconstructed, according to the city's recovery data. The rebuilding pace may be faster in L.A. because the city, the county and the state have pledged to speed up the recovery. Yet experts say it could still take a decade to fully rebuild in the Palisades and Altadena. Planning departments are understaffed and contractors are expecting a shortage of key materials such as lumber and drywall. The Ramirez sisters are bracing for a long haul but are determined to rebuild. "We're not going anywhere," said Teresa, recalling how their father first came to California from Michoacan, Mexico, in the early 1960s under the U.S.-Mexico bracero program for temporary farmworkers. Teresa and her sisters grew up in Pasadena and settled in Altadena in 1993. They took the time-honored path to building wealth: education and homeownership. All three got college degrees and steady jobs. And after years of renting, they bought their first house in Altadena for $190,000 in 2001: a four-bedroom, two-bath rambler that was so rundown that it was barely livable. They fixed or replaced the kitchen and roof, plumbing and electricity, and more. Before the fire, the house was worth more than $1 million. In 2010, grieving for the passing of their homemaker mom, the sisters decided it was time to buy house No. 2. They paid $390,000 for the three-bedroom, two-bath house. It was just two minutes away from the first house and Teresa and her young son would live in it. At the start of this year, it was valued at $1.1 million. The sisters bought the third house in 2013, several blocks away, just past Odyssey Charter School. paying $490,000. A month ago, it was worth more than $1.2 million. "That's a lot of money for working-class, single women," Teresa said. She wants to rebuild what she had before, which should make getting permits faster than submitting plans for something bigger or different. But she worries about higher costs. Some rebuilders are wanting to use more metal and fire-resistant materials and even sprinklers on the roof. Teresa says her insurance policy from the Hartford, which includes extended coverage, will pay up to $930,000 for a replacement structure. She fears rebuilding could cost up to $1,000 per square foot -- which means she would have to come up with as much as $670,000 on her own to match the size of her old, 1,600-square-foot home. 112 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000693 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0022521 Teresa's neighbor, Paul Wallace, said he met with an architect about rebuilding, and she gave him a quote of $90,000 to $100,000 just for her services. And he would have to get a separate structural engineer, all before he even began rebuilding. Still, companies such as Thomas James Homes, a single-lot builder in the Los Angeles area, say that a more basic new home, personalized but not custom-built, would probably cost closer to $600 per square foot, which could be more in line with Teresa's budget. The Ramirez sisters also have a GoFundMe page and are trying to move quickly, concerned that their Altadena location will put them at the back of the rebuilding line, especially behind wealthier places such as the Palisades. "We don't want to be a forgotten community," she said. Return to Table of Contents [CA] The LA fires have a shocking price tag -- and we'll all have to pick up the tab (VOX) - full text vox [2/3/2025 7:30 AM, Umair Irian, 8878K] Now that the extraordinarily fast-moving wildfires that engulfed swaths of Southern California this year have started to die down, the enduring toll is beginning to emerge. The blazes killed 29 people and destroyed at least 16,000 structures, including homes, offices, shops, and public infrastructure. Angelinos are starting to get back to survey the damage, but it may be weeks before they can start rebuilding as cleanup crews first work to clear toxic debris. The destruction of some of the state's most expensive mansions in communities like Pacific Palisades received much of the attention, but the fires also displaced people in predominantly middle- and working-class areas like Altadena and Pasadena, where the Eaton Fire burned through 9,400 buildings. "It's not just a rich person's disaster," said Adam Rose, a professor at the University of California studying the economic impacts of disruptions like wildfires. Verisk, a risk analysis firm, calculated that property losses to the Palisades Fire and the Eaton Fire covered by insurance would total between $28 billion and $35 billion. CoreLogic, a property analytics company, put that bill between $35 billion and $45 billion. The 2018 Camp Fire that burned down Paradise, California, the state's deadliest wildfire, racked up $12.5 billion in insured losses. But insured properties weren't the only things lost to the flames. Morgan Stanley estimated that the fires would lead to 20,000 to 40,000 lost jobs in January and will increase local inflation as people try to replace what they've lost. AccuWeather estimated that the total damage plus broader economic losses would add up somewhere between $250 billion and $275 billion. That would make it the costliest disaster in US history, more than the $200 billion total bill from Hurricane Katrina in 2005. That raises the question: Who is going to pay for all of this? Safeguards like insurance can help contain the costs, and provide the funds to rebuild. But that isn't free, and when disasters reach such extraordinary scales, it's not just the 113 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000693 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0022522 scorched community that pays -- we all do. Through higher prices for goods, as well as rising insurance rates and taxes, the burden of the blazes, directly and indirectly, reaches far beyond the edges of their smoke and ash. Across the country, population growth, the economy, and climate change have been on a collision course: More people are moving to areas vulnerable to burning, flooding, or drying out, putting more people (and their property) in harm's way. Because of inflation and economic growth, the cost of rebuilding is rising. And as the climate changes, extreme events like hurricanes and wildfires are becoming more destructive. So when a disaster does occur, its price tag adds up to a gargantuan number. Many of the residents who lost their homes and fled the fires are paying out of pocket if they can afford it, or turning to relief aid if they can't. A GoFundMe spokesperson told Vox that donors have contributed more than $200 million through its fundraising platform to individuals and nonprofits for wildfire relief efforts. The Federal Emergency Management Agency has also approved more than $52 million for emergency housing assistance and other needs. Normally, a community impacted by a major natural disaster could rely on aid from the federal government, too. But President Donald Trump and Republicans in Congress want to impose policy conditions on federal disaster aid going to the Los Angeles fires, demanding voter ID laws and changes to California's water management before Washington chips in. Now as the embers fade, insurance is going to be the main engine of the recovery. In California, though, this engine is sputtering. The roots of the problem go back to a 1988 California ballot initiative known as Proposition 103 that limits how much insurance companies can raise their rates, the factors that they are allowed to consider, and the perils they must cover. It was meant to protect homeowners from price-gouging, but this regulation, along with rising wildfire risks, have led some insurance companies to exit the Golden State entirely. The insurance providers that remain are growing increasingly anxious about the future. As average temperatures rise due to climate change, California is poised to experience more drastic swings between rainy and dry seasons, creating a weather whiplash that sets the stage for more wildfires, more floods, and more mudslides. Since banks require mortgage holders to have insurance and some private firms aren't willing to provide it anymore, many homeowners have no option other than California's insurer of last resort, the FAIR Plan. It's intended as a temporary safety net providing limited, expensive coverage, yet it's become a dominant player in the insurance market. In 2020, the FAIR Plan had $153 billion in exposure, the value of potential payouts across its policyholders -- basically the worst-case scenario for how much an insurance company would have to pay if everyone they insure in an area filed a claim. Just four years later, that shot up to $458 billion as more residents who lost private coverage turned to their last remaining option. Now facing what may be the most expensive disaster in its history, the FAIR Plan is running out of cash, which may force it to take more drastic actions to cover its 114 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000693 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0022523 obligations. That could lead to higher insurance premiums for all policyholders in California, not just those on the FAIR Plan. To cushion the blow of disasters like the Los Angeles fires, insurance companies can buy their own insurance policies, known as reinsurance. These policies come from big, global companies that distribute their risks around the world and usually aren't constrained by government regulations. That means reinsurance premiums can get pricey, especially as more major disasters strike around the world, pressuring retail insurers from the other side. US reinsurance rates doubled between 2018 and 2023. "Right now, the state of California will not allow insurers to put the expense of the reinsurance into their rates," said Tom Larsen, who leads the catastrophe risk team at CoreLogic. "So that's an inhibitor for insurers to buy reinsurance and increases the likelihood that an insurer could go bankrupt or insolvent." California has made some changes that will allow insurers to begin incorporating these expenses into what they charge customers, something all other states already do. But rising reinsurance premiums will likely lead to higher home insurance rates from all insurers, so the damage from a tempest or inferno far away could make you pay more to protect your own house. Figuring out the losses from a disaster is important for mustering the resources to respond, to plan for the future, and to develop a long-term strategy for reducing risks. But it's tricky. Companies that tally these damage estimates look at a variety of metrics like before-and-after satellite images, aerial photos, property records, wind speeds during the fire, building inventories, and vehicle registrations. Together, these variables feed into a catastrophe model that can anticipate events that have never been seen before and attach a dollar value to them -- letting residents, policymakers, and businesses know just how much could be at stake in the future. That's why analysts can already say that the recent wildfires around Los Angeles are among the most expensive in history, even as the ashes are only now cooling. "We are essentially taking all of that data, combining it with the hazard and the vulnerability, and estimating the total loss," said Jay Guin, the chief research officer at Verisk Extreme Event Solutions. "From our modeling point of view, this was not a surprise to us." However, it wasn't until last year that California allowed insurers to use forward-looking catastrophe models in setting their rates, which account for future shifts like population growth and weather worsened by climate change. Previously, insurers only looked at historical losses to calculate insurance rates, leaving out a major threat to their business model. There are other factors driving up the costs as well. With so many homes that need repairs and reconstruction at the same time, there aren't enough workers to go around. Building materials are often in short supply. So it takes longer and costs more to rebuild. While areas like Pacific Palisades saw a big spike in property values in recent years, insurers only cover what it takes to restore the property -- not the market value. "The compensation is strictly the reconstruction," said Larsen. That can create an incentive to rebuild rather than move: Many residents bought their homes decades ago at much 115 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000693 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0022524 cheaper prices and far lower mortgage rates, and the insurance payouts aren't enough to move somewhere else with current real estate values. Property insurance policies also often cover lost or damaged personal property and provide a stipend for temporary living expenses. Having to pay out so many claims at once can strain the finances of private insurance companies, especially if they don't have enough cash on hand. Though they often have a portfolio of policyholders across the country, insurance companies are regulated at the state level, which limits how much they can spread the risk. In California, there's currently a moratorium preventing insurance companies from dropping existing customers. The fires are likely to force lasting changes on the insurance sector as companies try to navigate so many constraints, though the full extent of the impact won't be clear for a while. It's likely that more private insurers will raise their premiums or cut their coverage. For homeowners, that means higher living expenses, losing their mortgages, moving somewhere else, or facing the next calamity unprotected. While California's insurance system and risk exposure is different from other states, it's the fifth-largest economy in the world, so its fortunes will shift the financial outlook for the whole country. States like Florida and Louisiana are also facing similar pressures as rising claim payouts are making private insurers flee, forcing state-run insurers of last resort to shoulder more of the burden. California FAIR Plan officials were well aware that a crisis like the recent Los Angeles wildfires was looming. FAIR Plan President Victoria Roach told state lawmakers last year that the number of properties covered under the program at the time had reached 375,000, more than double the amount in 2019. "As those numbers climb, our financial stability comes more into question," Roach said. By September 2024, the number had risen to 451,799. The FAIR Plan functions differently from conventional insurance systems. It's a nonprofit, but it doesn't use public money. Instead, private insurance companies in California are required to contribute in line with their market share. As such, it's not an insurance company per se, but what's called a syndicated pool. The FAIR Plan only provides basic fire and smoke protection. It doesn't cover other perils that are typical in a home insurance policy like hail damage, water damage, and personal liability. A homeowner still has to buy a private insurance policy to cover things not covered by the FAIR Plan in order to meet mortgage insurance requirements. An average FAIR Plan policy costs $3,200 per year, more than double the average homeowner's insurance rate in California. Even so, these premiums aren't enough. The program has $377 million cash on hand. The FAIR Plan does have a $2.6 billion reinsurance plan to cover excess losses, but it only kicks in after $900 million in claims. Several small wildfires could wipe out its cash reserve and a really big fire could exhaust all of its coverage. The FAIR Plan has almost $5 billion in potential exposure in its insured properties in the fire-scorched areas. The total losses are likely to be much less than the total exposure, but it's still creating a 116 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000693 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0022525 dicey situation as homeowners file claims. "We're a not-for-profit," Roach said. "We don't have a lot of money sitting around. Our rates are not adequate. I don't think anybody thinks it's a good model right now." What happens when it burns through its cash? The FAIR Plan basically has two options, said Jerry Theodorou, who leads insurance research at the R Street Institute, a free market think tank. In the first, the FAIR Plan could issue an emergency assessment that requires private insurance companies in California to chip in to cover its losses. The last time it did that was in 1994 after the Northridge earthquake near Los Angeles. California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara said last year that the chances of another assessment were "highly unlikely." The private insurers can then pass some of the costs onto their policyholders with rate increases, but the bigger worry is that this could drive even more insurers to leave California or from certain risky regions in the state. "People are panicking because it hasn't been done in a long time," Theodorou said. The other choice is to issue bonds, effectively taking on debt. California Assembly Bill 226, introduced earlier this month, would allow the state to issue bonds to help pay for the FAIR Plan. But there are unanswered questions about how this would work. "It's not an unusual solution," Theodorou said, noting that municipalities routinely use bonds to pay for expenses. "However, [the bill] doesn't give any numbers." He noted that California has made some recent changes to stabilize its insurance market and that private insurance companies will likely come out of these fires intact since they can balance their books across their portfolios in the rest of the country. Some may eventually start coming back to California and take a bit of weight off the FAIR Plan. However, property insurance payouts don't tell the whole story. Angelenos who couldn't afford the FAIR Plan may end up on their own. According to LendingTree, nearly one in 10 homes in Los Angeles is uninsured. Renters are in an even more precarious position since insurance isn't usually required to lease a property. The local economy is also going to face lingering damage. "You have both direct business interruptions - some stores and commercial enterprises that are not able to operate -- but you have indirect or multiplier effects," USC's Rose said. Companies may have to cancel orders, hope for supply chains to unsnarl, or wait for customers to come back. The scale of this disruption increases with the length of the recovery, and if businesses can't hold out, they may shutter. On the other hand, some local enterprises like general contractors will get a boost from the reconstruction effort. There are health effects to consider too. The fires sent lead and chlorine into the air and there are concerns that the detritus from the blazes could contaminate water supplies. Damage to public infrastructure like roads, powerlines, and sewers is borne directly by taxpayers. As the region starts to recover, low-income residents will have the hardest time returning to normal, if they return at all. The fires will likely permanently reshape the character of communities in their wake, just as Hurricane Katrina altered the demographics of New Orleans, pushing out many minority residents with deep roots in the city. 117 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000693 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0022526 This pattern is playing out in the wake of other disasters as well, like 2024's Hurricane Helene, as residents are still coping with toxic waste, a complicated insurance process, and an agonizingly slow recovery. The ripples of costly calamities are spreading everywhere across the country, and ultimately reach all of us in ways we might not be able to measure. Wildfires are a natural part of the ecosystem in much of California, but as more people live in areas prone to burning, they increase the chances of starting a fire and expand the scale of the devastation that does occur. But according to Verisk's Guin, "In the case of wildfires in California, I believe it can still be managed.". However, the to-do list is long. One task is to enact and enforce stricter building codes. That means cutting back flammable vegetation and using more fire-resistant materials to harden homes. But it also requires thinking beyond individual homes and looking holistically at how neighborhoods are built in the first place. "It's like when we talk about immunity for vaccination," said Michele Barbato, a professor of structural engineering at the University of California Davis studying disasters and construction techniques. "If you have enough homes that are resilient to fire, you're going to save the community. Everybody will be protected, even homes that are not up to standards. But if you have too many homes that are actually prone to burn, they will bring down the entire community." The problem is that this approach raises the costs of rebuilding and makes the timeline longer at a moment when thousands of people are desperately trying to get back to their lives. It requires careful planning. It also means that not everyone gets to go back where they were, which will be unpopular politically. The state will also have to invest more in reducing wildfire risk. That means thinning flammable vegetation, training more firefighters, and bolstering water infrastructure. California needs to break through its housing shortage and create a suite of policies that encourage more affordable homes in safer regions rather than sprawling into the wildland-urban interface. That will require changing some permitting rules, zoning laws, and environmental regulations, which is already controversial. Insurance companies also need more leeway from lawmakers to set their rates in line with the actual risks they face. And over the long term, California and the rest of the world will have to work together to limit climate change. This is all going to be expensive and contentious, but it's a more sound approach than simply reacting to devastating disasters. We can either pay up front on our own terms to adapt to and mitigate threats, or we can pay even more down the line when the next major catastrophe strikes. Return to Table of Contents [CA] LA Should Requisition Empty Housing for Fire Victims (Jacobin) Jacobin [2/3/2025 12:22 PM, Meagan Day, 1127K] About a week after the Los Angeles wildfires began, it seemed safe to sleep without a go 118 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000693 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0022527 bag packed. The smoke had dissipated, and even though everyone knew the air-quality sensors couldn't detect chunks of ash containing asbestos and arsenic, breathing felt easier. In an attempt at normalcy, I crept out to the gym. Donation boxes overflowed onto the lobby floor. The QR code to a fundraiser for a front-desk employee who lost her home in Altadena was taped on every surface -- one of hundreds of GoFundMes I would see over the coming weeks. Over the bridge in fashionable Silver Lake and Los Feliz, I saw the lights climbing up the hills and wondered how many of those apartments sat empty. I thought of the displaced gym employee, who was staying with a friend. My sister-in-law was hosting her ninetyyear-old grandparents, whose Altadena house had burned down. My wife's coworker was driving around looking for "For Rent" signs with his one- and three-year-olds in the backseat. I didn't know where the artist I'd met at a wedding was staying, but his Instagram said he'd lost nearly all his life's work. As I looked up at the sparkling lights, I pictured all of these people sheltered in immaculate luxury apartments, breathing clean filtered air while the ash of their lives blanketed the city. Los Angeles has 93,000 empty units. A large percentage of them are kept empty on purpose through speculative vacancy, investors deliberately keeping units empty while waiting for property values to rise. Over 46,000 of those units are held in a state of nonmarket vacancy, meaning not listed for rent or sale at all, while many more are listed at out-of-reach prices for the same essential purpose. Of units on the market, the highest vacancy rates are concentrated in luxury buildings charging unaffordable rents. The most affordable units, on the other hand, have near-zero vacancy. The contrast reveals the brokenness of a system of financialized housing, where homes are put in the service of wealth accumulation rather than sheltering people. Even before the fires, moving existing LA residents into these empty units was needed to relieve the pressure caused by the artificial housing shortage. Now, with something like thirty thousand people instantaneously released into a housing market that just suffered a loss of ten thousand residences, it seems obvious: Who better to occupy Los Angeles's empty units than newly homeless fire refugees? The City of Los Angeles should requisition empty units and make them available to fire victims. If that idea sounds far-fetched, it's only because property law seems more real and unbending to us than moral law. But what's really hard to defend is sending ten thousand households in search of shelter while padlocking every door. What's more, appropriating vacant property for disaster relief is not fantastical; in fact, it's been done before. The volume of GoFundMes coming out of the Los Angeles fires is at turns touching and troubling. We're witnessing firsthand how crisis bridges the gaps between isolated lives. But we also see what journalist Alissa Quart calls "the dystopian social safety net" -- an upswell of solidarity that fills the cracks of a broken system, performing tasks of social stabilization that should be handled by formal democratic institutions and temporarily concealing their dysfunction. There's something Darwinian about them too. It's awkward to watch as some fundraisers perform better than others, even though they all address the same crisis of sudden homelessness. The difference seems to reflect a magnification of preexisting inequalities, with success dependent on tech-savviness, size and wealth of social 119 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000693 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0022528 networks, and language proficiency. Plus, most people don't have them at all. Many elderly residents aren't familiar with online fundraising, and some people just have a cultural allergy to asking for help. The result is that the people already best-positioned to ride out a catastrophe are getting the most assistance. In a well-functioning society, these fundraisers would be redundant. So too would the benevolence of corporations like Hilton and Airbnb, which have donated free short-term stays to fire victims. Over seven thousand people have sought shelter through these and other corporate programs organized by the nonprofit 211 LA. But their stays are too brief for many. Airbnb caps their donation at seven nights, and Hilton donated 20,000 nights total for all 10,000 displaced households. Meanwhile, the disaster insurance system is a patchwork nightmare. Market consolidation over several decades had left home insurance in the hands of a few major companies; due to concerns about disasters related to climate change, those companies have spent the last few years declining to renew plans in high-risk areas, including dropping more than 100,000 Los Angeles homeowners. The remaining insurance plans were too expensive. As a result, many California residents have gone uninsured or turned to the insurer of last resort, the California FAIR Plan, which saw a 123 percent increase in policyholders from 2020 to 2024 and provides worse payouts. Insurance is projected to cover only $20 billion of the total $135 billion in fire damages. For the lucky insured few, the payout process is expected to be a long ordeal in which policyholders will have to fight for adequate results. The uninsured will have to make do with a $43,600 Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) grant. Consequently, the more formal and putatively reliable forms of relief pose problems similar to online fundraising. Accessing public aid is needlessly complex and privileges people already adept at jumping through hoops. While relief centers offer basics like water and cots, longer-term assistance is buried in bureaucracy. FEMA offers $770 to cover immediate necessities for the fire victims. Accessing it requires completing an application process so sensitive that misspellings will be met with rejection. Likewise applicants for the $43,600 grant are often met with denials that only 3 percent of them choose to appeal. Disaster funds frequently go unclaimed due to convoluted rules, means-testing, and arbitrary deadlines. Governments even budget for this failure rate, a cynical practice I call "austerity by paperwork." Beyond FEMA, relief often comes in complex packages like reimbursements and loans. The largest such loan is the Small Business Administration (SBA) disaster loan for up to $100,000. The SBA loan program has a high decline rate. The others offer vastly smaller sums. Not only does the process favor those who can navigate red tape, but people can spend years trying to scrape together enough to offset losses and still never come close. It doesn't have to be this hard. There are much simpler and more direct ways to furnish aid -- but they require taking stock of what people lack and whether a given society has the missing resources at its disposal. This, in turn, requires thinking about society's resources as collective assets. For example, how many homes do we altogether have to shelter people in right now? We're not used to thinking this way under capitalism, a system predicated on private property rights uber alles. 120 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000693 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0022529 A better system would start with a simple premise: we have more than enough homes to shelter everyone displaced by the fires, and it's entirely feasible to put them to use. The city would first identify eligible properties by focusing on units that have been vacant for six months or longer, particularly those owned by corporate investors. Priority would go to luxury developments with high vacancy rates and units deliberately kept off the market for speculation. Property owners would receive "just compensation" from the government, and tenants would live in the properties rent-free for a designated amount of time as they rebuild their lives. The qualification process for displaced residents would be straightforward: proof of primary residence in the burn zones and verification of displacement status through FEMA or local fire authorities. Unlike the labyrinthine processes for other forms of aid, this would be a simple matching program: connecting empty units with displaced families based on household size and location preferences, with priority given to elderly residents, families with children, and those lacking insurance coverage. We don't have to watch aid money float down a thousand tributaries and evaporate. We don't have to dismiss straightforward solutions just because they contradict wealthy people's interests. If the idea sounds radical, it's only because its simplicity is uncommon in a society accustomed to contorting itself around private property rights. Return to Table of Contents [CA] What is the FAIR Plan and will it be fair to wildfire victims? (Los Angeles Daily News, CA) - full text Los Angeles Daily News [2/3/2025 2:56 PM, Jerry Theodorou, 645K, CA] As Angelenos begin the long process of rebuilding after recent devastating wildfires, a program created in the aftermath of the Watts Riots in the 1960s may prove critical to California homeowners. In August 1965, long-simmering racial tensions provided the perfect kindling and a simple traffic stop exploded into devastating riots. After the smoke had cleared, 34 lives were lost, and over a thousand people were injured. Rioters caused over $40 million in property damage (the equivalent of hundreds of millions of dollars today). The extensive damage caused many insurers to refrain from covering properties in areas considered most high risk. This left many without required insurance coverage. In response, the state created a program that would provide basic insurance coverage for those who needed it, but had no other options. These days, the FAIR (Fair Access to Insurance Requirements) Plan is becoming more of a first option than a last resort. The reliance on the program today stems from the state's private insurance exodus driven by a challenging regulatory environment and an increasing number of costly wildfires. Over the past several years, multiple large private insurers have opted not to write new homeowners insurance policies. But can this program pay out the billions in claims that will be filed in the wake of the January 2025 fires? That's the multibilliondollar question. So what is the California FAIR plan? The FAIR Plan is an option for homeowners who are unable to obtain insurance from 121 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000693 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0022530 any private insurance company. The program was created by the state government, but it is financially backed by private home insurance companies that do business in the state. This means that the money the FAIR Plan pays comes from an assessment to the participating insurance companies, not from taxpayers. Close to half a million Californians use the FAIR plan for their homeowners' insurance coverage. From September 2023 to September 2024, the number of FAIR plan policyholders rose by 41 percent. The average FAIR Plan premium was $2,876, approximately twice the statewide average premium. Does the FAIR plan have enough money to pay claims? The FAIR Plan has approximately $200 million of surplus, and $700 million cash on hand. This may not be enough to pay all its claims. The plan is skating on thin ice financially, as it must pay $900 million in losses before receiving up to $2.63 billion in support from reinsurance (insurance for insurance companies). Losses from the fires could exceed $900 million. This means that the FAIR Plan would have to find more money, which would be done via assessments of the private insurance companies in the state or the issuance of bonds to make up the difference. What happens if the FAIR plan goes bust? If the money in the FAIR Plan runs out, insurance companies operating in California may be required to contribute additional capital to the plan. In addition, if the losses are large enough policyholders may also have to pay extra. The FAIR Plan has not had an assessment since 1994 when the Northridge earthquake caused $260 million in damage. In the aftermath of the Los Angeles fires, if the FAIR Plan makes an assessment, it would need to be approved by the state's insurance commissioner. Alternatively, the money the plan needs could be raised through bonds, as proposed in Assembly Bill 226. However, this legislation hasn't passed the assembly yet and would require support from two-thirds of the Assembly. What other options exist for hard-pressed homeowners? In addition to well-known large insurance companies that operate nationally, there are Excess & Surplus Lines Insurers (E&S) that specialize in insuring high-risk properties. The cost of a policy from an E&S insurer is typically higher than for a policy from a standard lines company. Unlike regular, private insurers, E&S insurers have "freedom of rate and form," which means they are not required to issue policies at rates and policy language approved by the state's insurance department. Only 0.5 percent of homeowners in California are covered by E&S insurers. Have there been any California insurance company failures? The only California insurance to have become insolvent in recent years was a tiny insurer, Merced Property & Casualty Company, which was heavily exposed to losses from the 2018 Camp fire. Merced's claims were, however, paid by the California Insurance Guarantee Association. Several large private insurers have, however, 122 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000693 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0022531 declined to write new policies or have scaled back their business in the state. What does the future look like for California homeowners? After four decades of burdensome regulation that distorted California's insurance market, the Department of Insurance has launched its Sustainable Insurance Strategy, which permits insurers to charge risk-adjusted rates, paving the way to a stable and competitive California insurance market with more choices for insurance buyers. However, prior to the introduction of the reforms many insurers already stopped writing business in the state. The question now is, are the new measures enough? Return to Table of Contents [HI] FEMA completes over 165 temporary homes for Lahaina fire survivors (KHON 2, HI) - full text KHON 2 [2/3/2025 8:26 PM, Cameron Macedonia, 529K, HI] After 13 months of work, FEMA completed the construction of 167 temporary homes for Lahaina fire survivors on a hillside where no housing existed a few months ago. The final home at the Kilohana group housing site, which was developed by FEMA, was completed earlier this week and is ready for occupancy. "It couldn't have been done without everyone working together, being creative and solving problems," said Forrest Lanning, FEMA's joint housing task force leader. "This was a completely new type of housing project for FEMA, and we all had to be flexible to learn new things and get it done.". The housing project began on Oct. 28, 2023, when FEMA brought in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to prepare a state-owned site spanning 34 acres for the housing so survivors could move back to Lahaina. FEMA enlisted the help of three companies, Dynamic, Timberline and Acuity to manufacture one, two and three bedroom units on the mainland, and ship them to Maui. The first of the units arrived on Oct. 26, 2024, where they were completed and put into place at Kilohana. The first occupants moved into available units on Nov. 22, 2024, while the remaining units were awaiting completion. Each unit is equipped with furnishings as well, with occupants who require accommodation also being provided with necessary equipment. The modular homes were constructed to last at least 30 years. Return to Table of Contents [HI] FEMA completes temporary housing community for Maui wildfire survivors (Hawaii News Now, HI) - full text Hawaii News Now [2/3/2025 9:40 PM, Staff, 726K, HI] A small community is now forming on grounds that were once empty. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) says it has completed the final modular home at the Kilohana group housing site just off Fleming Road. It's a temporary group housing site that offers wildfire survivors an opportunity to move back to Lahaina. FEMA brought in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to design and prepare the site, which took 13 months to complete. A total of 167 temporary homes are ready for occupation, the agency said. 123 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000693 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0022532 The project started in October 2023, a few weeks after the August 2023 Lahaina wildfire. Officials said that the land was vacant and rocky, and blasting was needed to install streets and essential infrastructure such as utilities, water, and sewer services. "It couldn't have been done without everyone working together, being creative and solving problems," said Forrest Lanning, FEMA's joint housing task force leader. "This was a completely new type of housing project for FEMA, and we all had to be flexible to learn new things and get it done.". One-, two-, and three-bedroom modular units were built in the continental U.S. and shipped to Maui. The first shipment arrived last October, and survivors started moving in on Nov. 22, 2024. Each unit has basic furnishings, and some have accommodations for residents with access and functional needs the agency said. The temporary homes have been built to last 30 years and meet the International Building Code and local amendments. Kilohana is next to a state temporary housing project, Ka Lai Ola, which provides 450 units to displaced individuals and families by the wildfires. Return to Table of Contents Homelessness [VT] `It's not insurmountable: ' St. Albans Community Summit brings people together to talk addiction, homelessness (St Albans Messenger, VT) - full text St Albans Messenger [2/3/2025 5:00 PM, Bridget Higdon, 18K, VT] "Substance use and addiction is a chronic illness," Peter Wright, CEO of Northwestern Medical Center, said. "Nobody as a kid growing up says, hope I have a heroin problem. I hope I drink too much as an adult. I hope that I am homeless as a result of That was what Wright reminded a room full of community members last Thursday night at St. Albans City Hall. Communities rally together to support other chronic illnesses, he said, and must do the same with these challenges. The summit brought out about 100 residents and social service providers to connect on homelessness, crime and substance use. The event went beyond pointing fingers at the problems to shine a spotlight on the solutions that are already in progress. "I leave feeling hopeful," town resident Heidi Crossman said after the event. "I'm glad to have heard the good things that are happening. We always hear about the negative.". "Hopeful" was exactly the feeling organizers Melinda White and Brad Ferland wanted attendees to leave with. Modeled after their larger "Coming Together" summit at the Champlain Valley Exposition, the St. Albans event included an agenda of speakers who countered hear-say with accurate data and new fixes. As each local expert leaned into the microphone, their goal was to share solutions. For the St. Albans Police Department, that means getting its street crimes unit, now fullystaffed, off the ground. That also means continuing to utilize Sam Weber, the department's embedded mental health clinician. "She's been a godsend, for lack of a better term," Lt. Jason Wetherby said. 124 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000693 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0022533 Summer 2024 was SAPD's busiest in 20 years with 11,450 calls for service. The majority of calls were for retail theft, which often led to charges of unlawful trespassing. "We're trying to be more proactive than reactive. . .We're always open to new ideas and ways to work with everyone in the community," Wetherby said. Jess Graff, director of Franklin Grand Isle Community Action, said her team again helped hundreds of households find temporary or permanent housing. Of the 369 households that were enrolled in coordinated entry in 2024, 326 successfully exited the program. "We house hundreds of people every year, and then we do it the next year, and the next year, and it can feel a bit like bailing out the ocean, but it's also so important to remember that it's not insurmountable," Graff said. Those enrolled in coordinated entry are not the only people experiencing homelessness; many more do not report their situation and remain uncounted. That's why it's important for the community to offer other options, like Tim's House, which provided shelter to 84 people in 2024. Another 74 are currently on the shelter's waitlist. Voices Against Violence, which serves victims of domestic and sexual violence, is also opening a second shelter in St. Albans to meet demand. But director Shannon McMahon said the organization is also focused on working with youth to prevent future violence. "We are never going to end this incredible cycle of harm that we see compounding every year without building up our prevention work," director Shannon McMahon said. Amy Brewer, coordinator of the Franklin Grand Isle Tobacco Prevention Coalition, is also focused on diverting the next generation away from substance use and toward healthy activities. "There are things we can do as a community to continue to protect young people from drugs and alcohol and all of their short- and long-term risks," she said. That could look like bolstering artistic and athletic opportunities, creating youth centers and writing new laws and policies that limit kids' exposure to certain advertisements. Will Towne, COO of Spectrum Youth & Family Services, said the organization's St. Albans drop-in center is one of those safe, local spaces for youth. Since opening four years ago, the center has served over 600 unique individuals ages 14-24. "To me, those numbers are staggering," he said. "It surpasses what we serve out of the same program in Burlington.". While the drop-in center already provides hot meals, mentoring, laundry and showers, it will soon offer 10 beds at a new youth shelter on Lake Street. "We need to do this work now, give them a shot, put them on the right path," Towne said. "I don't want kids to graduate from Spectrum and then have to go into another agency.". While new shelters and programs are in the works, others have yet to get off the ground. Kate Blouin, for example, is looking to establish a sober-living residence for women in Franklin County. As a person in long-term recovery, she knows firsthand how challenging the journey out of addiction can be. She has since started "Hope Grove," a nonprofit in search of funding to open a residential recovery program that would offer shelter, education and support. A house like this does not currently exist in the region, she said. 125 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000693 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0022534 "I want to create a community that's supportive of women in building not only a recovery life, but a life of purpose and of giving back," Blouin said. "That's what I am able to do today because of the help I was given.". After the presentations, summit attendees were encouraged to learn more about each of the projects and organizations by visiting their table. Folks mingled throughout the auditorium to ask questions and sign up for volunteer opportunities. While happy with the summit overall, Pam McCarthy and Jan Appel. both retired social service providers, left disappointed with how little has changed since they worked in the field. "Our systems don't have the capacity to meet the demands," McCarthy said. "More people need to acknowledge the reality of our challenges.". Appel thought the day-to-day experience of people who are homeless was missing from the conversation and would like to see the community take a harder look at its values. "Why don't we have homes for everyone?" she said" And when the political conversation is limited to affordability, we need to think about what we're choosing to pay for," McCarthy added. Return to Table of Contents [NY] De Blasio-era mental health teams see staffing shortage while new ones launch (Crain's NY Business, NY) - full text Crain's NY Business [2/3/2025 5:33 AM, Ethan Geringer-Sameth, 294K, NY] A de Blasio-era homeless outreach program has quietly cut its operations in half in the last year due to a city hiring freeze that has left the program understaffed. The city's CoResponse teams, jointly operated by the Health Department and NYPD, launched in 2016 to deescalate people in mental health crisis by pairing clinicians with police, a model that has been explored in several new permutations under Mayor Eric Adams and Gov. Kathy Hochul. In recent years, as Adams and Hochul have unveiled a cascade of other pilot programs, the co-response teams have faltered, reaching just 391 people in the last fiscal year, a 39% drop from the year prior. The downward trend continued between July and October, falling close to 5% compared to the same period the year before, according to the Preliminary Mayor's Management Report. At just 106 encounters in four months, the city is not on track to reach its goal of serving 500 people in the current fiscal year. The teams have historically consisted of one clinician and two police officers, conducting two shifts around the clock. They currently serve on call to respond to referrals from shelter and other providers in cases through the 988 suicide and crisis hotline involving people in distress, City Hall spokeswoman Allison Maser. But a city hiring freeze has exacerbated a staffing crunch at the city's Department of Health and Mental Hygiene and forced the city to scale back the program, dropping the night shift and deploying fewer vehicles per day, the report says. "While the Health Department has implemented various efforts to hire more staff, the City's hiring freeze has posed significant challenges," the report states. The problems in 126 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000693 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0022535 the program have been getting worse for more than a year. Staffing shortages were to blame for a drop in services last year too, with the Health Department and NYPD adjusting the program's hours to enable them to continue to respond to referrals, according to the previous mayor's management report. While the co-response program has thinned out, Adams has rolled out a new set of homeless outreach programs to try to address the unmet mental health needs of people living on the streets and subways. In October, he announced the city was launching a new type of "co-response" team known as Partnership Assistance for Transit Homelessness, or PATH, that would pair police with nurses and social workers from the Department of Homeless Services and connect individuals to New York City Health + Hospitals, the public hospital system, an entity separate from the Health Department. Those teams were announced as a complement to another subway outreach initiative called Subway Co-Response Outreach Teams, or SCOUT, directed by the state to pair police with mental health practitioners. That program received $20 million, Hochul announced in March, with plans to expand to ten teams by the end of 2024. Both PATH and SCOUT differ from the Health Department's Co-Response team in that those teams target the subways on a roving basis, rather than being on-call. The Health Department's Co-Response team has been under a so-called 2-to-1 hiring freeze since February 2024, meaning for every two empty positions, the Health Department may hire one, Maser said. To fill those gaps, the city is building up other agency co-response programs, like PATH and SCOUT, she said. "There is no one-size-fits-all approach to addressing street homelessness and severe mental illness, and our co-response teams are just one tool in our toolkit to address these crises," Maser said. Fed. 3, 2025: This article has been updated to reflect that Health + Hospitals receives individuals from PATH teams but is not in the field with them. Return to Table of Contents [NJ] `On high alert all the time' - The homeless find hope at Project Homeless Connect in Morristown (Morristown Green, NJ) - full text Morristown Green [2/2/2025 8:11 PM, Ellen S. Wilkowe, 29K, NJ] Darrin Redding of Dover knows first-hand about the hardships of homelessness. He has been unhoused for the majority of his life. "When you're living in that state of homelessness you're at Defcon 4 all the time," he said, surrounded Morris County- and community leaders. "It's like you're on high alert all the time." Now clean, sober and housed, Redding, 59, addressed a crowd outside St. Peter's Episcopal Church in Morristown on Friday, recounting his story of homelessness and addiction as part of Project Homeless Connect, an annual gathering that connects county social services with those who need them. Launched in 2006, the project has evolved into a year-round operation, bringing essential services to drop-in centers in Dover and Morristown. Friday's five-hour program, organized by Mental Health America (formerly the Mental Health Association of 127 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000693 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0022536 Essex and Morris) and the county, featured more than 40 community-based service providers. They offered free services ranging from healthcare screenings and vaccines to backpacks, toiletries, gift cards and food. Service providers also were on hand to offer information and support regarding housing, employment and mental health resources. "Rising costs continue to place financial strain on families, making events like Project Homeless Connect more important than ever," said county Commissioner Director Tayfun Selen. "Morris County remains committed to finding real solutions, from expanding emergency assistance to increasing prevention efforts, because no one should have to face homelessness alone." The commissioners took significant steps in 2024 to address homelessness by doubling emergency assistance funds to $300,000 and dedicating $150,000 to prevention programs. The county also directed $100,000 in federal funding to three agencies for homelessness prevention and secured $190,000 double the usual allocation in state funding for Code Blue activation. Code Blue involves providing shelter when temperatures dip below freezing. Sheriff James Gannon praised the MHA and the county's Human Services Department. "When I became Sheriff in 2017, we saw the urgent need to address homelessness, mental health and addiction," he said. "At that time, our community leaders and experts came together at CARES in Rockaway Borough and we recognized the importance of bringing services directly to those in need." 'THE NEED IS HUGE' Based on last year's attendance and an increase in calls from people seeking help, more than 100 individuals were expected to drop into Project Homeless Connect on Friday to explore services, said Viktorija Spasova, director of programs for Assistance in Transition at Mental Health America. "The need is huge," Spasova said, adding that fear of deportation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE ) may make people more hesitant to reach out this year. The event coincided with the annual Point-in-Time Count, a federally mandated survey assessing homelessness across the country. Last year's count identified 680 individuals experiencing homelessness in Morris County, a 32 percent increase from the previous year. Following the opening ceremony, the crowd was ushered inside the church for breakfast and then directed by a slew of volunteers to assorted services. Among them were Atlantic Health, the Market Street Mission, Zufall Health, Operation Chill Out, Saint Clare's, D.A.W.N., Child and Family Resources, and the Center for Family Services. "This is not what I pictured," said Whippany resident Tricia Jackson, accompanied by her dog Oreo. "I thought it was going to be all tents and tables outside." Mobile units from the Office of Temporary Assistance (Navigating Hope) and the sheriff's office (Hope One) were outside, on Maple Avenue. Jackson, who became homeless for about a year because of a domestic violence situation, contacted NJ 211 and temporarily was placed in a hotel. She is working with county social services to secure a permanent residence. She was joined at a table by 128 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000693 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0022537 Yosimar Banguero, a Jefferson woman also experiencing homelessness and looking into Homeless Solutions Inc. and MHA services. 'SOME KEYS I CALL MY OWN' Jacqueline Leakes was another seeking resources to help her land on her feet after a personal tragedy. Formerly of Connecticut, she was sharing a $1,700 per month apartment with her son, an Army veteran, when he suddenly passed away. "I was visiting my brother in Parsippany and talking to my son every day," she said, choking up. "And one day (my son) didn't answer the phone and I thought that was weird." A series of attempts to contact her son ended with a wellness check, where police found he had passed away. Unable to afford the apartment on her own, Leakes has been couch-surfing for the past few months. She refused to impose on her brother, because he is in public housing. "It's only been a few months and I'm still grieving over this," Leakes said. "This is the first time I've ever been in situation like this." But there was a bright spot. "Homeless Solutions called me yesterday and said that my name went up on the list and that I should get ready," she said. In the meantime, Leakes was browsing the tables and stocking up on a clothing-filled backpack and assorted toiletries. Parsippany resident Luke Petrocelli's success story attests to services offered to him during his period of homelessness in 2011 and 2012. "I was able to get a voucher from DCA (state Department of Community Affairs) and got housing, first in Netcong and then Parsippany," he said, while getting a haircut from Sam Khoury of Razors Edge Barber Shop, which has locations in Parsippany, Randolph and Jefferson. Petrocelli grew up in Princeton and attended Georgetown University. While he didn't elaborate on the circumstances causing his homelessness, he did claim to have written more than 50 stories about being homeless, including one called Under the Brilliant Sun. No longer homeless, Petrocelli said he still enjoys returning to Project Homeless Connect, out of appreciation and to re-connect with some familiar faces. "I see a lot of people who I used to see during homelessness," he said. "And all the charitable organizations like Our Promise, Market Street Mission, Homeless Solutions...they were all wonderful to me." Sober since 2022. he has come full circle. MHA recently hired him. As for Redding's success, he put it this way: "I finally have some keys that I call my own." "I got out of my own way and allowed people to help me," he said. Return to Table of Contents [NJ] Volunteers in Paterson face new obstacles counting homeless people, including ICE raids (North Jersey.com, NJ) - full text North Jersey.com [1/31/2025 7:24 AM, Darren Tobia, 3712K, NJ] A minivan carrying volunteers to count the number of homeless people in the city came to a stop on Broadway on Wednesday when the driver spied a woman sleeping on church steps using her red winter coat as a blanket. 