History of Affordable housing in Timeline

Affordable housing is defined as housing accessible to those earning at or below the median income, according to governmental affordability indices. It encompasses a spectrum of housing types, including emergency shelters, transitional housing, rental options, indigenous housing, and affordable homeownership. The demand for affordable housing rises when housing affordability decreases, marked by rent increases and a surge in homelessness.

1984: Decrease in quality rental units

In 1984, David Rodda noted that the number of quality rental units decreased as the demand for higher quality housing increased.

1991: Decrease in quality rental units

In 1991, David Rodda noted that the number of quality rental units decreased as the demand for higher quality housing increased.

1996: Impact of Student Mobility on Teaching

In 1996, a technical report found that teachers with students who move frequently reduce instructional pacing and increase review to accommodate variation in student learning.

November 2007: Report on the "Right to Build" Cost

In the November 2007 issue of Atlantic Monthly, Virginia Postrel reported on a study by Harvard economists Edward Glaeser and Kristina Tobio on the cost of obtaining the "right to build" in different U.S. cities.

2011: Affordable Housing Agreement in Hamburg

In 2011, developers in Hamburg agreed to build 3500 new housing units per year, with 30% available to low and middle income households. The city government provided city-owned land and acquired privately owned land to support the work.

2012: Pembina Institute Study on Commuting Costs

A 2012 study led by the Pembina Institute affirmed that the additional expenses of long-distance commuting often negated the savings associated with lower housing costs.

2013: Affordable Housing and Homelessness

In a 2013 survey, a lack of affordable housing was ranked as the number one cause of homelessness among families with children and unaccompanied individuals.

2014: Establishment of Alliance for Housing Construction in Berlin

In 2014, The Alliance for Housing Construction was established in Berlin to make rental units in the city more affordable.

2017: Adults Using Shelter

In 2017, 44 percent of adults who used shelter had a disability.

2018: Homeless Point-In-Time Count

According to the 2018 homeless point-in-time count, 20 percent of homeless people, or 111,122 individuals, had a severe mental illness.

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, allowing council members to block developments without reason.

September 2019: Report on Homelessness in America Published

In September 2019, the Council of Economic Advisers published "The State of Homelessness in America" report, finding over half a million people homeless in the United States on a single night. The report analyzed factors contributing to homelessness and proposed federal policies for reduction.

2019: Federal Funding for Homeless Assistance Programs

In 2019, The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) provided $2.6 billion via the Continuum of Care (CoC) program and Emergency Solution Grant program for homeless outreach, emergency shelter, and prevention.

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 program (EVH) as part of the American Rescue Plan Act to assist Americans experiencing domestic violence, homelessness, and human trafficking.

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.

2022: LIHTC Projects Increase Land Value

According to a 2022 study, LIHTC projects in the United States increase land value in surrounding neighborhoods.

2022: Renters in the United States Income on rent and utilities

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

2023: Adaptive Reuse Dominates Real Estate Growth

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.

2024: OECD Affordable Housing Database estimates housing related expenses

In 2024, the OECD Affordable Housing Database estimates the percentage of housing-related expenses, including rent, imputed rent, energy, water, and maintenance costs, as a percentage of household final consumption expenditure by country.

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 of 2026.

2026: Projected End of EVH Program Funding

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced that funding for the Emergency Housing Vouchers program (EVH) is expected to end by 2026.

2030: Projected Slum Population

In 2030, it is estimated that 1 in 4 people on the planet will live in a slum or other informal settlement.

2033: Projected Real Estate Growth

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.