History of Affordable housing in Timeline

Affordable housing refers to housing options accessible to individuals and households earning at or below the median income, as determined by government affordability indexes. It encompasses a spectrum of housing types, ranging from emergency shelters and transitional housing to rental options and affordable homeownership. Demand for affordable housing typically arises from a decline in overall housing affordability, often triggered by rising rents, and is correlated with increased homelessness. The availability of affordable housing is often a significant policy concern for governments in urban areas.

1984: Decrease in Quality Rental Units

In 1984, David Rodda noted a decrease in the number of quality rental units as the demand for higher-quality housing increased.

1991: Decrease in Quality Rental Units

In 1991, David Rodda noted a decrease in the number of quality rental units as the demand for higher-quality housing increased.

1996: Impact of Moving on Student Learning

A 1996 technical report found that teachers with students that have had to move with high frequency have had to include a reduction in instructional pacing and more review to accommodate variation and uncertainty in student learning.

November 2007: Report on the Cost of Obtaining the Right to Build

In the November 2007 issue of Atlantic Monthly, Virginia Postrel reported on a study by Harvard economists Edward Glaeser and Kristina Tobio, which determined that the cost of obtaining the "right to build" in San Francisco adds approximately $600,000 to the cost of each new house that is built.

2011: Agreement in Hamburg to Build Affordable Housing

In 2011, developers in Hamburg, Germany, agreed to build 3500 new housing units per year, with 30% of these units being available to low and middle income households.

2012: Pembina Institute Study on Commuting Costs

A 2012 study led by Pembina Institute affirmed that the additional expenses of long-distance commuting often negated the savings associated with lower housing costs, highlighting the economic impact of lacking affordable housing near employment.

2013: Affordable Housing as a Solution to Homelessness

In a 2013 survey, a lack of affordable housing was the number one cause of homelessness among families with children and unaccompanied individuals, according to the American Journal of Public Health.

2014: Establishment of Alliance for Housing Construction in Berlin

In 2014, the Alliance for Housing Construction was established in Berlin, bringing together Berlin's local government, private landlords, and public utility landlords to make rental units in the city more affordable.

2017: Shelter Usage Data

In 2017, among all adults who used shelter at some point, 44 percent had a disability, showing the prevalence of individual-level risk factors among the homeless population.

2018: Homeless Point-in-Time Count

According to the 2018 homeless point-in-time count, 111,122 homeless people (20 percent) had a severe mental illness and 86,647 homeless people (16 percent) suffered from chronic substance abuse.

2018: "Letter of Acknowledgement" Requirement in Los Angeles

Until 2018, in Los Angeles, an affordable housing development required a "letter of acknowledgement" from the city councilperson, which allowed city council members to block affordable housing developments in their district without giving any reason.

September 2019: Council of Economic Advisers Report on Homelessness in America

In September 2019, the Council of Economic Advisers published "The State of Homelessness in America" report, revealing that over half a million people experience homelessness on a single night in the United States, with a significant portion unsheltered, particularly in California. The report also analyzes the drivers of homelessness and suggests federal policies to reduce it.

2019: Federal Funding for Homeless Assistance Programs

In 2019, the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) provided $2.6 billion combined via the Continuum of Care (CoC) program and Emergency Solution Grant program. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) also provided $1.8 billion for programs that serve homeless veterans.

2019: Reformation of Housing First Approach

In 2019, the Trump Administration reformed the Housing First approach by allowing communities flexibility to impose service participation requirements for participants after they have been stabilized in housing.

2021: Launch of Emergency Housing Vouchers Program

In 2021, former President Joe Biden launched the Emergency Housing Vouchers (EVH) program as part of the American Rescue Plan Act to assist Americans experiencing domestic violence, homelessness, and human trafficking, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

2021: Parking Requirements Increase Housing Costs

In California in 2021, researchers estimated that parking requirements increase the cost of building affordable housing by up to $36,000 per unit, and up to $75,000 per unit in cities like Los Angeles and San Francisco.

2022: LIHTC Impact on Land Value

According to a 2022 study, LIHTC projects in the United States increase land value in surrounding neighborhoods, which is an interesting impact.

2022: Renters in the United States Income on Rent and Utilities

In 2022, researchers determined that approximately half of renters in the United States spent less than 30% of their monthly income on rent and utilities. Around a quarter paid between 30% and 50%, and another quarter paid more than 50%.

2022: OECD Affordable Housing Database Estimates

In 2022, the OECD Affordable Housing Database estimated housing-related expenses, including rent, imputed rent, energy, water, and maintenance costs, as a percentage of household final consumption expenditure by country.

2023: Estimated Growth of Adaptive Reuse in Real Estate

According to 2023 estimates, 90 percent of U.S. real estate growth by 2033 will entail the adaptive reuse of existing buildings rather than new construction.

March 6, 2025: HUD Announcement on Emergency Housing Vouchers program funding

On March 6, 2025, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) issued a letter announcing that funding for the Emergency Housing Vouchers program (EVH) is expected to end by 2026.

2026: Expected End of Funding for Emergency Housing Vouchers Program

In 2026, funding is expected to end for the Emergency Housing Vouchers program, according to a March 6, 2025 letter by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

2030: Slum Population Estimates

According to estimates, by 2030, 1 in 4 people on the planet will live in a slum or other informal settlement, reflecting the increasing challenges of inadequate housing conditions globally.

2033: Projected Adaptive Reuse Dominance

By 2033, it is estimated that 90 percent of U.S. real estate growth will involve the adaptive reuse of existing buildings, according to 2023 projections.

2050: Urbanization challenges

By 2050, it's projected that the world population will reach 9 billion, and nearly 7 out of 10 people will live in cities, leading to urbanization and creating challenges in urban development and affordable housing.