129 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000693 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0022538 Chris Breit, a longtime social service advocate in Paterson, asked the woman if she was willing to participate in the survey. But the woman refused. Breit then asked if she needed any help. In response, the woman rolled down her sock to reveal a bleeding, festering wound. "I fall a lot," she said, explaining her injury. "The scabs won't heal." But the woman declined medical treatment, and after becoming agitated, she quickly gathered her few belongings and left. "The poor woman is in so much distress," Breit said. "That's going to stay with me." The encounter reflected the difficulties in gathering meaningful data on homelessness. The woman on the church steps won't be one of those counted in Paterson's 2025 total. Homeless count volunteers mistaken for ICE officials Last year, the results of the oneday count found that Paterson's unhoused population had increased by 66% over 2023, growing from 248 to 411. But homeless advocates say this year's number may go down - not because there are fewer unhoused people in Paterson, but due to other factors. Some volunteer counters on Wednesday met people who feared that those doing the homeless survey were immigration enforcement officials looking to carry out the deportation crackdown imposed under President Donald Trump. Also, last year's homeless count was bolstered by a new strategy: sending counters to the city-run warming center. But this year, the city moved its warming center to a new location, on the outskirts of Paterson, and it has been frequented by far fewer homeless people even on the coldest days. Last January, 90 people filled out homeless surveys at Paterson's previous warming center, said Richard Williams, executive director at St. Paul's Community Development Corporation, one of the nonprofits working on the count. At the new warming center, the counters found just 12 people taking shelter, a reduction that may also have stemmed from the warmer temperatures Wednesday. "There are some barriers that may impact how effectively we do this, but we're still going to give this our best effort," Williams said of the homeless count. "In years prior, it was easier to locate individuals in hot spots." The count in Paterson is part of a statewide annual initiative sponsored by Monarch Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency. Last year, the New Jersey homeless count increased by 23%. Counting people at free lunch sites, food pantries One strategy Williams relies on in Paterson is to count individuals at places where they willingly convene: free lunch sites and food pantries. At noon, the afternoon shift of homeless count volunteers arrived at Eva's Village community kitchen, where lunch was being served. The cafeteria serves about 3O pounds of food on a busy day. In addition to the promise of a warm meal, Eva's draws a crowd for its other giveaways, such as free coats. On Wednesday, there also were various social program representatives at the lunchroom with information on their programs. 130 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000693 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0022539 "It's important to bring as many resources as possible," said Antoinette Blake, director of housing and outreach. "Even though we want to count them, we want to make sure that the one time we have everyone indoors we can meet as many needs as possible." Sherry Herring, 6O, a four-month shelter resident, was among those who filled out a count survey at Eva's. Four months ago, Herring said, she'd finally had enough of the cold nights and "dope-sick" mornings that came with using drugs on the streets, so she checked into Eva's Village. Next month, Herring will move into a new apartment that the organization arranged for her. "I was missing something in my life," Herring said about the years she was on drugs. "I had to get sober." Herring's friend at the shelter, Yolanda Claudio, 54, said she has never touched drugs in her life. She ended up in a shelter after losing a Section 8 housing voucher. Claudio noted a recent attempt by Paterson officials to impose fines and jail time on people who camp out on public streets. She said the politicians who wish to criminalize homelessness don't understand the reasons that push people into the circumstances. "They don't know the story behind homelessness," Claudio said. "It's a different thing for different people." Hearing these stories of hardship can sometimes take a toll on the volunteers conducting surveys. Sue Brunetti, who has participated in the Point-in-Time count for the past five years, said that sometimes the people she surveyed would plead with her for help. "I'm a little teary-eyed," Brunetti said. "I don't have the resources, so I don't know what to do or say." Afraid to visit food pantry because of deportation raids Another complication that volunteers faced that day was the widespread fear as a result of the recent U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement actions in Newark and Paterson. Ruth Gerardino, the shift's only Spanish-speaking volunteer, said a few people refused to speak to her. "One guy was taking the survey and someone else told him, 'Don't take that survey, because this is for ICE to come and get you.- Leslie Pujols, community health worker for the CUMAC food pantry, which set up an information table inside Eva's Village to connect local residents to such benefits as SNAP, also noticed the fear of ICE. "People right now are afraid to stand on our line," Pujols said. "We have clients that are afraid to come to the food pantry because they're going to be deported." After two hours on Wednesday afternoon, the crowd inside the community kitchen at Eva's thinned. So the volunteers packed into a minivan and began traveling to other "hot spots," including alleyways and abandoned buildings where the homeless are known to seek shelter. While driving, the volunteers shared their observations of the day. They said they were surprised to learn that many who eat at the community kitchen have homes and jobs but still struggle to make ends meet. Those people weren't eligible to participate in the survey, but it gave the volunteers perspective on what it means to be the "working poor." 131 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000693 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0022540 "They're working. They're doing everything they need to do," said Arti Kakkar, the county's director of human services, who was at Eva's Village earlier that day. While tent encampments in downtown Paterson have gotten much attention, many unhoused people find shelter in less conspicuous places that can also be dangerous. That's how Breit came upon the woman sleeping on the church steps. She was among several who refused to participate in the survey. When the van of volunteers returned to St. Paul's Church to turn in the surveys, Christine Wolfe, the Point-in-Time volunteer coordinator, said the final shift of volunteers, accompanied by plainclothes police officers, would search at night along the railroad tracks, where some homeless people are known to go. Wolfe, whose eyes were slightly bloodshot after many hours of work, had been dispatching teams of volunteers to conduct counts since the previous evening. "It's only one day out of the year, so it's not too bad," Wolfe said. [Editorial note: consult source link for video] Return to Table of Contents [WV] Huntington homeless shelter being moved to new location (WOWK, WV) - full text WOWK [2/3/2025 5:20 PM, Christian Meffert, 270K, WV] Huntington Mayor Patrick Farrell has plans to move the low-barrier homeless shelter from behind the Huntington City Mission to a new location. According to a representative with the office of Mayor Farrell, an exact location has not been determined yet, but it would remain within city limits. They said Mayor Farrell's goal is to move the low-barrier shelter outside of the central business district but still make it accessible to those who need it. The plan does not include moving the Huntington City Mission. On Monday, Feb. 10, Mayor Farrell will also be hosting a budget presentation where he will detail specific plans for the city's spending moving forward. This includes addressing issues such as high spending with the decline in available revenues. The unavailable revenues include grant and ARPA funding, which were included in previous budgets to help offset costs for projects around the city. More details are expected to be released at the budget presentation next week. [Editorial note: consult video at source link] Return to Table of Contents [SC] CEO braves freezing temperatures for 24 hours on a bench to inspire action against homelessness (Upworthy) - full text Upworthy [2/3/2025 2:31 PM, Staff, 7392K] An annual tally by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) revealed that the percentage of homeless people in the United States increased by 12% from the previous year in 2024, reaching the highest number ever recorded in history. With a consistent lack of affordable housing, stagnant wages, and substance abuse, not to mention natural disasters like the recent wildfires that raged in LA County, the nation is currently witnessing a lamentable state of chronic poverty prevalent among millions of its 132 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000693 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0022541 residents. But in Greenville, this grim scenario sparked a flame of kindness, with lightbearers like Ryan Duerk stepping up to address the issue of homelessness. Ryan, the CEO of Miracle Hill Ministries, spent 24 hours on an outdoor bench in the bitter freezing cold to inspire others to pay attention to this alarming matter. "For the next 24 hours, I will sit or stand on this bench," he said in a video posted by the Greenville Journal. Miracle Hill Ministries is a non-profit organization in upstate South Carolina that provides support and services to homeless adults such as food, shelter, clothing, addiction recovery, personal development, and counseling. Their mission is to "exist so that homeless children and adults receive food and shelter with compassion." The organization was launched in 1937 by a group of businessmen who operated soup kitchens during the Great Depression. In January 2025, Duerk and other ministry colleagues decided to conduct a nationwide project to bring awareness to homeless people. On January 22nd and 23rd, Duerk collaborated with other CEOs to participate in "Conversations on a Bench.". "The reality is that homelessness, poverty, and addiction are never as simple as just going to get a job," he told the Greenville Journal in a video. He said that in the following days, they would recruit volunteers who would be willing to dedicate themselves to serving and healing the homeless. While the problem of homelessness is at its peak in America, the efforts of Miracle Hill Ministries are contributing little by little to the well of hope, at least for the local homeless population. The ministry provided shelter beds for 205,246 people, served 353,140 meals, and fostered 351 children in 2024 alone, according to Yahoo News. A large portion of the ministry's income comes from thrift ministries at the Miracle Hill Thrift Stores, where people buy thrifted items or make donations. In a video, the ministry explained that their "cold weather shelters" are opened when temperatures drop. After receiving instructions from the admin, they put out the "Open" plaque and flags, sending a message to the homeless. They set up the shelter with fresh meals, clean towels, blankets, and mattresses. The shelter's residents are provided a nutritious meal that the kitchen manager, Dan Coe, calls the "Miracle Stew," a blend of vegetable soup and wholesome stew. Brian Newton, who works at the Greenville Rescue Mission in downtown Greenville, shared that the ministry has "four cold shelter missions.". While Duerk inspires people to pay attention to the homeless, the ministry proclaimed in a video that they are following the "gospel" of God by doing this important work. "God is still doing miracles. We just have to pay attention," they said. Return to Table of Contents [GA] Atlanta City Council to vote on creation of Homelessness Task Force after Cornelius Taylor death (WSB-TV ABC 2 Atlanta, GA) - full text WSB-TV ABC 2 Atlanta [2/3/2025 12:54 PM, Staff, 3860K, GA] After a 49-year-old man was killed during actions to clear a homeless encampment near Ebenezer Baptist Church in mid-January, the Atlanta City Council introduced a new ordinance to create a Homelessness Task Force. The council is expected to vote on the ordinance Monday, the same day that a funeral is held for Cornelius Taylor, the man killed by a Department of Public Works vehicle on Jan. 16 while clearing out the 133 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000693 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0022542 encampment he was staying in. While a separate ordinance was proposed by members of the city council to, for now, stop encampment sweeps, the move to create a task force comes in answer to calls for a citywide review of policy regarding the homeless population. According to the legislation, 25-R-3086, despite ongoing efforts to honor commitments by city leaders to "ensure that individuals and families in need within the City of Atlanta have access to shelter from the elements as they regain stability in their lives and seek permanent housing," there remains a need for solutions that actually provide that stability. In order to align resources to make that goal attainable, members of the Atlanta City Council want to "foster collaboration among key stakeholders" and review and implement new, innovative ways to house those experiencing homelessness, the legislation says. Additionally, the council members' legislation says a comprehensive examination of how Atlanta addresses those experiencing homelessness and addresses immediate needs is necessary so they can create sustainable solutions and empower those seeking stability and self-sufficiency. To do that, the city council will vote on whether to establish a new task force. If the vote passes, the task force would be charged with an examination of current policies and procedures to see if they adequately address the current needs of people experiencing homelessness. They would include outreach services, encampment closings, medical and mental health care, family reunification and warming centers. The group will meet every two weeks and make reports to the mayor and Atlanta City Council within 45 days of the approval to start, and make a final report 90 days after starting. The legislation also includes an order that encampment closures will be halted for at least 45 days unless the individual location "poses a significant public safety or health hazard," and that reports from the task force will include recommendations for new standard operating procedures for encampment management, outreach services, medical and mental health services and family reunification. The reports will also have to include comprehensive analysis and assessments for homelessness trends, root causes of homelessness in the community and the community's priority needs, as well as a strategic plan for homelessness solutions, a multi-year roadmap for goals, strategies and milestones for reducing homelessness in the city and a resource mapping analysis for existing resources and services, and the current gaps. Recommendations must also be included for nonprofits, healthcare providers, law enforcement, housing developers and other stakeholders to be involved and engage the community to foster public awareness, reduce the stigmas surrounding homelessness and engage people in community member solutions. As drafted, the legislation creates a task force of 33 members, with each seat appointed by the following organizations, not needing approval by Council confirmation: Return to Table of Contents 134 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000693 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0022543 [GA] Atlanta City Council to vote on moratorium for homeless encampment sweeps after man's death (WSB-TV ABC 2 Atlanta, GA) - full text WSB-TV ABC 2 Atlanta [2/3/2025 11:59 AM, Staff, 3860K, GA] Members of the city council have introduced legislation to address homelessness issues in Atlanta, including sweeps like the one that killed an unhoused man in January. Cornelius Taylor, 49, was killed in a "tragic accident" blocks from Ebenezer Baptist Church when an Atlanta Public Works vehicle was clearing an encampment and accidentally crushed him to death. Following the accident and a strong response from the Atlanta community, city officials are working on ways to ensure similar tragedies don't happen again. They're expected to vote Monday on two pieces of legislation related to it. Taylor has been the impetus for a change of policy in Atlanta. Friends of Taylor also living at the encampment near Ebenezer Baptist Church told Channel 2 Action News they were given just minutes before city bulldozers began clearing the area, and that city workers did not check tents before they started. Days after Taylor's death, advocates for the unhoused in Atlanta tried to speak to city leaders and deliver a letter to Mayor Andre Dickens but were unable to do so. Tim Franzen, who represents the group trying to speak to city leaders and address these issues, told Channel 2's Tom Jones that police prevented them from getting to the mayor's office. "They wouldn't let us in," he told Jones on Jan. 23. When asked why, Franzen said, "They said it's closed to us." Ten days after Taylor's death, Dickens announced a citywide review of policies for homeless encampments in Atlanta and called for a moratorium on sweeps. Now, members of the Atlanta City Council have a proposed ordinance that would do that. Resolution 25-R-3082, proposed by several members of the council, cites Taylor's death as the reason for the change of policy: "On Jan. 17, 2025, a horrific tragedy occurred during the clearing of a homeless encampment in Atlanta, resulting in the death of an unhoused individual known by Atlanta's Continuum of Care as a long-term resident of the encampment," causing "shock, grief, and outrage throughout the community, and it underscores a systemic failure to protect the dignity, safety and well-being of individuals experiencing homelessness, as well as the urgent need for accountability, transparency, and a compassionate approach to addressing homelessness." To that end, members of the council said in the legislation that the city's current methods for involuntarily clearing or sweeping the encampments have been "consistently criticized for their lack of safeguards." To correct this, the mayor's office has requested all use of heavy equipment by city departments, contractors or other assets be stopped until further review is completed. As far as review, the ordinance will have Partners for HOME, the city's designated partner for homelessness services, to present a report to the city council within 45 days on proposed procedures, precautions and contingency plans needed to prevent future situations and incidents like Taylor's death. 135 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000693 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0022544 Return to Table of Contents [GA] Atlanta City Council approves homelessness task force, pause on encampment sweeps (Rough Draft Atlanta, GA) - full text Rough Draft Atlanta [2/3/2025 6:18 PM, Dyana Bagby, 142K, GA] The Atlanta City Council approved legislation at its Feb. 3 meeting to create a homelessness task force and to pause the use of heavy machinery during sweeps of encampments. The measures come in the wake of the Jan. 16 death of Cornelius Taylor who was crushed in his tent by a city vehicle as it cleared an encampment on Old Wheat Road. The funeral for Taylor was also held on Feb. 3 at Ebenezer Baptist Church. Following the funeral, a horse-drawn carriage carried his coffin to city hall as a call to action for city leaders to make systemic change in its policies addressing unsheltered people. The resolution to temporarily halt the use of encampment sweep is in effect for 45 days. The resolution also mandates Partners for HOME, the city's designated partner to coordinate homelessness services, to present a detailed report to the city council, within 45 days on the proposed procedures, precautions, and contingencies necessary to ensure encampment sweeps are safe. The homelessness task force resolution, backed by Mayor Andre Dickens, will review existing policies and procedures followed by city departments and partners when addressing unhoused residents. "The homelessness task force shall work to make recommendations concerning whether these policies and procedures adequately address the current needs of persons experiencing homelessness, and the public safety concerns of residents and visitors to the city of Atlanta," the resolution states. The task force will meet publicly every two weeks and make an initial report of recommendations to the mayor and the Atlanta City Council within 45 days. A final report is to be completed within 90 days. Organizations to be represented on the task force: Return to Table of Contents [GA] Atlanta City Council passes legislation addressing homelessness after man killed during encampment cleanup (11 Alive, GA) - full text 11 Alive [2/3/2025 7:40 PM, Joe Ripley, 4283K, GA] Every step for the family of Cornelius Taylor is a step closer to change. Immediately following a funeral at Ebenezer Baptist Church, the family and community activists marched more than a mile to Atlanta City Hall to call for change in the city's policy when it comes to clearing homeless encampment sites. The same horse-drawn carriage that once carried civil rights icon Rep. John Lewis carried Taylor's body Monday. "We cannot give lip service to this movement," said Rev. Shanan E. Jones, president of the Concerned Black Clergy of Metro Atlanta. "His blood is crying out. His life is crying out, and we now are his legacy of liberty.". 136 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000693 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0022545 With fists raised, the crowd chanted Taylor's name outside city hall, hoping his name would spark a movement for change. Taylor lost his life after a construction vehicle ran into him during a city sweep of a homeless encampment last month. While there was a conflicting report on how he died, the Fulton County Medical Examiner maintained Taylor suffered blunt force trauma. Atlanta Police said in its incident report they believe Taylor might have overdosed. Just hours after Taylor's funeral, city council passed legislation dealing with people experiencing homelessness in Atlanta. One measure requests a moratorium on using heavy equipment while clearing out encampments. Other measures call for bringing back a homeless task force and investing in more transitional housing and wraparound services to help those living on the streets. Councilmember Liliana Bakhtiari, who represents District 5, said she attended Taylor's funeral. She said anyone could have run into the bad luck Taylor did and believed it was city leaders' obligation to act to prevent future tragedy. "Poverty is not a choice," Bakhtiari said. "It's something that the system, as currently designed, isn't made to help people once they've been broken. We have the opportunity and the privilege to change that.". With the city's policies currently under fire, Atlanta City Council President Doug Shipman said the focus is now on improving policy. He said connecting people with the right resources and adequately informing them should lead to more success in the future when obtaining housing for people experiencing homelessness. "Obviously, this is a tragedy," Shipman said. "No one wants anyone hurt, especially when we're trying to take care of people living on the street. We've worked very closely with the mayor to increase funding on a number of fronts. We've put additional money toward transitional housing homes, like The Melody, which is up downtown. But to have even more of those units across the city, you're going to continue to see that because we know that works. But we need to make sure if we have to do a clearing because of safety, that that is, in fact, not hurting folks.". It's now up to Mayor Andre Dickens to sign or veto the legislation within eight days. "This tragic accident demonstrates the need to reevaluate and reassess how we can better serve and provide assistance to those in need. I look forward to providing more options for all our residents," Dickens wrote. In the wake of his death, Taylor's family remembers his name, knowing it will fuel their fight for ongoing change. Darlene Chaney, Taylor's sister, addressed her fellow marchers outside City Hall, grateful for the support in her quest to raise awareness for her brother. "Thank you all for letting my brother know he was somebody when Atlanta treated him like he was a nobody," Chaney said. "His spirit is still alive. We're about to bury his body, but this fight is just starting.". [Editorial note: consult video at source link] Return to Table of Contents [FL] Florida Condo Fees Crisis Could Trigger `Next Wave of Homeless People,' Lawmaker Says (Realtor.com) - full text Realtor.com [2/3/2025 6:00 AM, Snejana Farberov, 45860K] Florida condominium owners are begging for relief after a new building safety law passed in the aftermath of the deadly Surfside collapse burdened them with staggering fees--and one lawmaker is warning that it could trigger the "next wave of homeless 137 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000693 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0022546 people." The issue of condo safety has become a lightning rod in Florida since Senate Bill 4D was passed in 2022. Now, lawmakers, Gov. Ron DeSantis, and homeowners are struggling to find a middle ground between two seemingly conflicting goals: ensuring that older properties have sufficient funds to carry out critical repairs, and not bleeding homeowners dry by forcing them to fund those repairs. Rep. Mike Caruso, a DeSantis ally, has been ringing the alarm about the potentially disastrous impact of the strict new condo safety measures, especially on older owners living on fixed incomes. If not amended, the law could trigger the "next wave of homeless people," he said. This hot-button issue was once again highlighted last week, when a segment of state lawmakers who support the controversial law refused to put it on the agenda of a special legislative session in defiance of the governor. Caruso said he was shocked by this move and predicted that retired condo owners will soon face foreclosures because they "could no longer afford the triple reserves or the quadrupled dues," according to the Miami Herald. "It's sad, and we're not going to address it here in the Florida House. I'm shocked by it," he added, according to the publication. The divisive law was adopted in response to the partial destruction of the Champlain Towers South condo in the upscale Miami suburb of Surfside, FL, in June 2021, which killed 98 people. While the bill aimed to make older condo complexes safer to prevent another tragedy like the one that happened in Surfside, critics of the measure have expressed concerns that the tangle of new safety requirements and increased financial demands could bankrupt homeowners and condo associations alike. Charles Burkett, the mayor of Surfside, suggested to Realtor.com in an email that lawmakers jammed through the condo safety bill before federal investigators had a chance to find the official cause of the collapse--a process that is still ongoing nearly four years later. "The tragedy is that many very, very expensive solutions have been put forward for a problem that may or may not exist," Burkett said. "The result is our condo owners are suffering badly from it and in many cases, losing their homes.". The condo crisis triggered by the rising fees could hit seniors living on a fixed income particularly hard. George Prybys, an 84-year-old retiree from St. Petersburg, FL, told ABC Action News that his HOA fees "ridiculously" have jumped from $400 to $900. On top of that, the octogenarian, who is living off his Social Security and savings, was slapped with a $12,000 assessment to replace or fix all the balconies in his condo building. "I told them I retired on the SKI plan. S-K-I, which is `spend the kid's inheritance,- he joked. The legislation requires condo associations with properties that are three stories or higher and over 30 years old to undergo what is known as "milestone inspections," have sufficient reserves in their budget to carry out major repairs and maintenance, and conduct a survey of reserves every 10 years. About 90% of Florida's 1.6 million condominiums are more than 30 years old, reported the Associated Press. Condo associations had until Dec. 31 to complete a Structural Integrity Reserve Study, 138 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000693 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0022547 or SIRS, detailing the condition of each building and anticipated repair costs. Condo owners will be required to make monthly contributions to their associations' reserve funds to support long-term repairs and renovations. Unlike in the past, condo boards can no longer vote to waive funding reserves. The growing financial burden associated with the new law, exacerbated further by mounting home insurance premiums and skyrocketing HOA fees in Florida, has left many condo owners fearful of losing their homes and sent others rushing to sell their properties, even at a loss. Still, other homeowners have found themselves unable to offload their properties, because they cannot find buyers willing to take on the burden of the stupefyingly high HOA fees. Some Republican lawmakers share homeowners' concerns, and even DeSantis, who signed Senate Bill 4D into law in May 2022, has called on the state legislature in Tallahassee to reform it. But supporters of the bolstered condo safety measures have remained defiant. Last week, they refused to include a discussion of the law during a special legislative session, reported Miami Herald. House Speaker Daniel Perez, who co-sponsored the bill, said in a speech that the legislation was too complex to take up during a special session--even though that is exactly how it was originally passed. "The tragedy of the collapse in Surfside is a painful reminder of what happens when we don't get the law right," said Perez. "And the truth is, I dislike special sessions because they inhibit the very thing the legislative process should encourage: the push and pull of meaningful conversations that lead to the development of good and better ideas.". Since affixing his signature to the bill less than a year after the Surfside disaster, DeSantis has come out in support of amending the legislation. "We're now seeing some problems that I think were unintended that have popped up, and we have a responsibility to act to make sure that people can stay in their condo units," he said earlier this month, according to Florida Politics. "The Legislature should not be doing anything that's going to cause someone to have to flee because of an artificial mandate." In calling on the Legislature to take up the condo costs issue during the special session, DeSantis suggested that a single law could not be relied upon to fix all the problems that have been plaguing Florida's condos for years. Return to Table of Contents [FL] Winter Park Police Department launches new program to help combat homelessness (Spectrum Central Florida News 13, FL) - full text Central Florida News 13 [2/3/2025 5:39 AM, Jaclyn Harold, 244K, FL] The Winter Park Police Department is joining the efforts to combat homelessness across Central Florida, after announcing a new initiative that begins Monday. The program focuses on connecting those people in need with organizations and resources available, especially permanent housing when it is available. Homeless Advocacy Response team or (HART) is being partially funded by federal grant money. When President Donald Trump announced a freeze on all federal grants last 139 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000693 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0022548 month, it was unclear what that meant for the $250,000 being allocated to the police department. However, soon after announcing the freeze, the Trump administration rescinded the freeze. The grant will help the police department cover the cost of two newly sworn-in officer positions. Those officers would primarily focus on one-on-one interactions with people experiencing homelessness, creating relationships and trust with those individuals and directing them to resources available in the community. In addition to the three-year, $250,000 grant being provided, Spectrum News 13's partners at the Orlando Sentinel reported that the city of Winter Park will also contribute nearly $280,000 toward the officers' wages, equipment and designated vehicles that will allow the officers to lend a ride to local organizations that provide hot meals, showers and a change of clothes, among other resources. Resources for those experiencing homelessness can be found on the Winter Park Police Department's website. [Editorial note: consult source link for video] Return to Table of Contents [FL] Marathon homeless camp cleared after residents file lawsuit over Florida law banning public camping (WLRN, FL) - full text WLRN [2/3/2025 6:28 PM, Julia Cooper, 174K, FL] A homeless camp in Marathon has been cleared by the Monroe County Sheriffs Office after a group of local residents and business owners filed suit against the city for being in violation of new state law regulating such encampments. The Florida Department of Transportation last week had instructed local law enforcement in the Florida Keys to clear the property the state owned on 20th Street. The lawsuit cited Florida law passed last year that bans public sleeping and camping. The controversial law that went into effect last October allows for public sleeping and camping only after a municipal government officially designates an area for that purpose and provides restrooms, running water, security and access to mental health and drug rehab services. The law also allows residents to sue their municipalities for noncompliance. "The lawsuit did sort of filter its way through the channels up to FDOT and allegedly all the way to the Governor's Office," said Steven Williams, the city attorney for Marathon during a city council workshop meeting last week. Williams told city council members they'll need to consider passing an ordinance that mirrors an already-passed resolution over regulating homeless camping. He said the ordinance would make it easier for local law enforcement and judicial officials to research and comply with the city's rules on public camping. Monroe County Sheriffs deputies gave campers 48 hours of notice to vacate the area on 20th street and a pamphlet of information on obtaining transportation, food and legal services, according to a statement from the office. "We will honor (FDOT's) request in a way that is legal, efficient and humane," wrote Sheriff Rick Ramsay on Jan. 29. FDOT owns the property on 20th Street, and the sheriff's office said it will continue to patrol the area pending further instruction from 140 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000693 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0022549 FDOT. FDOT spokesperson Maria Fallon told WLRN that the transportation agency does not have any current plans to develop the parcel of land after campers are removed from the area. Thirty-six plaintiffs, including business owners in the area around 20th Street, are listed on a civil complaint filed Jan. 15. The complaint alleges that the city government violated HB 1365, and enabled the growth of the encampment by placing a dumpster and portable toilets in the area. However, one of the lead plaintiffs on the case, Morgan Gotti, told WLRN that since the area has been cleared, plaintiffs are in the process of dropping the case. "We are very very happy and satisfied that the encampment has been cleared," said Gotti. Return to Table of Contents [MO] Lenexa weighs code change to expand shelter capacity as need for homeless services grows (KSHB-TV NBC 41 Kansas City, MO) - full text KSHB-TV NBC 41 Kansas City [2/3/2025 9:05 AM, Olivia Acree, 491K, MO] The city of Lenexa is discussing an ordinance change that would increase the capacity of cold weather shelters like Project 1020. KSHB 41 spoke to Project 1020 in December when the organization shared it needed more space. "To think that seven or eight years ago we were sheltering 30 people, the need has just increased. It's not enough," said Barbara McEver, Project 1020 president. The cold weather shelter operates from December to March. Project 1020 routinely serves more than 30 people a night, which is one of the city's concerns. If the city were to change the code, it would also increase capacity enforcement. Scott McCullough, Lenexa's community development director, explained why that's necessary. "What we found with a few years of Project 1020 being established in the city is that they sometimes exceed the occupancy limit of the code," McCullough said. "We've also found because it's a seasonal use type of operation that our current mechanisms to enforce the code are a little inefficient." McCullough explained that if a shelter breaks the new code, it could result in fines and eventually a license revocation. Lenexa denied the county homeless services center in the fall. The city agreed the need for shelter space has increased but views homelessness as a regional issue. The city would like to see collaboration to address the need for more homeless services. "We have what amounts to the county's only homeless shelter being operated by Project 1020," McCullough said. "We appreciate that need, but we know there's need elsewhere, and so we are happy to be part of a discussion about where and how that need is met elsewhere." The planning commission will vote Monday, Feb. 3. The city council will make the final decision Feb. 18. KSHB 41 reporter Olivia Acree covers portions of Johnson County, Kansas. Share your story idea with Olivia. [Editorial note: consult source link for video] 141 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000693 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0022550 Return to Table of Contents [MO] Count of homeless in St. Joseph helping to pinpoint strategies (St. Joseph News-Press, MO) - full text St. Joseph News-Press [2/3/2025 11:00 AM, Jenna Wilson, 92K, MO] VIDEO. A local nonprofit's survey of unhoused people in St. Joseph aims to focus local resources where they are needed most. The United Way of Greater St. Joseph recently conducted its annual Point in Time Count to see how many people are unhoused in the city. The data will help agencies better understand the local homeless population and develop effective strategies to help them in the future. About 25 volunteers affiliated with United Way went out to local communities where homeless individuals stay to survey them and discuss the resources they lack to prevent unhousing. "There's a lot of agencies who are working to address the issues of homelessness, but there's so many challenges and barriers," said Jodi Flurry, United Way director of community investment. "Finding a rental unit, the low supply of housing stock is a real challenge because there's even people who have a housing voucher through the public Housing Authority, but they can't find a rental unit so they stay homeless." Officials are reiterating that the homeless epidemic isn't just a local concern, it's a nationwide problem due to various issues including a rise in rent prices for many living off of Social Security. The annual Point in Time count isn't just about gathering data. United Way and other outreach workers also use it to connect with people and give them emergency supplies including hygiene kits, socks, backpacks, hand warmers, food and flashlights. Annual numbers for the count of the homeless population won't be available until May but local organizations will be looking for solutions to help ebb rising tide. "When we do get those reports back in several weeks, we can look at the demographic data and it helps agencies better shape programs if we see that there is a rising need in this area," Flurry said. "Maybe an agency is able to ramp up their efforts to try and address that. Just as one example, even IDs can be a huge barrier, and most agencies don't have money to pay for an ID, so maybe it's about using funds to help get those IDs so they can apply for jobs, apply for benefits and apply for housing." The United Way works year-round with many local agencies including the St. Joseph Police Department, Community Missions and others to better serve the homeless population and help them find housing. The count is federally required and the data is used by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to determine how to distribute federal homeless relief funding. Return to Table of Contents [MI] 5 Things About The New Homeless Shelter Planned In Michigan (WKFR-FM 103.3, MI) - full text WKFR-FM 103.3 [2/3/2025 9:00 AM, Da'Jzon Hughes, 150K, MI] It not news to anyone that we have a problem in America when it comes to 142 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000693 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0022551 homelessness. While I understand that some people choose to live that lifestyle, many of them do not and are often drowning every single day. Living in a first world capitalist country means life is very easy for some and very hard for others. Now, back to the issue at hand, homelessness is affecting largely affecting Michigan and has only gotten worse over the last couple of years. Many counties, cities, and townships have begun to implement some programs to help these individuals but there is still a long way to go. If you know anything about humans and our needs, having the basic necessities like food, clothing, water, hygiene, shelter, etc. are the most important for us to have. If we are lacking in these areas, then we will lack in other areas of life as well. That's why this town in Michigan has decided to help with some of those necessities to help this community get back on their feet. Kalamazoo and Portage have come together to provide a shelter for the homeless community but there are some important things to know. This will be a shelter that is for families that are experiencing homelessness along with some other criteria. Below are 5 important things to know about the homeless shelter. The current Country Inn & Suites hotel, 1912 E. Kilgore Service Road, near the Kalamazoo/Battle Creek International Airport and Portage Street will close near the end of February and renovations will begin. The county will take possession of the property in June and plans are to open the shelter this summer. The opening will come after final preparations, compliance reviews and selection of an operator with expertise in providing housing and support services to families experiencing homelessness. Kalamazoo County is purchasing the property for $5.65 million, with critical upgrades included in the purchase price. Kalamazoo County previously approved $3.5 million for the project. The city of Kalamazoo has chipped in $1.2 million, and the city of Portage provided $500.000. The remaining amount, currently $450,000, will be covered by county housing millage funds. The county has been working to find a way to help create housing for the most vulnerable people in the community for years. Residents, leaders and organizations have long expressed a shared commitment to addressing housing and homelessness while also ensuring homes are safe, sustainable and supportive for all. The county previously announced plans to buy a Holiday Inn Express & Suites, 3630 E. Cork St. in Kalamazoo, to create a homeless shelter. But the county later pivoted to the Country Inn & Suites instead. The Holiday Inn was built in 2000 and is 38,469 square feet, while the Country Inn was built in 1966 and is 46,328 square feet, per property records. Take a look at eight items that every homeless shelter needs. They don't cost much money and make a world of difference. Return to Table of Contents [OH] Elon Musk threatens funding for central Ohio Lutheran homeless health center (WOSU Public Media, OH) - full text 143 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000693 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0022552 WOSU Public Media [2/3/2025 4:53 PM, George Shillcock, OH] AUDIO. Billionaire Elon Musk, the head of the Trump Administration's Department of Government Efficiency, threatened to withdraw funds from Lutheran charities around the country, including one in central Ohio. Lutheran Social Services of Central Ohio was called out by Musk in a social media post over the weekend by President Donald Trump's former advisor Michael Flynn. Musk responded to Flynn's post on X, that questioned why the organizations were getting so much in federal funds, saying the DOGE team is "rapidly shutting down these illegal payments.". The funds totaled about $80 million across dozens of agencies nationwide. Lutheran Social Services of Central Ohio runs several different programs benefitting domestic violence survivors, veterans and the homeless. The $8 million of funding the Ohio agency received was to fund a federally-qualified health center for the homeless. Flynn's original post included a spreadsheet of different LSS organizations around the country and how much grant funding each received from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. LSS spokeswoman Jennifer Hamilton said the funding mostly came from grants given to them under President Trump's first administration. The funding has already been largely spent for their programs between 2017 and 2024. "Charitable works are often undertaken by individuals all the time. And in America, we don't necessarily rely exclusively on the government to do those things," Hamilton said. "The government... relies on (nonprofits) to do the work. They can't for some of our most vulnerable populations.". Hamilton said of their roughly $75 million a year budget, $16 million comes from the federal government. "That's nothing to sniff at," Hamilton said. Hamilton also sent a statement from LSS President and CEO Rachel Lustig, who said they've gotten no notice from the federal government that any funding was paused. "We at Lutheran Social Services of Central Ohio have a long-standing relationship with the government and meet rigorous financial requirements, including an annual independent audit. The grants specifically mentioned are for the LSS Health Center, which provides health care to people experiencing homelessness," Lustig said. "We are disappointed unfounded accusations of money laundering can circulate so broadly, but we will stay focused on providing people in need with housing, health care and emergency assistance with dignity and respect," Lustig said. Musk's threats to remove federal funding allocated to nonprofits like LSS comes as Trump attempted and then backtracked from freezing much of the federal government's funds. DOGE recently gained access to the U.S. Treasury's sensitive payments system. Through this system, DOGE could have wide leeway to access important taxpayer data, among other things. U.S. Rep. Joyce Beatty said in a statement that Lutheran Social Services and many other faith-based nonprofits have touched the hearts and lives of so many central Ohioans through their services_ She criticized Trump and Musk for threatening their funding. "Thoughtless and unconstitutional attempts to freeze federal funding from President Trump, coupled with reckless rhetoric from his boss Billionaire Musk, threaten the hard work of these organizations and their positive impact on the Columbus community," Beatty said. "It's disturbing that one, unelected billionaire is systematically trying to run critical government functions and our democracy into the ground and the President of the United States is either in full agreement or failing to pay attention.". Senator Bernie Moreno, HHS, the U.S. Treasury Department and DOGE did 144 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000693 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0022553 not respond to a request for comment. Return to Table of Contents [IL] Lake County volunteers search deep into the night for the homeless; They left their warm homes to seek out our unhoused neighbors' (Chicago Tribune, IL) - full text Chicago Tribune [2/3/2025 12:51 PM, Joseph States, 4917K, IL] Lake County Board Vice Chair Mary Ross-Cunningham shines a flashlight into a wooded area during the 2025 Point-in-Time Count, which surveys how many people are struggling with homelessness in Lake County. Last year's count saw record highs. (Joe States/Lake County News-Sun). Late one night last week, Lake County Board Vice Chair Mary Ross Cunningham was sitting in the passenger seat of an SUV driving slowly down the streets of her district. Spotting a lone figure walking down the sidewalk, she asked the driver to pull over. "Are you homeless?" she asked. After an affirmative response, Cunningham chatted with the 22-year-old, and handed over a bag of supplies and a gift card. The group then waited until a van arrived to drive the young homeless person to a shelter for the night. Cunningham was one of more than 100 volunteers and a small fleet of cars patrolling Lake County on the night of Jan. 29 as part of the 2025 Homeless Point-in-Time Count that she has taken part in for over two decades. The county was broken into smaller regions, and teams of volunteers were given a map of several common locations to check within their regions. Among the volunteers were numerous other local officials, including several fellow County Board members. Cunningham was happy to see them, saying it is important for local officials to take part. "It's real value because we find homeless in their districts," she said. "They don't know what's in their district.". The survey, led by the Lake County Coalition for the Homeless in collaboration with Lake County Community Development, continued into early Thursday. The PIT Count measures unhoused individuals and families across Lake County on a single night every January. Volunteers and staff will conduct further interviews and pull additional information from local shelters and agencies, and that data will be reported to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to demonstrate Lake County's need for federal assistance. The results of the census will be interesting. Last year's count found Lake County's homeless population had increased by 50% over the year before, and whether that trend continues is to be determined. While data won't be available until the spring, Dominic Strezo, community development administrator with Lake County, previously said he expected numbers to be in line with those of last year. According to last year's results, the majority of unhoused people in Lake County were staying in motel shelters or transitional housing, but 75 were sleeping outside -- more than double the 30 reported the year before. 145 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000693 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0022554 Lake County is far from an outlier. A 2023 Associated Press report showed that the United States experienced a 12% increase in homelessness, the most since the country began using the point-in-time survey in 2007. About 653,000 people were homeless nationwide, an increase of about 70,650 from a year earlier. In Lake County, data from 2023 showed 85% of the homeless were unhoused for the first time, as well as a 75% increase in family homelessness. Shortly before volunteers set off, County Board Chair Sandy Hart talked about the rise in homelessness, and what she called a false narrative that the individuals were to blame. "Nothing could be further from the truth," Hart said. "People cannot afford to live in houses. There's not enough affordable housing.". Hart thanked the many volunteers that made the census possible. The window for volunteering had to be closed early because there were too many people hoping to take part. "I want to thank the overwhelming number of Lake County residents who volunteered," Hart said in a press release. "They left their warm homes to seek out our unhoused neighbors to help them find permanent shelter. Family homelessness is increasing around the country, and Lake County is no exception.". Eric Foote, president of the Lake County Coalition for the Homeless, warned in the release that homelessness can impact "anyone at any time," whether it be themselves or someone they know. "When that happens, a community's resources are called upon to assist," he said. "The P.I.T. Count is an excellent example of the community coming together to help make a difference for those experiencing homelessness.". Lake County is "firmly committed to addressing homelessness," the release said. It pointed to the rising cost of housing as a significant contributor to the growing number of people and families facing homelessness. "The County's Strategic Plan prioritizes increasing the supply of affordable housing in support of fostering a healthy and inclusive community," the release said. As Cunningham spoke to each person her group encountered out on the street, she asked who they knew and where they normally stayed. Often she learned they knew one of her relatives or friends. Several of the people Cunningham and her group encountered were young. It made her sad to see that, Cunningham said several times. Well after midnight, Cunningham's group called it a night and headed back to the Central Permit Facility, which acted as headquarters for the night's efforts. They managed to convince a couple of people to accept shelter for the night, which she said they took as a win. Return to Table of Contents [WI] La Crosse launches year 2 of homeless action plan (Wisconsin Public Radio, WI) - full text Wisconsin Public Radio [2/3/2025 1:00 PM, Trevor Hook, 537K, WI] In western Wisconsin, a five-year action plan to end homelessness is creating housing opportunities and supportive services. This year marks the second year in which city, county and community agencies in La Crosse will work together to achieve "functional zero" by 2029 through the Pathways Home plan. "It means we get more people into 146 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000693 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0022555 housing every month than people who are entering homelessness," said Brian Sampson, homeless coordinator for the city of La Crosse. "There isn't a 24/7 shelter in the city of La Crosse," Sampson said. "The Salvation Army shelter is at capacity all the time." December data shows 275 people living in the region without shelter. "We want to come up with a bridge or temporary solution for that surge in shelter beds," he said. Sampson told WPR's "Wisconsin Today" this year's focus is to end unsheltered homelessness with a temporary emergency shelter and a specialized housing plan. He said since starting as the city's first homeless coordinator in 2021, he's learned it takes a system to get a good hold on homelessness. That includes a formal collaboration with Jim Drees, the county's first homeless response manager. "The city has a lot to do with housing, zoning and police response," Drees told "Wisconsin Today." "The county is the place where we have supportive services that people need." Pathways Home provides permanent, supportive housing solutions. Since the start of the Pathways Home plan, 88 people who once were unhoused now have a place to call home. Drees and Sampson agree it's critical for communities like La Crosse to know the name of every person experiencing homelessness. To provide realtime data, Pathways Home tracks the number of unhoused people on a monthly basis. A standard "Point-In Time" homeless count is commonly used in Wisconsin communities and other states to track the population -- but just twice per year. "We don't necessarily know the history of people," Drees said. "Now, we can understand what type of housing they might need to be successful." Sampson said more frequent data collection allows the city and county to make recommendations for federal funding to support the homeless population. He said the La Crosse City Council approved funding two additional housing projects through the American Rescue Plan Act. Karuna is set to receive $300,000, while Couleecap will get more than $800,000. The projects will add 26 housing units by 2026, according to Sampson. "This was identified as helpful units that our community needs," he said. Last week's federal grant freeze by the Trump Administration concerned Sampson. But the White House quickly rescinded the move. Meanwhile, additional housing units are under construction in La Crosse. This coming summer, a four-story apartment complex is expected to open 62 units of affordable housing. This fall, the county's Hillview Health Care Center will offer 10 units. Action plan seeks to strengthen homeless prevention, hires additional support. Sampson said an additional focus of this year's Pathways Home plan is to strengthen homeless prevention. He said the first step is to determine how to identify people who may be at risk of losing their home. "How can we help them stay in housing?" he asked. "The earlier we can intervene, the better." While leaders discover solutions, La Crosse has case managers working with the homeless population. "If someone is experiencing homelessness, we have someone readily available to help them search for housing, help them fill out applications," Sampson said. "Then, connect them with any ongoing support." 