March 25, 2015

Beyond Bricks and Sticks





A weekly digest of current trends in housing and community development. The discussion examines topics from infrastructure to community fabric.


Understanding Housing Needs

(RECAP: This website — provided by Housing Virginia and their SOURCEBOOK — is a comprehensive resource that includes the most current available information on housing affordability. The measures highlighted provide a benchmark of general affordability over time and illustrate the complexities of affordability.)
http://housingvirginia.org/sourcebook.aspx

When the Path to Homeownership Runs Through Public Housing

(RECAP: A federal government program is trying to turn our nation of low-income renters into future homeowners by helping them build up savings accounts.)
http://www.citylab.com/housing/2015/03/when-the-path-to-homeownership-runs-through-public-housing/386785/

The Secrets of Successful Communities – Part 5: Cooperate With Neighbors for Mutual Benefit

(RECAP: Successful communities know that today’s world requires cooperation for mutual benefit. They also understand that very few small towns have the resources, by themselves, to attract tourists or to compete with larger communities.)
http://plannersweb.com/2013/07/the-secrets-of-successful-communities-part-5-cooperate-with-neighbors-for-mutual-benefit/

Photos Shine Light On Need For Medicaid Waivers

(RECAP: To educate both legislators and the public, a photographer is documenting the everyday lives of adults with developmental disabilities to highlight the need for Medicaid waivers, which provide funding for long-term care services in home and community-based settings.)
http://www.disabilityscoop.com/2015/02/23/photos-need-waivers/20082/

Opinions on Housing 

The views and opinions expressed in Opinions on Housing are solely those of the original authors, and do not necessarily represent those of VHDA, our stakeholders or any/all contributors to this blog.

The Keys to Virginia's Urban Revitalization: Live/Work/Play

(RECAP: The lesson to local governments, developers and urban planners is clear: a one-dimensional retail project, regardless of popular support or any government subsidy, fails to attract people in the same way that a diverse, mixed-use residential project does.) 
http://www.planetizen.com/node/74775

Community Fears About Shelters, Section 8 Don’t Materialize

(RECAP: NIMBY fights are a major obstacle to allowing lower income households access to "communities of opportunity." One of the things that is so frustrating about those fights is that they tend to be driven by misinformation and stubborn unfounded fears.)
http://www.rooflines.org/4053/community_fears_about_shelters_section_8_dont_materialize/

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