History of Affordable housing in Timeline

Affordable housing refers to housing accessible to individuals with household incomes at or below the median, as determined by government affordability indices. It encompasses a spectrum of housing options, from emergency shelters to homeownership. The demand for affordable housing typically arises when housing affordability decreases, often due to rising rents, which can contribute to increased 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 in the US.

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 in the US.

1996: Impact of Student Mobility on Teachers

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

November 2007: Atlantic Monthly Article on the Cost of Building Rights

In November 2007, an article in Atlantic Monthly by 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. The study found that in San Francisco, the "right to build" adds approximately $600,000 to the cost of each new house.

2011: Hamburg Agreement for Affordable Housing

In 2011, developers in Hamburg, Germany agreed to build 3500 new housing units per year, with 30% designated for low and middle-income households. The city government provided land and modified urban planning regulations to support this initiative.

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 the number one cause of homelessness among families with children and unaccompanied individuals according to the American Journal of Public Health.

2014: Berlin Alliance for Housing Construction Established

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

2017: Shelter Usage Data

Data from 2017 indicated that among all adults who used shelter at some point during the year, 44 percent had a disability.

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: Los Angeles Affordable Housing Approval Process

Until 2018, in Los Angeles, an affordable housing development required a "letter of acknowledgement" from the city councilperson, allowing them to block projects without giving a reason.

September 2019: Report on Homelessness in America Published

In September 2019, the Council of Economic Advisers released a report, "The State of Homelessness in America," which analyzed homelessness in the U.S. The report found that over half a million people experience homelessness on a single night.

2019: Federal Funding for Homeless Assistance Programs

In 2019, the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) provided $2.6 billion through the Continuum of Care (CoC) and Emergency Solution Grant programs for homeless assistance. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) provided $1.8 billion for programs serving homeless veterans.

2019: Reformation of the 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: Emergency Housing Vouchers Program Launched

In 2021, former President Joe Biden launched the Emergency Housing Vouchers (EVH) program as part of the American Rescue Plan Act, developed post 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 Projects Increase Land Value

According to a 2022 study, LIHTC (Low-Income Housing Tax Credit) projects in the United States increase land value in surrounding neighborhoods.

2022: Renters Income Distribution

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

2022: OECD Affordable Housing Database Estimates

In 2022, the OECD Affordable Housing Database estimated 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.

2023: Adaptive Reuse as Primary 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

In 2024, the OECD Affordable Housing Database estimated 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: Funding for Emergency Housing Vouchers Program Expected to End

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 (EVH) program is expected to end by of 2026.

2026: End of Funding expected for Emergency Housing Vouchers Program

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 (EVH) program is expected to end by 2026.

2030: Projected Slum Population

By 2030, estimates suggest that 1 in 4 people on the planet will live in a slum or other informal settlement.

2033: Projected Real Estate Growth Through Adaptive Reuse

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.

2050: World Bank Prediction for Urban Population

The World Bank reports that by 2050 nearly 7 out of 10 people in the world will live in cities. This growth however brings challenges to urban development as cities are tasked with efficiently using resources in accordance with the global demand for affordable housing.