147 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000693 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0022556 Last year, La Crosse County launched a specialized unit with three social workers, to meet people's needs and provide help navigating housing options. To provide further support, the 2025 county budget supports funding three additional social workers and three peer support specialists. Drees said these new peer positions can prevent people from becoming homeless because these people have lived the experience. "They can connect to this population, build trust and help people maintain their housing," Drees said. For other communities looking to address local issues surrounding homelessness, he said people should analyze similarly sized cities to theirs in Wisconsin and across the country. "This is a solvable problem if you coordinate your effort, your resources, and stay focused on the challenge, " Drees said. "Be willing to invest in it." Return to Table of Contents [WI] Western Wisconsin leaders want more aid for homelessness. Can the state help? (Online La Crosse Tribune, WI) - full text Online La Crosse Tribune [2/4/2025 3:30 AM, Caden Perry, 119K, WI] VIDEO. Among the many efforts and approaches to address the nation's homelessness issues, one thing has become clear: No single entity acting alone can solve the problem. Local governments in western Wisconsin are banding together as they seek more resources and shared revenue from the Legislature. In January 2024, La Crosse County and the city of La Crosse joined forces under the Pathways Home plan to collaborate. The county works best by providing social support while the city helps plan affordable housing in the region. Neither group has the resources to do both. Long-term solutions from Pathways Home already are bearing fruit. From June to December 2024, 88 people were placed into some form of housing. Between June and December 2020, the number of people put into permanent housing was 60, according to the Coulee Region's Homeless Management Information System. Still, there's a ways to go. Shelters such as the Salvation Army and the Catholic Charities Warming Center are regularly at capacity, and some people are turned away. Pathways Home's data dashboard estimates 275 people in La Crosse are homeless, with 91 completely unsheltered. Following similar action from city officials in Eau Claire on the issue, La Crosse's city council made an official request for state aid Jan. 9. On Dec. 10, Eau Claire's city council adopted a resolution asking legislators for more help. The new resolution asks six things of the state: expand program funding, establish state-operated support facilities, stop transporting homeless to cities already burdened, promote affordable housing, promote local partnerships and enhance federal assistance. The memo was sent to the state offices of Gov. Tony Evers, Wisconsin's congressional delegation and other relevant federal agencies to emphasize urgency. "People in our Legislature and our federal-elected (reps), you know they're here sometimes, but they're not here all the time. So you offer those eyes and ears," Eau Claire city council president Emily Berge advised La Crosse officials. The La Crosse city council copied the same resolution, made a few tweaks, and sent it to their state legislators as well. Eau Claire has dealt with homelessness in similar ways 148 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000693 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0022557 to La Crosse. The city collaborates with local partners like Western Dairyland and the Hope Gospel Mission, helps support local warming shelters and works with street response teams to coordinate services. In Eau Claire and Jackson counties, there were 104 unsheltered homeless people, according to a July 2024 point-in-time study. Point-intime studies have their flaws in data collection methods, but are a good estimate of yearto-year trends. At the same time in 2019, the point-in-time study found only 16 people living unsheltered between the two counties. City officials sent a large amount of American Rescue Plan Act money awarded for COVID relief to help community partners construct a resource center downtown. The center put all of Eau Claire's social services under one roof and provides free meals and transportation to those in need. The city council president's main sticking point is over shared revenue. Wisconsin has a 5% sales tax on all retail items, and counties are allowed to impose a half percent local sales tax on top of it. Instead of raising sales taxes, Berge wishes the region had more say in how the tax money is used. With the 5% sales tax leaving the city, Berge believes Eau Claire isn't getting its fair share back when the state divvies up the tax revenue. "Every level of government, they get to basically print money except for the local governments. You know, we are so dependent, and they tie our hands in so many different ways. So when we're trying to solve problems --just like during COVID, we're trying to solve this worldwide pandemic -- we're trying to solve this national homeless crisis with, like, no resources," Berge said. "They tried to help with the last bill, the shared revenue bill. I just think it wasn't quite enough.". She suggested the state lower its sales tax so the county can increase its local sales tax, leaving the final tax bill unchanged but allowing more local use of the taxes collected. For legislators, the main focus for addressing homelessness is in housing expansion. The state budget already has several mechanisms to create new housing, so most legislators prefer to work through those avenues. "I want to build off the infrastructure that we currently have, as far as those service organizations, nonprofits, charitable and religious organizations that have been providing assistance throughout the years. But, you know, I recognize when they tell me that there's, you know, a greater need and there's demand for more," said state Sen. Brad Pfaff, D-Onalaska. "I personally believe the state does need to do more. I personally believe it should be locally led. I want locally led ideas and decision-making being brought forward.". The state's budget for new affordable housing works similar to a city's budget. State officials receive funds through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and disperse them through Community Development Block Grants. These grants are used to buy dilapidated properties, which are either renovated or torn down to make way for a new structure. A recent example of this is The Collective on Fourth, an affordable multi-use housing block on Fourth and Jackson streets in La Crosse partially funded by the state's Block Grant program. The subsidized apartments are for people making far below the county's median income, with some units set aside for the homeless as well. Other state programs are more specific, such as the State Shelter Subsidy Grant. This grant funds shelters looking to expand or in need of funding assistance. This year, the 149 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000693 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0022558 state awarded about $1.7 million. In 2025, the State Shelter Subsidy Grant is awarding $10,000 to the Catholic Charities Warming Center and $43,600 to the Salvation Army shelter in La Crosse. In Eau Claire, the Catholic Charities Sojourner House will receive $33,700 and the Western Dairyland Economic Opportunity Council will get $15,200. With many programs already established, local legislators say the best path forward is increased funding. "There are members in the majority and on Joint Finance who are hesitant or lack the will to fund some of the programs that would help cities and counties," said state Rep. Jill Billings, D-La Crosse. "I'm hoping that with this new budget, as we've seen increased numbers of homelessness in Wisconsin, that legislators will feel more urgency toward funding relief for local counties and cities who - especially mid-sized cities -- bear, I think, the oversized burden on their shoulders.". Billings added that aid requests like Eau Claire and La Crosse's help, but local figures should also make direct appeals to the state's Joint Finance Committee who are ultimately in charge of dispersing allocated cash. Local organizers are already attacking the need for housing through the same housing programs. The Housing and Urban Development department also awards grants to municipalities to revitalize neighborhoods. Jonah Denson is La Crosse's Neighborhood Housing Development associate. Denson is in charge of finding old properties for sale and purchasing them using block grant funds. He then shops the properties out to local organizations for new home builds through HUD's HOME Investment Partnerships Program. The builds are facilitated through Western Technical College, high school programs and other local building companies at low cost to keep the homes affordable. Homes built through Block Grants and HOME are then sold to HUD-eligible buyers below market rate. Buyers take out a first mortgage with a private lender with a $120,000 minimum. To make up the difference between the first mortgage and the asking price, the Block Grants fund two additional mortgages. One of the block grant mortgages offers $25,000 forgiven over 15 years, or about $1,700 a year. The second mortgage is a 3% simple interest loan that is paid off after the first to make up the middle ground between the first, lower-end mortgage and the forgiven mortgage. It's ultimately parallel work to the state's efforts with HUD programs. While both seek to address the root issue of housing demand. Denson said decreased funding amid a rising housing market could bring issues in the future. "It's hard to go under the $100,000 mark here." Denson said. "I tend to look for things that are especially run down or vacant parcels that somebody might be sitting on. It's really the only way to stretch our money. We have some TIF money available in the city that we've taken advantage of, but we're limited by what HUD sends us, and HUD sends us less and less every year.". Limited state funding for the programs slows the rate of new builds, which has fallen behind housing demand. To start becoming affordable, vacancy rates for rentals in a city need to hit about 5%. In Eau Claire, the current multifamily home rental vacancy rate is 2%. "Housing is definitely a crunch. And, you know, in trying to build more, people want affordable housing, but just not in their backyard," Berge said. "We just don't have enough housing for people, and everyone who wants a 150 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000693 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0022559 house should have a house.". Key events in La Crosse's efforts to address homelessness. As La Crosse city and county officials look to implement the Pathways Home plan to address homelessness in the region, the issues surrounding the unhoused have been prevalent for some time in the community. John King, a man who turned his 16 foot-long 1987 Ford E-150 Coachman camper into a home, has found a new appreciation for keeping a home together that brings him happiness after battling physical and mental health struggles. The Chestnut family, who overcame homelessness and addiction, are now facing eviction from their duplex unit due to lead exposure and are seeking help to find a new place to live. David Gene Steele, a rock music fan, shares his journey from homelessness to housing, and the challenges he faces due to arthritis and mental health issues. Lindsay Gulley and James Luhman found love and stability in their relationship while battling housing insecurity and were able to secure permanent housing through Couleecap's Housing First program. Andrea Cieminski and her family have received a gift beyond belief this holiday season, as they have become homeowners after a series of grants and donations. Cieminski and her family were facing homelessness as their landlord prepared to sell the property they had lived in for 14 years. However, the generosity of the La Crosse community changed everything. Anna Kessler and Jamie Kansier leave La Crosse for a fresh start. They find new homes and jobs, leaving behind their struggles with substance abuse and homelessness. Rev. Dr. Mark Jolivette and Mary Lichtie were honored with the 38th annual Iverson Freking Ecumenical Recognition for their contributions and service to the La Crosse community. The La Crosse County Executive Committee has approved a potential amendment to the county budget that would provide $80,000 to The Runaway and Homeless Youth Mediation and Emergency Services (RHYMES). The funding would help ensure that youth can stay off the street as the weather begins to get colder. The City of La Crosse's Economic and Community Development Commission has allocated over $1.1 million in ARPA funds to address homelessness, granting $300,000 to Karuna Housing, $400,000 to CouleeCap, and $400,000 to Salvation Army. The entire council will vote to approve the commission's allocation of ARPA funds during the Thursday, Nov. 14 city council meeting. La Crosse police and private contractors clear homeless encampment by Rose Street welcome sign. Eviction ordered by Wisconsin DOT. The West Salem Village Board of Trustees unanimously voted to prohibit camping on village-owned property on Tuesday. The decision follows the city of La Crosse banning camping on city-owned property in August. La Crosse's parks to receive additional security patrols using contingency fund. Camping ban enforced by security guards. Clean up funds also approved. La Crosse police clear out encampments along Vietnam Veterans Trail, enforcing a camping ban on city-owned property. Parks staff clean up everything left behind. Notices to vacate encampments along La Crosse marsh trails posted. Campers must move by August 28. 151 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000693 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0022560 La Crosse's city council adopted an amendment to the city code that prohibits camping on all public property, while also debating the locations for establishing overnight shelters for the homeless. La Crosse city officials weigh in on Houska Park as a potential location for city's homeless population to sleep overnight. The pak could be a backup for future encampment clearings or sanctioned shelter options. Tom Gilliam, owner of a truck driving school, is offering free classes to people experiencing homelessness who are willing to learn the ropes of trucking, with the goal of getting them off the streets and into a career. La Crosse committee reconsiders rezoning petition for REACH Center and camping ban in marshlands. Changes in city laws allow for second chances on both items. City staff consider surplus buildings and outdoor spaces for homeless sleeping areas in La Crosse metro area. Funding and location options discussed. Brad Schwaegerl, a homeless veteran with heart failure, has been receiving help from his community as he plans his death, but his lack of access to healthcare and housing has made it difficult for him to recover. The La Crosse County Board is poised to soon finalize its Strategic Plan, a blueprint for progress over the next five years, encompassing seven pivotal goals. La Crosse seeks community information to establish new overnight shelters for the homeless population. Organizations asked to apply by July 31. La Crosse council considers restricting outdoor camping, requiring homeless to move daily. Another proposal shifts camping ban decisions to council instead of public works board. The case is the most significant to come before the high court in decades on the issue and comes as a rising number of people in the U.S. are without a permanent place to live. City of La Crosse council authorizes city staff to identify and designate an overnight shelter for unhoused people. New restrictions for people camping on public property were put in place by the La Crosse city council Thursday, as the governing body also ga. La Crosse's Board of Public Works denied a proposed ordinance amendment that would specifically ban camping in the La Crosse River Marsh in a 3-2 vote Monday morning. La Crosse city officials and homeless campers clash over trash and sanitation issues in the marshlands. A Supreme Court case hangs between a ban on camping and addressing the needs of La Crosse's homeless. Troy Walker's race against time is on as he battles health conditions and struggles to receive Social Security benefits. His health and finances are at a critical point. Couleecap Inc. surpasses one million people served since its founding in 1966. Learn about the organization's programs and impact in the region. Xylazine, often known as Tranq, is on the rise in the La Crosse community. La Crosse's push for affordable housing continues with the Collective on Fourth, a new residential building for lowincome residents. The $16 million project will be move-in ready by April 2025. La Crosse's homeless population has relocated to the marshes, causing complaints and challenges. A new camping ban proposal threatens their lives and livelihood. La Crosse's Board of Public Works deferred a camping ban dispute over homeless campers relocating to nearby marshlands to June 3. Nearby residents had concerns over the environment and public safety over the campers. 152 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000693 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0022561 La Crosse police and staff have cleared the shores of La Crosse River and the Mississippi East Channel of unhoused people and their belongings, making it a trespassing zone. Karuna House is a supportive housing program for individuals with housing insecurity seeking more permanent solutions for shelter. The program currently hosts 10 people and provides 24/7 support, community service opportunities, and subsidized rent. On Jan. 8, the county board invited the entire city council and dozens of associated service groups to hear what plan the county and city had created following months of research on homelessness services. The answer is the "Pathways Home" campaign. As the homeless encampment across the La Crosse River from the Riverside International Friendship Gardens grows, nearby businesses and residen. . . A new La Crosse nonprofit aims to offer housing for some of La Crosse's most vulnerable residents by building on past successes in the community. Great Rivers United Way and La Crosse Community Foundation partnering to fund REACH Center work with homelessness for winter on Giving Tuesday. Return to Table of Contents [MN] Minnesota homeless shelters face `overwhelming' need, challenges to operation (Minnesota Public Radio, MN) - full text Minnesota Public Radio [2/3/2025 11:48 AM, Staff, 63K, MN] Around the state, homeless shelters are struggling to stay open as demand for their services grow. Just last week, The Minnesota Star Tribune reported that Agate Housing and Services homeless shelter in Minneapolis was not planning to reopen, even after they received a $1.5 million grant from the city and an anonymous donation matching the city's contribution. Agate isn't alone in facing barriers in providing shelter for the homeless. Joining Minnesota Now to talk about the difficulties for homeless shelters to stay open and operating is Matt Traynor, the director of advocacy and interim executive director of the Minnesota Coalition for the Homeless. Also joining the program is John Cole, the executive director of Chum, a homeless shelter in Duluth. [Editorial note: consult audio at source link] Return to Table of Contents [TX] Director of One Love Longview fears what's next for homeless population after organization shuts down (News-Journal, TX) - full text News-Journal [2/3/2025 6:45 AM, Jordan Green, 128K, TX] At least for now, One Love Longview's daily struggle is over. Once the homeless outreach center's doors close Friday, volunteers won't be spending all day caring for the city's homeless residents who go there to bathe, clean their clothes and eat. That means a new struggle for Longview's homeless population is beginning. "The harsh reality is that there is not going to be a 'next' for a lot of these folks," said Amanda Veasy, One Love Longview's executive director. "This is going to ultimately result in death for some of them. It will be a final straw. The reality is, it's not legal for them to 153 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000693 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0022562 exist anywhere in city limits.". After five years of serving the needs of the city's unhoused population, One Love will close the doors of its McCann Road building because of a lack of funding -- and because of what Veasy calls a targeted effort by city officials and business owners to shut the organization down. The city's top administrator denied those claims, however, and business owners have said the organization's clients have created public safety issues in the area. City officials also cited data showing that most encounters between police and homeless community members do not end in arrests or citations. Although One Love is ceasing operations at its brick-and-mortar building, the organization itself isn't dissolving, and Veasy has no plans to stop helping the city's homeless residents. Nevertheless, she said she fears what's in store -- or not in store, rather -- for dozens of people who've received food, counseling, medical care, addiction recovery services and more each day from One Love. Mainly, she said she's concerned they'll be criminalized further. "This community as a whole is not prepared for what's about to happen when we close our doors," Veasy said. 'Safety net at the very bottom'. What became a day shelter providing resources to homeless residents started with a Little Caesar's pizza box. Veasy began taking pizza, sleeping bags and more to homeless people at Magrill Park and other encampments about 10 years ago -- "whatever it was that my folks needed," she said. Veasy calls them "my folks" for a reason: She's been homeless before. She grew up in poverty, was abused and was a teenage mother. "I have a pretty traumatic background from the time I was very young, and I have experienced some of the very same things that they have experienced," she said. "I know what it feels like to not have anywhere to go. I know what it feels like to be abused.". The suffering she lived through, and the suffering of others, compelled her to act. As she once read, not all people are lucky enough to escape a terrible past. Those who make it out have a duty to help pull others out of the darkness. "I can't imagine how you could see the things that we see or pass people on the road in their lowest state and not feel a responsibility to do something," Veasy said. "My mind cannot wrap around that.". One Love Longview was incorporated in 2020, and in 2022, it moved from its building on Fairmont Street to McCann Road. Its mission has been to provide counseling, medical assistance and more to homeless residents, including those of different ethnicities and LGBTQ people. It operates as a day shelter but not an overnight shelter except during inclement weather. Longview has organizations such as the Hiway 80 Rescue Mission and the Salvation Army that provide overnight shelter and various programs to help homeless people. And they do a great job, Veasy said, but they can't help everyone. 154 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000693 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0022563 "One Love has really tried to be that safety net at the very bottom when folks are falling through the cracks or they're not eligible to receive services because of some severe mental health issue, or because maybe they have an intellectual disability, or they have a pet or because they have a traumatic brain injury, or they're on the [autism] spectrum," Veasy said. "The beautiful thing is that it takes all of us to each plug in to our individual specialties and take that group and care for them wholeheartedly and serve them relentlessly. And so a piece of that puzzle is about to be missing from this community.". Not long after One Love moved to the building on McCann Road, trouble started. Business owners and residents in the area voiced concerns that One Love's clients were causing disturbances at local businesses, vandalizing property and littering. Calls for service to the Longview Police Department increased once One Love moved into the area. In June 2023, business owners, residents, city officials and Veasy met to discuss the issues. Mark Moseley, co-owner of Moseley's Appliances at 1013 McCann Road, said homeless people have slept near his business. One person became belligerent after asking someone for money for a hotel room but being turned down. Customers have been afraid to leave their cars and enter the business, the News-Journal reported. John Ray, a sales manager at Orr Cadillac GMC at 400 Spur 63 N, said homeless people have approached customers to ask for money but become aggressive when they declined. Homeless people have entered the dealership showroom and refused to leave; some have cursed and screamed; and one completely undressed before leaving, the News-Journal reported. Moseley and Ray said those issues ceased following the meeting and expressed gratitude for the improvement. Veasy said she had simply asked clients not to trespass on other properties. But businesses still suffered losses. Vehicles at Orr Cadillac GMC sustained $180,000 in damage, the News-Journal previously reported. Other business owners said cars have been broken into and that homeless people have defecated in Dumpsters, the NewsJournal reported in May. "I think we're all sympathetic," said David Jacobs, a homeowners in Towne Lake Village off McCann Road. "I think our sympathy has been abused.". More controversy arose in early 2024 when Veasy allowed One Love clients to sleep outside the building. She said clients were being arrested or ticketed wherever they went and had no other safe place to go. The City Council in May 2024 added additional restrictions to a city ordinance that bars camping in the city limits. Mayor Kristen Ishihara advocated for the change based on feedback she received from community members. Additional struggles between the city and One Love were in store. Veasy was charged in municipal court with violating the anti-camping ordinance by allowing someone to sleep on the property, and the matter hasn't gone to trial yet. Attorney Mary Lou Tevebaugh is 155 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000693 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0022564 representing Veasy in the case. Veasy also was charged with violating a city ordinance requiring her to have a permit to host an outdoor event. Officials in the city's development Services office initially said Veasy didn't need a permit because her organization was a nonprofit. However, they later determined that, based on a city ordinance, she did need a permit because One Love doesn't own the building. Records show that Veasy applied for a permit, but it was denied because it wasn't submitted in time. City officials also granted but later revoked a permit allowing One Love to serve food at its property. The issue preceded the resignation, in lieu of termination, of the city's former environmental health manager, Leisha Kidd-Brooks, in September, the NewsJournal previously reported. Kidd-Brooks granted One Love a permit to serve food but didn't require the facility to be inspected. Kidd-Brooks calls herself a friend of Veasy, the News-Journal previously reported. Tevebaugh, Veasy's attorney, in December accused city officials of taking a "targeted approach" to shut down One Love Longview. Veasy repeated that claim in an interview Saturday. However, it's a claim that City Manager Rolin McPhee denied in December. "I will tell you that a city's responsibility -- and by that I mean a municipal government's responsibility -- we are to enforce the policies, procedures and ordinances set by City Council, and in execution of those duties, it is our job to indiscriminately apply those same rules to every entity and/or establishment," McPhee previously said. The loss of financial support from donors is another reason One Love is closing, Veasy said. Businesses that have financially supported Veasy have "been targeted" by community members and business owners for supporting the organization, she said. As a result, some donors have "backed off.". On Friday, Veasy and volunteers cleaned out the Twice Loved Marketplace, a thrift shop supporting One Love. It was the beginning of the end -- at least for One Love's present iteration. Veasy isn't sure what she'll do next. She believes she was born to help the homeless. She has background in Christian ministry and said Jesus is her "hero." During her darkest seasons of life, all she had was "my Bible and my ability to pace and pray," she said. "It's almost our nature to respond to people in suffering and to say, 'I'll pray for you,- Veasy said. "But I feel like our lives should be a living prayer. I feel like just the act of prayer is not enough. "When we only pray, and we put this expectation on God to do things or handle things or find a solution, then we have, in fact, handicapped God, because we are the solution. Humanity is the solution to all of humanity's problems.". Longview has struggled to find sustainable, long-term solutions to help homeless people, Veasy said. Like most other cities across the nation, Longview has ticketed and arrested homeless people for camping outside, even though they might not have anywhere else to go. That's the most expensive and least effective way to solve the issue, Veasy said. 156 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000693 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0022565 However, Veasy said she's concerned that more arrests and ticketing will occur once One Love's clients don't have somewhere to go during the daytime. "Is this where we want our tax dollars going -- to jailing people who don't deserve to be jailed? They are literally being arrested for existing, for breathing, for being alive," she said. However, city of Longview spokesman Richard Yeakley said police officers' first response to the city's unhoused community is not to issue citations or make arrests. In calendar year 2024, including the months before and after the city's camping ordinance was passed, Longview police had 1,100 contacts with unhoused people, Yeakley said. Of those interactions, 41 ended with someone being cited for an issue directly related to homelessness, such as sleeping or camping on private property. Veasy and her crew will meet with social workers and case managers to connect clients with other resources before Friday. "We are the link for services and solution for individuals who are experiencing chronic homelessness, and there's not another service provider in our area that that is meeting that specific need," Veasy said. Still, she said, "This does not mean that One Love is going away.". "I know that there's no going back," Veasy said. "You can't see the kind of human suffering that I've seen over my years doing this and just turn a blind eye. You can't turn your head from it.". Return to Table of Contents [TX] Local pastor provides meals, haircuts and care for people experiencing homelessness in San Antonio (KSAT 12, San Antonio, TX) - full text KSAT 12 [2/3/2025 12:08 AM, Zaria Oates, 1017K. TX] San Antonio stands out among Texas cities for its high number of people experiencing homelessness. Nonprofit organizations and shelters such as Haven for Hope and Endeavors are actively working to support these individuals, including veterans. However, for those who are not ready to seek help from these organizations, community volunteers step in to offer assistance directly. Pastor Jimmy Robles leads a group of volunteers dedicated to spreading hope and ensuring everyone is fed and cared for. "(We just want) to bring hope to the individuals," Robles said. Robles. volunteers take the time to cook, feed, clothe, and even provide haircuts to people experiencing homelessness. They also offer words of praise, regardless of religion, aiming to foster a sense of community. "We plug into one of the darkest parts of the city, and we bring light. We bring hope," Robles said. The visible presence of homelessness in San Antonio is undeniable but hard to put into numbers. A Point-in-Time (PIT) count is conducted each year to estimate the number of homeless individuals, but various factors make this count challenging. According to the Texas Homeless Network, a PIT count takes place one night of the year at the end of January each year, and in 2025, that day was Jan. 23. Temperatures in San Antonio were notably low, with highs only reaching 57 degrees and lows dipping into the upper 20s below freezing on Jan. 23. Those temperatures are what people experiencing homelessness endure regardless. 157 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000693 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0022566 Often covered in blankets or hidden away to stay warm, these individuals may be missed during the count. Despite these challenges, the 2024 PIT count estimated San Antonio as having the second-highest homeless population in Texas, trailing only Dallas by a few hundred people. Robles and his volunteers remain committed to giving back to their community. "When I leave here, I leave full of joy knowing that even if there's one person that we made an impact on, it's a blessing," he said. Ramiro Rodriguez, a volunteer, echoed this sentiment. "It's rough out here, you know, and ... to have someone really encourage you, to push forward is something that I think we really, really need and promote," Rodriguez said. While this was the first event Robles has hosted for the year, he said he plans to continue hosting these gatherings across the city every other Saturday evening. "It all starts with building a relationship with them," Robles said. "That's what we're here for." Return to Table of Contents [TX] Houston's homeless could face state camping ban, expanded civility ordinance from Whitmire (Houston Landing, TX) - full text Houston Landing [2/4/2025 5:00 AM, Hanna Holthaus, Celli Doyle, TX] Gavin Burton's life exists within the boundaries of a Westchase shopping center off Westheimer Road. He sleeps under the awning of an optometrist's office and works at a Panera Bread across the street. Occasionally, the 21-year-old and his fiance find a bed at a nearby shelter or seek refuge in front of a church. After five months on Houston's streets and almost three months saving paychecks, Burton is trying to put himself and his fiance on a better path. "This isn't something I'm willingly wanting to live through," he said on a muggy, late January morning. "It just makes it harder when people are continuously telling us, 'You gotta move, you can't sleep here, you can't do this, you can't do that.- In an effort to end homelessness affecting people like Burton, Mayor John Whitmire plans to impose more limitations on the city's unhoused population this year -- that is, if the Texas Legislature does not act first. State lawmakers enacted a public camping ban in 2021, which bars sleeping on public property, with little to no effect in Houston. However, a proposal before state lawmakers could give it the bite of similar bans throughout the country, forcing the issue locally. Even without the outside influence, Whitmire repeatedly has stated his intent to expand and strengthen Houston's existing civility ordinance, which prohibits sitting in designated public areas during the day. The timeline for such an expansion is unknown; officials involved with the city's homelessness response plan said Whitmire wants to get people off the streets quickly, but the city currently does not have the funding to open additional bed space. Either option -- an expanded civility ordinance or state legislation to force compliance with Texas' camping ban -- would push Houston closer to restricting where people like Burton can rest, day or night. Tiana Richards is a youth housing associate at the Coalition for the Homeless of 158 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000693 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0022567 Houston/Harris County. Her work involves conducting the annual point-in-time count -- the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development-mandated homelessness census -- that organizations assisting the unhoused execute. Every year, 400 volunteers and nonprofit staff canvass Harris, Montgomery and Fort Bend counties to determine the region's total unhoused population. Last year, more than 2,900 people from Harris County were recorded, although that is not the full extent of the county's homeless population. "This number only represents point in time," coalition spokesperson Fryda Ochoa said. "There's no way to know exactly how many people are truly homeless. The number fluctuates every single day -- this gives us a snapshot of information." In 2011, the first year the coalition organized the count, it recorded more than 8,000 unhoused individuals in Harris County alone. For this year's count, Richards and her colleagues, Quana Smith and Laura Banks, comprised one of two outreach teams searching for unhoused Houstonians in the city's Westchase neighborhood early Wednesday before asking folks like Burton if they were willing to answer some questions. The coalition and its partners are required to canvass data for the point-in-time count to access federal funding for its programs. The snapshot also helps determine which resources are needed most and how the coalition can better support its clients. That data is critical for the nonprofit's success, coalition President Kelly Young said. Young began partnering with city officials last year to map a new collaborative approach between local governments and nonprofits to address homelessness. The result was a multi-step plan that includes gathering specialized experts that can safely and effectively interact with anyone experiencing homelessness. The teams, in collaboration with the Houston Police Department Homelessness Outreach Team, would then have hubs throughout the city with beds readily available; individuals could find the resources most applicable to their situations. The price tag: $70 million for at least the first year, pulled from multiple sources, including city coffers. Whitmire has touted the plan as a rounded, multi-disciplinary approach, but it largely is reliant on outside funding. "Once the funding comes in, how do we make sure that we place it and coordinate it based on data, based on feedback from our partners in the right section, so that right when somebody falls into homelessness on the street, within 24 hours, anybody -- law enforcement, outreach, whoever -- can get them through a door that starts their path," Young said. Houston long has represented the standard for homelessness outreach and planning, in part because of its nonprofit-government collaboration, said Eric Samuels, president of the Texas Homeless Network. Rising housing costs, however, have increased the number of people facing homelessness across the country. Getting individuals off the streets has become one of the mayor's top priorities. In a December 2024 interview, Whitmire said he intended to expand Houston's civility ordinance citywide and extend the time it is active at the beginning of 2025. In January, 159 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000693 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0022568 he cited Winter Storm Enzo's four deaths as another reason to move quickly. Houston's existing civility ordinance outlines designated areas where people cannot sit or sleep on public sidewalks between 7 a.m. and 11 p.m. There are no similar restrictions that extend overnight. Critics have argued the ordinance and public camping bans effectively outlaw homelessness. A Supreme Court decision last year allowed such bans to give cities and states autonomy when addressing homelessness. Expanding the ordinance would show compassion toward a population that may not know the damage sleeping outdoors can bring to themselves, said Larry Satterwhite, the city's director of homeland security and co-creator of Houston's new homelessness plan. "Allowing them to sleep on the sidewalks overnight means that they're vulnerable to anything and everything, not just Mother Nature, but other persons that might prey upon them," he said. The overarching goal is to ensure no one experiences homelessness for longer than 3O days, which currently is a goal for unhoused veterans, said Mike Nichols, director of the city's Housing and Community Development Department. The city, however, does not have the resources to give every homeless person an apartment and shelter beds remain largely at capacity. Houston officials did not comment on what would happen if the civility ordinance is expanded without additional beds or shelter space readily available. "(Bans) put police officers in an untenable situation," Samuels said. "These people have nowhere to go, so (officers) are the ones that have to decide where we're going to issue the camping ban and where we're not." Anyone sleeping outside is in harm's way, Satterwhite said, but -- outside of specific circumstances -- city ordinance does not give police the right to move people. The existing state ban outlaws public camping at all times, but has had little to no effect on Houston. A bill before the Texas Legislature this session would set penalties for cities that do not enforce the state public camping ban. States with similar bans have come with undesirable results, housing advocates said. Florida, for example, implemented a statewide public camping ban last October. Under the ban, individuals are not permitted to sleep on public property; starting Jan. 1, residents could sue municipalities that did not enforce the ban. It has resulted in the warnings and arrests of hundreds of homeless individuals. "We don't want people sleeping on the streets, but again, the way we have to approach it is through getting them off the streets and into housing, not just pushing them outside of that imaginary boundary," Samuels said. Houston's goal is not to arrest its way out of homelessness but to carry out the entirety of Whitmire's multi-year plan, said Mike Nichols, director of the city's Housing and Community Development Department. As the mayor said in December: "You lock up people that you're afraid of, not those that you're mad at. Ticketing somebody does 160 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000693 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0022569 nothing." On a practical level, jailing individuals costs more per year than finding appropriate housing. It also can lead to a cycle of arrests as residents still have no place to live after leaving the jail, Nichols said. Nichols estimated a majority of homeless people would utilize available housing resources if available. The challenge, he said, is what to do with the 500 or so individuals believed to be mentally ill, who at times refuse resources and are not served by being jailed. Satterwhite said the city's team addressing homelessness will consider how to help those who may need mental health or substance treatment. "It's going to take some time," Satterwhite said. 'But we need to get on it now because the longer we wait, the more we're gonna have problems." At a City Council committee meeting Monday, Satterwhite and Nichols also suggested broadening the state mental health commitment laws to include people who may not realize they suffer from mental illness. The 2025 point-in-time count and analysis will be published later this spring after an epidemiologist has independently verified the data, Ochoa said. Those results will help the coalition and its partners gauge progress in decreasing chronic homelessness, as well as where the gaps are. In the meantime, Nichols said he does not know when Whitmire will propose the new civility ordinance, but he expects it would be systematically rolled out through the city. "It is a tool to move people into housing, but it would still be done on a rolling basis, not citywide," Nichols said. "Because, could you do that? You'd end up putting people in jail, which is not what you want to do." Satterwhite said conversations surrounding timing were ongoing. Whitmire has not been able to move as quickly as he would like because of the lack of resources available. An expanded civility ordinance may or may not impact Burton, depending on when it begins. He and his fiance are planning to move to California once they save enough to buy train tickets. Burton wants local and state politicians to understand that living on the streets does not prevent him from presenting himself well. He showers on a regular basis and shows up to his Panera shifts on time. "One thing I would like them to understand is that not every homeless person you come across is going to be crazy or strung out on drugs," Burton said. "I've never touched drugs in my life. The bigger problem is when someone will come by and say, 'You gotta move.- Return to Table of Contents [OK] Despite Growing Homelessness, Oklahoma Lawmakers Look to Punitive Measures (Oklahoma Watch, OK) - full text Oklahoma Watch [2/3/2025 7:00 AM, Heather Warlick, 28K, OK] In the wee hours of Jan. 23, volunteers took to the frigid streets to find, count and survey people sleeping unsheltered in Norman. These volunteers not only count the homeless, 161 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000693 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0022570 but also register them into the Homeless Management Information System to connect them with case workers for future assistance. The Point in Time counts were performed simultaneously in Tulsa, Oklahoma City, Lawton and Norman. Recent Point in Time counts revealed a 25% increase in homelessness from 2023 to 2024 in Oklahoma. During that period, coalitions of service providers have actively been rehousing people experiencing homelessness, but rising rents, shortages in low-income housing and growing eviction rates slash hope this year's count will drop. If proposed legislation is an indication, some Oklahoma lawmakers plan to spend session time peddling bills aimed at penalizing the more than 4,000 Oklahomans experiencing homelessness in their own communities. HB 1764 by Rep. Dell Kerbs, RShawnee, amends the anti-camping law of 2024, expanding the ban to include not just state-owned property, but also county and city-owned lands. Homeless people violating this camping ban would face the same penalties as those charged with sleeping on state property: $50 fines and up to 15 days in jail. The 2024 legislation that created the original laws criminalizing sleeping on state-owned property was derived directly from model legislation provided by The Cicero Institute, a conservative think tank in Austin influencing receptive states such as Oklahoma. Expanding the scope of the camping ban aligns with The Cicero Institute's campaign. An article on the group's website touts the success the Austin group has enjoyed in Oklahoma, stating: "This is Oklahoma, not Seattle or San Francisco--we do things differently here. When a neighbor is struggling, we offer a helping hand." The article continues, "Camping restrictions provide a path forward to positive change, one that is foreclosed under failed federal Housing First policies.". Senate Bill 484, filed by Sen. Lisa Standrige, R-Norman, received national media attention and created local contention. The bill would prohibit cities with fewer than 300,000 residents from using municipal money to support homeless services such as emergency shelters and food banks. Oklahoma only has two cities with populations greater than 300,000 -- Oklahoma City and Tulsa. Standridge clarified that the bill would not affect the work of nonprofits and churches to provide services to people experiencing homelessness; it would only dictate city spending. Standridge's bill directly aims at her hometown shelter, A Friend's House, which receives a large portion of its funding from the city of Norman. It also seems to target Norman libraries. Standridge spoke at a mid-January Original Constitutional Principles Affecting Culture meeting, explaining why she authored the bill. "This is a constituent bill from my town of Norman, which is absolutely a dumpster fire right now in what they've done to allow the homeless to establish a vagrant nation if you will," Standridge told the OCPAC group. "If you can imagine taking my son to the west side library and having to see a police officer stand at the door because of the vagrants that are camped out at all of the computers," she said. Oklahoma Watch visited Norman Public Library West, where eight patrons appeared to be homeless, with bundles of their personal belongings. A couple read quietly at yellow library tables while six used library computers. A bank of children's computers sat empty. 162 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000693 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0022571 The library observed its signature silence. "We don't have any policy against homeless people," said Michael Pierson, branch manager at Norman Public Library West. "They can use the services just like everybody else does. They have library cards." He said off-duty police officers serve as security guards during business hours when he is not present, but there are few problems. City Care recently signed a six-month contract with the city of Norman to take over operations of A Friend's House, which has 52 beds. The Salvation Army is the only other shelter in Norman, with 35 beds. Last year's Cleveland County Point in Time count found 240 people, including 27 children, sleeping outdoors or in a shelter, primarily in Norman. Heidi Smith, director of the Thunderbird Clubhouse, the lead administrative agency for the Cleveland County Continuum of Care, said that while Norman has an excellent network of social service nonprofits, they are always underfunded and under-resourced. "The biggest thing that I've heard from people who want to defund homelessness issues is that the churches and nonprofits, they want to step up and operate shelters," Smith said. "I don't know of any church or any nonprofit that's not already doing the very best they can with very limited resources.". Without city funding, Smith said, A Friend's House would lose 75% of its capacity. Rachel Freeman, CEO of City Care, said Norman Mayor Larry Heikkila wants to see A Friend's House closed down. She said the city has also been discussing relocating the shelter to the Griffin Hospital grounds in the near future. That's why City Care signed a relatively short six-month lease with Norman, Freeman said. At a recent mayoral debate, Heikkila said he favors Standridge's bill and that Norman can't afford to continue supporting the city's homeless population. His opponents, Stephen Tyler Holman and Riley Mulinix, said they oppose the bill. Mulinix called it heartless; Holman said Norman doesn't want the state telling the city what to do. Most rural towns in Oklahoma have no homeless shelters, city-funded or nonprofit. Even suburban Yukon has very few social services for people experiencing homelessness. Where shelters do exist, such as Lawton's Family Promise, they are often funded wholly, or in large part, by federal grants and contracts with the federal government. That money comes from the U.S. Treasury to HUD, FEMA and other federal agencies. The money is then sent either to county-level agencies leading the local continuums of care, or to city governments to be disbursed or passed through to service providers. Sarah Svec said she is concerned that SB 484 could affect the pass-through funding and in-kind donations she depends on to operate Lawton's Family Promise 16-bed shelter. "The county owns my building, and as an in-kind donation, we get to stay here without paying rent," Svec said. "So those kinds of things definitely affect me.". Rural service deserts have no shelters and very few services available, but homelessness in rural areas is different than in urban areas, Svec said. "I think the taxpayers should have the opportunity to say where they want their dollars to go," Sven said. "I think (Standridge) probably doesn't know anything except for numbers.". Oklahoma Watch called and emailed Standridge and her assistant multiple times for comment, but received no response. 163 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000693 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0022572 Standridge told OCPAC she had received hate emails about the bill from people experiencing homelessness. "I think if you have the wherewithal to understand this bill, to hear it, to go to the library and email me about it then I think you have what it takes to maybe hold down a job," Standridge told the OCPAC group. Data shows that between 40% and 60% of people experiencing homelessness have jobs. Freeman said that during the first weeks after taking over A Friend's House, City Care is working on connecting Norman's unhoused population with supportive housing. She wants the Oklahoma Legislature to know that providing supportive housing to unhoused Oklahomans is 50% cheaper than the costs incurred by service providers combating the effects of homelessness. "It's not even just a moral issue, if that doesn't ring the bell for you," she said. "It's a fiscal one. It's fiscally responsible to support our community's most vulnerable neighbors.". Return to Table of Contents [CO] How many homeless people live in Pueblo County? 