History of Affordable housing in Timeline

Affordable housing is defined as housing attainable for households with income at or below the median, as determined by national or local governments using housing affordability indexes. It encompasses a range of housing options, from emergency shelters to homeownership. Increased demand for affordable housing is often driven by decreased housing affordability, such as rising rents, and contributes to homelessness. The concept spans diverse forms, including non-market rental, indigenous housing, and both formal and informal rental arrangements.

1984: Decrease in Quality Rental Units

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

1991: Decrease in Quality Rental Units

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

1996: Impact of Frequent Relocation on Student Learning

A 1996 technical report found that teachers with students who frequently relocate due to financial challenges, such as eviction or rent increases, had to slow instructional pacing and provide more review to accommodate learning variations.

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 about the cost of obtaining the "right to build" in different U.S. cities. According to the study, the cost of obtaining the "right to build" adds approximately $600,000 to the cost of each new house built in San Francisco.

2011: Hamburg's Agreement with Private Developers

In 2011, Hamburg, Germany, reached an agreement with private developers to construct 3500 new housing units per year, with 30% reserved for low and middle-income households. The city government provided city-owned land and acquired privately owned land, while also modifying urban planning regulations.

2013: Homelessness recognized as a public health issue

In 2013, The American Journal of Public Health recognized homelessness as a public health issue. A survey conducted in 2013 identified a lack of affordable housing as the primary cause of homelessness among families with children and unaccompanied individuals.

2014: Establishment of Berlin's Alliance for Housing Construction

In 2014, Berlin established the Alliance for Housing Construction, bringing together the local government, private landlords, and public utility landlords to make rental units more affordable. Public utility landlords agreed to build 3000 new dwellings each year, with some provided as "non-serviced rents," while private landlords agreed to construct 6000 units each year, also with a portion as "non-serviced rents."

2017: Adults Using Shelter with Disability

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

2018: Homeless People with Severe Mental Illness

According to the 2018 homeless point-in-time count, 111,122 homeless people (20 percent) 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 in whose district it would be constructed, allowing council members to block projects without reason.

September 2019: Council of Economic Advisers Report on Homelessness

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

2019: Federal funding for homeless assistance programs

In 2019, the Federal Government, primarily through HUD, provided significant funding to communities for homeless assistance programs, totaling $2.6 billion via the Continuum of Care (CoC) and Emergency Solution Grant programs. The VA contributed $1.8 billion for programs serving homeless veterans. Other sources included the U.S. Departments of Health and Human Services, Education, and Labor, along with state and local governments and private philanthropy.

2019: Reformation of Housing First approach

In 2019, the Trump Administration reformed the Housing First approach, which provides competitive funding to CoCs. While maintaining a commitment to providing housing with no preconditions, the 2019 Notice of Funding Availability allowed communities flexibility to impose service participation requirements for participants after they have been stabilized in housing, helping homeless individuals become self-sufficient through employment and income.

2021: Emergency Housing Vouchers Program Launched

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 Affordable Housing Costs in California

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 projects in the United States increase land value in surrounding neighborhoods.

2022: Renters Paying Less Than 30% of Income

In 2022, research indicated that approximately half of renters in the United States were paying less than 30% of their monthly income on rent and utilities, while about 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: 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.

March 6, 2025: HUD Announces End of Funding 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 program (EVH) is expected to end by 2026.

2026: Expected End of Funding 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 program (EVH) is expected to end by 2026.

2030: Slum Population Estimate

According to estimates, by 2030, 1 in 4 people on the planet will live in a slum or other informal settlement.

2033: Projected Dominance of Adaptive Reuse in 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.

2050: Urban Population Increase

The World Bank reports that by 2050, nearly 7 out of 10 people in the world will live in cities, which will bring challenges to urban development and global demand for affordable housing.