2025 point-in-time count to offer snapshot (Pueblo Chieftain Online, CO) - full text Pueblo Chieftain Online [2/3/2025 6:01 AM, Zach Hillstrom, CO] A biennial census of Pueblo County's homeless population that helps determine funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is underway. The point-in-time count for the Colorado Balance of State Continuum of Care assesses the scope of homelessness in Colorado counties on a single night. The goal is to not only get a sense of how many unhoused people live in that county but also to better understand their challenges and needs. "A point-in-time count is assessing the scope of those experiencing homelessness in our county for one point in time -- that one night," said Teah Miller, the Colorado Bos CoC community facilitator for Pueblo County. "We count anybody who is in a shelter and experiencing homelessness and those who are unsheltered sleeping outside on the night of the count." Pueblo's 2023 point-in-time count: Survey: Pueblo had second largest share of homeless in non-metro, rural Colorado counties A point-in-time count takes place every year, but in even-numbered years it only encompasses sheltered people, meaning individuals and families in emergency shelters, transitional housing, and safe haven programs. In Pueblo, the 2025 shelter count will include people who stayed at the Pueblo shelter (formerly the Pueblo Rescue Mission), the Mariposa Center for Safety, and Posada of Pueblo. In odd-numbered years, the count also tallies unsheltered individuals who stayed in a public or private place not meant for human habitation, which Miller said is "much harder to gather." "The sheltered count is usually an easier gathering tool, and because of the vastness of our area, that's why we only have to do the unsheltered count every other year," she said. While the count officially takes place Jan. 28, organizers will continue to collect data 164 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000693 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0022573 through Feb. 3 by contacting unhoused individuals and asking them where they slept on the night of Jan. 28. Why is the point-in-time count important? How is the data used? The data obtained through the point-in-time count is collected by HUD to determine funding allocations. "So that's how they decide what funding is funneled down into different communities," Miller said. "They also use it as a way of measuring policies or outcomes for reducing homelessness in different counties." While the count does shed some light on how many unhoused individuals may be living in a given county at a given time, Miller said that's not its primary function. Because Pueblo County is so large and its homeless population is so spread out, the count, historically, is an underrepresentation of the local homeless population. As such, Miller said the data is more beneficial in showing population needs and identifying demographics. "The better measurement is what is in that population: What proportion of that population is veterans, for example, or what proportion of that population accesses the shelter versus sleeps outside? That has more value than just the total number because we know we can't find everybody," Miller said. The voluntary surveys given to unhoused individuals include demographic questions about age, gender, race, and ethnicity, and also inquire about circumstances such as whether they're fleeing a domestic violence situation and whether they have any physical or psychological medical diagnoses. "Our goal is to look at the specialty populations within that population," Miller said. "So, what percentage of our unhoused population has a physical disability, for example? That gives us some data." Are Pueblo's efforts to combat homelessness impacting this year's count? The city of Pueblo initiated new measures to combat homelessness in 2024, including the passage of a public camping ban that made it illegal to camp on public property and a series of homeless encampment sweeps along parts of Fountain Creek. Miller told the Chieftain it's "hard to say" at this point whether those efforts are having any impact on this year's count. "In general, it's always hard to know where to find individuals. I don't know that one (the city's efforts) has an impact on the other," she said. "I can't say that that is having a direct impact ... because the truth is, there are still various locations like the (Pueblo Soup Kitchen) -- there are still those places where individuals gather. So I don't know that it necessarily has a direct impact, it's a little early for me to say." One thing that's different this year and potentially beneficial to the 2025 count is the status of the Pueblo Soup Kitchen, Miller said, which didn't allow clients inside its building for a prolonged period during the COVID-19 pandemic, including at the time of the 2023 point-in-time count. "That may have a positive impact, so any of the other things that may have negatively impacted our counts, that may actually offset that," she said. "So that's why I say I think it's too early to say because things do change year by year." Miller said after the count is completed along with a housing inventory that tallies the 165 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000693 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0022574 number of beds and units available on the night of the count, the data will be inputted electronically and sent to the BoS CoC by Feb 10. There is no estimated timeline for when the report will be published, but she said historically it tends to be sent out sometime in the early spring. "It really takes a large collaboration of multiple people," Miller said of the 2025 endeavor. "The Balance of State CoC board, they have a committee on the PIT count and they're very helpful in organizing all of our regions. And then we, of course, have the support of multiple agencies in our city. So I just think that's super important to emphasize because it's just its too big of a job for one agency or one person. It's really a collaborative effort." Return to Table of Contents [CO] One year later, Arapahoe County updates regional approach in addressing homelessness in Colorado (CBS Colorado, CO) - full text CBS Colorado [2/3/2025 11:31 AM, Ashley Portillo, 52225K, CO] VIDEO. Arapahoe County recently conducted the annual Point-in-Time count of people experiencing homelessness, but this kind of work isn't just a one-day effort. Last year, Arapahoe County took on a regional approach to addressing homelessness, and the County says a lot has been accomplished since then. It's been about a year since Arapahoe County commissioners passed the Homelessness Strategic Plan. It's the county's everyday approach to help people get off the streets. The plan itself was developed by the Homeless Coordinating Committee, which works in partnership with more than 100 local organizations and agencies. One of the partners is GraceFull Community Cafe in downtown Littleton. Every day, the foundation and cafe provide pay-what-you-can meals to about 85 people in need. "Those are called Grace and Action meals, and that's how we build relationships of trust across the table every day," said Heather Greenwood, the founder and owner of GraceFull Community Cafe. Greenwood said many people who walk through her doors struggle with food insecurity. "We do believe that everyone deserves access to fresh, healthy food and good community," said Greenwood. The cafe is also one of dozens of partners working with the county and the Homeless Coordinating Committee. "Everyone matters. It's important to have safe spaces where you can do that, and that's our invitation, every day these doors are open, is to come to learn with us, to come to wrestle with these issues," said Greenwood. The county says in the past year it has expanded services and resources to people experiencing homelessness, including: -Creating guides for medical/mental health services. food banks, warming and cooling shelters. -Helping launch navigation centers, one in Englewood, Littleton, and Sheridan, and a second in Aurora. -Advocating for legislation focused on more affordable housing, transitioning communities. -Hosting weekly networking events, launching educational material on homelessness and challenges among communities. 166 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000693 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0022575 -Working with service providers to improve the intake process for new and existing clients. Greenwood acknowledged it takes a group effort to get people back on the right track. "We really believe in all of the community corning together and learning from each other," said Greenwood. "We believe everyone's story is valuable and should be accounted for, and should have a voice in the community and can do anything. We'd love to support anything we can do to help funding towards those issues.". Samantha Pennington hopes to get a roof over her head soon. She has a job now, but when she isn't working, you'll likely find her at GraceFull Community Cafe in downtown Littleton. "We've been living in our car for about four months," said Pennington. "Today, we're just having breakfast. It's really nice here. You don't have to pay here unless you have the money. We definitely don't. The cafe is a place to get warm and charge up, and also a safe space where grace is in action. "It's very welcoming. There are plugs here, which is a huge thing," said Pennington. "GraceFull has definitely probably helped more than we even think.". While the Cafe is one part of the solution, there is still a lot of work to be done. The Homeless Coordinating Committee was formed in 2021, and formalized in 2022. Other goals include preventing homelessness by connecting people with prevention resources, promoting the development of a variety of housing options, sharing data among community partners to ensure needs are met, providing additional resources, and building clear pathways for people to obtain housing. Return to Table of Contents [AZ] Glendale new housing project builds hope for homeless veterans (12News.com, AZ) - full text 12News.com [2/3/2025 3:12 AM, Gabriella Bachara, 2627K, AZ] VIDEO. The City of Glendale broke ground on a transitional housing community for veterans experiencing homelessness. "Today is the testament that this community came together and said we are not okay with homeless veterans," Veterans Community Project Co-Founder Bryan Meyer said. "This community has their veterans' backs. It means more than you'll ever know.". The village will consist of 50 homes across nearly eight acres. Each home will come fully furnished and is designed with veterans needs in mind The transitional housing will offer personalized support, including health and wellness, education, employment and financial literacy. "I'm a 28-year Army veteran, a fifth generation Army veteran. I've had many friends commit suicide and I'm here to tell you this is going to prevent suicide," Former VFW Commander-In-Chief Tim Borland said. "We're going to get those numbers down because this community alone is going to give them a bond with others, families. and going to give them a good start.". This village will be the first of its kind for Arizona, but five other cities across the United States have already adopted the program. Glendale Mayor Jerry Weiers spearheaded bringing Veterans Community Project to his 167 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000693 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0022576 city with more than $10 million in funding from the city, county and state to support it. "Veterans are so important in our community and they risk their lives for our country, and so the least we can do is invest our money into helping them when they're in need," Maricopa County Supervisor Debbie Lesko said. The project is expected to be completed in May 2026. Return to Table of Contents [NV] Homeless camping ban in effect across Clark County, but Chair says there's not enough beds for all unhoused (FOX 5 KVVU-TV, NV) - full text FOX 5 KVVU-TV [2/4/2025 4:12 AM, Jaclyn Schultz, 659K, NV] VIDEO. A homeless camping ban took effect across Clark County on February 1, but the head of the Clark County commission says there's still not enough beds to accommodate all the people who are unhoused. FOX5 told you about the hotly-debated homeless camping ordinance passed, last fall; numerous cities across the Valley and the country took the step to strengthen the bans to tackle the growing homeless crisis. According to the ordinance, the unhoused must be warned to move their encampment before a citation or arrest occurs. A person must be offered an available bed; a person cannot be arrested if there is no bed available, or if the person is having a mental health emergency. "We have [homeless] people that are resistant; then they have to face being arrested, or go to one of these [shelters]," Chair Tick Segerblom tells FOXS. Segerblom tells FOX5. there's just not enough beds for everyone on the streets, right now. "It's not enough for everybody," he said. The Clark County Point In Time Homeless Count breaks down demand and resources. On a given night in January 2024, there were 7,906 people experiencing homelessness; 4,202 people were "unsheltered," sleeping in streets, cars or other makeshift shelters. That single night, there were already 3,704 people in emergency shelters or transitional housing, with a respective 86% and 77% occupancy rate. Out of 4,379 beds, there were a total of 675 spaces available that night. Clark County social services officials tell FOX5, the unhoused may be able to get shelter in various forms of housing: there is rapid rehousing, permanent "supportive" housing, or other kinds of housing available. On that single night, out of 4,634 beds in all types of housing, there were 703 beds available. Segerblom said the County needs solutions to make more beds available and build more shelter space. "Everybody comes to me and says, `we have too many homeless.' We have a solution. Now we just need the resources," Segerblom said, pointing to the sales tax proposal from November: consumers would see a 1 cent sales tax increase for every $8. The proposed sales tax increase was shot down by Clark County commissioners and opposed by other business groups. County officials tell FOX5, in November, the commission approved funding to open up 758 more shelter beds. Return to Table of Contents 168 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000693 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0022577 [WA] Fire destroys pair of motorhomes in Hillyard neighborhood, highlighting precarious living conditions brought on by housing crisis (SpokesmanReview.com, WA) - full text Spokesman-Review.com [2/2/2025 9:00 PM, Nick Gibson, 913K, WA] Betty McDonald, 81, hardly recognizes her hometown anymore. McDonald, who was born and raised in Spokane, said she can't believe how much it's grown over the past few decades, and how expensive it's become to live here. "It has gotten so hard that there's not a chance for anyone to get on their feet anymore, get ahead or anything," McDonald said. "Just to maintain and to have a place to live is just terrible." McDonald is speaking from firsthand experience, as the owner of a 900-square-foot trailer and a quarter-acre in the Hillyard Neighborhood. For over a decade, her two sons, her daughter and a few grandchildren have stayed in a handful of old recreational vehicles and campers parked on the back lot. On Wednesday, two of the makeshift residences were destroyed in a fire, displacing two of McDonald's children. The blaze started in her son's RV while no one was home, before jumping to her daughter's camper. Spokane Fire managed to extinguish the flames before all of her daughter's belongings were destroyed, but her son was not as fortunate. "He just lost it all," McDonald said. "He has no clothes. He has nothing. Everything was in there." Wednesday's fire marked the second recreational vehicle fire on the property in as many months. Spokane Fire responded to a blaze that destroyed her other son's motor home in December. "It's just terrible," McDonald said. "This last year has been so darn hard." While neither incident resulted in bodily harm, they highlight the often precarious circumstances keeping vulnerable Spokanites from living on the streets. Of the estimated 2,000 people who were homeless in Spokane County last year, more than 20% were not accessing homeless shelters or transitional housing, according to city data. It's unclear just how many of those people may be staying, in tents, exposed to the elements or in vehicles like McDonald's family. One of the stated goals of the city's annual point-in-time count, a regional assessment of homelessness that wrapped up this week, was to get a better sense of the homelessness experience for people who do not fit the typical profile. That could be couch surfing, cycling between shelters and stays with family or those who call their vehicles home, said Jon Klapp, a program professional with the city's Community, Housing and Human Services who organized this year's count. McDonald bought her trailer in 2013, according to county records. Having all of her children living on the property was never part of the plan, she said, but financial strains necessitated it. "It wasn't my wish for most of the family moving in, it was times were too hard," McDonald said. "Nobody had the income to back up what they needed to do. There's no housing available, and what there is is so expensive. No one can afford that, except the rich." In recent years, the property's become a bit of a safe haven for not only her family, but 169 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000693 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0022578 their friends experiencing homelessness, who would visit often and park the vehicles they were staying in on the street in front of the house. McDonald isn't a fan of the visitors, but she hasn't had much help in driving them away. She also understands why they flock to a place where they may feel safe, but it's strained her financially and emotionally. "My kids are good-hearted kids, and they would let their friends in because they cared," she said. "Then it all went wrong and all against me. until I don't know what's gonna happen anymore about my place or anything." The uncertainty around her living situation goes beyond just the fires. Since March 2021, Spokane Code Enforcement has been issuing McDonald citations for zoning and solid waste violations, "as well as for violations related to the RVs," said city spokeswoman Erin Hut. Before McDonald's sons were displaced by the fires, they would use wood stoves to heat the RVs. The blaze last year was started when a stove was left unattended, said Spokane Fire Operations Chief Darin Neiwert. Neiwart said the cause of Wednesday's fire is still under investigation, but that it's been narrowed down to the wood stove or a series of extension cables running electricity to the motor homes. "It was pretty rough living conditions," Neiwart said. Nastya Lavrov, who lives behind McDonald with her husband and four children, said her heart goes out to the family. She understands how expensive the cost of living is, and how there is a lack of affordable housing in the area, but it's "devastating" to see her neighbors surviving in motor homes. She's never had a negative interaction with McDonald or her family, but their visitors have caused some concern for the safety of her young children. Lavrov said she would often hear people driving or walking through the alleyway late into the night, has seen those individuals drinking and using drugs, and was told her home was broken into just before she moved in a few years ago. "I always have to be cautious, but at the same time, I understand where they're at," Lavrov said. "It's really hard living. My heart races talking about this, because I know how hard it can be to survive." McDonald said she knows the property's conditions are not ideal, but it has snowballed to the point where she needs outside assistance. She said she hasn't received the legal assistance to deal with squatters in the past, and local nonprofits have not been much help in terms of housing and food insecurity resources. She recounted reaching out to Aging & Long Term Care of Eastern Washington for assistance, but they told her they couldn't help, she said. "They said I am not considered a vulnerable adult, because nobody's harming me physically," McDonald said. "I said, 'well what about emotionally and financially?' I mean, my income is solely Social Security." The city has provided assistance in bringing the property up to code and some homelessness resources, including hauling out 35,000 pounds of garbage waste from the property last October, Hut said. While there are challenges unique to McDonald's 170 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000693 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0022579 quarter acre, and the response and issues have been complex, Hut said it's not alone in that regard. The department has similar cases citywide. Code enforcement officers attempt to identify the origins of unlawful use of a property whenever possible, and then will work to address those underlying causes with the owner, Hut said. "Where cases have housing needs, they reach out to partners, such as SNAP, to visit the property and sometimes those partners visit the site along with the Code team," Hut said in a written statement. "Code may not be able to resolve all of the conditions as swiftly as they would like, but they do strive to leave the property in a better position after they leave, while keeping the case open and active until resolution." However, McDonald says the city's assistance hasn't been enough. Spokane Neighborhood Action Partners did visit the property last year, but the resources were provided primarily to her children's visitors, she said. "SNAP came supposedly to help my kids, and they ended up helping the kids' friends and not my kids," McDonald said. "I thought, what the heck? What's that all about? They didn't do anything. They brought some sandwiches and stuff, but the other homeless got those." In addition to the trash haul in October, Hut said the city is continuing to work with McDonald and the family to "continue those abatements and alleviate the remainder of the violations on the property." Betsy Robertson, communications director for the American Red Cross Northwest Region, said the organization is providing assistance to McDonald's children following the fires. The Red Cross assists those affected by natural disasters and, in the process, can help point people in the right direction for services they do not provide. "With the increase in disasters that we are seeing, not just home fires, but wildfires, tornadoes, hurricanes, floods," Robertson said. "Whenever they happen, they do tend to disproportionately impact these individuals who are already struggling with housing, struggling in the environment that we live in, and so it does exacerbate things." Aside from helping her children get out of the trailer, and a car in which one son is now living, McDonald said an increased investment in homelessness resources and affordable housing options is what she hopes comes out of the disaster. "There's no help with anything and they just leave you with nothing to work with," McDonald said. "But that's what I would like to see, is a lot of improvement on all of that." "It's hard for a lot of people right now," she added. Return to Table of Contents [WA] Announcement nears for Bremerton's homeless shelter solution (Kitsap Sun, WA) - full text Kitsap Sun [2/3/2025 6:07 AM, Kai Uyehara, 190K, WA] The location for an anticipated hybrid homeless shelter could become public within the next two weeks, according to leaders of the Kitsap County Affordable Housing Consortium -- the collective of social service organizations tasked with opening the shelter -- who say the planned facility will reshape the outlook of homelessness in 171 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000693 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0022580 Bremerton. For now, the city remains without a dedicated emergency homeless shelter, despite attempts at launching a full-time location following the growth of encampments in 2023. The Salvation Army on Sixth Street operates an overnight congregate shelter, but the building isn't meant to function full time. The space must be converted every morning to serve multiple uses, and when the portable mats are taken down the tenants must leave for the day. A planned hybrid shelter facility, backed by the Bremerton City Council's vote of support in January last year, will establish a facility to house up to 80 beds in a single building and up to 60 pallet shelters (akin to tiny homes) side by side at the same site. Inside, homeless guests would have access to resources like case managers and workers who can assist them with healthcare, employment, housing, food security and more. The housing consortium has narrowed down their list of potential locations for the hybrid shelter solution down to two viable options and could announce their choice within weeks, said Joe Crain, executive director of St. Vincent de Paul, a key pillar of the consortium. Jill Stanton, executive director of the Bremerton Housing Authority, did not commit to a specific timeline for an announcement, but was hopeful an outcome can be shared with the community soon. Plans for Bremerton's last proposed shelter were shut down. A number of West Bremerton residents urged the City Council to vote against Mayor Greg Wheeler's proposal for a congregate shelter to be erected on a city owned parcel of land on Oyster Bay Avenue, adjacent to the Bay Vista neighborhood. Opponents recognized the need for shelter with on-site services but worried that the location could endanger children or bring crime, and that the proposal didn't go far enough to provide needed services to individuals who may have stayed there. In preparing to identify a site for this shelter, Crain said that the consortium has been vetting potential locations intentionally. The sites will be close enough to services like bus routes and service agencies for guests to easily access necessities, but far enough away from housing and elementary schools to ensure the community feels safe. At the new shelter, he said, things will not look the way they do around the Salvation Army in downtown Bremerton, where individuals are often seen on city streets after being asked to leave the overnight shelter, and where a major encampment grew a block away from Sixth Street during 2023. Crain plans to do a road show when the site is announced, presenting the consortium's hybrid shelter model at meeting held in each city council district, "so that the whole community is educated on what's going to be happening here," and, what's not going to be happening. There aren't tents lining streets surrounding the Salvation Army these days, but people who are unsheltered still wander downtown blocks surrounding the building. While staff at Salvation Army swap tables and chairs in the dining room each day for sleeping mats, or vice versa, and sanitize the space, guests sleeping there must momentarily clear out and a handful hang around the building and await the free meals. 172 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000693 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0022581 That's not how the hybrid shelter model will work. "We have to change the paradigm for shelter service delivery to a community that's never had a low-barrier shelter," Crain said. "There's a lot of preconceived ideas. There's a lot of anxiety." At the hybrid shelter, either in its congregate facility or pallet community, guests will be allowed to stay all day without leaving the property, and there will be physical security, camera surveillance and security checkpoints active at all hours as well, Crain said. The new shelter will be complete with on-site wraparound services to help guests secure more permanent housing and mental health and substance abuse services, to minimize or eliminate "spillage" of people staying in tents or cars around the building. The consortium is anticipating doing street front improvements, cleanups and beatification at the shelter side and intends to educate guests about "what it means to be a good neighbor," to respect the surrounding area and not trash it, and to "take pride in ownership of the low barrier shelter." But the hybrid shelter's biggest asset, for both its guests and the community, will be its entryway to the housing continuum that will escalate homeless guests from emergency shelter to transitional or supportive housing, all the way through rental assistance. "A rolling stone gathers no moss. We've got to keep these people moving," Crain said. "We don't want them to identify themselves by their current housing situation. There's hope." A pictograph shows the intake process for a guest at the hybrid shelter as social services work to move them into continuous stay housing. The housing consortium, previously known as the Kitsap County Affordable Housing taskforce, is a collection of leaders from St. Vincent de Paul, the Bremerton Housing Authority, Kitsap Community Resources, Kitsap Mental Health Services and Kitsap Public Health. The hybrid shelter's on-site services will include their offerings, but also access to the services of a variety of nonprofits. Much like the Pacific Building continuous stay shelter opening in Port Orchard, guests in the hybrid shelter will be able to access professionals, either in an on-site office or rotating clients services space, who can help them with case management, healthcare needs, financial assessment, employment, substance abuse counselling, food security, mental health, physical security and education. "We're going to get to know these people as human beings. .. and we'll know them by name and we'll be able to help them with goals," Crain said. "We're going to be able to meet them where they're at so we can rapidly move them to the next step." For example, a woman with her children may walk up to the shelter needing a place to stay for the night. If they were living in an encampment that was closed down by Commonstreet or the HEART team, emergency services will know to refer the homeless campers to the hybrid shelter. That night, she and her family would find a place to sleep in the congregate shelter's family area, which is "cubicled out" from the rest of the 8O-bed area. Within 24 to 72 hours, the woman will sit with a case manager for an intake assessment. The case manager will evaluate their mental health and assess their housing needs. That night, the case manager could send a guest to continuous stay shelters like the Stella Maris House, George's House or other sober living; the pallet shelters where they could live a 173 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000693 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0022582 more autonomous life individually; or permanent supportive housing like Pendleton Place, if they qualify. Once the family finds a longer-term bed at a continuous stay shelter, they will have moved one step up the housing continuum. Case managers there, say, at St. Vincent de Paul's Stella Maris House, will already be equipped with housing vouchers from the Bremerton Housing Authority to move the family into rental housing as soon as it's ready, Crain said. Waiting for inventory to open up, that could be within 30 to 90 days. Bremerton Housing Authority has been building out the housing system for capacity. They have provided shelters between five and 25 vouchers, said Jill Stanton, executive director the BHA. In July, the BHA had provided nearly 150 housing choice voucher referrals. The number of housing units is also expanding, Stanton noted, as the BHA will close on a project to house 23 families in the coming weeks and has begun leasing 24 units for young adults at Evergreen Bright Start. Arc of the Peninsulas' Bill Mahan Apartments on Fifth Street in downtown Bremerton, now nearing the completion of construction, will also house another 20 voucher holders in the next few months. While details about the hybrid shelter's location, opening and operations have been scarce, the housing consortium has been busy ensuring the emergency shelter, continuous stay shelters and rental housing will be ready to intake Kitsap's 255 unsheltered homeless people. Up to 80 beds will allow the hybrid shelter to absorb the Salvation Army's guests and the consortium's efforts to move people into more permanent housing from continuous stay shelters will free up beds. They will dwindle of 255 down to a more manageable number, Crain said. The consortium anticipates they will have site control soon, Crain said. That means a location selected that will either be purchased or leased. After site control is established, the consortium will announce a request for proposals (RFP) for a shelter operator. Nonprofits like the Salvation Army and Catholic Community Services are among those expected to apply. A location for the hybrid shelter may be announced in two weeks, but the project was originally expected for completion in October 2024, adhering to the same timeline as the opening of Bremerton Mayor Greg Wheeler's proposed congregate shelter on Oyster Bay Avenue. A warehouse location in East Bremerton was originally floated as a possible location for the hybrid shelter, but the business owner rejected the deal. Then in July, Stanton told the Kitsap Sun she believed they were on track to finish the shelter by May 2025. Wheeler told the Kitsap Sun in May he was confident his shelter would have been erected by October and that he was left with deep reservations that the hybrid shelter would serve the needs of the community in a timely manner. Then-Council President Jennifer Chamberlin told the consortium in January 2024, "I'm going to put my faith in you because I don't want to go back down in the next winter and see everybody struggling out there." Crain could not present a timeline for the shelter's completion, but said he hoped it would be completed by next fall at the latest, saying, "I want to be done before next fall, before 174 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000693 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0022583 the weather gets bad again. That's what I'm pushing for, but that's just me." The Salvation Army was originally set to shut down its shelter function in May, after having contracted to extend its services to make time for a new shelter to be built. But homeless advocates became worried that a gap between the Salvation Army's shelter closing and the illusive opening of the hybrid shelter would leave homeless campers vulnerable after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in July that local governments could outlaw camping outside -- even if no shelter space was available. Wheeler then proposed a city ordinance that aligned with the court's ruling, saying that he would enforce Bremerton's ani-camping ordinance whether the hybrid shelter was finished or not, though it was not his ideal outcome. Since then, the Salvation Army has decided to keep its overnight shelter open past May until the hybrid shelter opens, Capt. Dana Walters said, as long as progress is being made. "But if there's no progress, then we can't do this forever." For the last two months, the Salvation Army has hosted between 15% to 20% more guests than this time last year, Walters said, bedding numbers in the high 80s to low 90s. The Salvation Army originally only had an overnight capacity of 75, but they've had to rearrange their space to make room for more beds. "We're looking forward to restarting our community programs again, which we were hoping to do this summer," Walters said. "We love what we do in the sense that we love helping people and we really want to support this super vulnerable population. But, we also look forward to getting back to being a community center." Return to Table of Contents [WA] Burien, other cities tighten homeless laws (Seattle Times, WA) - full text Seattle Times [2/3/2025 7:00 AM, Greg Kim, 210K, WA] Burien created an outright prohibition on living outside in the city Monday. The city already had one of the most restrictive bans on camping, targeted toward homeless people. in the state. Officials have removed allowances for sleeping based on time and place and a requirement that police offer people a shelter bed before enforcing it. Now, people in Burien can be arrested for sleeping outside even if there are no alternate places for them to go. The law, passed as an emergency ordinance in a 5-2 vote, takes effect immediately. The latest chapter in Burien's dizzying homelessness saga is an indication of how far the region and country have shifted toward policies that push homeless people out of sight rather than help them move inside. Seattle recently began using arrests and street cleanings to push people away from certain parts of the city. At least seven other jurisdictions in Washington created or expanded camping bans in the last year including Auburn, Bremerton, Chelan County, Lakewood, Washougal, Wenatchee and Spokane Valley. Many cities acted swiftly after the U.S. Supreme Court last June ruled that punishing people for sleeping outside was not "cruel or unusual." Across the country, more than 140 cities have passed similar regulations, according to the National Homelessness Law Center. "This is faster than we anticipated," said Jesse Rabinowitz, communications and campaign director for the National Homelessness Law Center. "It shows cities can move quickly when they want to. I just wish they wanted to 175 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000693 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0022584 move quickly to help people and not harm them." Rabinowitz said he expected the situation to get worse with the Trump administration's plans to cut government services, possibly pushing more people into homelessness and the president's stated intention to "ban urban camping" and open up "tent cities." Leaders in Burien framed the camping ban as a compassionate policy, saying it could push people to seek shelter and treatment. They said the cold snap with freezing temperatures this past week made it urgent for them to bring people inside. "Many people believe that keeping people in tents is a housing solution. I do not and will not support this inhumane way of treating people," said Councilmember Linda Akey who voted in favor of the camping ban. There are few options for homeless people in Burien to get inside. There is a family shelter, a nine-bed shelter for women and a cold-weather shelter that opens when temperatures are freezing but no year-round shelter for single men, the majority of people living outside. Shelters in other cities around the county are full, clogged or can take weeks to get into. Rey Tosch, 28, was one of dozens of homeless people who stayed in the city's cold-weather shelter Tuesday night. But with the shelter closed Wednesday night with temperatures at 33 degrees, Tosch said he didn't know where he would go. "They think we want to do this, like we want to be homeless, or we want to stay outside and stay in tents and stuff. They have no idea how far from true that is. It's miserable," Tosch said. Tosch said the city is cracking down on homeless people in other ways. He was arrested for public drug use a few weeks ago. He said he was only holding a torch lighter. Court and jail records show he spent a night at South Correctional Entity but wasn't charged with any crime. King County sheriffs arrested 331 people in Burien for drug-related offenses in 2024, more than four times the number they arrested in 2023. "If you're living on the streets, it's extremely, extremely obvious that the police are a lot more active, and they're cracking down and being a lot more harsh," Tosch said. Until now, the King County Sheriff's Office, which provides contracted police services for Burien, had not been enforcing the city's existing camping ban, saying the ordinance contained vague language. Now, it said it would. Deputy Mayor Sarah Moore, who cast one of two votes against the updated camping ban, called the law banishment. "We're authorizing our law enforcement officers to send people essentially to nowhere," Moore said. A few years ago, it wasn't clear this was where Burien's homelessness policy would end up. When the city began mulling what to do about a homeless encampment that formed in front of City Hall more than two years ago, people around the region watched to see what kind of example Burien would set for other suburbs near Seattle, many of which have seen homelessness grow within their borders in recent years. City officials and residents at first suggested solutions that would avoid arrest or displacement. When Burien began taking steps to remove homeless encampments, King County tried to nudge the city toward providing services, offering $1 million in the summer of 2023 to build new shelter units. Officials in Burien said they could do both. By August 2023, they appeared to be moving toward both a camping ban and building new shelter units with the county's funding. But the city slow-rolled shelter plans, with myriad concerns arising 176 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000693 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0022585 for each potential location. By June 2024, the county rescinded its $1 million offer, saying it appeared Burien was not going to add a shelter. Meanwhile, the city passed its camping ban in September 2023 and has since updated it twice to make it stricter and more expansive. In the most recent City Council meeting, City Attorney Garmon Newsom noted Burien had backed a permanent supportive housing development for homeless people in the city and an expansion of its family shelter. "It's not like Burien doesn't do anything in support," Newsom said. King County shifted from trying to nudge Burien to trying to block it. The county filed a lawsuit against the city in March of 2024 asking a judge to determine whether its camping ban was constitutional, citing a federal ruling that said cities on the West Coast must have adequate shelter for people to be arrested for sleeping outside. But in June, the U.S. Supreme Court struck a blow to that ruling by deciding on a similar case in Grants Pass, Ore., saying camping bans did not violate the Eighth Amendment prohibiting cruel and unusual punishment. In September, a federal judge threw out King County's lawsuit. The county appears to be conceding, at least for now. King County Sheriff Patti ColeTindall said Tuesday that Burien's updated camping ban was enforceable. "That said, I am asking the men and women of the King County Sheriff's Office to continue to lead, as they do each day, with outreach and compassion while continuing to engage with regional service providers whenever appropriate," Cole-Tindall said. Burien's camping ban allows police to offer people shelter if they choose. When Carlo Paz, 39, who has been living outside in Burien for a few years, heard the city updated its camping ban to apply regardless of whether shelter space was available, tears rolled down his cheeks. "I just feel so discarded. It feels hateful. It's not that I'm not used to that, but it still sucks," Paz said. Homeless people and advocates are hoping states will offer more protections against camping bans than the federal government. Disability Rights Oregon sued Grants Pass on Thursday, the city at the center of the U.S. Supreme Court case on homeless camping bans. The advocacy group accused it of violating a state law requiring cities' camping regulations to be "objectively reasonable." Burien is still being sued by several homeless people who claim the city's camping bam "banishes" homeless people and inflicts "cruel punishment" that violates Washington's Constitution. Paz is one of the parties in that lawsuit. While he's not giving up, he said with the U.S. Supreme Court, the president and Burien's City Council seeming aligned, "it's hard to be hopeful." Return to Table of Contents [OR] Oregon judge pauses camping ban enforcement in city at heart of Supreme Court homelessness ruling (APNews.com) - full text APNews.corn [2/3/2025 2:01 PM, Claire Rush, 47097K] An Oregon judge on Monday ordered the city at the heart of a major U.S. Supreme Court ruling on homeless encampments to temporarily pause enforcement of its camping rules, in response to a lawsuit filed by advocates against the city. Josephine County Circuit Court Judge Brandon Thueson's temporary restraining order prohibits Grants Pass from enforcing its camping regulations for 14 days. During that 177 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000693 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0022586 time, the city cannot cite, arrest or fine people for camping anywhere in the city, nor force a person to leave a campsite, the order says. "This is an important issue, and we are actively reviewing all aspects to ensure we make the best decision for our community," Grants Pass Information Coordinator Mike Zacchino said in an email. The mayor and interim city attorney did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The order came in the lawsuit filed against the city last week by Disability Rights Oregon. In its complaint, the advocacy group accused the city of discriminating against people with disabilities and violating a state law requiring cities' camping regulations to be "objectively reasonable." Last June's Supreme Court ruling ushered in a new era of homeless policy by allowing cities across the country to ban sleeping outside and fine people for doing so, even when there aren't enough shelter beds. It overturned a ruling from a California-based appeals court that found camping bans when shelter space is lacking amounted to cruel and unusual punishment under the U.S. Constitution's Eighth Amendment. Officials from across the political spectrum filed briefs in the case, urging the justices to overturn lower court rulings they said hamstrung their ability to deal with encampments. Grants Pass -- a small city of about 40,000 people located along the Rogue River in the mountains of southern Oregon -- has struggled for years to address a homelessness crisis, and its parks had become a flash point. Cherished by residents for their open spaces and playgrounds, many had become the site of encampments blighted by drug use and litter. After the high court decision, Grants Pass banned camping on all city property, except where allowed by City Council. Councilors designated two areas where the town's hundreds of homeless people would be allowed to stay, in a bid to move people out of the parks while still giving them places to sleep. But upon taking office last month, the new mayor and new City Council members moved to close the larger of the two campsites -- which housed roughly 120 tents, according to Disability Rights Oregon's complaint -- and made the remaining smaller one only open from 5 p.m. to 7 a.m., forcing people to pack up their belongings every morning and carry them throughout the day. The two outdoor sites were frequently crowded with poor conditions and inaccessible to people with disabilities due to loose gravel, according to the complaint. "It is unconscionable to me to allow people to live there like that," City Council member Indra Nicholas said before last month's vote to close the larger site. Grants Pass has become emblematic of the national homelessness crisis gripping cities large and small -- and the debate over how to deal with it. Last year, homelessness in the U.S. increased 18% in a dramatic rise driven mostly by a lack of affordable housing as well as devastating natural disasters and an increase in migrants in several parts of the country. Return to Table of Contents 178 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000693 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0022587 [OR] Portland Mayor Announces 50 New Beds To Combat Homelessness And Aid Addiction Recovery (News Radio 750 KXL, OR) - full text News Radio 750 KXL [2/3/2025 3:44 PM, Jordan Vawter, 25K, OR] In a significant step toward addressing the city's homelessness crisis, Mayor Keith Wilson today unveiled plans to add 50 new beds to the Bybee Lakes Hope Center, a key resource in the fight against unsheltered homelessness. These new beds will be dedicated to individuals recovering from substance use disorders, with a focus on those recovering from opioid addiction, and will offer round-the-clock shelter along with comprehensive support services, including transportation. "My team and our partners are working tirelessly to establish emergency shelters, a strategy that has proven vital in the fight against unsheltered homelessness here in Portland," said Mayor Wilson. "However, we know that there is no one-size-fits-all solution. Our city has a pressing need for shelters that specialize in addiction recovery, and this expansion at Bybee Lakes represents a crucial step in bringing hope and support to those in need.". The 50 new addiction-recovery beds will be part of a 17-month pilot program, funded through a one-time grant derived from a national lawsuit against companies involved in the opioid crisis. The initiative will prioritize individuals who are currently undergoing or have recently completed opioid addiction treatment. Helping Hands Reentry Outreach Centers, which has operated the Bybee Lakes Hope Center since its opening in October 2020, will continue to manage the facility. Mike Davis, CEO of Helping Hands Reentry Outreach Centers, expressed his gratitude for the city's continued partnership. "For over 20 years, we've believed in the power of investing in people and their recovery," said Davis. "We're thrilled to see the Mayor's commitment to this vision and to expand our work together to support those most in need.". The 50 new beds represent a critical expansion of Portland's homelessness response efforts, which already include 200 new overnight shelter beds added in partnership with the Salvation Army in January. The additional beds at Bybee Lakes will provide more options for people experiencing homelessness, giving them a safe space to recover and move forward on their path toward permanent housing. While this initiative is separate from Multnomah County's ongoing proposal to replace Do Good Multnomah's Downtown shelter, it highlights the city's growing commitment to innovative solutions in addressing homelessness. The new beds at Bybee Lakes will play a key role in helping individuals not only find shelter but also receive the care they need to rebuild their lives. The new shelter beds at Bybee Lakes Hope Center are now available immediately, marking an important milestone in Portland's ongoing efforts to combat homelessness and provide critical recovery services to those in need. Return to Table of Contents [OR] In Conversation: Jacen Greene, Homelessness Researcher, Portland State University (Oregon Business, OR) - full text Oregon Business [2/3/2025 1:00 PM, Garrett Andrews, 17K, OR] One challenge for researchers like Jacen Greene, who study the issue of homelessness, is that the better they do their job of collecting accurate data, the greater the problem of homelessness can appear compared to other communities and prior years. Greene is assistant director and co-founder of Portland State University's Homelessness 179 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000693 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0022588 Research & Action Collaborative, a multi-disciplinary research center that helps lead the Point in Time Count, a federally mandated study that offers a snapshot of the homelessness problem. Perhaps the biggest news from the center's 2024 statewide homelessness study, released last week, is that efforts to add shelter beds in Portland have paid off, with a 24% increase in sheltered homelessness. The study also shows one in four homeless people surveyed self-report mental illness or addiction, and that homelessness is especially high in rural areas and among childre. Great racial disparities also persist. And according to the 2024 study, which pulls data from several sources, homelessness correlates strongly with housing availability and cost. Greene spoke to Oregon Business in late January about racial disparities, the Magnet Myth and the impact of homelessness on the economy. This interview has been edited for space and clarity. What is this data helpful in showing us? It shows us homelessness numbers at a certain point in time. It shows us, to a certain extent, who was experiencing homelessness across different demographics. And as we compare year-over-year, it helps us answer Are there more children experiencing homelessness? Are there more people of color? If so, which people of color? And then we break it down county-by-county so we can see changes in specific counties over time. And what's the top line here? The study from last year was tricky because there was only an unsheltered count in some regions across the state. Like Portland, for example, didn't do one. So we're missing unsheltered numbers for the county with the largest number of people experiencing homelessness. So we can't really say with any accuracy what the unsheltered numbers were. What we can say is that sheltered homelessness was up. [The number of] people in shelters was up quite a bit, and that's because there was a big increase in shelter beds in 2023. To some people, a big increase in the number of people in shelter beds might sound like bad news. It's definitely good news. When you see sheltered numbers going up, that means there are more people in shelters who would otherwise be out living on the street or in a car or in a tent. And we also have had a big deficiency in the number of shelter beds. Across the state, we have fewer than half as many shelter beds as we need. Like I said, we don't know for sure about the last year specifically. And of course, a shelter bed doesn't fix homelessness. Somebody in a shelter is still experiencing homelessness under the federal definition, they're just sheltered. At best, it's a temporary stop. Hopefully it's a step towards housing for them. Given the current housing shortage in Oregon, there's just not enough housing. Could you speak to how the public generally views the problem versus what you see in the data? One is that everybody experiencing homelessness, or many people experiencing homelessness, came here. We call it the magnet myth. Everybody's from somewhere else, right? And what we find is that the vast majority of people experiencing homelessness in our communities like Portland are from here. 180 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000693 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0022589 They've either lived here a long time or they grew up here or they moved here for a job or to be with family and then later lost their housing. Very, very few people were homeless and moved somewhere for services. How related is the problem to a lack of housing? We estimate that the state needs almost 50,000 more housing units for households experiencing some kind of homelessness right now, whether they're unsheltered, sheltered or doubled up like couch surfing. So do you take a stance on the Housing First strategy? Yeah, Housing First is probably the most proven and successful strategy for addressing homelessness. The idea behind Housing First is that you focus on a person's immediate needs. And if that includes housing, you put them in housing. We do know that people in housing are much more successful at getting other needs met. It's much easier for you in a safe, warm, dry place to make your medical appointments, to go through any treatment you may need for substance use disorder or mental health issues, to connect with employment. When somebody's living on a sidewalk, it's extremely challenging to do any of those things that you need to do to get back on your feet. So we see a lot more success if people are placed into housing without barriers or preconditions and then offered services to help them out. The sort-of opposite strategy is called Housing Ready. The idea of being housing ready is that you have to prove that you are ready for housing, that you've earned housing. But what we see is that if you make all these hoops that people have to jump through when they're on the street, it's just incredibly hard for them to get there. Housing First is -- hopefully still is -- the accepted and encouraged strategy of the federal government. Veterans are the only group experiencing homelessness where we've seen a major decline recently. They've actually reduced veteran homelessness by 50% through a really aggressive push at the Housing First strategy. So we know it works. That's the only group where we've seen a big decline in homelessness. And it's also the only group where we've really comprehensively used Housing First and fully funded it. Do we know much about family units and how many families are homeless? Oregon consistently has some of the highest homelessness rates among children and families with children. It's really bad right now; just among children who are enrolled in school, we have 22,000 students who are experiencing either unsheltered, sheltered or doubled-up homelessness. That's 22,000 across Oregon in the 2023-24 school year. That's the highest recorded percentage of students in Oregon who are experiencing some form of homelessness. What can you tell us as far as racial disparities go? It's really bad. This is something that we see across the country, and it is reflected here in Oregon as well. We see much higher rates of homelessness among Black and Indigenous people, just across the board. Our study found that last year, American Indian, Alaska Native or Indigenous Oregonians experienced homelessness at a rate almost six times higher than their proportion of the population. Native, Hawaiian or Pacific Islander. Oregonians experience homelessness at a rate 4.3 times higher. Black, African, American or African Oregonians experience homelessness at a rate 3.1 181 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000693 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0022590 times higher. We see this across the country. We see this in Oregon. We see this across counties in Oregon. White people tend to experience homelessness at a rate slightly less than their proportion of the population. What are the challenges involved in collecting the unsheltered data? It's really tricky. You're going out and you're asking people a lot of personal questions about their life. I mean, if some stranger came up to any one of us and said, 'Tell me about your sexual orientation, identity, your housing history or domestic violence.-- I mean, even on a good day, very few of us would want to answer those questions. I think it's impressive that so many people who are experiencing homelessness are willing to answer all these questions. You know, there's a nonresponse rate in Multnomah County of something like a third of people who were asked. .. so we're missing a lot of data. We do get as complete a picture as we can. But that is one of the big challenges. There are two elephants in the room -- mental illness and substance abuse. How are you able to study those issues? Those are questions that we ask in the Point in Time Count. In 2O23 in the tri-county area, about 23% of people who are unsheltered had some sort of mental health disorder. And about 26% had a substance use disorder. So roughly a quarter of each -- that might seem low to some people. I think what happens is that somebody who has a severe mental illness or a substance use disorder is going to be sort of more visibly associated with the things we think of when we think homelessness. You could walk past somebody who is experiencing homelessness and not think, 'Oh, that person is homeless.' But if you walk past somebody on the street who has a severe mental illness, you're probably going to make that association. I guess implicit in what you're saying is, if you address those issues -- mental illness and substance abuse -- you've still got that 75%. Exactly. And I think that's something we're often missing from the news. You know, even if we could magically shelter everybody who has a substance use disorder, we'd still have roughly 75% of people still out there. So how tied to housing prices is the homelessness rate? Incredibly closely tied. The federal government found that for every $100 increase in median rent anywhere in the country, homelessness typically goes up 9%. And its like that across the country. Anywhere you have rents going up and up and up, homelessness goes up. If you have places where rents are staying pretty stable, homelessness stays stable. How does homelessness affect Oregon's economy? It's really hard to quantify the impacts of homelessness on the economy. I'd say hysteria around homelessness does have an impact on the economy. When you get a lot of bad press about a city like Portland, when our homelessness issues are really no worse and often not as bad as many other cities, it, I'm sure, has an impact on things like tourism. The problem is that that's often linked to specific political agendas and not always reflective of reality. I have people who come here and they walk around downtown, they're like, oh, this really isn't as bad as I was expecting. It's not always an accurate picture. Practically speaking, what are some techniques to keep in mind when you're out in the 182 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000693 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0022591 community conducting this kind of research? Just talk to people like human beings and show compassion. I do interviews for our research, and I try to think about how I might feel being asked these questions. A lot of them are very personal. We try to think what's the way to ask this in a way that's not demeaning or dehumanizing. You have to find that empathy. Return to Table of Contents [CA] Sacramento quietly ramped up criminal citations to homeless people. `I can't afford to pay it' (Sacramento Bee, CA) - full text Sacramento Bee [2/3/2025 8:00 AM, Theresa Clift and Phillip Reese, 2693K, CA] On a good day, Theresa Rivera has, at most, $5 in her pocket. The only income the homeless senior gets is from other homeless people who pay her to watch their belongings while they go to work or to doctor's appointments. "They know I'm not going anywhere," Rivera, who uses a wheelchair, said with a shy laugh in mid-November. Sometimes they don't have cash, so they pay her with her favorite beverage -- a liter of Sunkist strawberry lemonade. Police have thrown away her belongings countless times in the decade she's been on Sacramento's streets, the most recent of which on Veteran's Day. Taxpayer-funded workers took her phone, her social security card and state identification card. But before then, in March, police handed her a piece of paper she hadn't seen before -- a criminal misdemeanor citation for camping. Without a bus pass, she was unable to make it to her court date, and now owes $333, according to court records. She fears the misdemeanor, viewable to perspective landlords, will make it even harder to find housing. "What are the tickets helping?" Rivera, 45, said. "It's not helping the city because I can't afford to pay it. It's not helping us because it's affecting us getting housing. Instead of tickets, they should help us with housing." Sacramento police and sheriff's deputies drastically increased the number of criminal citations issued for camping-related offenses starting in 2023, a Sacramento Bee analysis has found. The uptick in these Sacramento police citations began in August 2023. Officials handed out 543 citations from August 2023 through December 2024, according to a Bee analysis of police data. By comparison, they handed out 30 citations for those same offenses during the prior 17 months. An increase in citations from the Sheriff's Office began about five months prior to the city's, in March 2023. Deputies issued 272 citations related to homelessness in 2022. In 2023, that number rose to 705. Through early October 2024, the sheriff's department had issued 655 citations often related to homelessness, according to data acquired by The Bee through a California Public Records Act request. Who decided to ramp up citations? The City Council and county Board of Supervisors, elected by voters, make substantial policy decisions in the city and county, including relating to homelessness. However, city and county staff ramped up the citations without a vote from either body directing them to do so. 183 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000693 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0022592 Spokespeople at both the city and county said that's because the elected officials don't actually have authority over law enforcement citations. "The police chief reports to the city manager," said Jennifer Singer, a city spokeswoman. "Mayor and council can adopt policies that impact how the city addresses homelessness but cannot direct the day-today operations of the department or the work of the police chief." When police ramped up the citations, Howard Chan was the city manager. After the council declined to extend his contract, Chan assumed an advisory role as an assistant city manager. Assistant City Manager Leyne Milstein now serves as interim city manager. Mayor Kevin McCarty, who took the helm in December, said he wants to discuss the topic with the entire council. "Considering that all of this happened before I became mayor, I am hopeful that over the next month I will get a better understanding of the policies in place," McCarty said in a statement through spokesman Andrew Acosta. "I was clear during the campaign that I would be supportive of enforcement of our ordinances. I look forward to discussing this issue with the entire council.". Acosta did not say when McCarty intends to put the item on an agenda, but said it was "high priority in the near future". Crystal Sanchez of the Sacramento Homeless Union urged the council to pass a motion to stop police from issuing more camping-related citations, especially amid frequent rain. "The (former) city manager went rogue when it came to implementing policy," Sanchez said. "Citations do not end homelessness and create state-created dangers to the community as a whole." The Sacramento Police Department does not have data on how many people it offered housing or shelter before issuing them criminal citations. "There would be a multitude of factors that could lead to an increase in citations for camping related violations," a police spokesperson said in an email. "It would be difficult to narrow down specific reasons for violations this broad. Without being involved in every police/outreach encounter, I cannot say if everyone has been offered housing/shelter or not." Did DA's lawsuit play a role? The city's uptick happened after Sacramento District Attorney Thien Ho started to publicly complain that the city wasn't cracking down hard enough on homeless camps, ahead of suing the city. The case. filed on Sept. 19, 2023, is essentially paused after a judge deemed a significant portion of his argument unconstitutional. The lawsuit alleged the city was creating a public nuisance by allowing homeless camps to exist on public property. The city argued that due to separation of powers between the government and the DA, that piece should be removed. Sacramento Superior Court Judge Jill Talley sided with the city. "A governmental entity's decision to enforce laws that are within its authority is a matter of prosecutorial discretion," Talley wrote in a tentative ruling in May. "The principle of prosecutorial discretion is 'rooted in the separation of powers and due process clauses of our Constitution.- Still, data suggests Ho's actions could have caused the city to issue criminal misdemeanors to scores of homeless people. Ho said since he sued the city, the city has made "great strides." "Our lawsuit against the City was initially dictated by the need to 184 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000693 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0022593 protect public safety and to find a compassionate path forward for those living on the streets," Ho, who endorsed McCarty, said in a statement. "Since I sued the City, all 16 encampments identified in our lawsuit have been cleared, and the number of unhoused in Sacramento finally decreased for the first time in seven years. In the last year, the (former) City Manager (Howard Chan) and City Attorney (Susana Alcala Wood) have made great strides to enforce their ordinances in a compassionate manner while working to get our unhoused off the streets." The uptick occurred the same month the council voted to allow officers to be paid overtime to respond to homeless encampments. However, during that August 2023 council meeting, there was no council direction to issue more citations. Citations nor tickets were part of the discussion. Right before calling the roll for the vote, then-Mayor Darrell Steinberg summed up Chan's description of the item as: "This isn't a change, except a more rapid response.". The city's announcement of the action also didn't mention anything about citations. On the county side, citation actions from deputies are up to Sheriff Jim Cooper, said county spokesperson Kim Nava. In Rio Linda, sheriff's deputies in March issued Carol Dutcher a criminal misdemeanor citation for violating a state trespassing law. "The ticket has been a huge stress," said Dutcher, 60, who missed her court date and may have a warrant out for her arrest. "I've never been cited for a misdemeanor in my life. It makes me fearful of law enforcement." Ron Green, who camps near Rivera, said he knows several homeless people who live on the American River Parkway who have received the citations. The parkway is typically the rangers' jurisdiction. "What are they trying to do? Fill up the prison system with all sorts of petty crimes?" said Green, 57. "I'm on the waiting list for housing and shelter. This is not the answer." Supervisor Patrick Kennedy said he would need to do more research to determine whether he has concerns with the increase in citations. Meanwhile, Supervisor Rich Desmond expressed confidence in the actions. "I don't have any concerns and am confident the Sheriff's enforcement efforts are accompanied by offers of services and connection to resources," Desmond said. Dutcher said deputies did not offer her shelter or housing at the time they cited her. "They never talk about that," Dutcher said. "It's not in their purview I guess. The closest thing to offering services is once they handed out pamphlets that are designed for prisoners on release.". Do citations jeopardize housing? On the day police gave Rivera the ticket in March, she was in the process of packing her cart full of belongings -- a several hours-long process as she moves slowly due to nerve damage and arthritis in her legs. After getting the ticket, she has never heard again from her case worker who was trying to find her housing, she said. When she calls him, he doesn't answer. She's not sure if that's due to the ticket, but she fears it's possible. The California Apartment Association recommends landlords only use criminal history as part of tenant screening if they have developed a policy for doing so with an experienced fair housing attorney, said Mike Nemeth, association spokesman. But landlords are legally allowed to 185 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000693 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0022594 factor in criminal history without taking that step. Rivera's citation is marked "failure to appear" but is currently active. It could be dismissed due to lack of prosecution, said Brandy Boyd, Sacramento Superior Court spokesperson. About 60% of the recipients of the citations in 2024 were people of color, The Bee's analysis found. They were as old as 73 and as young as 18. Last winter, from Dec. 1, 2023 through Feb. 28, 2024, Sacramento Police issued about 30 citations for these offenses on days with measurable rain. The rain and cold can also be deadly. A homeless father of four named Francisco Ramirez died of hypothermia in November 2022 -- a night temperatures dipped into the 30s. Getting swept in the rain, or right before rain, is especially dangerous, Rivera said. When police swept her on Veteran's Day, she lost thick blankets and her warmest bestfitting jacket, she said. Losing those things make the cold nights much worse. "In the cold my legs it feels like Freddie Krueger is clawing at my legs," Rivera said Nov. 18, her head poking out of her tent, just hours before a freeze warning took effect. "I get charlie horses so bad I cry like a baby." Theresa Clift covers housing, real estate and development for The Sacramento Bee. She covered Sacramento City Hall for The Bee from 2018 through 2024. Before joining The Bee, she worked for newspapers in Pennsylvania, Virginia and Wisconsin. She grew up in Michigan and graduated with a journalism degree from Central Michigan University. Phillip Reese is a data specialist at The Sacramento Bee and an associate professor of journalism at Sacramento State. His journalism has won the George Polk and Worth Bingham awards, and he was a finalist for the 2014 Pulitzer Prize for Investigative Reporting. Return to Table of Contents [CA] Napa Exploring Plan To Convert Two Apartment Buildings Into Long-Term Supporting Housing (KSRO, Santa Rosa, CA) - full text KSRO [2/3/2025 12:38 PM, Staff, 18K, CA] Napa city officials are exploring a plan to convert two downtown apartment buildings into long-term supportive housing for individuals exiting homelessness. The proposal hinges on securing a $10 million grant from California's Homekey+ program. This program helps cities create affordable housing, with a focus on veterans and those with behavioral health needs. The two properties, located on Fourth and Division Streets, already house vulnerable renters through partnerships with Section 8 and homeless service programs. The current owner has approached the city about selling the buildings, each containing 12 onebedroom units. Existing tenants would remain, and supportive services would be added. Napa has successfully used Homekey funding before, notably converting the former Wine Valley Lodge into a 54-unit supportive housing complex. However, other housing initiatives in the city have faced public concerns. And, as the Los Angeles Times reported, some Homekey projects in other cities have been plagued by issues like fraud. 186 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000693 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0022595 Return to Table of Contents [CA] Carlsbad gets $3 million grant to help homeless people living in vehicles (San Diego Union Tribune, CA) - full text San Diego Union Tribune [2/3/2025 8:00 AM, Phil Diehl, 2212K, CA] Carlsbad accepted a $3 million state grant last week to help find shelter for homeless individuals and families living in their vehicles in the Village, Barrio and beach neighborhoods. The City Council on Tuesday approved the grant on a 4-1 vote. Councilmember Melanie Burkholder, whose council district includes the areas targeted by the grant, voted no. She said the city spends too much taxpayer money on programs to help the homeless, and yet their numbers continue to increase. "My whole problem with any of this is that we are not helping the people who need it most," Burkholder said. "It's just not happening." Vehicular homelessness has become a growing concern throughout San Diego County. The annual one-day, point-in-time count of the homeless showed the number of people living in vehicles in Carlsbad nearly doubled from 29 in 2023 to 56 in 2024, according to a city staff report. Other council members agreed to accept the grant, but expressed concerns that the program would attract homeless people to Carlsbad from other cities without such support services. Carlsbad Homeless Services Manager Chris Shilling said the city has identified specific people in the targeted areas who are eligible for the services, and that newcomers probably would not be eligible. The money from the state's Encampment Resolution Fund will be allocated over three years and covers partnerships with Interfaith Community Services and the Community Resource Center. Also Tuesday, the City Council approved a "homeless action funding plan" for fiscal 2025-26. Burkholder cast the only vote against that, saying that some of the services provided by the city should come from the county instead. Councilmember Kevin Shin said he understands Burkholder's position, but there are benefits to the city's programs. "We are actually putting people into housing, while there is an increase in homelessness," Shin said. "Each person has their own issues, and we have to tackle that." Some people refuse to accept help, he said, and more needs to be done to help them. Also, he asked for more information about how the city Fire Department interacts with the homeless. Carlsbad will spend a total of $9,128,427, including $5,633,376 in grants, on homelessness programs during the fiscal 2025-26 budget year, according to a staff report presented to the council. That's up from a total of $6 million in the current fiscal year. Most of the increase is from additional grant money the city has been allocated, Shilling said. Money coming from the city's general found will decrease by about $260,000 in the year ahead. "New grant funding has allowed us to provide more services at less costs to the city," Shilling said. The money goes to a wide variety of programs and services, many of which are intended to prevent people from becoming homeless. Nearly half of the funds go to 187 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000693 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0022596 the Police Department's homeless outreach team. The region's point-in-time count, done annually at the end of January, showed Carlsbad had 118 homeless in 2022, 103 in 2023, and 150 in 2024. Information from the count, while not always accurate, is one of many sources used to evaluate homeless issues and to allocate funding. This year's count was held Thursday, with results being announced in the spring. Carlsbad's homeless programs served 601 individuals in the 2023-24 fiscal year, Shilling said. Workers cleaned up 40 encampments and helped 89 people find permanent housing. Return to Table of Contents [HI] County Awards $10.1 Million in Grants to Address Homelessness and Housing Needs (KWXX, Hilo, HI) - full text KWXX [2/3/2025 9:55 AM, Staff, 7K, HI] The County's Office of Housing and Community Development announced the award of $10.1 million in grants to 15 projects addressing homelessness and housing challenges across Hawaii Island. The grants are awarded to nonprofits through the Homelessness and Housing Fund established in 2022. Projects range from emergency shelter programs to long-term supportive housing, with a particular focus on connecting individuals to stable housing opportunities. Also included are programs offering hygiene outreach, substance abuse treatment and mental health counseling. The Homelessness and Housing Fund was created through Ordinance 22-26, which allocates for five years 75% of Residential Tier Two property tax revenues annually to address homelessness and housing in Hawaii County. The fund is set to expire in 2027. The County funding strives to complement existing Federal and State funding resources. Over $17 million in grants were awarded in the first two funding rounds, benefiting 15 non-profit providers and supporting 37 projects. Return to Table of Contents Fair Housing [NY] EDITORIAL: State needs to ensure fairness in housing (The Daily Gazette, NY) - full text The Daily Gazette [2/3/2025 8:00 PM, Staff, 235K, NY] In a pre-emptive strike against the Trump Administration potentially depriving New Yorkers of fair housing, a group of state lawmakers is working to enshrine existing federal protections into state law before those protections are taken away. Given all the administration's recent focus on eliminating Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) from government programs, the proposed legislation is a necessary step to give the state the continued authority to protect vulnerable people from losing access to housing due to discrimination. The legislation doesn't add any new protections that don't already exist in the federal Fair Housing Act. It just preserves those protections in state law in the event that they are removed from federal law. The bill (A4040/54067) focuses on a standard called 188 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000693 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0022597 "disparate impact.". Disparate impact is where someone -- a landlord, insurance company, municipality, housing developer -- targets people using a seemingly innocuous, factual standard. The standard doesn't appear on its surface to be discriminatory, and there is no obvious intent to be discriminatory. But it is, in actual practice, discriminatory. The Alliance for Housing Justice, a coalition of fair housing advocacy groups, offered this example to show how it can be used to discriminate against women and domestic violence victims: "Take for example a landlord that institutes a new rule that any tenant that calls 911 for emergency services more than twice in 6 months can be evicted; as a result, several women and their children are evicted from their homes after calling the police or an ambulance as a result of domestic violence," the alliance explains on its website. "This policy has had a `disparate impact' on women, since 95% of domestic violence victims are women -- although anyone can be a victim of domestic violence. While the landlord's policy doesn't explicitly state they will evict women, the impact of the policy puts up barriers to women renting.". Another example of the standard would be municipal zoning laws and other housing restrictions, such as restrictions on multi-family housing, that unfairly exclude minorities from neighborhoods. The policies in these cases seem reasonable, fair and justifiable -- until one recognizes the actual negative impact they'll have. Without the disparate impact standard, it's virtually impossible to win a legal argument of discrimination in cases where intent can't be proven. Incorporating this important legal standard into state law is vital to protect vulnerable New Yorkers from discrimination in housing. State lawmakers should pass this bill before it's too late. Return to Table of Contents [NE] Lincoln for Fair Housing tops 15,300 petition signatures (Civic Nebraska, NE) - full text Civic Nebraska [2/3/2025 12:30 PM, Steve Smith, 3K, NE] Local coalition Lincoln for Fair Housing announced today it has collected more than 15,300 petition signatures in just over a month, far surpassing the required threshold to place new renter protections on the May 6 citywide ballot. The city clerk's office received the signatures this morning. The coalition needed to collect at least 8,825 valid signatures from registered Lincoln voters to qualify the ballot measure. Organizers said the enthusiastic response to the petition effort underscores the community's widespread support for much-needed housing reform. With colorful signs proclaiming "Let's Bring It Home" and "Fair Housing Now!," coalition members gathered at Turbine Flats in Lincoln to celebrate crossing the key milestone. 189 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000693 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0022598 The proposed measure seeks to prohibit source-of-income discrimination in Lincoln and ensure that all residents have fair access to housing regardless of how they pay their rent. Currently, landlords in Lincoln can refuse to rent to people who use housing vouchers, benefits, or other lawful income sources. Nearly half of Lincoln renters face unaffordable housing costs, with 11,280 households in the city being highly cost-burdened or spending more than half their income on rent. Assistance programs like Section 8 housing vouchers are designed to alleviate this burden. Yet, nearly one in three local voucher recipients must return them unused because they cannot find a landlord willing to accept them. Banning source-of-income discrimination has proven effective in other jurisdictions. In 22 states and 128 cities and towns across the country, such protections have cut voucher failure rates in half, reducing housing instability and promoting fairness in the rental market. Once signatures are verified, Lincoln For Fair Housing will launch a comprehensive educational campaign that includes events and community conversations to inform Lincoln residents and encourage them to vote to approve the proposed ordinance. Karen Bell-Dancy, executive director, YWCA Lincoln, Lincoln For Fair Housing member: "Let's envision a better Lincoln. Let's envision a community where families aren't choosing between rent and groceries, children don't have to switch schools thrice in one year, and unfair housing barriers don't block economic opportunity. We all can move together toward that vision, starting with approving this measure in May." Jean McGuire, president, League of Women Voters of Lincoln/Lancaster County, Lincoln For Fair Housing member: "Equality of opportunity is a very important value to the League of Women Voters. Source of income discrimination violates equality of opportunity, which is why our nonpartisan group of 140 women and men are supporting Lincoln for Fair Housing." Reid Gahan, Lincoln landlord: "Housing discrimination is inherently inefficient. It reduces choice not only for tenants but also for landlords. By removing the option to discriminate based on source of income, I believe landlords will be presented with more and better options than before. I am excited for a future where Zillow isn't full of six-month-old rental listings with those inefficient words: No vouchers allowed." River Sky, Lincoln renter: "I called every landlord I could find in Lincoln. I made around 200 phone calls. Office after office, they told me they wouldn't take my voucher. Thankfully, I found one landlord who took my voucher and rented me a clean, decent, and safe place to live. I've been their loyal tenant ever since. I pay my rent early, keep my place clean and neat, and never cause trouble. I'm a great tenant and a kind, thoughtful neighbor, but you'd never know it from how other landlords talked down to me. This has to end. People in Lincoln deserve a home, whether we're poor, struggling, or disabled." Return to Table of Contents 190 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000693 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0022599 [NE] Organizers say fair housing petition in Lincoln surpassed signature requirements (Channel 8 Eyewitness News, Lincoln, NE) - full text Channel 8 Eyewitness News [2/3/2025 1:28 PM, Nolan Dorn, 142K, NE] A petition seeking to ban source-of-income discrimination by landlords in Lincoln has received over 15,300 signatures. On Monday, organizers with Lincoln for Fair Housing said the signatures surpass the required threshold to place the initiative on the May 6 city election ballot. The group needed at least 8,825 signatures from registered Lincoln voters to qualify. In a press release, the group said nearly half of Lincoln renters face "unaffordable housing costs." Assistance programs, like Section 8 housing vouchers, are supposed to alleviate the burden -- but nearly one in three recipients can't find a landlord willing to accept them, according to organizers. The group is now waiting for the signatures to be verified. Once that is done, Lincoln for Fair Housing plans to launch an "educational campaign" featuring events and community conversations regarding the measure. Return to Table of Contents [NE] Lincoln Fair Housing coalition turns in nearly double the signatures needed for balltot initiative (Lincoln Journal Star, NE) - full text Lincoln Journal Star [2/3/2025 3:00 PM, Margaret Reist, 384K, NE] A fair housing coalition turned in more than 15,300 signatures Monday to the city clerk's office, close to double the number needed to get a local ordinance banning housing discrimination on the spring ballot. "Let's envision a better Lincoln," Karen Bell-Dancy, YWCA Lincoln executive director, said at a news conference with supporters. "Let's envision a community where families aren't choosing between rent and groceries, where children don't have to switch schools three times in one year and where unfair housing barriers don't block economic opportunity. We all can move together toward that vision, starting with approving this measure in May.". The Lincoln Fair Housing Coalition, made up of 18 organizations including Nebraska Appleseed, Civic Nebraska, the League of Women Voters of Lincoln-Lancaster County and the YWCA, announced the ballot initiative in December. It had to gather 8,825 signatures to get the question on the May 6 general election ballot. The city clerk will turn the signatures over to the Lancaster County Election Commissioner, who must certify the signatures. Once that happens, the City Council has 30 days either to enact the ordinance or submit it for an election. It must be submitted to the election commissioner by March 14 to get on the May 6 ballot. The proposed ordinance would prohibit source-of-income discrimination, which includes prospective tenants being turned away because they want to use federal Section 8 vouchers, Social Security or disability benefits, child support or other forms of legal income. The group had been before the City Council several times advocating for such an ordinance, and a year ago presented the council with a petition signed by more than 500 supporters. When the council took no action, organizers decided to mount an effort to let voters decide. 191 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000693 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0022600 Organizers say nearly half of Lincoln renters face unaffordable housing costs, with 11,280 households in the city spending more than half their rent on housing. Still, they say, nearly one in three local voucher recipients must return them unused because they can't find a landlord willing to accept them. River Sky, a Section 8 voucher tenant, said they called about 200 landlords and found just three that would take vouchers. Two of those were for places that were "filthy, sketchy and gross," but the third allowed them to rent a "safe and decent" place to live. They've now been there three years, Sky said. Sky said they are queer and disabled, has severe PTSD, and struggled to find housing after having to quit their job. Calling landlords was difficult because Sky was living in a tent with a service dog during the winter. "If we're struggling, if we're poor, if we're survivors of abuse and trauma, everybody deserves a home," Sky said. "Nobody needs to go through what I faced. So everybody, please just support this initiative and stop this from happening to so many of our neighbors.". Reid Gahan said when he bought a duplex, lived in one side and began renting the other about five years ago, he called Community Action to see if the organization had any clients in need of housing. The organization connected him to a family that's still renting from him, and no longer part of the voucher program. The inspection ensured his rental property was up to code and a caseworker could have helped him had he had problems with his tenants, which he said he hasn't had. "Housing discrimination is inherently inefficient. It reduces choice not only for tenants but also for landlords," he said. "I'm excited for a future where Zillow isn't full of six-month-old rental listings with those inefficient words "no vouchers allowed.". Some landlords have expressed concerns about being required to adhere to all the requirements of the voucher program, including the inspections. Lincoln Housing Authority officials say the city's efforts to increase the affordable housing stock in Lincoln is a more effective approach. The coalition has been talking to voters about the ordinance for months but will start an education campaign including a League of Women Voters "lunch and learn" session in March, said Jean McGuire, president of League of Women Voters of Lincoln/Lancaster County. Return to Table of Contents [NE] Signatures submitted to put Lincoln renter protections on ballot in citywide election (NETNebraska.org, NE) - full text NETNebraska.orq [2/3/2025 6:37 PM, Brian Beach, 53K, NE] The Lincoln for Fair Housing coalition turned in more than 15,000 signatures Monday to place a measure aimed at helping renters on the Lincoln citywide election ballot in May. The proposed measure would prohibit Lincoln landlords from refusing to accept renters paying with Section 8 vouchers or other government benefits like social security. Reid Gahan, a landlord in Lincoln, said accepting alternative forms of income provides him with more tenant options. "When I think about the housing market in Lincoln, the last thing we need is discrimination," he said. "It is inherently inefficient, reducing the choice, not only for tenants, but also for landlords.". River Sky, who pays rent using a voucher, described the difficulty of finding a place to rent in Lincoln three years ago. 192 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000693 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0022601 "I'm scrolling through Google Maps, calling every landlord I can find, calling landlords off signs on the street for hours a day," they said. "I called about 200 landlords. 'No, we don't take vouchers. No, we don't take vouchers. No, we don't take vouchers.' And those were the polite ones.". Sky said they only found one landlord with a "safe and decent" place to live, where they have lived ever since. "We deserve a home if we're disabled, if we're struggling, if we're poor, if we're survivors of abuse and trauma, everybody deserves a home. Nobody needs to go through what I face," they said. At the state level, a similar measure is up for debate. Sen. Dunixi Guereca of Omaha introduced LB223, which would prohibit source of income discrimination from landlords statewide. At a hearing for the bill last week, opponents said renting to voucher-holders requires additional work for landlords. Lynn Fisher, a landlord who testified on behalf of the Statewide Property Owners Association, said frequent government inspections make things difficult. "Of course, we don't mind inspections. Any good property owner is going to have a good, well-maintained property," he said. "It's the time, it's the cost, it's the hassle of having additional inspections made by the housing authority who administers Section 8.IT Fisher said he accepts vouchers at several of his properties and some of them go unfilled each month. "There's something else going on, and I don't think it's the fact that the vouchers aren't being accepted everywhere, because we have those units available," he said. The Judiciary Committee, which conducted the hearing on the LB223, didn't take immediate action. The Lincoln measure, pending signature verification, will be on a May ballot that also includes Lincoln City Council and Lincoln Public Schools Board of Education races. Return to Table of Contents Federal Housing Administration and Multifamily Housing More homebuyers seek government-backed loans as an affordability lifeline (HousingWire.com) - full text HousinqVVire.com [2/3/2025 2:53 PM, Sarah Wolak, 243K] The combined cost of mortgages, taxes and insurance now takes up a larger share of household income than it has since the early 1980s, according to an affordability index from John Burns Research & Consulting. The company's newest National Housing Market Outlook shows that buyers are gravitating toward government-backed loans in their search for affordability. The Burns Affordability Index, which measures the ratio of housing costs to income, is now at 42.4%, a figure that's well above the historic norm of 32.8%. Chris Porter, a senior vice president at the firm and the author of the latest outlook, said this correlates with buyers dedicating more of their income to housing and seeking accessible financing options. It also ties into architects and builders creating smaller, denser homes to help 193 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000693 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0022602 close the affordable housing supply gap. As a result, more buyers are turning to products like Federal Housing Administration (FHA) loans, which accounted for 24% of primary home purchases in 2024, and U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) loans, which made up 10%, according to purchase loan lock data from Optimal Blue. Together, FHA and VA loans represented 34% of the market, up from less than 30% in 2022 and the highest share since late 2020. Conversely, Optimal Blue data revealed that conforming loans through Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac made up 60% of primary residence purchases in 2024, down from 63% during their peak. "Since many of the existing homeowners who purchased or refinanced during the pandemic boom are not giving up their low rates to make moves, most of the individual buyers in the market right now are first-time homebuyers who are facing a massive affordability shock," Donella Strickland, a loan officer at CMG Home Loans, told HousingWire. "In the last two years, rent as well as mortgage payments have increased significantly, which has made it more difficult for many potential homebuyers to save for down payments.". Strickland said that 75% of the loans she closed last year were government loans, adding that all of them were purchase money. "I think the same could be said for most in my industry," she added. "Affordability is a real challenge right now, and with the fact that FHA and VA loans require a lower down payment, and allow for the debt-to-income ratio to go higher than conventional, these types of loans are the bulk of what we are seeing in the market right now.". But the "uptick" in government-backed loans being picked up as an affordable option varies by location. High-cost markets, for example, may be less keen on accepting FHA or VA loans over their conventional counterparts. Sean Zalmanoff, founder and chief loan officer at St. Louis-based Better Rate Mortgage, noted that in his local area, FHA loans are more common for those with higher debt-to-income ratios. He noted that despite a national slowdown in home sales, St. Louis continues to see multiple offers on good houses. Zalmanoff attributed the uptick in FHA loans to sellers accepting them when houses aren't selling quickly. "We do a lot of the Fannie Mae affordable home financing too," he added. "Our 80% of our area median income is $82,560, which when you have houses that are $300,000 and somebody who can qualify at $83,000, we have the ability for a lot of Fannie Mae 3% down loans.". Return to Table of Contents [PA] PA judge decides reverse mortgage gets first-priority in foreclosure dispute (HousingWire.com) - full text HousinQWire.com [2/3/2025 3:45 PM, Chris Clow, 243K] In 2005, the client purchased a home in the Foxfield at Naaman's Creek community in Garnet Valley, Penn. with a traditional mortgage. In 2011, the owner obtained a reverse mortgage on the property from Bank of America, where the bank paid off the original mortgage before the loan was ultimately sold, landing in the hands of Reverse Mortgage 194 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000693 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0022603 Funding (RMF). Starting in 2015, the homeowner fell behind on certain fees and assessments, leading to the association to declare a foreclosure action. The final decision was handed down by Pennsylvania Superior Court Judge Deborah Kunselman. "The Association sent notice of the impending sale to multiple entities, including Bank of America, [The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)], and Reverse Mortgaging Service Department, the mortgage servicer. The Association did not send notice to RMF," the judge's order reads. In May 2022, the property was sold at a foreclosure auction and at the time of sale, "the sheriff did not indicate to prospective purchasers that the property was being sold subject to any mortgage," the order reads. "RMF did not attend the sale to purchase the property." But RMF's lien on the property was not divested by the sale, but the association asked the initial trial court to indicate that RMF's lien was divested by the sale. RMF "maintained that its mortgage was a senior lien and should not be divested," but the trial court found that the association's lien had priority over RMF's lien. RMF requested a review of the decision but the trial court maintained its original verdict, leading RMF to appeal to the state's superior court. The judge ultimately sided with RMF, finding that its lien held senior priority over the "original mortgage," which the judge characterized as a novel legal question. "In Pennsylvania, liens generally are prioritized based on the order in which they are recorded," the judge wrote. "However, under certain circumstances, a statutory lien [...] may affect this general rule." Since there is a section in the law cited by the HOA that "establishes a lien for an association for unpaid assessments or fines," statutory authority goes to such a lien in most cases, and the court must define what "first mortgage" means in this instance since the relevant law does not. The judge cited the definition of "first mortgage" in Black's Law Dictionary, which calls it a "mortgage that has priority over another mortgage (a junior mortgage) on the same property." "The association and the trial court suggest that we should look at the entire history of the property," the judge wrote. "RMF maintains that we must look only at the record existing at the time of the sale. We agree with RMF." The judge summed up the ruling by siding with RMF. "In sum, we conclude that the trial court misinterpreted the meaning of `first mortgage' and erred when it granted the association's exceptions and ordered that RMF's mortgage was divested," the ruling said. "We, therefore, reverse the court's order granting the association's exceptions to the sheriff's schedule of distribution and direct that RMF's mortgage be reinstated." An analysis by the law firm also detailed some of the other realities established by the decision. "[The] RMF mortgage discharged the original mortgage and was the first mortgage lien at the time of the sale." the analysis said. "The Superior Court therefore reversed the trial court and reinstated RMF's first mortgage lien." HECM loans require borrowers to continue paying property taxes, homeowner's insurance and - if applicable - HOA fees to keep their loan in good standing. Failure to do so could result in an acceleration of the loan to "due and payable" status. 195 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000693 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0022604 RMF went bankrupt in late 2022, and soon after a liquidity crisis engulfed the reverse mortgage industry. The company only exists now as an estate for its financial affairs, since the reverse mortgage lending operations effectively ended in late 2022 with the seizure of its Home Equity Conversion Mortgage (HECM)-backed Securities (HMBS) portfolio by Ginnie Mae. Return to Table of Contents Public and Indian Housing [NY] Funding shortfall puts key piece of East Adams Redevelopment Project on hold (WAER 88.3 Syracuse University, NY) - full text WAER 88.3 Syracuse University [2/3/2025 5:51 PM, Scott Willis, 16K, NY] A funding shortfall threatens to upend a key piece of Syracuse's massive East Adams Neighborhood Redevelopment project. Syracuse's youngest residents could be on the losing end if planners cannot bridge the gap to build the $31 million Children Rising Center. The proposed center is the vision of Blueprint 15, one of the entities involved in the larger $1 billion, 27-square-block East Adams project. The website promises a YMCA health and wellness center, in addition to services and support for children of all ages. Now, it's in limbo. Deputy Mayor Sharon Owens also serves as Board President of Blueprint 15. She spoke at a common council committee meeting Monday. "It is a disappointing moment for us," Owens said. "The [Blueprint] project is not going to proceed at this time. We can't fill a $7 million gap to make the project work.". The Children Rising Center has secured about $25 million in city, state, federal, and foundation support over the past three years. Meg O'Connell with the Allyn Foundation said they finished designs, hired a construction manager, and waited. "Everything was ready to start construction," O'Connell said. Unfortunately, because of the continued delays by Syracuse Housing Authority, they did not close on their low income housing tax credits by year end. They were not able to complete the HUD process.". O'Connell said they were counting on those credits to close the funding gap. SHA director Bill Simmons says about 60 residents live in the two dozen housing units set to be demolished for the project. "HUD's not going to approve any plans without knowing where those residents are going to go in the short term and what they're going to come back to," Simmons said. "Most of our delays in adjusting of our project deadlines were requests that came to us, much of it we didn't know in advance.". Simmons says they were trying to accommodate the changing desires of Blueprint 15. It's not known if or when the Children Rising Center will be built. Councilor at large Rasheada Caldwell has roots in the Pioneer Homes complex. She said it's a setback for a marginalized community trying to reimagine its future as the 1-81 viaduct comes down in a few years. "It hurts my heart because they don't deserve it," Caldwell said. "So at the end of the day, it seems like that it should have been a situation where, OK, let's go. We got to figure this out. Let's come together. Let's get more people so we can get a project together. This is not about us, it's about that community and we failed them again because we didn't come together and ask for help.". Meanwhile, common councilors 196 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000693 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0022605 approved funding for environmental and design plans that unlock grants for other parts of the East Adams Redevelopment project. [Editorial note: consult audio at source link] Return to Table of Contents [NY] East Harlem community comes together to deliver repairs for neighbors (PIX11, NY) - full text PIX11 [2/3/2025 6:08 PM, Monica Morales, 1493K, NY] VIDEO. Leaks, mold, and other repairs were needed in an East Harlem building. It took the neighborhood working together every day with the city, to get the fixes done. Christina Johnson and Rosa Diaz say they will never forget when they first walked through the front door of the Lexington Houses. They were horrified. A leak in April on the 7th floor created all sorts of problems with walls, floors, and ceilings all the way down to the first floor, says Johnson. They did something about it. They reached out to NYCHA and worked to help make it happen. Livia] McClellan lives here says all their hard work is appreciated. A NYCHA spokesperson tells PIX11 News: "NYCHA staff are responding to a leak that has affected a line of apartments at Lexington Houses and are making progress addressing resident concerns. As we continue to make the necessary repairs, we're appreciative of the support and coordination from the Lexington Houses Tenant Association and Manhattan Community Board 11. Residents in need of assistance are encouraged to call the Customer Contact Center at 718-707-7771 or submit work tickets through the MyNYCHA application.". Return to Table of Contents [SC] Barry Hall appointed interim CEO of Columbia Housing following Yvonda Bean's departure (WLTX, SC) - full text WLTX [2/2/2025 4:19 PM, Staff, 562K, SC] Columbia Housing's Board of Commissioners has appointed Chief Operating Officer Barry Hall as Interim CEO, following the resignation of Yvonda Bean, effective February 1, 2025. Hall, a veteran of the affordable housing sector with more than 26 years of experience, stepped into the COO role at Columbia Housing in June 2023. Prior to that, he led three Nebraska-based housing authorities-as Executive Director of the Hall County Housing Authority in Grand Island, the Aurora Housing Authority, and the Hastings Housing Authority. For Hall, relocating to Columbia was as much a personal decision as a professional one. His wife, Janice, hails from the Midlands, making the move a natural fit he said. "Accepting the Chief Operations Officer position in Columbia back in 2023 was a good fit for my skill set while being closer to our family," Hall said. A former military serviceman, Hall emphasized his leadership philosophy. "My focus has always been on running a tight ship," he said. "I look forward to using that skill set to lead Columbia Housing while the Board of Commissioners searches for a permanent CEO. The team at Columbia Housing is strong, and we are eager to continue advancing our mission, vision, and goals.". Hall also underscored the agency's priorities moving forward. "Right now, we are focused on empowering our 16,000+ residents, building 197 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000693 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0022606 strong community connections, and ensuring the agency operates as efficiently and effectively as possible," he said. Columbia Housing has not yet announced a timeline for hiring a permanent CEO. Return to Table of Contents [SC] Columbia Housing CEO resigns Yvonda Bean to take Housing CEO position in Indianapolis (CarolinaPanorama, SC) - full text CarolinaPanorama [2/3/2025 1:42 PM, Staff, 4K, SC] Yvonda Bean, CEO of Columbia Housing has accepted the CEO position at the Indianapolis Housing Agency in Indianapolis, Indiana. She will start her new job February 17th, 2025. Bean came to Columbia Housing in August of 2019 as the Chief Operating Officer and ascended to the CEO position in June 2022. "My decision to accept the CEO position at the Indianapolis Housing Agency was not an easy one," says Bean. "However, like many fellow public housing agencies across the country, the Indianapolis Housing Agency is currently facing a crisis of public trust. The Authority has been placed in receivership by HUD and now must take corrective action to operate again as a sound housing authority. My experience navigating the recovery of the Lafayette Housing Authority as the CEO in 2016 when they were in receivership, coupled with my experience at the once troubled Columbia Housing Authority, has prepared me for the rare opportunity to lend my talents to help restore the Indianapolis Housing Agency.". Columbia Mayor Daniel Rickenmann says Bean is leaving her mark in Columbia. "It has been my pleasure to work with Yvonda Bean on our shared goal of creating more affordable housing units in the city of Columbia. The fruits of her leadership are evident in Columbia Housing's development of Oaks at St. Anna's Park and Haven at Palmer Point that serves our senior citizens. Altogether, more than 400 new affordable housing units were constructed during her tenure. We will miss her. We appreciate her leadership and know she will continue to do great things in Indianapolis.". The list of milestones and achievements while Bean was at Columbia Housing is extensive. In addition to the construction of Oak Terrace and Oak Park located on the site of the former Gonzales Gardens community; and Haven at Palmer Point located at Two Notch and Carter Street in Columbia--she has also improved the quality of life for residents. Through a unique partnership with Midlands Technical College, Columbia Housing enrolled and graduated 50+ residents in Degree Programs and Certificate Programs. The agency also helped 40 first time homeowners buy homes. "We thank Mrs. Bean for her service to Columbia Housing," says Board Chair Ernest W. Cromartie III. The CEO is often the face of the organization, but Columbia Housing is a solid team of housing professionals. That won't change. We wish Mrs. Bean well in her future endeavors. We will immediately begin the search for a new leader at Columbia Housing," concludes Cromartie. Return to Table of Contents [VA] RRHA starts evictions for residents not complying with second chance repayment program (WRIC TV, VA) - full text 198 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000693 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0022607 WRIC TV [2/3/2025 7:23 PM, Jamal Williams, 1232K, VA] VIDEO. Time has officially run out for hundreds of Richmond tenants who aren't taking advantage of the second chance repayment plan. After a three week pause because of the water crisis, Richmond Redevelopment and Housing Authority (RRHA) officials are moving forward with lease enforcement for residents who aren't cooperating with their Compassion Action Plan and owe between $10,000 to $34,000 dollars in debt. "As CEO, I have a fiduciary responsibility to reduce that debt and report that to our board of commissioners," said CEO Steven Nesmith. According to RRHA, 378 residents have either defaulted on repaying their debt or are "gaming" the system by paying every other month. Residents have 30 days to pay back all the money they owe or they will be removed from housing. Nesmith said those facing eviction will have an opportunity to appeal in court whether the money they owe is accurate. "We've made tons and tons of phone calls, phone banking, and some residents said, `Stop calling me, stop knocking on my door,- Nesmith said. "Well, with our huge waiting list, thousands of people on the waiting list are saying, `I can make that minimum payment."'. Charlene Riley, a tenant who signed up for the program back in August 2024, initially had more than $2,000 in rent debt. Since joining the program, Riley has paid off nearly $700. "I felt like the program worked because I made it work and I was committed to making sure that I get these things done," said Riley. Riley said she understands RRHA's need to free up these spaces so they can give them to individuals who can afford to pay rent. "It's going to be sad and it's going to be a rude awakening for some people," Riley said. "People need housing and we can't just keep sitting around giving people a chance when there are people experiencing homelessness. Some people are going to have to perish so that other people can go home. And if that's what it is going to have to take, it's just what it's going to have to take.". RRHA said they will be partnering with local organizations who aid the unhoused as a way to help those that are evicted. Return to Table of Contents [OH] 2 suspects in 2020 Moody Manor shooting get prison time; 3rd expected to plead (Toledoblade.com, OH) - full text Toledoblade.com [2/3/2025 2:02 PM, David Patch, 404K, OH] Two members of a street gang centered at a central Toledo public housing complex were sent to prison Monday for their roles in a fatal shooting there in 2020, while a third, alleged member opted Monday afternoon to take his case to trial. Kendall Hill, 21, Mytaveon Walls, 20, and Lamont Jones, 18, had all been charged with murder in the June 24, 2020, shooting death of James Smith, Jr., 19, in a parking lot at the Moody Manor Apartments. Walls entered an Alford plea Monday morning in Lucas County Common Pleas Court to a single count of participating in a criminal gang, for which Judge Stacy Cook sentenced him to a negotiated three to 4Y2 years in prison -- toward which he received more than 20 months' credit for jail time served. 199 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000693 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0022608 Judge Cook then sentenced Hill, who had entered Alford pleas a week before to involuntary manslaughter and participating in a criminal gang, to an agreed-to seven to 101/2 years, also with credit for time already served. After indicating Monday morning he also was ready to enter a plea, Jones in the afternoon rejected a deal under which prosecutors offered him 20 years in prison for reduced charges of involuntary manslaughter and participating in a criminal gang. His trial is scheduled for Feb. 24. Mr. Smith was shot multiple times in a parking lot in the 100 block of Page Street at the Moody Manor complex during an altercation that investigators say began in front of an apartment that had been occupied by Mr. Smith's father, who had died two days before in an East Toledo shootout that killed both participants. Investigators said the younger Mr. Smith went to the apartment to gather some of his father's belongings when he was accosted by the defendants, all alleged to be members of the Body Up Bloods gang, which had a running feud with another neighborhood gang called Ro. Keondre Baker, 20, of the 100 block of 16th Street, had also been charged with murder in the case. He pleaded guilty last month to two counts of involuntary manslaughter for that shooting and a separate fatal shooting about 28 months later, along with several related charges, and was sentenced Jan. 24 to a negotiated 45-year prison term for both crimes. Speaking after both of the Monday sentencings, Rachel Richardson, an aunt to Mr. Smith, told the court her nephew was about to start training to become an electrician. She also said that "you'd probably see us more broke down than we are" had Baker's, Hill's, and Walls' cases been resolved closer to Mr. Smith's death. "I know it's hard out here for these young guys to do the right thing ... stay out of trouble and stuff," Ms. Richardson said. "...I just want these young guys to know that we hurt, too.". Baker and Hill were 16 at the time of the shooting, while Walls was 15 and Jones was 13. A fifth person seen on surveillance video from Moody Manor walking toward the crime scene was never identified. Mr. James' shooting occurred out of that camera's field of view, while another camera overlooking the crime scene did not work at the time. Maggie Koch, an assistant Lucas County prosecutor handling the case, said Walls was "lagging back" behind the other four during their approach, and thus his presence at the shooting was uncertain. But he was with the other gang members beforehand and fled the scene with them afterward and was known to have associated with them before, she said. Judge Cook told Walls that if he had "consciously hung back because you knew what was going to happen," that became his opportunity to redirect his life after what will be a fairly short prison sentence in light of 626 days' jail credit. 200 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000693 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0022609 "You have been given a gift of a lifetime now to have a lifetime," the judge said. "...Prison's not going to make you better. You have to navigate who you are going to be when you get out.". With a stronger case that Hill was physically present for Mr. Smith's shooting, prosecutors persuaded him to enter his plea to involuntary manslaughter as well as the gang charge. Judge Cook noted that Hill had no history of trouble until 2018, when his juvenile record "amped up," and asked the defendant what changed then in his life. "I got bored. Just doing stuff," he responded, having earlier told his and Mr. Smith's families he was sorry and promised to better himself. The Alford pleas mean that the defendants do not admit guilt, but are accepting a lesser charge to avoid the risk of more serious penalties should a jury convict them of their indicted charges. None of the case's known suspects were indicted until 2023 and early 2024, by which time two of those appearing in court Monday had been charged and convicted of additional crimes. Hill was convicted for two separate incidents involving illegal firearms possession and failure to comply with police in 2022 and 2023 and, after the second one violated his probation for the first, was sentenced to a total of 65 months in prison by common pleas Judge Michael Goulding. Judge Cook fashioned Hill's new sentence so that he received credit for the 625 days he served between his indictment and Monday's proceeding, but he still has consecutive time remaining from his previous convictions that leave him with more than seven years before he can be paroled. Jones, meanwhile, is in the midst of an 11-year sentence for the March 11, 2023, shooting of Anthony Mershon IV, 28, of the 2200 block of Seaman Street, at a gas station at 1410 Starr Ave. in East Toledo. Mershon survived but was paralyzed. Jones pleaded no contest to attempted murder the following October before common pleas Judge Linda Jennings. Along with alternative counts of murder, Jones is charged with felonious assault and participating in a criminal gang. All charges have attached gun specifications and all but the gang count also carry gang specifications. Judge Cook cautioned Jones that by turning down prosecutors' offer in the current case, he would face a life sentence and might not be eligible for parole for 31 years if convicted of all charges and specifications. "I can't take a plea for nothing I didn't do," Jones told the court after defense lawyer Jeffrey Crowther called the bargain "a well-negotiated plea based on the evidence I know will be in the courtroom.". Jones said several times he wanted his appointed lawyer replaced, but Judge Cook said she was "not in a position to change counsel at this time" and noted that changing lawyers would not change prosecutors' plea stance. Ms. Koch said county Prosecutor 201 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000693 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0022610 Julia Bates' office would not sweeten the offer, and formally withdrew it after Jones rejected it. Jones and Walls also had themselves been shooting victims, both in 2019. Ms. Koch said David Evans, a member of the Ro gang, was convicted for felonious assault for Walls' shooting, details of which she did not describe. Jones was shot Aug. 5, 2019, in the 700 block of Maywood Avenue and arrived at a hospital before police responding to a person-shot call reached the scene. First Published February 3, 2025, 11:00 p.m. Return to Table of Contents [MI] Evart Housing Commission secures $1.3M tax credits for housing project (Big Rapids Pioneer, MI) - full text Big Rapids Pioneer [2/3/2025 1:01 PM, Cathie Crew, 49K, MI] The Evart Housing Commission has received nearly $1.3 million in tax credit awards in support of the renovation of an existing 109 housing units and construction of 36 new housing units, a news release from Gov. Gretchen Whitmer's Office announced. The Centennial Arms renovation project is a partnership between the Evart Housing Commission and Edison Community Partners LLC. "In this project, we are doing a renovation of the 109 (public housing) units and building 36 new units," Housing Commission Director Mark Sochocki said. "That is combined in Phase 1 and Phase 2." In Phase 1, 56 current units will be renovated and 36 new units will be built, he said. In Phase 2, 53 current units will be renovated and 12 additional units will be built. Centennial Arms Phase 1 has been awarded 9% tax credits amounting to $1,277,808. Additional funding will come from a permanent loan, energy credits and a seller note. Total development cost is estimated at $18,957.210. This phase of the development will consist of eight one-bedroom units, 52 two-bedroom units and 20 three-bedroom units. Centennial Arms 2 has been awarded 9% tax credits amounting to $830,492. Additional funding will also come from a permanent loan, energy credits, seller note and a contribution from the general partner, the Evart Housing Commission. This phase of the development will consist of 53 one-bedroom units, eight two-bedroom units and four three-bedroom units. Sochocki said the 9% tax credits will be sold to private investors to generate funds for the project. "We sell them (tax credits) every year for ten years and that generates the capital to do the project," he said. "That money does not get repaid, that is part of the development subsidy. That is why we went after that and that is why it is so competitive. Sixty projects applied and 15 were funded. We received two of the 15. It is a huge accomplishment for the city." The tax credits themselves will not fully fund the project, he said, that is why the funding includes a permanent loan through a private lender and equity investor. "Once we sell the credits, there will be a gap in funding that we will service with operating capital through a lender or equity investor," Sochocki said. 202 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000693 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0022611 The housing commission will also contribute money to the project. "We loan the project money, and it gets paid back with operating capital," he said. "It is a complex process, and that is why we have partnered with Edison Community Partners LLC. They have substantial experience in this type of project." Sochocki said part of the project will include converting the public housing units to a different funding platform. "We are taking them out of the Section 9 housing platform where we received operating and capital funds grants and moving them over to the Section 8 housing platform where we will receive rental assistance for each unit," he said. "Changing the platform allows us to go out and access the private capital market. That allows us to do substantial renovations on the project as well as the new builds. If we kept them in public housing platform, we are not able to access those other funding sources. "The nice thing about this," he said, "is that we do a comprehensive renovation, that sets the existing units up for 20 years capital investment. Without doing this, we had no ability to continually put in the capital necessary to maintain the units. This is a way for us to do 20 years worth of improvements in one big shot." He said this is a "huge accomplishment" for the city of Evart. "We have had some very supportive partners in the city and the local government," Sochocki said. "There is a drastic need for additional housing. This is really a drop in the bucket for the area." According to the release, the project will create 36 new housing units, 21/2 permanent jobs and 100 temporary jobs. The news release said new investments were awarded to 15 new construction and rehabilitation projects in 10 communities across the state to build 708 affordable rental homes. The projects will create 85 permanent jobs and generate a total investment of more than $208 million, the release said. "I am committed to growing access to affordable housing so every Michigander can raise their family in a vibrant community. We need more affordable places to call home in Michigan, and MSHDA is leading the way to get it done," Whitmer said. "These latest awards in communities across our state will create good-paying jobs, grow our economy, expand housing options, and make our state a better place to live. Our housing strategy is paying off, and we'll keep working to help more families 'make it' in Michigan." Tony Lentych, deputy director and chief housing investment officer for the Michigan State Housing Development Authority, said the mission of MSHDA is grounded in the belief that every Michigander deserves a safe, affordable and quality place to call home in a community of their choice. "With 708 affordable rental homes on the horizon, these investments will not only provide much-needed housing but also create jobs and boost local economies," he said. "We're proud to work alongside developers and communities to make a lasting impact and address housing needs across the state." Other projects receiving awards include: 203 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000693 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0022612 725 Amsterdam in Detroit: Credit awarded $1,650,000; Gesu Senior Housing in Detroit: Credit awarded $1,080,000; Orchardview Apartments in Traverse City: Credit awarded $1,360,500; Villages of Parkside Phase III in Detroit: Credit awarded $1,565,500; Rivercrest Apartments in Croswell: Credit awarded $320,500; Flats on Bridge in Elk Rapids: Credit awarded $790,720; Lincoln Avenue Lofts in Port Huron: Credit awarded $1,650,000; Shea Ravines II in Wyoming: Credit awarded $1,650,000; LVD LIHTCI I in Watersmeet: Credit awarded $1,493,227; Nelson School Apartments in Muskegon: Credit awarded $1,650,000 Return to Table of Contents [WI] Superior reconsiders services to public housing under new ownership (Superior Telegram, WI) - full text Superior Telegram [2/3/2025 3:55 PM, Maria Lockwood, 67K, WI] City officials opened discussions with the Superior Housing Authority board Thursday, Jan. 30 on how two renovated properties will get their snow plowing and sewer maintenance done. The special meeting also touched on permit and building inspection fees for the sites. At question were the Bayview and Catlin Courts properties, which contain 200 of the Superior Housing Authority's 466 public housing units. In 2020, the board partnered with Bear Development, which applied for tax credits to do the $36 million renovation to 136 units at Catlin Courts and 64 units at Bayview. While the property and land are owned by the Superior Housing Authority, which continues to manage the units, the developer currently owns the buildings, according to Superior Mayor Jim Paine. "We are the managing member. So we own the land, we lease it back to them," said Pam Benson, executive director for Superior Housing Authority. Bear Development is not making lease payments. After 15 years, the amount owed for the lease will outweigh the cost of the renovation work and Superior Housing Authority will resume ownership of the property. The question is what happens until then. Any agreements the city had to provide services such as snow removal and sewer maintenance expired when the buildings were sold to a private developer, according to the mayor. "We need a new agreement that the (City) Council has to agree to," Paine said. The goal, he said, is to look out for the people who are living there and what is in their best interest. Board Chairman Bill Fennessey said the loss of an agreement with the city for snow plowing and sewer maintenance fees would result in a loss to the housing authority in 15 years when it reclaims the property from Bear. Paine said they could discuss having the city continue to provide snow removal services to the 200 units, but it would have to be at cost. He likened it to the fee the village of Superior pays the city for providing fire service, which was established in 2022. There will be no waiver of permit and inspection fees. The mayor said even other public entities like the Superior School District pay full cost for those. The city could consider waiving sewer maintenance fees, Paine suggested, if Bear Development gave the city the right to connect the Bayview and Catlin Courts properties to the city's broadband utility "whenever we are ready to do it.". The discussion is expected to continue at the 204 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000693 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0022613 Superior Housing Authority Board's regular meeting Feb. 26. Congressman Tom Tiffany reintroduces legislation to delist the gray wolf. Return to Table of Contents [WI] Dodge County Housing Authority Completes New Affordable Housing Units with State Grant (Daily Dodge, WI) - full text Daily Dodge [2/4/2025 1:10 AM, Staff, 98K, WI] The Dodge County Housing Authority (DCHA) has completed the Sunset View Duplex development in Juneau. The project was funded in part by a Neighborhood Investment Fund grant from the city. The grant is part of the governor's Neighborhood Investment Fund Program, administered by the Wisconsin Department of Administration with American Rescue Plan Act funds from the U.S. Department of the Treasury. Governor Tony Evers was at the ribbon cutting event and gave his thoughts on the project and what it means to see the grant's impact in action. "This is a great example of people working together, using money from different sources and getting the community behind it. This is really important work and the people of the county and the people of Juneau did a great job making sure it is really high quality. It connects the dots between schools and early childhood and makes sure people have affordable housing.". The Dodge County Housing Authority's Executive Director Donna Braun also spoke to the importance of grants like this to cities like Juneau. "Well it makes all the difference. Construction is expensive, property is hard to come by, and things get more and more expensive every day. Without the grant we would never have been able to develop this project.". The 30 new duplex-style units offer two-and-three-bedroom layouts with 1.5-baths, openconcept living, luxury vinyl plank flooring, granite countertops, and energy-efficient appliances. The units also feature rooftop solar panels to help reduce utility costs. Located across from Dodgeland School and within walking distance of shops and businesses, these units are available at rental rates ranging from $900 to $1,100 per month, including water and sewer. This project was made possible through collaboration with multiple partners, including the Greater Watertown Community Health Foundation, WHEDA housing tax credits, the Dodge County ARPA grant, and the Focus on Energy Solar program. DCHA invites the public to an open house from 10:00 AM to Noon on Saturday, February 8th, at 338 S. Western Ave, Units 103 and 201. Return to Table of Contents [CO] Aimee Cox named to the Colorado Springs Housing Authority's Board of Commissioners (Colorado Business Journal, CO) - full text Colorado Business Journal [2/3/2025 1:02 PM, Andrew Rogers, 2K, CO] The Colorado Springs City Council approved Mayor Yemi Mobolade's nomination of Aimee Cox to the Colorado Springs Housing Authority's Board of Commissioners. "This is part of my overall strategy to connect the dots around housing opportunity- 205 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000693 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0022614 ensuring that our efforts are aligned, our policies are cohesive, and we are taking a holistic approach to address the needs of our residents, said Mayor Yemi Mobolade. "By working together with the Housing Authority, we will create a seamless pathway for affordable housing, foster greater collaboration with community partners, and ensure that every person in Colorado Springs has access to safe, stable, and affordable housing." Cox currently serves as the City's Chief Housing and Homelessness Officer. Return to Table of Contents Community Planning and Development [TX] Fort Worth officials propose moving Southside Community Center to Hazel Harvey Peace Center (Star-Telegram, TX) - full text Star-Telegram [2/3/2025 3:39 AM, Kamal Morgan, 1090K, TX] A proposal to move the Southside Community Center to the Hazel Harvey Peace Center for Neighborhoods will be presented to the city council next week. Residents attended a "Community Conversation and Update for the Southside Community Center" event on Monday night at Van Zandt-Guinn Elementary School. The purpose was to give an another update on the National Juneteenth Museum acquiring the Southside Community Center and what will happen to the program and services housed in it. Councilman Chris Nettles, whose district includes Historic Southside, presented a plan not just for the programs and services but the entire community center. He wanted to show residents there is a plan in writing that will ensure its purpose and legacy. "It allows, number one, make sure the Southside Community Center does not lose its home, it does not lose its history, it does not lose its identity," Nettles said. "It just moves to a developed location as well it will keep neighborhood services, code compliance, within the community housed in the same location.". There are various programs and services that are housed in the Southside Community Center. These include Meals on Wheels, Best Years Club, after school programs, and special events. It also holds partner programs such as the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program and is used for voting. The programs will be housed on the first floor of the Hazel Harvey Peace Center for Neighborhoods located at 818 Missouri Ave. There will be three zones: zone one will be the community room for programs like Best Years Club, zone two will be environmental and house services like the fitness room and voting, and zone three will be Code Administration and house services like the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program. William Johnson, assistant city manager for the City of Fort Worth, said a resolution will be presented to the city council on Feb. 11 about the community center's relocation and its support of the Juneteenth museum. The resolution will include allowing the city manager to move forward with executing a lease with the museum and allow them to proceed with their fundraising efforts. The resolution will also include renaming the building as the Southside Community Center at Hazel Harvey Peace Center. All the programs and services will stay at the Southside Community Center until the museum is completed. 206 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000693 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0022615 "The one caveat is that none of these moves that we're talking about are going to be happening until they are ready to start moving toward construction, so you won't have the center sitting there empty," Johnson said. In August 2019, the city council approved a plan for the use of federal grant funds from the Department of Housing and Urban Development, which included $370,500 in Community Development Block Grant funds, for the Southside Community Center. The plan for the community center included Americans with Disabilities Act improvements, building renovations, and a senior center conversion, which would help older Fort Worth residents patronizing the center, according to the agenda item. An architectural firm conducted a 2022 report of the community center that detailed a number of challenges that would make it difficult to bring the facility up to the city's standards and level of use for its community centers. According to the council agenda on Aug. 27, the funds, which are required by HUD to be expended in a timely manner, were not being used. The city determined that renovations to the facility would not be the best use of city or grant funds. Jarred Howard, CEO of the National Juneteenth Museum, received unanimous approval by the Historic Southside Neighborhood Association during a Sept. 9 meeting to move the museum's location to where the community center stands at 959 E. Rosedale St. The museum's original location was to be on vacant land in the 900 block of East Rosedale Street, but the organization was not able to acquire the land. In a Oct. 28 community meeting it was recommended by city staff to move several Southside Community Center programs to various facilities in the community such as Hazel Harvey Peace Center, the Atatiana Carr-Jefferson Community Center at Hillside, and the Ella Mae Shamblee Library. James Walker, president of the Historic Southside Neighborhood Association, said members of the neighborhood association were given a walk through of the Hazel Harvey Peace Center last week and came away impressed. "We may not get a new museum from the ground up, but this is just as good, because it is a new building," Walker said. "It's brand new, it's still within the community, the elders don't have to leave the community in order to access the building, nor the kids.". Return to Table of Contents Ginnie Mae GAO pushes Ginne Mae to step up mortgage crisis drills (National Mortgage News) - full text National Mortgage News [2/3/2025 5:10 PM, Bonnie Sinnock, 35K] The Government Accountability Office is urging Ginnie Mae to increase its involvement in Financial Stability Oversight Council crisis-management exercises that explore outcomes when a huge nondepository mortgage servicer tanks. The role Ginnie plays is key because nonbanks service over 80% of its insured securities, GAO said, citing Inside Mortgage Finance numbers. While Ginnie does face some nonpublic data constraints, it could have participated more fully, the GAO report states. The U.S. corporation "did not identify or document lessons learned from the 207 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000693 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0022616 interagency exercise and lacks processes for doing so," the independent watchdog agency with ties to Congress said. Rectifying this would improve systemic crisis management, the GAO added. Ginnie "should develop processes for participating in interagency exercises," said Jill Naamane, director of financial markets and community investment at the GAO, in a report to House Financial Services Committee Chair French Hill, R.-Ark. Chief Risk Officer Gregory Keith, Ginnie's de facto president, said in a written response to the report that besides facing "unresolved information challenges" in the exercise, the Department of Housing and Urban Development affiliate had role constraints. While Ginnie is authorized to govern mortgage companies to the extent they participate in its programs, "there is no express authority for Ginnie Mae to operate as a regulator to regulate nonbanks," said Keith, who has been with the corporation since 2010. (Ginnie guarantees mortgage-backed securities but other entities back the collateral at the loan level.). The GAO report acknowledges this is an issue, but added that this also heightens the importance of full participation in interagency risk-management exercises. "The growing role of nonbanks in the housing finance system poses challenges to a federal oversight structure that is divided among multiple entities," the GAO said. While Ginnie's role has limits, it does exert some control of servicing assets in nonbank mortgage failures in addition to bearing some partial responsibility for backing a large securities market that currently supports the financing of many U.S. mortgages. An FSOC report last year suggested Congress should boost Ginnie's authorities to protect that market. However, the composition of Congress has changed since then, shifting to Republican control which is likely to mean it will be more deregulatory than its predecessor when it comes to oversight of private institutions. (That said, some think certain aspects of the FSOC's prior approach to nonbank risk management could persist.). Ginnie Mae most recently seized some servicing assets in Reverse Mortgage Funding's bankruptcy. HUD's former inspector general had been investigating the handling of that bankruptcy, some aspects of which Texas Capital Bank has challenged in court. (TCB alleges Ginnie promised it certain assets in return for providing financing then reneged on the deal.). The status of the HUD watchdog's investigation has been up in the air since President Trump dismissed several IGs in a move a bipartisan group of legislators has questioned. It's an open question as to whether there will be continuity in some recently implemented or greenlighted Ginnie Mae policies given the changes in Washington. These include Ginnie's risk-based capital rule for nonbanks that took effect Dec. 31 and its HMBS 2.0 initiative in the market for Home Equity Conversion Mortgage securitizations. HECMs are reverse mortgages that allow older adults to withdraw equity from their homes. Return to Table of Contents 208 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000693 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0022617 Affordable Housing [ME] Standish debates rent control ordinance (Portland Press Herald, ME) - full text Portland Press Herald [2/3/2025 6:04 PM, Rory Sweeting, 657K, ME] A potential ordinance that would cap annual rent increases at 10% of the base value was on the agenda of the Standish Town Council workshop on Tuesday, Jan. 28. The idea of a rent control ordinance was originally brought forward by a resident at an Ordinance Committee meeting in late 2024. There, the committee decided that it would be best for the council to discuss the ordinance, which was modeled after a similar one in South Portland, in the form of a workshop, where members of the community would be able to weigh in on the changes. The ordinance would apply only to landlords with more than 11 units, including owners and affiliates. Properties with fewer than 10 units, as well as short-term rentals, residential care facilities and housing overseen by government agencies, would be exempt from the ordinance. As written, this ordinance would not be enforced by the town, but rather would serve as a defense of a tenant in court should their landlord act in violation of the ordinance. Many of the residents speaking at the workshop were from the Pine Tree Estates mobile home park. One resident said that he did not see any provision that would cover people like him, who own the unit, but not the land the unit is located on. Planning Director Zach Mosher responded that the ordinance covered the mobile home park as one or more rooms, including a building, physically located in the town and used as a residence under a rental agreement. Another Pine Tree resident, who was the one who initially brought up the ordinance, noted that the initial request was to cap rent increases at 5%. She also wondered if, while keeping a hard cap of 10% for most properties, there could be an exemption for the mobile home park, noting that their current incoming rent, $890, was higher than any other mobile home park in Southern Maine. Other residents backed her up, with one saying that, though the 10% increase may not seem like a lot to the town government, it would force several people in the largely impoverished Pine Tree Estates to make tough choices. Another said that her rent had increased by 36% since she moved to Pine Tree in 2019, and if the rent continued to increase at that rate, she would be forced to choose between retirement and selling her home. Others, particularly landowners, expressed their reservations about the ordinance. A representative of the Rental Housing Association of Southern Maine, an affinity group for landlords, stated that his organization's position was that because the town didn't have data about how many rental units are in town, they lacked the data to provide the context for this ordinance. While the RHA is opposed to rent control as a policy, they did support the process of putting the ordinance up to public discussion, and encouraged Standish to count all of the units in town so they could have an idea of how much of the town's housing stock would be affected. Council member Robert Deakin asked if anyone in the RHA had thought about limiting increases to the current inflation rate or cost of living. The representative responded by noting that Portland's delayed model was based off of the cost of living increases in Boston, and that Standish's fixed number was more feasible for the town. Another 209 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000693 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0022618 landowner spoke in opposition to tying the rent increases to inflation, noting that increasing the rent at the Federal Reserve's ideal inflation rate, 2%. would mean she would be unable to maintain her property. Meanwhile, a local Certified Public Accountant said that she was opposed to rent control because she believed it would decrease supply and increase demand for rental units, and result in lower-quality housing options because landlords will compensate for reduced income with reduced repairs and maintenance. After members of the public spoke, council member Philip Pomerleau expressed his opposition to a blanket 10% cap, instead saying that the town should focus more narrowly on the plight of the Pine Tree Estates residents, whom he predicted would be paying more than $2,000 a month in 10 years should the rent increase 10% a year. Deakin said that the cap should be associated with cost of living and the consumer price index, rather than arbitrary benchmarks such as 5% or 10%, while council Chair Brandon Watson, a landlord himself, was concerned that setting a fixed number would force landlords to go up by that percent every year. The discussion ended with the council agreeing to send the issue back to the Ordinance Committee. Return to Table of Contents [NH] Kennebunk's 80-unit workforce housing project faces pushback - `A lot of issues' (Seacoast Online, NH) - full text Seacoast Online [2/3/2025 5:01 AM, Shawn P. Sullivan, 419K, NH] The Kennebunk Planning Board and members of the public got a glimpse of what a proposed new development of 80 workforce and affordable housing units could look like if voters approve a contract zone allowing its construction. Tim Spang, of Spang Builders, presented his vision for the project, which he hopes to build on Traditional Lane, just off Route 1, during the Planning Board's meeting on Jan. 27. Planning Board members expressed concerns about the proposal's aesthetics and potential impact on the environment and traffic. They also grappled with the timeline by which the applicant had initially hoped to be approved for a contract zone. Spang is seeking a contract zone to move forward with his project, as the partially wooded, essentially vacant lot he intends to build on is situated in the town's Business Park, Branch Brook Aquifer Protection, and Branch Brook Business Park Adjacent zones. Spang told the Planning Board that he and his wife, Louise, first got the idea for this project when they realized that many of their employees had a considerable commute to their jobs because they could not afford to live in Kennebunk. Spang said his proposal is intended to help people who work in Kennebunk to live in town and to provide opportunities for children who grow up in the community to live in it as adults. "Through this, I hope it can happen," Spang said. During the presentation, Civil Engineer Mike Tadema-Wielandt, of Terradyn Consultants in New Gloucester, said aspects of the proposal are in step with the town's Comprehensive Plan and with what is called for in the town's 2024 Housing Needs Plan. 210 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000693 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0022619 Tadema-Wielandt said Spang intends to designate eight units, or 10%, as affordable. Spang also intends that a majority of the units would be geared towards households with an annual income range between $75,000 and $125,000, according to town documents. The project also would include walking trails, a dog park, and outside spaces to enjoy, according to Tadema-Wielandt. "We hope to create a sense of community," he said. Planning Board member Edward Trainer called the size of the project "substantial" and said he was concerned about its potential impact on the environment. "We don't really have information on that at the present time," Trainer said. "We're going to have to look at that really carefully." Attorney Durward Parkinson, representing Spang, reminded the Planning Board that the proposal would need to go through the permitting process with the state's Department of Environmental Protection. "There's not going to be an approval of this project until they're satisfied there's not any unreasonable impact on the environment caused by this," Parkinson said. "We know that burden is on us." Board member Richard Smith emphasized the likely need for the development to have a second entrance and exit, given the traffic it could be expected to generate. Smith also said the proposed buildings were "very nice-looking" but suggested they were something you'd more expect to see in "Westbrook or Portland or Biddeford or Sanford." "I don't really see them fitting in with the architecture of Kennebunk, a little seaside community," Smith said. Parkinson noted that the times are at a "generational crossroads" and people are going to need to expand their definitions of what Kennebunk is about. He said the proposed apartment buildings, which would be just under 45 feet tall, are "extremely welldesigned" and resemble well-received developments in other communities. "It's maybe something you as a lifelong resident are not used to seeing in town, but times are changing," Parkinson told Smith. "If we're going to keep this town a place where our kids could afford an apartment, then it's going to be that type of change that is needed." Board member Janet Vance shared her concerns about the project's potential impacts on traffic safety and the environment. Vance noted that the project is proposed in an area where the speed limit on Route 1 increases by five miles per hour and suggested that turning onto and off of the property could prove difficult for residents. She also stated that the site is currently zoned in a way to ensure business growth without creating "undue traffic." Vance also expressed discomfort towards the project's proximity to the Branch Brook aquifer, which is the town's water supply. She said she does not want to see a dog park and dumpster near the water, as proposed. "There's a lot of issues with this overall concept," Vance said. Parkinson said he and his client were prepared to work with the Planning Board members on all the issues they raised. "This developer knows how to listen," he said of 211 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000693 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0022620 Spang. Initially, Parkinson said his client hoped to put his proposed contract zone before voters during the annual town meeting this June. As members of the Planning Board began to emphasize that they needed an appropriate amount of time to meet their responsibilities, however, Parkinson reported that Spang had just informed him that he would be fine with having the issue appear on the town's November ballot instead. The Planning Board is hoping to have a joint workshop for the proposal with the Kennebunk Select Board in February. A public hearing for Spang's application also needs to be scheduled. If voters approve the contract zone later this year, the project will then need to go through the town's site plan review process. Return to Table of Contents [CT] New Haven mayor talks about affordable housing, education during address (NBC Connecticut, CT) - full text NBC Connecticut [2/3/2025 10:40 PM, Jeremy Chen, 914K, CT] VIDEO. How can New Haven bring more affordable housing to the city, and what about getting kids to pay attention in the classroom? Those were some of the big topics from Monday's State of the City address. In a packed Board of Alders chamber, New Haven Mayor Justin Elicker laid out his goals for the Elm City in his State of the City address. A large portion of it was dedicated to the issue of housing. The mayor praised last year's effort where more than 1,000 new housing units were built, with more than 40% considered affordable. He's hoping to expand on that in the next 10 years. "Let's set a goal here today to build 10,000 new units of housing with at least 30% of those units affordable," he said. It's a move some community members say is needed. "A lot of people want to move here and it's a gift and a curse, but I think we're in the right path as far as getting affordable housing," Ernest Pagan, of New Haven, said. On education, the mayor emphasized expanding career pathways for students and eventually getting all public schools in the city to be cell-phone free. "We want our kids focused and learning. We don't want them distracted by their cell phones," Elicker said. That plan will begin in the spring at all elementary and middle schools and expand to include the high school in the fall. Parents seeming to be receptive to it, but also raising concerns about the impacts of technology as a whole. "The thing that we need to definitely pay attention to is just how they access information and how they use that technology," Jamilah Prince-Stewart, of New Haven, said. Elicker also acknowledged that difficult decisions may be coming depending on what the Trump administration decides to do on an array of topics, but he wanted the audience to know that the city will remain welcoming for all. The mayor also talked about a number of other topics including public safety, focusing on hiring more police officers and keeping the amount of violent crime down in the city. Return to Table of Contents 212 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000693 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0022621 [CT] Calls for more housing development, greater eviction protection (NBC Connecticut, CT) - full text NBC Connecticut [2/3/2025 4:29 PM, Matt Austin, 914K, CT] VIDEO. Housing advocates believe the state is facing an affordability crisis. On Monday, they rolled out ideas to help families with everything from renting to buying a home. Some of the ideas are short-term help while others are a little more long range. Think it might be tough to find an apartment? One big reason: check out the state's apartment vacancy rate. It was 3.5% last year, according to Consumer Affairs. That's part of why the group ranked Connecticut the worst state for renters, and some think those tenants need a little more protection. "We're seeing this trend of mass clear-outs of tenants, often by out-of-state investors who are speculating on being able to raise the rent dramatically if they can get rid of everybody who currently lives there," Luke Melonakos-Harrison, Connecticut Tenants Union, said. The Connecticut Tenants Union is in favor of expanding a law requiring landlords to have grounds for an eviction or refusing a lease renewal. People are already covered if they're 62 and over or living with a disability. Others think it's really only a few bad actors out there and that changes like this could end up hurting a lot of good housing providers. "The reality is that, you know, landlords need to be able to have that tool in their tool belt to deal with tenants that don't live up to their obligations under leases. And it's unfortunate that's in jeopardy right now," Rep. Joe Zullo (R--East Haven) said. Zullo worries landlords could end up selling to out-of-state groups and prices might only increase. Right now, the fair market rent for a two-bedroom rental is $1,796, requiring an income of $71,837. Something that's already out of range for many renters, according to folks at the National Low Income Housing Coalition. Many of us know finding a place to call your home can be a big challenge in Connecticut. There are eye-popping rents and house prices. And then there's the scramble to nab a spot amid a large shortage. "The need is exceptionally urgent. Connecticut is the most housing constrained state in the nation. We need about 130,000 units of affordable housing. People are on the street. People are being evicted," Erin Boggs, Open Communities Alliance executive director, said. The Open Communities Alliance thinks part of the solution is to create a new statewide zoning process. Think of it like a carrot and a stick to create more homes. Communities should set a goal for affordable housing, then change zoning to help make it happen and ka-ching -- they would get rewarded with state help. But those who don't could face penalties unless they have a good excuse. Before breaking ground, some say hold up. "At the end of the day, those solutions are crafted locally on a hyperlocal basis in some cases and because they're crafted locally they come up with results," Zullo said. Zullo sketched out an idea to use state funds to help drive small business development and smaller multi-family conversions. And here's a final number to leave you with. We're told 92% of the residential land in the state is zoned for single family homes, a lot of times on big lots. Zoning proposals have faced a tough battle at the Capitol. So, I asked supporters how confident they were feeling this time. I'm told they're optimistic they got it right this year after hearing concerns in previous years and making changes. 213 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000693 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0022622 Return to Table of Contents [NY] 4 Rockland County Affordable Housing Projects Get Funding (New City Patch, NY) - full text New City Patch [2/3/2025 5:32 PM, Michelle Tuccitto Sullo, 9746K, NY] Recent multi-million dollar loan awards will help fund the development of hundreds of affordable housing units in the region, county officials said Friday. Rockland County leaders announced the recipients of Housing Action Loan Opportunity (HALO) Awards, which are going toward four affordable housing projects, including three in Haverstraw and one in Clarkstown. Rockland County Executive Ed Day said the HALO program will help hardworking area residents "have access to attainable homes.". "This is a monumental step forward in our ongoing efforts to address Rockland's housing crisis," Day said. The HALO program provides direct low-interest loans to borrowers who are creating or preserving housing that is attainable to the average county resident, officials said. The program was launched with federal American Rescue Plan Act funding. Proceeds from loan repayments will go back into the program for future projects. Officials said the four projects will be designed to be consistent with the character of the neighborhoods where they are located. The four HALO loans and projects announced Friday include: $3 million to support Pennrose NY LLC's efforts to redevelop the former Haverstraw Chair Factory along the Hudson River to create 308 affordable units. $3 million to Westhab, Inc. for developing a vacant lot at 30 West St., Haverstraw, for an 81-unit affordable rental project for qualified low-income renters. $2.5 million to Sisters of Charity Housing Development Corp. to acquire and preserve an existing 90-unit affordable rental development called Haverstraw Place at 140 Route 9W for qualified low-income senior renters. $5 million to Regan Development Company's special purpose entity Nannawit Commons LLC, to support development of a new 52-unit, affordable rental project for qualified lowincome, senior renters aged 55-plus in Clarkstown. Return to Table of Contents [PA] City Council considers bills that tackle one of Philly's biggest challenges: Affordable housing (KYW Newsradio - Audacy, PA) - full text KYW Newsradio - Audacy [2/3/2025 11:47 AM, Pat Loeb, 3468K, PA] AUDIO. Philadelphia City Council will take up four bills aimed at making housing in the city more affordable. Two bills introduced by Councilmember Rue Landau would help renters by capping application fees at $20 and limiting security deposits to no more than two months of rent, which can be paid in up to four installments. "These bills are common-sense measures that will help renters without hurting landlords," Landau said. "They remove unnecessary barriers to housing and ensure that hard-working Philadelphians can access the homes they deserve.". Two other bills, introduced by Councilmember Jamie Gauthier, are aimed at increasing the supply of housing. One would require the Department of Licenses and Inspections 214 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000693 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0022623 and the Zoning Board of Adjustment to speed up approvals for affordable housing projects. Another would eliminate the approval process for homeowners who want to add bonus units to rent. This would cover only four council districts, as the six others have restricted or banned bonus units outright, citing a number of concerns. "I'm hopeful that there'll be some more openness to it this time around," she said. Gauthier believes they have benefits: "Keep families in their homes and build new affordable units all in one go.". The bills will get committee hearings before they are voted on. Return to Table of Contents [PA] Gauthier introduces bills to speed up affordable housing production (Philadelphia Sunday Sun, PA) - full text Philadelphia Sunday Sun [2/4/2025 12:02 AM, Teresa Emerson, 6K, PA] Councilmember Jamie Gauthier (D-3rd Dist.), chair of the Committee on Housing, Neighborhood Development, and the Homeless, has introduced phase two of her Defying Displacement campaign, which combats gentrification through the preservation and creation of affordable housing. Last year, Gauthier unveiled phase one of Defying Displacement, which Council enacted almost in its entirety. Thanks to Defying Displacement, more than 2,100 homeowners and counting applied for the City's new low-income tax freeze. More landlords welcome tenants using housing vouchers, and voters in the May 2025 primary will decide whether to compel the City to stop underfunding affordable housing programs. Phase two of Defying Displacement cuts red tape by: Speeding up the approval process for affordable housing developments. Making it easier for homeowners to build generational wealth and remain in their homes by turning extra space into bonus units. Speed up the approval process for affordable housing developments. "At the current pace, it will take more than 200 years to build enough affordable housing to meet Philadelphia's need," Gauthier said. "To quickly get families into safe, stable, and affordable housing, the City needs to cut red tape.". To speed up affordable housing production, Gauthier's bills: Compel the Department of Licenses and Inspection to review zoning permit applications for affordable housing projects on an expedited timeline of five business days. Compel the Department of Licenses and Inspection to review building permit applications for affordable housing projects on an expedited timeline of ten business days. L+I currently offers expedited review for some affordable housing projects within ten business days, but only when requested by a developer and "to the extent capacity permits." This bill ensures affordable housing receives priority review every time. Enable affordable housing projects that require Zoning Board of Adjustment (ZBA) approval to receive an accelerated hearing date for no additional fee. Authorize the ZBA to make affordable housing commitments by developers a mandatory condition of their approval. Expand the definition of "Affordable Housing Project" to capture all projects that receive government financing or land or are protected via deed restricted or regulatory agreement. The City will certify that projects meet this definition. 215 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000693 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0022624 By reviewing affordable housing quickly, efficiently, and predictably, the City can organically speed up development and reduce costs, ultimately leading to lower prices for prospective tenants. The variance process in particular stymies affordable housing production. It can take over nine months and cost thousands of dollars to receive a zoning variance. This disproportionately impacts affordable housing because many affordable housing developers rely on extra density to keep the price-per-unit low. The free accelerated review puts affordable housing at the front of the line and gets families into homes sooner and for a lower price. Help families build generational wealth and remain in their homes by turning extra space into bonus units. Cities across America use bonus units, sometimes called "accessory dwelling units," to bring new affordable housing online, slow gentrification, give families another way to build generational wealth, and empower homeowners to age in place. Gauthier will make it easier for homeowners to create bonus units in Council Districts that already allow them in row home zoning districts (1st, 2nd, 3rd, 7th). Other Council Districts may opt in. Bonus units would be inside existing structures and would not change the look and feel from the outside: Allow bonus units "by right" in existing single-family homes in the abovementioned Council Districts. Allow an applicant to bypass ZBA review if their proposed bonus unit does not materially change the footprint of the existing structure. Keep the existing requirement that bonus units require a deed restriction confirming that the homeowner must live in the property. Remove restrictions related to minimum and maximum unit size. Permit bonus units in attached, detached, and semi-detached housing. Homeowners want to add bonus units, but the current process is so burdensome that the City only approved an average of one bonus unit per year over the last decade. During the 2022 round of property assessments, over 107,000 property values increased by at least 50%. This sudden increase made tax bills unaffordable for many working class homeowners and fueled displacement. Bonus units push back on this trend by giving homeowners another revenue stream to afford skyrocketing property tax bills and repair costs. Seniors will benefit from bonus units the most. One in five Philadelphians is a senior citizen, and this number is expected to grow to almost one in three by 2040. Bonus units allow seniors to age in place while turning empty space into a welcoming home for families that couldn't otherwise afford to live in neighborhoods of choice. Return to Table of Contents [MD] Affordable housing program in Hagerstown gets support from Governor Moore (DC News Now, DC) - full text DC News Now [2/3/2025 5:04 PM, Steven Cohen, 293K, DC] VIDEO. Families in some Hagerstown neighborhoods are getting relief from the state of 216 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000693 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0022625 Maryland to help them buy homes. Nonprofits in the city see the program as a way to address a much broader range of challenges in the community. The lack of affordable housing is considered to be one of the community's most important needs. Governor Wes Moore has awarded $3 million to the Bester Community of Hope, a nonprofit ran by San Mar Family Services in Washington County that puts home ownership within reach for many families for whom it is not possible. "In the south end of the city we're serving families," said Keith Fanjoy, the president and CEO of San Mar. The funds from Governor Moore will allow us to go much further than we've ever gone before, addressing affordability and access and helping residents to get involved with community transformation.". Time Fisher runs the Community Action Council in Hagerstown and says grants like these in other parts of the state have had a positive impact on neighborhoods. "Housing is dignity," said Fisher. "Housing is opportunity but above all else, housing is hope.". Funding for the project is expected to double next year under a formula targeting census tracts now heavily dependent on public assistance for family nutrition and rental assistance. "Under this program," said Fanjoy, "We'll see hundreds of families plant roots in this community with home ownership, earning a living wage and having access to opportunities they have never had before.". Overall, the program is expected to reduce poverty, substance abuse and improve overall mental health metrics in the targeted neighborhoods. Return to Table of Contents [NC] Brooklyn Village developer proposes cutting number of apartments in first phase by half (WFAE 90.7, NC) - full text WFAE 90.7 [2/3/2025 5:04 PM, Steve Harrison, 118K, NC] The developer of the long-delayed Brooklyn Village project in uptown's Second Ward is proposing to reduce by half the number of apartments built in the first phase of the project, according to a proposal Mecklenburg County Commissioners are set to review this week. The Peebles Corporation had proposed the first phase of the $700 million project would have 522 apartments on two parcels, 55 of which would be affordable. The company also planned to build 22,000 square feet of retail space. That was to be built at East Brooklyn Village Avenue, near the Mecklenburg County Aquatic Center. The new proposal calls for only 250 apartments, all of which would be affordable housing, including 100 units for people earning less than 30% of the area median income. That's about $32,000 for a family of four. There would also be half as much retail. All of the new apartments would be built in partnership with Inlivian, which used to be called the Charlotte Housing Authority. In a presentation for Mecklenburg commissioners last August, Peebles said construction could begin in the spring of 2026. That would be roughly 10 years after Mecklenburg commissioners voted for that company to lead the project. Nothing has been built so far. Peebles told commissioners last year that high interest rates are one reason the project is stalled. On one hand, the new proposal that has more affordable units could be seen as a win. That could alleviate a housing crunch for the city's poorest residents. 217 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000693 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0022626 But one goal of Brooklyn Village was to provide mixed-income housing, where affluent residents lived next to people earning less than 30% of the area median income. The Brooklyn Village is one of the largest public-private partnerships the county has undertaken. It's meant to atone for the razing of the historic African American Brooklyn neighborhood. It was demolished in the 1960s as part of an "urban renewal" project, with the homes and businesses replaced mostly by government buildings. Mecklenburg County Commissioners are scheduled to get an update about the project Tuesday night. Return to Table of Contents [GA] Englewood affordable housing project developers land $28.3 million in financing (Atlanta Business Chronicle, GA) - full text Atlanta Business Chronicle [2/3/2025 3:38 PM, Janelle Ward, 5054K, GA] Another segment of a massive housing redevelopment project is one step closer to rising in southeast Atlanta. Commercial real estate firm Berkadia has secured $28.3 million in financing for the development of Englewood Multifamily, a mid-rise residential complex to be built as part of a master-planned community replacing the demolished Atlanta Housing Authority project Englewood Manor_ The project is anticipated to create hundreds of new affordable housing units as part of a public-private partnership between Atlanta Housing and metro Atlanta-based affordable housing developer The Benoit Group. The deal closed on Dec. 30, according to a news release from the firm. Englewood Multifamily will serve as the second building in the project's first phase of development. Atlanta Housing and The Benoit Group broke ground on the development's sister property, Englewood Senior, last May. Englewood Multifamily is slated to feature 200 residential units, as well as more than 21,000 square feet of commercial space, per the news release. Consisting of one-, two- and three-bedroom floor plans, 80% of these units will be reserved for families earning 60% or less of the area median income, while the remaining 20% of units will be leased at market rate. The project will rise on the grounds of the old Englewood Manor housing project in Chosewood Park, located about three miles south of Downtown. Atlanta Housing razed the 324-home development in 2009. Plans for Phase I also include a single-family home and townhome component, Atlanta Business Chronicle previously reported. Once completed, the revitalized master-planned community is expected to span 37 acres and feature approximately 900 units of single- and multifamily housing. The community would also include retail, institutional and recreational developments. "This affordable housing project will make a significant difference in the lives of our senior and legacy residents by giving them the opportunity to live in a community that will offer them best-in-class amenities and an improved quality of life," Atlanta Housing president and CEO Terri Lee said on the senior community's groundbreaking last year. Berkadia did not disclose a projected groundbreaking or completion date for Englewood Multifamily. The Chronicle could not reach a representative for the firm for comment in time for publication. Return to Table of Contents [FL] Panama City needs more affordable housing (WJHG, FL) - full text 218 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000693 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0022627 WJHG [2/3/2025 7:18 PM, Isabella Benjumea, 255K, FL] More people than we think are struggling to afford a home in our community. The ALICE report, done by the United Way of Florida, shows the number of Asset Limited Income Constrained Employed households in the state. These are people earning more than the federal poverty level, but less than the basic cost of living for their county. According to the 2022 report, out of the more than 79,044 households in Bay County, 31% of those were classified as ALICE households. Additionally, out of the 34,700 households in Panama City, 44% were at the ALICE and poverty level. "The housing costs have risen such that many people are paying half their income, just for housing," said Janice Lucas, Panama City Commissioner Ward 2. This is why the Panama City Housing Authority provides 450 affordable apartment homes for lowincome families, the elderly, and people with disabilities in six different locations throughout the city. On Monday, they opened 100 applications for a 4-bedroom housing waitlist at 8:00 a.m. It quickly filled up and closed only one hour later. Officials say this shows the need for affordable housing in our community. "A few years ago, affordable housing really just referred to those salaries at the lowest end of the economic spectrum. But now, the need is great because housing costs have gone up so much," said Commissioner Lucas. The number of people needing affordable housing is greater than the number of affordable homes in our community, mainly due to the destruction of Hurricane Michael. "Affordable housing is not being built back to the numbers that were destroyed by Hurricane Michael. It's going to take us some time to get there," said Commissioner Lucas. You can apply for affordable housing in Panama City here as soon as the next applications open. The Panama City Housing Authority will be announcing the next opening through its website. Return to Table of Contents [TN] Nashville families move to new complex for better lives (WSMV, TN) - full text wsmv [2/3/2025 8:53 PM, Marius Payton, 979K, TN] VIDEO. Nearly 170 families' lives are changing after they once called the run-down and dilapidated Berkshire Place Apartments home. Now, after years of living at Berkshire, the families will be moved into the brand-new Birchstone Village apartments built from the ground up just for them. It took a village to make this all happen and now Birchstone Village is bringing hope to families who once had none. "This was my room," said resident Daryl Alexander. "Before all of this, I didn't have a bed or nothing. I was sleeping on the ground." For years, the families lived in apartments with wall outlets covered in electrical tape, stoves with missing burners, mold and even mice. "Let's just put it this way, it was a nightmare. A horrible, horrible nightmare." Alexander said. "No apartment should have to look like this...at all...period." Residents were able to move due to a collaboration between the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Trent Development Group and First Cumberland Properties. "All of these families during Covid could have been homeless because the contract had ended," said Pastor Glenda Sutton, founder of Family Affairs Ministries. "They didn't have to do this. First Cumberland Properties didn't have to do this. Trent Development didn't have to do this." 219 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000693 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0022628 But they did. The development companies also partnered with Sutton's Family Affairs Ministries to help the families with the transition. Families like single mother LaToya Brown have been anticipating the move. Brown said she's been packed and waiting for over a year waiting to give her daughter a better state-of-the-art place to live. "The thing I'm most excited about is putting my baby girl in the bathtub. Because our tubs over there they painted them or something and they chipped and the peeled." Brown said. Life-changing is how Brown and other families described their new place, coming at a time when hope was running thin. But now with a new home, a new community, and prayer, there is hope for the future. "I believe there's an opportunity for this to not just be an apartment complex, but this name is Birchstone Village and it's gonna take a whole village to bring these families up," Sutton said. The families are moving into the new place in waves. Everyone should be moved in within the next 30 days. Longtime resident Ms. Esther Buchanon lived in Berkshire Place for 52 years. She was excited and ready to move but unfortunately passed away just last week. Ms. Esther was loved by the community and Pastor Sutton tells me her spirit is still with these families. Return to Table of Contents [AL] Senior apartment building sells for $4.75M (Birmingham Business Journal, AL) - full text Birmingham Business Journal [2/3/2025 2:41 PM, Samuel Stettheimer, 5054K, AL] A North Birmingham apartment building sold for $4.75 million. Birmingham Towers LLC bought 2712 31st Ave. N. on Jan. 14, public records show. The company is associated with Silver Tree Residential, a company based in Memphis, Tennessee, that acquires and rehabilitates affordable housing communities. The seller was Birmingham Towers Limited, associated with property management company ALCO Management, which is also based in Memphis. The land houses Birmingham Tower Apartments, a 125-unit senior apartment home with Section 8 rental assistance. Following its acquisition, Silver Tree Residential rebranded the property as Birmingham Overlook. Birmingham Overlook leases HUD-assisted apartments to qualified seniors aged 62 and older, according to ALCO Management's website. Silver Tree Residential owns senior apartments in Anniston, Auburn and Montgomery, according to its website. The ninestory building was constructed in 1981 and sits on 2.75 acres. The property was valued at just over $6.05 million for tax purposes in an assessment for 2024. The apartment building is one block away from a Family Dollar store which sold to a Georgia buyer for $1.5 million in the fall, and it is less than one mile from a medical office building which also sold for $1.5 million. North Birmingham, along with three other northwestern neighborhoods, is the target of a city program that received approximately $20 million for a program aiming to provide more than 4,500 jobs last year. Another federal grant is funding upgrades to public transportation and extensions of bus routes in North Birmingham and Pratt-Ensley. In other senior living news, a luxury 55+ community recently opened in Hoover, and the $39 million senior living facility phase of the Edgehill at Southtown redevelopment project is expected to be completed in March. Return to Table of Contents 220 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000693 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0022629 [AL] Applications opening soon for new affordable senior housing in Birmingham (WBRC, AL) - full text WBRC [2/3/2025 11:23 PM, James Giles, 425K, AL] VIDEO. Birmingham seniors looking for affordable housing will soon have a new option. The Southtown Senior Affordable Housing complex is set to open this spring, and applications will be accepted starting Thursday, Feb. 13. With a price tag of $28 million, the development aims to provide safe, comfortable, and affordable living for one of the city's most vulnerable populations. The complex will offer 143 one and two-bedroom units, and eligibility is straightforward: Larry Williams, Chief Housing Program Officer for HABD, says the demand for senior housing in Birmingham is always high, and this project is part of a broader strategy to meet that need. Williams encourages applicants to apply online for the quickest and easiest process. "Generally, a lot of people will try to come and get paper applications, but the fastest way to apply is online," said Williams. "You'll need information like your birth certificate, Social Security number, your ID. You'll need that information, so when you apply, if you have that on hand, you can upload that relatively quickly.". Paper applications are available for those who prefer them, but submitting an application online streamlines the process. For anyone needing help with the application, or to pick up a paper form, HABD staff will be available at the McCoy Building at 1301 25th Avenue North in Birmingham. Return to Table of Contents [MI] Gov. Whitmer proposes $2B for affordable housing (WILX, MI) - full text WILX [2/3/2025 6:29 PM, Eisele Hirschel, 398K, MI] VIDEO. 15,000 new housing units are needed in Ingham, Eaton and Clinton counties. Governor Gretchen Whitmer's spending plan for 2026 could help with that need. The spending plan will be released on Feb. 5, 2025, and will include a historical investment in affordable housing. The governor plans to spend over $2 billion to build affordable housing across the state. This will help build close to 11,000 new or rehabilitated units, which could benefit Michiganders needing homes. "Housing is part of your quality of life, right? Everyone deserves housing," said Roxanne Case, executive director of the Ingham County Land Bank. Case said there is a need for more affordable housing in Michigan. "There are not enough units for the number of folks in the area, unfortunately," said Case. A statement from the governor's office said the goal of the $2 billion is to help lower housing prices for families. Case said a condominium unit on N. MLK Blvd is one example of new affordable housing available for Mid-Michigandeers needing workforce housing. "We're talking about teachers, firefighters, police officers, this is workforce housing for them," said Case. A report from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development revealed that nearly 10,000 people were homeless in Michigan in 2024, showing the need for more housing units. "We can't all do this by ourselves, right, it takes a village, I say this every time, it takes a village," said Case. Rep. Joe Aragona, a Republican with the Michigan House said in a statement: "Writing a few taxpayer-funded checks won't solve the housing shortage in Michigan. To make homes more available and affordable, our state government needs to address the 221 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000693 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0022630 root cause -- the high cost of building new houses and apartments. We need to cut unnecessary red tape and fees. If we get bureaucracy out of the way and make homebuilding more affordable, homebuying and renting will be more affordable, too.". Other parts of the proposed budget include investments in affordable childcare and ways to support Michigan children and Michiganders with disabilities. WILX News 10 will have updates on the full budget proposal this Wednesday when it's announced. Return to Table of Contents [MI] Whitmer: New state fund aims to boost worker housing in Michigan (Michigan Advance, MI) - full text Michigan Advance.com [2/3/2025 1:20 PM, Izzy Ross, 158K, MI] This coverage is made possible through a partnership between IPR and Grist, a nonprofit environmental media organization. A new state matching fund aims to expand the availability of worker housing, as needs continue to outpace supply in many Michigan communities. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced the Employer-Assisted Housing Fund at the Northern Michigan Policy Conference in Acme on Friday morning. "Michigan's ratio of new housing units built to new jobs created is 1-to-14. Let that sink in for a minute," Whitmer said in a speech to conference attendees. "It's more than double the national average. In other words, we're creating jobs a lot faster than we're building housing.". Whitmer named housing efforts in places like Blair Township, Traverse City, Elk Rapids. Watersmeet and Evart as proof of growth. But she acknowledged that the Michigan Housing Development Authority still estimates the need for an additional 141,000 housing units in the state. The $10 million matching fund, administered through the housing authority and supported by this year's state budget appropriations, aims to leverage the state's job growth to boost housing, as well. "If we want people to move to communities for work, they need affordable places to call home. The Employer-Assisted Housing Fund tackles this challenge head on," she said. Housing is a top concern for businesses in the region, said Nikki Devitt, president and CEO of the Petoskey Chamber of Commerce and chair of the Northern Michigan Chamber Alliance, which hosted the conference. During a panel discussion she said she hears about those struggles through her work with the Chamber Alliance, which has 7.000 members. "The number one phone call we get, the number one crisis we hear is, 'I can't hire because I can't house. And if there was a way for me to do it better, I would,she said. The fund is meant to encourage collaboration between local governments. employers, developers and the state's housing development authority. MSHDA Director Amy Hovey said during that same panel that the fund is an example of promoting public-private partnerships -- a theme throughout the event. The fund can be used for everything from construction projects to help with down payments. "Every region is different. The needs vary. This fund is very prescriptive," she said. "We want to make it more flexible so we can make government more efficient.". The state opens applications on Feb. 24 and will review them on a first-come, first-served basis. Return to Table of Contents 222 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000693 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0022631 [MI] Whitmer announces employer-assisted housing program (Michigan Center Square, MI) - full text Michigan Center Square [2/3/2025 2:00 PM, Elyse S. Apel, 27233K, MI] Expanding affordable housing continues to be a top priority for Michigan Democrats, who are working to bolster a number of state-funding housing programs. Among those, the state recently announced it plans to spend at least $10 million to expand workforce housing. The Employer-Assisted Housing program, which is administered by the Michigan State Housing Development Authority, will partner with employers. "Employers that contribute matching funds -- whether through cash investments, land donation, a below-market interest loan, or some combination thereof -- may qualify for resources through the fund to help develop new housing options," said a press release from the state. Eligible uses for the funds will include construction projects, as well as "innovative programmatic approaches to housing opportunities such as down payment assistance.". The program was funded by this year's state budget appropriations, though a news release said that additional funding could be forthcoming via the legislature. The program does have some guidelines for employees, including that any rental housing built through the program must remain "affordable" for at least 10 years, while for-sale housing must remain "affordable" for five years. Employers invest money into a "housing equity fund," which uses that capital to make investments in housing developments. One such program is Cinnaire's Low-Income Housing Tax Credit Investments, which has raised $2.2 billion since 1986 to "support the creation or preservation of 5,870 affordable homes in Michigan." That is $374,787 per home. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has made expanding affordable housing a key part of her platform while in office. She announced this specific housing program while speaking at the Northern Michigan Policy Conference on Friday. "The Employer-Assisted Housing Fund will bring businesses, local government, developers, and MSHDA together to build housing for employees," said Whitmer. "If we want people to move to our communities for work, they need affordable places to call home nearby. I'm looking forward to seeing new partnerships built so we can work together to build a heck of a lot more housing, grow local business and our population.". Michigan has labeled Michigan's housing crisis as "acute," with the National Low Income Housing Coalition reporting that there is a 190,000 shortage of rental homes affordable and available for extremely low income renters. Return to Table of Contents [MI] Embattled apartments owe thousands in fees to township near Ypsilanti (Michigan Live, MI) - full text Michigan Live [2/3/2025 1:56 PM, Sophia Kalakailo, 7583K, MI] Income-restricted apartment communities in Superior Township owe thousands in fees, township officials said. Two affordable apartment complexes in Superior Township owe more than $100,000 combined in mostly police service fees, according to Supervisor Emily Dabish Yahkind. It comes on top of long-standing concerns around conditions for tenants and public 223 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000693 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0022632 safety at the complexes on MacArthur Boulevard. Danbury Park Manor and Sycamore Meadows Apartments are required to pay patrol fees under an agreement with the township, according to Dabish Yahkind Owned by Green National, Danbury Park Manor owes about $23,180 in patrol fees and $400 in litter fees, Supervisor Emily Dabish Yahkind said. Sycamore Meadows owned by a different company owes $85,502 in patrol fees. Township officials took a first step in tackling these issues at a Jan. 21 board meeting. Officials have been looking into ways the township can impact the quality of life for residents and hold owners accountable. A change to its tax-exemption ordinance for Danbury Park Manor would allow the township to take out a lien on the property and improvements if owners fall year behind on service fees, Dabish Yahkind said. If the complex is more than six months delinquent in paying the annual charge, the township could also sue under the proposed measures. "The crux of what we're doing is beefing up our existing Danbury ordinance," said township attorney Fred Lucas. The amendment was approved unanimously on the first reading. It must go back before the board for a second and final reading. The two apartment communities see a disproportionate amount of police calls, according to Dabish Yahkind. At least 20% of calls in the township are to the complexes on MacArthur Boulevard and there is frequent gunfire, she said. "It's unacceptable," Dabish Yahkind said. The additional enforcement measures also come amid a "lack of diligence" when it comes to owners maintaining the Danbury Park Manor and Sycamore Meadows properties, Lucas said. Black mold, sewage backups and collapsing ceiling are just a few of the complaints the supervisor has heard at recent board meetings, she said. There seems to be a poorer quality of life at Sycamore Meadows between the two complexes, Dabish Yahkind said. The township may consider another ordinance in the future giving officials more authority to inspect the facilities and ensure they are kept up to standard, Lucas said. Former Sycamore Meadows tenant T.C. Collins expressed his support for the two communities, urging the board to investigate the property manager at the Jan. 21 meeting. Management is "in it for the money," he said. "They're not in it for quality, they're not in it for life and that's what hurts me," Collins said. It was the first place Collins lived after leaving his parents' nearby home off of Harvest Lane, he said. Complications with his Section 8 housing voucher, however, meant he had to move, Collins said. He now lives in Ypsilanti Township. "A lot of times we do hear heartaches about crime, about drugs," Collins said. "That doesn't change the way I love my community The management is the problem." Return to Table of Contents [IN] Housing advocates saw promise in a new evictions bill. Now they aren't sure. (WISH-TV, Indianapolis, IN) - full text 224 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000693 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0022633 WISH-TV [2/3/2025 6:12 AM, Tyler Fenwick, 612K, IN] Housing advocates saw promise in a bill that would make it easier for renters to get some evictions sealed from their record. But they aren't nearly as excited now after legislators in the Indiana Senate made a key change to the Republican-authored bill. Some worry the legislation wouldn't make much of a difference at all. When it was first introduced, Senate Bill 142 would have required courts to automatically seal an eviction from a tenant's record as long as the tenant met the conditions outlined in law. The bill also originally would have automatically sealed all cases after seven years, although a Senate committee removed that language. Housing advocates and attorneys considered automatic sealing to be a rare win for renters in a landlord-friendly state. By the time the full Senate approved the bill, though, lawmakers shifted the burden back to the renter to file paperwork with their local court -- which is the way it already works. "That bill being watered down will do absolutely nothing," said Laurin Embry, a court navigator who helps people facing eviction in Wayne Township. Housing advocates say eviction sealing is critical because landlords won't see the cases if they search court records when screening potential tenants. Not every eviction can be sealed, though. To qualify, there can't be an existing judgment that says the renter owes the landlord money in the case. The eviction also must have been dismissed by the court, decided in the renter's favor, or overturned or vacated on appeal. And in a city where landlords filed around 2,000 evictions per month last year, the cases can pile up. Some renters, unsure of where to even start, need help navigating the eviction sealing process under the current rules. Korarita Wallace traveled 35 minutes across town on a recent Friday to Lawrence, where the nonprofit Indiana Legal Services hosted an eviction sealing clinic. There, attorneys helped people find their past evictions and determine if they might be eligible to be sealed. The attorney who helped Wallace found seven eviction cases. It appeared five were eligible, since she either never owed money in the case or had paid it off. Wallace, 45, said she was thankful for the attorneys who helped her for free -- along with other workers who filed the motions to seal electronically. But that took more than two hours. Wallace had to take time off of work just to be there. As it was originally written, Senate Bill 142 wouldn't have made this eviction sealing clinic completely unnecessary. For one thing, evictions filed before 2021 had a case number that didn't distinguish them from any other small claims cases -- a quirk that made it difficult to track evictions. Attorneys say it would be more difficult to automatically seal those cases. But standing outside a large room where dozens of other people were waiting for the same assistance she got, Wallace said an automatic sealing process would make life easier by cutting out extra steps to get something they already qualify for. "It would be a lot better," she said. 225 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000693 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0022634 The crucial change to the bill came from Sen. Aaron Freeman, R-Indianapolis. His amendment removed the requirement that courts automatically seal eligible evictions. Part of the reason, he said during a Senate session, was that he didn't want to overburden courts. But he also said he wants people who have an eviction on their record to face accountability. "I believe there's personal responsibility," Freeman told Mirror Indy, "and people should be responsible for their actions." But if any lawmakers disagreed with Freeman, it wasn't enough to change their vote. The bill passed out of the Senate by a vote of 49-0. The bill was authored by Sen. Liz Brown, R-Fort Wayne. Sen. Greg Taylor, D-Indianapolis, is a co-author. The problem, according to attorneys who work with people to get their evictions sealed, is that a lot of times those who've been evicted don't know enough about the process -- including where to find their case, how to know if it's eligible to be sealed and how to file the right paperwork with the court. And in many cases, renters and landlords settle outside of court, with the tenant agreeing to move out by a certain date or start on a payment plan. Even if the landlord dismisses the case, it still exists as an eviction filing on the tenant's record until they file the paperwork to get it sealed. "Sometimes people aren't even aware that they're being impacted by this," Jenny Terry, an attorney with Indiana Legal Services, said at the Lawrence eviction sealing clinic. Adam Mueller, executive director of Indiana Justice Project, said he runs into similar issues when helping people seal their evictions. Mueller pulls up the court records, starts going through cases. "Then," he said, "they'll find an eviction on their record that they didn't even know about." But Senate Bill 142 could still have a positive impact, Mueller said, by clarifying that a renter who pays off their money judgment is eligible to have the case sealed. As it stands now, renters who pay off their judgment need to take the extra step of also getting their eviction case dismissed in court. The change would line up with a recent report from the Indiana Justice Project and the Notre Dame Clinical Law Center, which recommended simplifying the sealing process for renters who pay off their money judgment. "That to us is a very good thing," Mueller said. The bill will next head to the House for consideration. Rep. Alex Zimmerman, R-North Vernon, is carrying the bill in the House. Rep. Cherrish Pryor, D-Indianapolis, is a cosponsor. If the House amends the bill before approving it, the bill will go to a conference committee, where representatives and senators work together to create a version of the bill that works for both chambers. Return to Table of Contents [IL] Rental housing proposed for former Haeger Potteries site in East Dundee (Chicago Daily Herald, IL) - full text 226 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000693 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0022635 Chicago Daily Herald [2/3/2025 10:07 PM, Susan Sarkauskas, 831K, IL] The former Haeger Potteries site in East Dundee could be transformed into a $76.3 million mix of townhouses and apartments, including some designated as affordable housing, under a proposal the village board discussed on Monday night. The 7 Maiden Lane Redevelopment would have 136 units, some of which would be built in a loft building and the former cooling/drying building, according to the plan submitted by Brinshore Development LLC of Evanston. But the main factory and other buildings would be torn down to make way for two apartment buildings and the townhouses. The board voted unanimously to authorize village workers to begin negotiating a redevelopment agreement. The village will consider creating a tax-increment financing district to help finance the construction. Eighty-three of the housing units would be restricted to households making no more than 60% of the area's median income. Twenty-seven would be set aside for households making no more than 30% of the area median income. The state standard of "affordability" calls, in general, for spending no more than 30% of household gross income on housing. In the case of rentals, that includes utility payments. The developer wants the village to lend it $4.5 million up front -- via a pay-as-you-go bridge loan -- to help pay for construction. The village would also sell the site to the developer for $10. The loan would be repaid from increased property taxes generated by the improvement of the site. Village administrator Erika Storlie said the aid from the village is needed because of possible costs to remediate any environmental hazards found on the site. She also expressed confidence in the ability of Brinshore to pull the project off. Brinshore has been in business for 30 years. "One of the important components of the request for proposals was we would actually get somebody (capable). Because the community has been waiting so long for somebody to revitalize the area," Storlie said. After viewing drawings of what the buildings could look like Trustee Scott Kunze said he thought they might look too modern. "To me these are so different than what is in the surrounding (residential) area," Kunze said. Trustee Sarah Brittin agreed with him. Trustee Andy Sauder questioned why it didn't show any retail uses such as shops on the first floor of buildings near the river, along the Fox River Trail. Michael Roane, senior vice president of Brinshore, said the design is preliminary and open to revision. Besides the two buildings it wants to re-use, the plan calls for keeping the Haeger water tower. He also said the company doesn't think the site could support retail uses. Storlie said the project would need to be reviewed by the village's planning, zoning and historic commission, and ultimately approved by the village board. If everything works out, Storlie estimated the project could break ground in about two years. Brinshore also proposes using $33.5 million in Low Income Housing Tax Credit financing from the state, an $8.18 million loan from Kane County, and a $13.3 million commercial loan, in part, to finance the project. Haeger Potteries opened in 1871 and supplied bricks that helped rebuild Chicago after the Great Fire. In the early 1900s, it turned to making pottery and glazed artware. The village bought the site in 2022 for $600,000. Return to Table of Contents 227 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000693 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0022636 [IL] Glen Ellyn affordable housing development to be discussed Thursday (Chicago Daily Herald, IL) - full text Chicago Daily Herald [2/3/2025 5:14 PM, Dave Oberhelman, 831K, IL] A proposal to create a 42-unit multifamily affordable housing development at a former hotel site in Glen Ellyn will be reviewed by the village plan commission on Thursday. The Taft & Exmoor Apartments, which is proposed by Full Circle Communities, will be discussed during a meeting that begins at 7 p.m. at the Galligan Board Room of the Glen Ellyn Civic Center, 535 Duane St. Full Circle Communities entered a purchase and sale agreement with Glen Ellyn in February 2024. The Chicago-based nonprofit intends to develop several parcels along Taft Avenue into one contiguous lot of .89 acres. At the hearing, it will seek a change to residential zoning from commercial, as well as several variations, including ones for building height and setbacks, the number of parking spaces, and lot area per family. Full Circle, whose plan was chosen out of seven received by the village, proposes to build up to 42 units for individuals and households earning 80% or less of the area's median income. At a March 2022 community meeting, that amount was listed as $52,200 for one person and $59,650 for two people, with maximum rents of $1,398 and $1,677 for one- and two-bedrooms, respectively. Full Circle will provide no less than 30% of the units as permanent supportive housing for persons with disabilities and provide waitlist preference to persons with disabilities for all units. The public hearing will be streamed live on the village website. For remote viewing of the meeting, visit glenellyn.org and go to the Feb. 6 calendar listing under "agendas and minutes.". Return to Table of Contents [WI] Funding for local rent assistance program running low, officials warn (WKOW TV, Madison, WI) - full text WKOW TV [2/3/2025 10:53 AM, Chad Thompson, 466K, WI] Funding for a local rent assistance program is running low, and changes to the program are imminent, government officials are warning. City of Madison and Dane County government officials are alerting residents that changes are expected later this year for the Eviction Diversion and Defense Partnership (EDDP), according to a press release. The EDDP local initiative was created at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic to help lower-income renters who faced the threat of eviction. EDDP relies upon several local organizations including the Tenant Resource Center, Community Justice Inc. , Legal Action of Wisconsin, and the UW Law School to assist renter households with rent payments, legal representation, mediation services and other housing support. It is financed with money made available by the City of Madison and Dane County from funds they received through the Federal Emergency Rental Assistance (ERA) Program, part of Congress' response to COVID-19. Since its creation, EDDP has provided almost $26 million of financial assistance to nearly 3,000 renter households, according to local officials. However, most of the ERA funds that sustained it have been used up and what remains must be spent by Sept. 30 or be returned to the federal government. 228 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000693 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0022637 As the ERA funding that supports EDDP begins to run out, local officials say they have sought other resources they can use to continue EDDP services a while longer. Dane County has identified about $1 million of remaining American Rescue Plan funds that it will offer to the Tenant Resource Center to extend services through 2026. And, the Tenant Resource Center was recently awarded a $950,000 Eviction Prevention grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) that will enable it to continue many of the services currently provided under EDDP. Yet, these two sources combined provide much less funding for EDDP services than what has been available from the ERA. Additionally, both are just one-time sources, and cannot be renewed, according to local officials. "That means while some version of EDDP will be able to continue after ERA funds run out some time this summer, it will not be able to serve as many households as in the past and it will not be able to offer the same level of benefits as the current program," a press release stated. Tenant Resource Center officials are currently determining what program changes will be necessary, given reduced funding, and will share details of the revised EDDP as soon as they are available. While non-financial support is expected to continue without interruption, officials anticipate there will be a period of time after ERA funds run out during which help with rent assistance will not be available. In the meantime, local officials said renters in eviction court or at imminent risk of eviction should continue to seek help from the Tenant Resource Center under the existing EDDP program. New requests for rent assistance must be submitted by March 31 to ensure that rent assistance checks can be disbursed this summer and that all funds are spent prior to the September 30 ERA deadline. Tenants and landlords who have applications pending with the Tenant Resource Center will receive direct notification from the agency regarding the status of those requests. Those with questions or concerns are encouraged to contact the Tenant Resource Center. Return to Table of Contents [WI] Here's why landlords are not to blame for sky high Milwaukee rents (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, WI) - full text Milwaukee Journal Sentinel [2/3/2025 6:00 AM, Scott Niederjohn, 3377K, WI] On Jan. 13, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported that the Department of Justice is suing six of the largest landlords in Milwaukee County. Their "crime?" They use software to assess market conditions and suggest market rates for their rental units. The DOJ claims this undermines tenants' bargaining power, limiting their ability to negotiate better deals. That's nonsense that completely ignores the laws of supply and demand. It's natural to look for something to blame when rents go up. In Milwaukee, we have seen the one-two punch of overall inflation and unfavorable local conditions pushing rents up. 229 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000693 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0022638 First, it was no surprise when inflation soared during the Biden administration. Relentless federal spending injected trillions of dollars into the economy, driving up everything from grocery prices to rent. There was no way Wisconsin could escape this overall effect. But second, local conditions in Milwaukee pushed rents up even more. Milwaukee has witnessed one of the most significant increases in rent prices nationwide. Some estimates indicate that rent in the metro area has risen nearly 32% from pre-pandemic levels. Milwaukee's rising rents result directly from the lack of available housing supply. When demand for housing outpaces the supply of rental units, prices naturally rise. This isn't speculation -- it's basic economics. The shortage of affordable housing in Milwaukee is the predictable outcome of government policies that have stifled new construction and discouraged investment in rental properties. These policies would make rents soar, while increases in housing supply would bring rents into line. Both effects would occur, with or without pricing software or landlord misbehavior. The software used by local landlords is not exclusive to the Badger State -- it is used nationwide. Yet, rents are decreasing in many areas of the country despite this. Renters in Austin, Texas -- where it is easier for developers to bring more units to the market -- are seeing double-digit reductions in rental prices. The same is true for renters in North Carolina and Tennessee. On the other hand, Milwaukee has notoriously strict zoning laws, making it more difficult to build more units, thus keeping prices artificially inflated. Accepting the Biden administration's theory of price setting means believing landlords are greedy in Milwaukee but generous in Austin. It also means believing they suddenly got greedier in 2022 but later moderated their greed. This "greed theory" falls way short of the predictive power of supply and demand. Pricing software doesn't "weaken tenants' bargaining power" any more than Zillow and Redfin "weaken" homebuyers' ability to negotiate home prices. These tools help landlords analyze local data, ensuring rents reflect current market conditions. The market swiftly punishes landlords that set prices above the balance of supply and demand, causing their apartments to sit vacant. Is there an inherent imbalance between tenants and landlords? Not as much as the administration says. True, moving is costly for tenants and limits their power. But landlords can't move their apartments at all. Tied to fixed assets, they are vulnerable to local housing downturns, population shifts, and the growth of remote work. In a free market, both sides manage risks, and transactions reflect both sides' interests. Thus, the real complaint against pricing software is that it shows landlords to raise prices when demand outstrips supply - just the circumstance in which prices would be rising anyway. Blaming landlords and pricing tools distracts from the real issue: a housing market impaired by insufficient supply. Federal spending has fueled inflation, while zoning laws, excessive building regulations, and a failure to streamline the permitting process have all conspired to choke housing construction. Without enough housing to meet demand, prices inevitably rise -- pricing software or not. Blaming landlords for using data is like blaming farmers for raising corn prices based on 230 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000693 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0022639 climate data in a drought. It reflects a fundamental misunderstanding -- or a deliberate misrepresentation -- of how markets work. Rather than vilifying market tools, the best way to move forward is to focus on real solutions: cutting unnecessary red tape, promoting housing development, and curbing inflation through fiscal responsibility. Then varied information sources, from algorithms to Zillow to Craiglist, will all show the benefits of abundant housing. Until then, these lawsuits remain a gimmick to deflect attention from the Biden administration's failures. The new Trump administration should reverse course. Return to Table of Contents [WI] Federal money for rent help ending as evictions rise (Wisconsin State Journal, WI) - full text Wisconsin State Journal [2/4/2025 4:00 AM, Lucas Robinson, 795K, WI] With pandemic-era rental assistance ending, local government and nonprofits are reckoning with how the end of that funding could push people out of their homes and strain area housing, food and social services. By September, all federal emergency rental assistance funds have to be spent, and Dane County plans to use an unpledged $1 million in federal stimulus to keep the program going in a limited form by 2026. Since 2021, a Madison-area Eviction Diversion and Defense Partnership comprising nonprofits and legal groups has doled out $26 million in rent assistance via the city and county to help about 3,000 households. For Dane County, the scale of the impact has been huge, because families staying in their homes means children stay enrolled at their schools and people remain in their jobs, said Hannah Renfro, executive director of the Tenant Resource Center. "All these pieces they've been able to have because of long-term housing stability," Renfro said. "A lot of folks facing an eviction filing, they have a complex set of needs. It's not just that rent was past due. There's long-term cycles of poverty and all of these things come into play.". The drying up of rental assistance comes as eviction filings are rising in Dane County. In the third quarter of 2024, the most recent data available, landlords made 702 eviction filings, according to the Tenant Resource Center. That's an 18% jump from the previous quarter and the most filed since the beginning of 2021. But rent assistance and legal help has been a key tool to intervene in those proceedings, with about 2,000 eviction filings getting dismissed thanks to the local eviction partnership since 2021, said Jim O'Keefe, the director of Madison's Community Development division. "They've had a very high success rate in terms of heading off eviction," O'Keefe said. "(Rental assistance) has been a tremendous resource that we've had access to. I would say unprecedented.". Still, in Wisconsin an eviction filing remains on someone's record for two years even if it's dismissed. A judgment of eviction remains on someone's record for 20 years. With the remaining $1 million for rental help set to come from the county, the Tenant Resource Center is still determining what criteria will be used to dole out that support. If other nonprofits can fill services gaps for some parts of the population, the criteria for the 231 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000693 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0022640 assistance could become more targeted. Another $950,000 grant the Tenant Resource Center recently received from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development will allow it to continue other services such as legal help. The cut-off of the rental assistance in September has been known since the program started and is unrelated to a short-lived moratorium on federal grants trotted out by President Donald Trump's administration last week. But those threats to federal funding do follow the end of millions of dollars in other pandemic-era federal funds that have flowed to nonprofits in the Madison area. Even though the federal spigot is drying up, the need for help in the community isn't, as the number of people experiencing homelessness and visiting food pantries in Dane County is reaching record highs. "This is going to put a huge strain on all those other services," Renfro said of the end of rental assistance. Return to Table of Contents [WI] Packers' $250K grant helps fund tiny home village for veterans in Green Bay (WeAreGreenBay.com, WI) - full text WeAreGreenBay.com [2/3/2025 5:26 PM, Michelle Wenz, 456K, WI] VIDEO. For the fifth year in a row, the Green Bay Packers are giving back to help veterans facing housing insecurity. According to a press release, the Green Bay Packers Give Back organization has given a $250,000 grant to Veterans 1st of Northeast Wisconsin. This money will help build affordable housing for local veterans who do not have homes. The release highlights over the last year, their charitable efforts have contributed more than $13 million to the community. Veterans 1st says they're creating a special village of tiny homes for veterans in Brown County. The project will include 17 one-bedroom homes, four traditional homes, and a community center where veterans can access over 20 support services. Thanks to the Packers Veterans Impact Grant, Veterans 1st of Northeast Wisconsin will be offering a safe, supportive tiny homes village for up to 25 veterans every five years for them to become self-sufficient with over 20 different health, wellness, and employment services. The release states that the tiny home village will be on the east side of Green Bay, near the Veterans Affairs Outpatient Clinic. Construction will start later this year and is expected to finish in 2027. The organization says it has raised $1.95 million and needs to collect just over $1 million more to reach its goal. To donate, visit veterans1stnew.com/donate. Return to Table of Contents [TX] 59 homes were supposed to go up in a South Dallas neighborhood. Where are they? (Dallas Morning News, TX) - full text Dallas Morning News [2/3/2025 8:00 AM, Devyani Chhetri, 3419K, TX] Hope flared in a South Dallas neighborhood five years ago when city officials invited bids to develop more than 30 vacant lots. They tapped three community developers -- all nonprofits -- to build housing in a once-blighted section of South Dallas that was referred to as the "worst neighborhood in America" in the late 1980s. Nearly 60 new homes were supposed to resuscitate Jeffries-Meyers. 232 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000693 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0022641 It has been five years since Dallas sold vacant lots in southern Dallas to a developer promising affordable housing, and few homes have been built. Delays like this make it more likely city residents will lose access to homes they can afford over the next decade. Years have passed, however, and a majority of those vacant lots are still waiting to be developed. Dallas does not have enough affordable homes to drive down costs. While the Metroplex has added nearly a million new residents in the last eight years, the city's housing supply has only grown by 5%, according to a housing needs assessment released in September last year. City officials said over 7,700 homes, most in southern and central Dallas, could lose affordability restrictions by 2033. So why has an initiative that could reduce housing pressures taken so long to come to fruition? Once part of the city's failed 2012 Olympics plans, officials sold lots in Jeffries-Meyers at a cheaper rate to infuse affordability in the housing market. But in the five years since its inception, one of the three developers, the Muse family foundation associated with philanthropist John Muse, withdrew from the project, according to a city spokesperson. Another, Texas Community Builders, is waiting for the City of Dallas to issue a revised contract to move forward, said the company's president and CEO Raquel Valdez Sanchez. The third, Scottie Smith II with the Dallas Housing Foundation, told The Dallas Morning News in December he doesn't know why the city won't provide him with a key document he needs to get private financing for part of the project. "There's other cities around the city of Dallas, secondary markets, tertiary markets, that need housing as well," Smith said. "And they really show that they need housing.". The lack of financing has him at a standstill, and at least one member of the Dallas City Council agrees the lack of communication is indicative of the city's struggles interacting with private-sector partners. "This is the type of developer that we want to see more of, and this is the type of thing that's going to hinder his ability to be successful, but also his ability to even do business with us," said deputy mayor pro tem Adam Bazaldua, who represents part of southern Dallas. The city held the developer responsible for the delay. "This developer has struggled with obtaining financing through traditional lending and submission of necessary documentation," city officials said in a statement explaining why it has not provided a letter that would put the city second in line to be reimbursed if the developer defaulted on loans. It's called a letter of subordination, and it could put the city at financial risk. "The developer also had defaults in other contracts with the city that prohibited the release of subordinations," the statement continued. But the problem might run deeper. Jeffries-Meyers is a target area in the city's housing policy for revitalization. In 1988, The News reported the prevalence of drug houses, 233 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000693 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0022642 violent crime and poorly maintained apartment complexes later demolished by the city. Absentee landlords, drug wars and neglect from city code enforcement plagued the neighborhood. By 2019, the homes and apartment complexes had been demolished, but the empty expanse became home to one of the city's biggest homeless encampments. Months after winning the bid, the three developers submitted a letter to the city outlining needed changes to make proposed developments there viable. Annie Evans, Southfair Community Development Corporation's executive director, a longtime fixture working for years to develop Jeffries-Meyers, also joined in. Homeless encampments needed to be removed. Code violations needed to be addressed. Crime and drug use needed to be rooted out. Traffic from a foundry in the neighborhood needed to be re-routed. To add to that, an early environmental study also showed groundwater contamination within the 2400 and 2500 blocks of Jeffries-Meyers. The city needed to be in the driver's seat for this project to succeed, and the letter put it bluntly: "Without the city's help in eliminating these challenges ... this neighborhood will not be developable or marketable by us or future developers," the letter said. Unlike other developments across the city, Jeffries-Meyers is unique because the project was not just a collection of one-off lots within a neighborhood. Instead, it's a large expanse of mostly vacant parcels either privately owned or sold through the city's landtransfer program, where the city sells tax-foreclosed properties for a cheaper rate than what's on the market. The neighborhood sits just south of Fair Park, nestled against a railroad yard, and borders the Martin Sprocket foundry, which makes mechanical parts like conveyor pulleys and bucket elevators. In 2021, the city began an initiative to revitalize the neighborhood. They removed the encampments and greenlit a new environmental study. Previous city documentation and environmental testing showed no linkage between the factory and health hazards. There's also concerns of contamination from a nearby DART facility as well as an old auto-repair shop on Merlin Street. The new study, expected to be released in the upcoming months, could help determine the source of the contamination and its severity. Still, heavy-load trucks barreling down Jeffries Street prompts questions of what the factory's adjacency to potential homes could mean since the adoption of ForwardDallas, a land use guide that sought to eliminate the closeness between homes and industrial businesses. The proximity to the foundry did at least impact financing for one of the developments in the neighborhood. In 2021, city officials picked a plot of land at 3015 Al Lipscomb Way to initiate mixed-use development near the MLK Jr. station as part of the 1000-housing unit challenge. "These hand-picked sites are the perfect locations for residents to be able to access our public transportation system and engage with their community," said former housing department director David Noguera in the news release announcing the challenge. Brinshore Development LLC, an Illinois-based developer partnered with Southfair and won the proposal. Public records show the housing department tried to help Brinshore 234 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000693 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0022643 get financing through low-income housing tax credits from the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs in February 2022. But the developer later withdrew from the project. Darwin Wade, assistant director of Housing and Neighborhood Revitalization, told The News Brinshore withdrew its application "due to the denial of competitive housing tax credits through Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs due to proximity to heavy industrial adjacent to a multifamily development." At this juncture, Smith is the only developer who has begun building properties, but the progress has been less than desirable, he said. In a December interview, the South Dallas developer said he completed close to eight properties. Smith, who also chairs the South Dallas/Fair Park Area Plan task force, said he wanted to invest resources in South Dallas because it reminded him of the Houston neighborhood he grew up in. The plan was to develop 16 lots and build 32 homes in the neighborhood, according to the contract signed with the city. But Smith is unable to move forward with the rest of his lots because he lacks the right paperwork to close on a loan and continue his development, he said. He needs a subordination letter from the city attorney's office. The document puts the city second in line after a lender or a bank to make claims on a loan. This type of an arrangement allows developers to give the confidence to lenders that if things were to go south, they'd still be able to recover their money, he said. "Ninety-five percent of the banks that do development loans in South Dallas will not close in the second lien position," Smith said. For the first round of financing, Smith said he got the subordination letter in six months. He's now been waiting for paperwork for more than six months to finance another property. Smith said he did not know why he wasn't able to get the letter. Instead, he showed texts to The News where he asked officials at the housing department if they knew the status of the request. Officials repeatedly said the paperwork was being processed by attorneys. "So for the first three years of the project, I was very patient," Smith said. There was the COVID-19 pandemic and turnover in the city's housing department. "Coming up on year six, I got eight properties built," he said. "I could have done 150 units in that same time." "In theory, if I had to do this all over again, I would not have accepted funds from the city to do this," Smith said. Smith's troubles exacerbated after his partner in the business, Kevin Hemphill, sued Smith for not allowing him to inspect the foundation's financial books after Hemphill heard allegations of funds being misappropriated, according to court filings. Hemphill also alleged Smith had removed him from the foundation in violation of state law. That case is pending, and Smith did not respond to follow-up questions over text and call after Dec. 17, 2024. Hemphill, too, did not respond to phone calls. Coming up with stacks of financing to buy land and develop a property is one of many hurdles small to medium-sized developers face in areas such as southern Dallas that have suffered years of disinvestment. 235 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000693 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0022644 There's costs related to construction, environmental clean-ups due to the region's heavy industrial past as well as an absence of utility lines and infrastructure that could make developing a property in North Dallas, a relatively built environment, faster. It's not that city officials do not recognize the challenges. In 2021, staff asked the City Council to consider removing a requirement mandating the city take a second lien position only if the city subsidy is lower than the loan from a financial institution. In a Sept. 16, 2021, memo to council members, Eric Anthony Johnson, former chief of economic development and neighborhood services, said removing the requirement will allow the city to provide loans to smaller-scale and non-profit developers who may not be able to get bigger loans. "The proposed changes are designed to improve the program's effectiveness and broaden the potential number of development partners that can participate in the program," Johnson said in the memo. That change was related to a project in West Dallas called the Armonia Apartments helmed by Jason Brown, president of Dallas City Homes and a current board member of Fair Park First, the nonprofit overseeing the park's management. Unlike Smith's single-family home development, Brown's housing project was for a 15unit multifamily development, with at least five affordable housing units. He, too, had a financing gap as the loan he got from a lender meant that the city's loan needed to be of a bigger amount. The council approved the change following Johnson's memo in 2021. "Early on, some of the conversations you have with the city were like -- no, that's ridiculous! We're not going to subordinate to another lender because we have the most money in," Brown said, adding that he recalled housing officials saying they've been seeing delays around the subordination letter. "So let's go ahead and get that going first," he said. Brown said he learned about the subordination letter through a cohort of minority developers. His team used a letter from another developer for reference and sent it to the lenders and attorneys in the hope that the city funding would get approved sooner than later. "We didn't hear anything about our subordination agreement process," Brown said. "We kept asking about it." That was in 2023, and he said he filed his request in the first financial quarter of the year and he wouldn't get the agreement until before Christmas. During this time, Brown also had to redo his contract to fit federal requirements. In the end, he spent nearly $30,000 in legal fees because he had an attorney on retainer longer than he expected. The time it had taken to sign his contract, which would also take months, taught Brown a lesson. "That's my number one question when I go out to talk to a lender: Have you worked with the city before?" Brown said. "Because if not, I'm not using you." Return to Table of Contents [OR) Putting together the pieces of Oregon's affordable housing puzzle - Beat Check podcast (Oregonian, OR) - full text 236 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000693 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0022645 Oregonian [2/3/2025 12:48 PM, Julia Silverman, 6226K, OR] AUDIO. It's no secret that Oregon has an affordable housing problem. Gov. Tina Kotek has set an ambitious goal of building 36,000 units of housing a year, but so far, the state is nowhere close to hitting that target. Housing and real estate reporter Jonathan Bach recently went to Bend to spotlight a small but meaningful piece of the affordable housing puzzle: Community land trusts. He dissects them on this week's episode of Beat Check with The Oregonian, and also checks in on other strategies the state is using to chip away at its housing backlog. And don't miss the end of the episode, where Bach discusses the commercial real estate projects that are set to break big in 2025, including the new James Beard Public Market in Portland. Pike Place, Portland's coming for you. Return to Table of Contents [WA] Seattle voters weigh whether and how to fund social housing (KNKX, WA) full text KNKX [2/3/2025 8:00 AM, Kirsten Kendrick, 92K, WA] AUDIO. In a special election on Feb. 11, Seattle voters will decide whether, and how, to fund a social housing initiative. The ballot has two competing propositions for where the money would come from. Josh Cohen, the city reporter for Cascade PBS, joined KNKX's Kirsten Kendrick in studio to explain what exactly is on the ballot. On what social housing is. Social housing is a mixed income, affordable housing model, publicly owned, affordable in perpetuity, and it really is for lower middle income to upper middle income folks. That's opposed to the traditional public housing model, which is for people at the very lowest end of the income spectrum. And then the nonprofit affordable housing model that provides most of our subsidized housing in Seattle, and that's for, again, lower income folks who can't find housing they can afford on the private market. Seattle voters said 'YES' to developing social housing in 2023 but didn't fund it. Right, there's no funding, so nothing's been built. At the time, the folks behind the creation of the Seattle social housing developer said they would probably come back to voters to get that funding, and here we are. Voters will decide on two options for funding social housing, both with taxes from big businesses. Prop 1A would levy a tax on employee compensation over $1 million -- that's salary, stock options, stuff like that. But to be clear, the businesses themselves would pay that tax. And it is estimated to generate about $50 million a year. Prop 1B earmarks $10 million a year from the Jumpstart payroll tax, which is another tax on big businesses in Seattle, that money would go to the social housing developer, and. . . [the] income of residents that were allowed to live there would be lower than the 1A model. (Prop 1B was brought forth by the city council and it's backed by Mayor Bruce Harrell.). On the controversy about using the Jumpstart tax funds for this. Jumpstart, a big piece of it has always gone to affordable housing -- that traditional nonprofit affordable housing 237 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000693 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0022646 model that we talked about. And affordable housing providers are really worried about, you know. having that money go to this new form of affordable housing. We're not creating new affordable housing, we're.. . just using the same money for a different model and so not moving the needle on the problem. Voters could say 'no' to both funding models. It's a two-step process for voters. They choose 'yes' or 'no' on the idea of funding social housing at all. Then they'll choose between 1A or 1B. [If neither passes] the social housing developer will still exist, but it will not have the capital funding to build anything. I think we won't see any projects from them anytime soon. But again, the advocates behind 1A have said that if they don't get funding now, they're going to come back to voters again in the future. They're pretty committed to making this model work. Find Josh Cohen's reporting on the propositions for funding social housing in front of Seattle voters at Cascade PBS. Ballots must be postmarked or returned to a ballot drop box by 8 p.m. on Feb. 11 for the special election. Return to Table of Contents [CA] San Diego affordable housing developments threatened by Trump's tariffs (10News.com, CA) - full text 10News.com [2/3/2025 8:05 PM, Perla Shaheen, 937K, CA] VIDEO. If you rip off the walls of any housing development in the United States, you'll probably find wooden planks called lumber. "There's a lot of lumber used in housing construction it's the mother's milk of construction," said Stephen Russell, President and CEO of the San Diego Housing Federation. Experts estimate around 30% of softwood lumber in the U.S. comes from Canada. It's one of three countries President Donald Trump has threatened with tariffs unless leaders put an end to illegal immigration and fentanyl. "How are these tariffs going to impact your job?". "We're all going to be impacted," Russell said. "The actual rate of production will drop. A lot of projects simply won't pencil out mathematically and may not be initiated.". Russell says a tariff on Canadian imports could increase the cost of lumber and eventually slow down new developments. He knows of more than 50 affordable housing projects in the works that could cost millions more. "Everything under construction right now we would expect will continue and be completed. But new projects won't be started and projects in the early stages will get half started and run out of money.". On Monday, Trump said he would hold off on imposing tariffs on Canada and Mexico for the next thirty days, leaving Russell and other developers walled up in uncertainty. "Any uncertainty, banks tighten up their money. Builders take fewer contracts, workers make decisions about whether or not to stay in the trades. All of these things are affected by these external conditions and you can't just turn this on and off like a light switch and go back to normal.". Russell believes this back and forth is the enemy of production. Return to Table of Contents [CA] San Diego Scraps Downtown Affordable Housing Project (GlobeSt.com) 238 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000693 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0022647 GlobeSt.com [2/3/2025 12:18 AM, Jack Rogers, 85K] San Diego's Economic Development Department has pulled out of talks with Carlsbad, CA-based Chelsea Investment Corp. to redevelop a city-owned block at Seventh Avenue and Market Street into a 100% affordable multifamily campus. Economic development director Christina Bibler notified Chelsea in a letter last month of the city's decision to terminate all negotiations with the developer on the project, which was announced last May and envisioned 402 units of low-income housing on the East Village site. Bibler characterized the decision to pull out of the project as "a mutual agreement" adding that the project as conceived would not be financially possible, the San Diego Union-Tribune reported. Return to Table of Contents [CA] San Diego just moved to preserve affordable housing. Here's what that involves. (San Diego Union Tribune, CA) San Diego Union Tribune [2/3/2025 9:51 PM, David Garrick, 2212K, CA] San Diego took a key step Monday toward preventing thousands of rent-restricted apartments from being torn down by becoming the first local city to approve a preservation law for subsidized housing. City officials said the law, which the City Council approved unanimously, will help reduce homelessness by making it less likely low-income apartment complexes will be torn down and replaced by market-rate housing. The law forces the owners of most apartment buildings with subsidized units for low-income and moderate-income residents to notify the city and housing developers if they decide to sell. Developers approved by the city will now get the right to make a first offer on a project. And if the owner chooses a different buyer, the law gives city-approved developers a chance to outbid that buyer. This is a really good pro-San Diegan policy," said Councilmember Sean Elo-Rivera. "We will have the opportunity to take moments that can be a real panic in a community and turn them into opportunities to strengthen a community." Many complexes with expiring rent restrictions have been quietly sold to developers in recent years. Those developers typically either tear the down the complex when the rent restriction expires to replace it with a market-rate complex, or remodel the units so they can charge dramatically higher rents. Local housing advocates praised the new law Monday. But some said it doesn't go far enough, and others said it won't have much impact without millions in city money to buy the complexes when they come up for sale. Without city money, developers looking to keep the homes rent-restricted will have a hard time outbidding developers planning to charge market-rate rents, the critics said. Council members agreed that a funding stream is essential. And they've previously asked Mayor Todd Gloria to include in the city budget $3 million in seed money for a subsidized housing preservation fund. But no money has even been set aside, and it seems unlikely that will change this year, with the city facing gaping deficits and hundreds of employee layoffs. Those who say the law doesn't go far enough want to see 239 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000693 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0022648 San Diego also include what's known as naturally occurring affordable housing -- apartments that aren't rent-restricted but have low rents due to their age or location. A 2020 survey by the city's Housing Commission found the city had 22,000 subsidized units with rent restrictions and another 48,000 units that have low rents and have been deemed naturally occurring affordable housing. Elo-Rivera called the new law a third pillar in the city's effort to improve affordable housing access, to go along with its eviction ordinance and its efforts to boost housing production with developer incentives and regulatory reforms. Council members said San Diego will be just be "spinning its wheels' if they spur more construction but allow existing rent-restricted units to be torn down. They stressed that preserving existing subsidized housing is cheaper than funding new subsidized units. "I think it's fair to compare the challenge we have to having a hole in San Diego's affordable housing bucket," Councilmember Kent Lee said. Councilmember Vivian Moreno, who spearheaded the new law, called it a crucial step forward. "It is absolutely imperative that we do everything within our powers to ensure the affordable homes that exist today remain affordable," she said. Moreno noted that it comes as the city is struggling to meet its state targets for construction of low-income housing. The city has approved only 4,594 of the 44,880 subsidized, low-income units required by the state through three years of a 10-year housing cycle. A key element of the law is going beyond state requirements, which require owners of rent-restricted housing to notify officials when rent restrictions are about to expire. The city law requires property owners to notify officials when they decide they want to sell, regardless of when the restrictions are due to expire. But the city law comes with some exemptions. It doesn't apply to properties with fewer than five units, and it doesn't apply to mixed complexes where fewer than 30 percent of the units are rent-restricted. City officials have been slow to follow through on a housing preservation action plan the council adopted in the fall of 2020. But the housing preservation law is perhaps the most important part of that plan. Developers and housing industry leaders praised the city for meeting with interested groups many times as the ordinance was being developed over the last two years. The law says property owners who violate the law can be sued for damages by those who would have bid on a property. Those who would have bid can also seek injunctions to block the sale and recovery of attorney fees. Return to Table of Contents [CA] San Diego moves to preserve affordable housing built with public money (NBC San Diego, CA) - full text NBC San Diego [2/3/2025 11:16 PM, Staff, 1339K, CA] VIDEO. The San Diego City Council voted Monday to adopt an ordinance intended to prevent developers from converting homes deemed as affordable to market rate or luxury housing units. The Affordable Housing Preservation Ordinance will expand state laws to preserve deed-restricted affordable housing for very-low, low- and moderate-rate housing by requiring owners to issue a notice when they intend to sell housing fitting those parameters -- regardless of any expiration date on such affordability. 240 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000693 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0022649 "This ordinance will keep San Diegans from losing the affordable homes they live in," said Councilwoman Vivian Moreno, who proposed the law. "The reality is that there are not enough affordable homes available. This will be another tool the city can use to preserve affordable houses that were built with public money.". State law requires owners of properties with less than five years before rental restrictions expire to issue notices of an intent to sell or change to market- or luxury-rate housing three years out, followed by additional notices at one year and six months. These notices are intended to let local governments or other public entities (such as the San Diego Housing Commission) make an offer on the property. However, a sale can occur at any time prior to the state requirements being triggered, such as when an owner sells prior to a five-year period described under state law, according to a city report. The ordinance passed Monday is intended to give tenants more notice and cities more time to make an offer on the property. "The preservation of existing deed-restricted affordable housing is critical for San Diego to sustain itself as a livable city," said Council President Joe LaCava. "I thank the San Diego Housing Commission for engaging with the community and collaboratively creating a mechanism that prevents housed individuals from losing their homes and maintains that truly affordable housing for the next generation.". If a property owner wants to sell within that aforementioned five-year period, the state law supersedes the ordinance passed Monday and notices must be issued as usual. "There is a hole in San Diego's affordable housing bucket. No matter how much we do, we are losing existing affordable homes faster than we can replace them with new ones," said Council President Pro Tem Kent Lee. "This new law gives the city and San Diego Housing Commission the power to work with property owners to find ways to keep units affordable, before they revert to market rate costs that many people cannot afford. "It means more money in San Diegans' pockets, less stress for families, more people with a roof over their head, and fewer people falling into homelessness.". Starting in July last year, the SDHC conducted 15 meetings with stakeholders such as the California Apartment Association and San Diego Regional Policy & Innovation Center to receive feedback on how to craft the ordinance. "Preserving existing quality affordable housing is crucial to tackling our city's housing challenges," said SDHC President and CEO Lisa Jones. "This ordinance will be a significant and important tool for the city, and we look forward to working to support the council's additional preservation efforts moving forward.". The passage of the proposed ordinance comes at an interesting time for the San Diego City Council, who just last week voted to remove a footnote from the city charter. This footnote reduced required lot sizes in the Southeastern San Diego neighborhood of Encanto from 20,000 square feet to 5,000, allowing for more housing units in the same amount of space. While seemingly a minor change, Mayor Todd Gloria saw it as a hasty backtrack against the city's recent boom in Accessory Dwelling Units. "The ADU program, recognized statewide for creating affordable housing everyday San Diegans can afford without taxpayer subsidies, has helped San Diego build more homes and provide options for families and middle-income residents," Gloria said in an email to supporters. 241 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000693 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0022650 "It was introduced transparently and has resulted in hundreds of new housing units since 2021, nearly half of which are rent-restricted affordable homes. The city attorney warned the City Council that its decision to restrict ADUs violated California's open meetings law, yet the council proceeded with the vote without public notice or proper debate.". Councilman Sean Elo-Rivera was not present for last week's impromptu vote on the footnote -- which was not on the meeting's agenda and thus will likely be returned to the council for a full discussion with public input. Return to Table of Contents [CA] San Diego moves to preserve affordable housing with new ordinance (KFMBTV, CA) - full text KFMB-TV [2/3/2025 9:20 PM, Jenny Day, 863K, CA] VIDEO. The San Diego City Council voted unanimously Monday to approve the affordable housing preservation ordinance. It aims to ensure people of all incomes can afford to live here - by keeping affordable housing units, affordable. "Building isn't enough, if we don't preserve, we lose ground," San Diego Housing Commission President & CEO Lisa Jones said. For any new construction or existing buildings that are designated affordable housing units, there's wording in the deed, saying it has to remain affordable housing for a specified amount of time - whatever the City and developer agreed to. This ordinance now aims to extend that agreement and preserve affordable housing even if the property is sold. There are approximately 26,000 affordable housing units in the San Diego that fall between very low to moderate income - meaning tenants make anywhere from 30-80 percent below the area median income. The San Diego Housing Commission says prior to this passing, San Diego was on track to lose 200 homes that fall within those guidelines a year. "Many are left with nowhere to go and are forced into homelessness or are forced to move out of the city," Council Member Vivian Moreno said. The ordinance now requires owners of affordable housing units to give three months notice to government and affordable housing entities if they have plans to sell. Before, there was no time frame, allowing buyers to swoop in and raise rents. "In 2003, two out of three rentals were affordable, now only 25% is affordable housing," Council President Pro Tern Kent Lee said. City leaders say San Diego is losing affordable homes at a faster rate than building them. "The construction of housing is not keeping up with the need, lack of affordable housing is on display every single day," Moreno added. The ordinance also gives priority to buyers with affordable housing intentions. They have the option to match or out-bid another buyer, so that the building at least has the opportunity to stay affordable. "It will prevent deed restricted affordable homes from being re-developed into market rate or luxury homes," Moreno said. City leaders say the cost of housing presents a financial challenge for too many families, and this will keep people in areas they may otherwise be priced out of. There were no speakers at the meeting who opposed the ordinance. Return to Table of Contents 242 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000693 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0022651 [CA] City council passes ordinance to preserve affordable housing in San Diego (FOX5 San Diego, CA) - full text FOX5 San Diego [2/3/2025 9:26 PM, Juliette Vara, 1514K, CA] VIDEO. San Diego City Council on Monday voted to pass the Affordable Housing Preservation Ordinance which city leaders say will help preserve thousands of properties currently cited as affordable housing. "The most tragic example of what happens when housing becomes unaffordable is what we see on our streets, people who are living without a home," Councilmember Sean Elo-Rivera said. "If we don't preserve what we have, we will lose ground and that means people lose homes, they lose community," said Lisa Jones with the San Diego Housing Commission. The ordinance says should a current owner of an existing assisted housing property decide to sell, they must provide a notice of their intent to sell to affordable housing entities, nonprofits and the government three months before selling with a real estate agent. The ordinance ensures property owners are giving those entiries first of first offer and refusal before proceeding to selling to others. "We are just saying, `Hey you used taxpayer money to purchase this and to develop it. A lot of developers used it for gap funding to cobble the money together and to make it pencil out. You've been restricted for 55 years and we want to continue that restriction because of the funding utilized," Councilmember Vivian Moreno said. City council voted 9-0 to pass the ordinance saying if they didn't the city could stand to close 590 affordable housing units within the next three years. Return to Table of Contents [CA] IB City Council Passes Ordinance To Protect Renters, But It's Too Late For Some (Imperial Beach News, CA) lmperialBeachNewsca.com [2/3/2025 4:55 PM, Alessandra Selgi-Harrigan, 4K, CA] An urgency ordinance and a regular ordinance were proposed at the last Council meeting on January 15 for rent protection. While the urgency ordinance failed to pass because it required four votes, the regular ordinance, effective March 22, passed with three votes. A second vote will take place at the February 19 Council meeting. Since last spring, tenants of two apartment buildings recently purchased by a new owner and will undergo renovations have pleaded with the Council for help against possible evictions and other tenant-related issues. On December 4, 2024, Mayor Paloma Aguirre and Councilmember Jack Fisher formed an Ad Hoc committee, and two public meetings were held on December 15 and 21, 2024. Based on what was heard at those meetings, an urgency and regular ordinance were proposed. Currently, California has the Tenant Protection Act (TPA) of 2019. TPA requires that tenancy can only be terminated for just cause, which includes at-fault just cause and no-fault just cause. At-fault reasons include nonpayment of rent, refusal to allow lawful entry. nuisance, waste, or use of the unit for unlawful usage, and criminal activity on the premises. No-fault reasons include owner move-in, intent to demolish or substantially remodel the unit, and withdrawal of the unit from the rental market. Owner move-in not only refers to 243 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000693 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0022652 the owner but also the owner's spouse, domestic partner, grandchild, parent, or grandparent. A substantial remodel, as it has been cited as the reason for the evictions, is a remodel that requires a permit. Examples are remodels of structural, electrical, or mechanical systems or abatement of dangerous materials, including lead-based paint, mold, or asbestos, that cannot be accomplished with the tenant on the premises and requires the tenants to vacate for 30 days. Cosmetic improvements like flooring, decorating, and minor repairs or other work that can be performed while the tenant is living on the premises do not qualify as substantial remodeling. Eviction notices must include a description of the work to be done. Copies of the required permits and notice that if the substantial remodel is not commenced or completed, the tenant must be given the opportunity to re-rent the unit at the same rent and lease terms as when the tenant left. On the matter of relocation assistance, TPA requires reason-specific termination notices and relocation assistance (one month of rent provided within 15 calendar days or waive rent for the final month). TPA caps rent increases for most residential tenants in California. Landlords cannot raise rent by more than 10% or 5% plus the percentage change in the cost of living, whichever is lower, over a 12-month period. Exemptions include single-family homes not owned or controlled by a corporation or real estate investment trust, units covered by local rent control ordinance that is more protective of the TPA, mobile homes unless the mobile home is owned and offered for rent by the owner or manager of mobile home park, duplexes where the owner is living in one of the units at the time the tenant moves into the other unit, but as long as the owner continues to live there, and dorms. Retaliation TPA provides protection from retaliation for tenants who exercised a legal right against a landlord. The cities of Chula Vista and San Diego have tenant protection ordinances that provide more protection than state law. The city of Los Angeles has a local just cause ordinance. The cities of Maywood, Alhambra, South Pasadena, and Claremont have adopted short-term moratoriums. The city of South Pasadena has removed substantial remodeling as an allowable reason for a no-fault eviction from its regulations. Based on the AdHoc Committee recommendations, an ordinance was drafted with the following: Modify examples of cosmetic improvements to include flooring replacement, cabinet replacement, counter replacement, and removal of interior wall coverings solely for insulation installation. No-fault evictions for substantial remodel or demolition in "residential rental complex" (15 more units). Two months of relocation payments (one month market rate and one month of current rate). One additional month relocation payment for disabled and elderly tenants. Full deposit return unless otherwise provided by state law. The ordinance is geared to 15-plus units to balance the interest of addressing the impacts of mass evictions from larger complexes while responding to public input regarding impacts on smaller 244 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000693 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0022653 landlords. Owners shall provide notice of the termination of residential tenancies covered by the ordinance to the city. Owners would be required to acknowledge that they will abide by the ordinance when obtaining a business license. Owners would be required to provide a copy of the ordinance to tenants. Consider providing direction to create potential owner incentives that the city could provide to owners who have substantially remodeled residential units in residential rental complexes. Modification from the original draft: The original draft recommended a noticing requirement of 90 days (120 days for the elderly or disabled) but was modified to reference state law. Aguirre said that after hearing comments at the outreach meetings, "I feel confident we reached a happy medium by listening to all the input.". After public comments were heard from tenants, landlords, and organizations like ACCE, Legal Aids Society of San Diego, and California Rental Association, it was clear many were not happy with the ordinance. Some wanted to strengthen the ordinance for tenants facing evictions right now; landlords were against 15-unit determination because those are mom-and-pop businesses. Tenants of the two apartment buildings who were affected by the eviction notices said they could not find a place to live at the same price and could be living in their cars soon. Anna Valladolid, a tenant who lives at Swells Apartments, is a struggling single parent. She received a 60-day eviction notice, and she has until March 1 to look for a new place, but she cannot afford one. Tenants of Hawaiian Gardens have until January 31 to leave their homes. Another speaker asked for the ordinance to be retroactive so the tenants could stay in their homes. Councilmember Matthew Leyba-Gonzalez said that while the Swells and Hawaiian Gardens are not in his district, there are other complexes that could be in that situation. "It's my responsibility to do what I can to support each one of you," he said. Councilmember Mitch McKay was against creating an ordinance because the state is already handling the issue. "I feel this is a complex legal issue with many perceived inequities on both sides... a balanced legislative pathway already exists... through Sacramento... not this City Council," he read from a statement. Councilmember Carol Seabury pointed out that Hawaiian Gardens is a 51-year-old building, and there is probably a lot of work to do with possible asbestos and mold. She agreed with McKay that Imperial Beach should follow the state legislation on this issue. "We don't have a lot of money and can't afford to be sued by companies who are following the law," she said. Fisher said he and Aguirre "have come up with something we created as a balance, not favor one side... these are hard decisions," he said. Aguirre said, "It's disappointing that there is no more discussion. We are within our legal ability, within the state law, to create something more and can sustain judicial scrutiny.". She addressed the residents, "I'm sorry we couldn't help you; we went as far as we could, we are proud of the work we did, we tried to be as balanced as possible, and went 245 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000693 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0022654 as far as we could," she said. Fisher suggested an amendment to the ordinance for data collection -- not only for "nofault eviction" but also "at-fault just cause eviction, and also add an additional month of relocation at market rate for the elderly and disabled.". A vote passed with three yes votes and two no votes by McKay and Seabury. Return to Table of Contents [CA] Affordable housing project for teachers faces appeal (Almanac Online, CA) full text Almanac Online [2/3/2025 8:06 PM, Eleanor Raab, 92K, CA] A neighbor of the Flood School teacher housing development has submitted an appeal, asking the Menlo Park City Council to revisit the Planning Commission's entitlement of the project. The appeal was submitted by Skip Hilton, a resident of the Suburban Park neighborhood where the project is located. Hilton's appeal of the project argues that there are "significant deficiencies and inaccuracies" in the traffic studies commissioned by the developer and the city, and that the Planning Commission did not have "the full picture" when it approved the project. The Planning Commission voted 5-1 on Jan. 13, with Commissioner Katie Ferrick dissenting, to approve use and architectural-control permits, as well as a below-marketrate housing agreement, for developer Alliant Communities to construct three multifamily buildings at the site of the former James Flood Magnet School. A total of 88 units are planned for the site, and all but the building manager's unit would be offered at belowmarket rates and targeted specifically at educators. The site is owned by the Ravenswood City School District, and has sat empty since the school closed in 2011. Hilton's appeal is only for the commission's determination on the use permit, not the below-market-rate housing agreement or architectural-control permit. Hilton also told The Almanac that this appeal is not linked to the recent recall that was initiated against Mayor Drew Combs over the same project. In his appeal of the project, Hilton wrote that he is not opposed to building low-income housing for teachers and other city residents at the site, and that he is not trying to stop the project from moving forward. He is appealing this specific plan because it is "lacking key elements that would dramatically improve the project for residents." He says it is inconsistent with several elements of the city's general plan and he believes that there are inaccuracies in the traffic and environmental assessments of the project. "This is an opportunity to advance the city's general plan in harmony: housing, environmental justice, and circulation elements, and to approve this project after amendment to ensure it progresses the city's goals and policies," wrote Hilton. He specifically cites the transportation impact analysis of the project conducted by city consultants, and says that the study did not include analysis of the traffic patterns at the intersection of Bay Road and Ringwood Avenue. During the Jan. 13 Planning Commission meeting, Menlo Park Senior Planner Chris Turner said that the intersections that were analyzed in the city's transportation study were selected and vetted by the city's Transportation Division. "The missing intersection 246 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000693 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0022655 is a major artery for all southbound/eastbound traffic on Bay Road, the main access point to downtown Menlo Park for area residents, and a safe route to school for Laurel Lower School, Menlo-Atherton High School, Encinal Elementary and Hiliview Middle School," wrote Hilton. He calls the omission of this intersection "gross negligence, a glaring oversight, or both.". At the Jan. 13 meeting, Ferrick, who ultimately voted against the project, said that it was "unfortunate" that the intersection was not included in the transportation impact analysis of the project, as it is a very highly used intersection that often backs up with traffic. Hilton said he is also concerned that the Bay Road and Ringwood Avenue intersection will become even more congested, as Atherton recently approved new multifamily zoning overlays for four properties bordering the intersection as part of its housing element update process. According to the city's environmental justice element, Suburban Park/Lorelei Manor/Flood Triangle are the neighborhoods with the highest traffic burden in the city, and Hilton says he is not in favor of increasing that burden. Hilton recommends that the council consider adding a second public access point to the property, located at the end of Van Buren Road -- a feature which Suburban Park residents have been fighting for since the project's inception. A second full access would allow residents to drive to the development through the Flood Triangle neighborhood in addition to Suburban Park. However, the city would have to make use of a Caltrans right of way to build a full second access. "A second access would absolutely help with congestion management, particularly at Bay Road and Ringwood Avenue," he wrote. He also said that a second access point would allow the teachers living at the Flood School site to access the pedestrian bridge over Interstate Highway 1O1 more easily. The developer has already agreed to place a second emergency access point on the property, but some neighbors of the project see this as not enough to ensure the flow of traffic and fire safety. Currently, the emergency access point backs up to private property owned by LifeMoves, Inc., and was established by mutual agreement between Alliant Communities and LiveMoves - it is not a public right of way and cannot be used as a road. At the meeting, Lance Crannell, principal for Brentwood-based SDG Architects, Inc., said that the developer is open to continuing to try to create a second public access point, but that their immediate goal is getting the project financed and built. He said that Caltrans, who owns the right of way between the Flood School property and Highway 101, has not been responsive to their inquiries, and that requiring Alliant Communities to develop agreements with Caltrans for a full second access point could jeopardize the project's funding timeline and overall feasibility. "It's not something we want to give up," said Crannell. "But on the other hand, we have a schedule that we would love to keep meeting so that we can provide this affordable housing to your city.". In his appeal, Hilton also asks the city and Alliant Communities to develop an agreement with San Mateo County Parks to provide access directly to the park from the development so that residents can use the park to shorten their cycling and walking commutes. This teacher housing project has previously found itself at the center of controversy. It sparked the citizen-sponsored Measure V in 2022, which would have restricted the Menlo Park City Council's ability to rezone single-family lots to higher density without 247 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000693 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0022656 putting the rezoning to a citywide vote. According to the city's municipal code, the council must take action on the appeal within 75 days of it being filed. As the appeal was filed on Jan. 28, the council must address it before April 13. Return to Table of Contents [CA] New Affordable Housing Development Survives L.A. Fires (Affordable Housing Finance) - full text Affordable Housing Finance [2/3/2025 12:56 PM, Donna Kimura] A newly built affordable housing community is still standing after the devastating Eaton fire that swept through Altadena, California. While neighboring buildings were lost, the Mirador development and its senior residents are safe after the blaze--one of several that ravaged the Los Angeles area in January. The property team worked tirelessly through the night and early morning in early January to evacuate people from the four-story building. When the power went out, the elevator could no longer be used, so many of the older residents required assistance. The team checked each unit to ensure that everyone was safely out of the building, according to Jimmy Silverwood, president of Affirmed Housing, the property developer. He credits employees at CONAM Management Corp., Union Station Homeless Services, and Affirmed Housing for their efforts. After making sure the residents and staff were safe, the team waited for updates on the building. It was heartbreaking to think that the seniors, some who had previously been unhoused, could possibly lose their new homes along with everything they owned, Silverwood says. Completed just a few months ago, Mirador sits just on the edge of blocks of buildings that burned to the ground. Fortunately, the new development was spared. A local seniors center that's been an important resource for residents was among the buildings lost. -So much passion goes into each of these properties," says Silverwood, noting how architects have been sharing their sorrow at seeing their buildings destroyed. "You have this connection to these developments and projects." Affirmed Housing has voiced its commitment to support the community as it heals and rebuilds. The Eaton fire killed 17 and destroyed nearly 9,500 structures. The Palisades fire killed 12 and destroyed nearly 7,000 structures. The Department of Housing and Urban Development, under the Biden administration, implemented federal disaster assistance for areas affected by the wildfires, including providing a 90-day moratorium on foreclosures of mortgages insured by the Federal Housing Administration and a 90-day extension for Home Equity Conversion Mortgages. HUD is also providing flexibility to recipients of several community programs, including the Community Development Block Grant program, HOME, Continuum of Care, and the Housing Trust Fund. California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed legislation providing more than $2.5 billion in disaster relief. The state Department of Housing and Community Development will allocate $4 million to impacted local governments to provide additional planning review 248 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000693 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0022657 and building inspection resources to expedite rebuilding. Both the California Tax Credit Allocation Committee (CTCAC) and the California Debt Limit Allocation Committee (CDLAC) announced that affordable housing developments in the affected areas could request certain deadline relief. For example, CDLAC projects may request an extension to the bond allocation issuance deadline. CTCAC developments can also seek certain deadline extensions. Return to Table of Contents [HI] Community weighs in on future plans for Aloha Stadium with questions about affordable housing (Hawaii News Now, HI) - full text Hawaii News Now [2/4/2025 3:49 AM, Eddie Dowd, 726K, HI] Five years after Aloha Stadium shut down, demolition is set to begin in June and then a new community will start taking shape. On Monday, neighbors got to engage with the developers for the first time. Leaders with the development group 'Aloha Halawa District Partners' showed off their vision for the future stadium grounds in a room inside the old stadium. The $450 million project will include a 25,000 seat stadium, surrounded by neighborhoods with a school, and a grocery store along with an entertainment venue, a transit plaza for the rail line, futuristic parks and a cultural center. "I am absolutely delighted and thrilled about what I'm hearing," said one resident. "When I was growing up, the center of town was Fort Street and what it feels like now is that it's going to finally move in our community." Developer Stanford Carr told HNN up to 50 percent of the 4-thousand planned housing units could qualify as "affordable" for those earning less than the area's median income. "The question is, affordable for who? That's my question. Right now people on our island we got to move because of projects like this," said one concerned resident. Developers addressed those concerns in a statement that read: For a community to succeed across multiple generations, a variety of housing options must be made available. The need for affordable homes in Hawai'i has never been greater, and AHDP's master planners and architects have been developing affordable communities responsibly for decades. In addition to homes for residents earning below the area median income (AMI), the NASED development will offer a wide range of housing options, from low-income to workforce to market rate with options to lease, rent to own or purchase. As each phase is developed, a proportion of new housing will be developed dedicated to affordable housing. This will ensure the neighborhoods are integrated and diverse rather than concentrating development by specific market typologies. By catering to a diverse income mix, the community is better positioned to rise together and benefit from an environment that improves the health of the neighborhood. Another topic of discussion was the future of the Swap Meet. Once demolition begins this summer, all 300 plus vendors will be moved to the upper Halawa Parking lot likely for years. While the swamp meet will continue during all phases of construction, it's still being figured out just have many spots will be available to vendors once the project is 249 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000693 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0022658 finished. Meanwhile, more community meetings will be coming as the build out is expected to take nearly 20 years. "It is a chance for the community to be heard and to listen really collaborate," said Chris Kinimaka with the state's DAGS office. "We encourage everybody to come out to all the community meetings. If you don't say anything now you don't get to complain." Return to Table of Contents [HI] Major changes ahead for Maui tenants, landlords as eviction moratorium ends (Hawaii News Now, HI) - full text Hawaii News Now [2/4/2025 12:33 AM, Chelsea Davis, 726K, HI] VIDEO. Significant changes are coming to countless Maui tenants and landlords. The island's eviction moratorium is expiring on Tuesday. That means landlords will be able to start the process of kicking out tenants who have not been paying their rent. After the 2023 fires, Gov. Josh Green issued an Emergency Proclamation which included an eviction moratorium, preventing landlords from evicting tenants. It was an effort to help Maui residents after the disaster. It has been almost 18 months since that has been in place and the governor's team says it is time for it to be lifted. "There's always this kind of time of when do you lift it? When does it start impacting landlords' ability to pay their own mortgages if they have tenants who aren't paying rent? And when does that scale tip?" said Tia Hartsock, Hawaii's Office of Wellness and Resilience Director. "This is the longest we could push it back.". Some landlords can start the process of eviction as early as Wednesday, Feb. 5. "People are scared. They don't understand what's happening," Leslee Matthews told councilmembers on Monday. But the change comes with some rules. To evict tenants, landlords will have to follow the Act 202 process that requires them to notify Maui Mediation Services. "We are preparing for a flood," said Maui Mediation Services Executive Director Bevanne Bowers. Mediation is not required unless the tenant requests it and schedules it within 15 days after receiving their landlord's notice. "The tenant right now can contact us before that February 5th date because we want to bring landlords and tenants together to see if they can work out their own solutions regarding unpaid rent amounts," Bowers said. Rent increases are still illegal. If anyone knows of landlords increasing rent or trying to evict without engaging in the Act 202 process, email HawaiiAG@Hawaii.gov. "It's really important for people to understand that eviction only happens when a judge says that you are evicted, give you a piece of paper. It's called a writ and that is the moment that eviction actually happens. But there's a whole process that could happen before that, and that's what Act 202 is encouraging, landlords and tenants to participate in is a mediation process before even the court process." said Uilani Goods, managing attorney for Legal Aid Society of Hawaii Maui Nui Offices. Return to Table of Contents Headlines The Washington Post 250 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000693 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0022659 (2/4/2025 6:00 AM) Jailed for jokes in the age of the gun Trump agrees to pause tariffs on Mexico, Canada Work is halted at CFPB on acting head's orders Musk does 'dirty work' to enact Trump agenda Trump preps order to dismantle Education Dept. Prosecutor issues legal threat over 'DOGE' The New York Times (2/4/2025 6:00 AM) Mexico and Canada Reach Last-Minute Deal With Trump to Avert Trade War Trump Wields U.S. Power With Unclear Economic Consequences One Response to Trump's Tariffs: Trade That Excludes the U.S. Guantanamo Bay Prepares for President Trump's Migrant Surge C.D.C. Site Restores Some Purged Files After 'Gender Ideology' Ban Outcry The Wall Street Journal (2/4/2025 6:00 AM) Marco Rubio Wants USAID to Undergo Overhaul, Backs Off Sudden Shutdown Inside the Chaotic Run-Up to Trump's Tariff U-Turn Trump Tariffs Caused a Market Meltdown, but Investors Shook It Off This Family Found Out What It's Like to Eat at Applebee's 52 Times in a Year Everyone's Rattled by the Rise of DeepSeek--Except Nvidia, Which Enabled It ABC News (2/4/2025 6:00 AM) Uganda begins Ebola vaccine trial after new outbreak kills a nurse and infects 2 other people Japanese man who threw pipe bomb at ex-PM Kishida tells court he didn't intend to kil Russian attacks near Ukrainian nuclear infrastructure heighten scrutiny of Kyiv's preparedness CBS News (2/4/2025 6:00 AM) China announces counter tariffs on numerous U.S. products Trump and Netanyahu to hold joint news conference at White House Senate confirms fossil fuel CEO Chris Wright as energy secretary CNN (2/4/2025 6:00 AM) El Salvador offers to house violent US criminals and deportees of any nationality in unprecedented deal Founder of pro-Russian paramilitary group dies in explosion in Moscow Frontrunner for German Chancellor vows stricter immigration policies -- but says he won't work with the far-right Fox News (2/4/2025 6:00 AM) Mexican cartel chiefs order members to target US Border Patrol with drones, explosives Trump issues threat to African nation as country's president hits back Rubio says `no choice' but to bring USAID 'under control' after agency takeover: `rank insubordination' NBC News 251 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000693 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0022660 (2/4/2025 6:00 AM) China hits back at 10% U.S. tariff with its own levies on U.S. products Jan. 6 conspiracy theory promoter named to a top State Department job Venezuelans in U.S. call Trump's move to end deportation protections a 'betrayal' Washington Schedule President The White House (2/4/2025 6:00 AM) 2:00 PM The President signs Executive Orders 4:00 PM The President greets the Prime Minister of the State of Israel 4:05 PM The President hosts a bilateral meeting with the Prime Minister of the State of Israel 4:20 PM The President participates in an expanded bilateral meeting with the Prime Minister of the State of Israel 5:10 PM The President holds a press conference with the Prime Minister of the State of Israel 5:40 PM The President has dinner with the Prime Minister of the State of Israel Vice President The White House (2/4/2025 6:00 AM) See source link. Schedule not yet available. Senate Senate (2/4/2025 6:00 AM) 11:00 a.m.: Convene and proceed to executive session to resume consideration of the nomination of Pamela Bondi, of Florida, to be Attorney General. 10:00 AM - SD-215 Finance Business meeting to consider the nomination of Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., of California, to be Secretary of Health and Human Services. 10:30 AM - SD-226 Judiciary Hearings to examine the poisoning of America, focusing on fentanyl, its analogues, and the need for permanent class scheduling. 2:00 PM - S-216 Intelligence Closed business meeting to consider pending intelligence matters. 2:30 PM - SH-219 Intelligence To receive a closed briefing on certain intelligence matters. House of Representatives House of Representatives (2/4/2025 6:00 AM) 4:00 PM I H-313 CAPITOL 252 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000693 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0022661 Business Meeting: H.R. 27 - Halt All Lethal Trafficking of Fentanyl Act Host: Committee on Rules {End of Report} 253 OMBA401FY25609ALitigation_000000693 Sierra Club v. OMB, Case No. 25-cv- 05732-LJC OMB 2025-825 SC_EVERSPLIT0022662