Los Angeles Housing Department’s Post

"Cooperative housing is not just "OK, congrats, you have your home". They have, you know, different resources available. So, if you're struggling to make your payments, if you're struggling just to settle in because we are in an apartment and they did state that they understand apartment living can be isolating - so, if you're struggling, reach out. They really kind of push you to become a part of the community and just to realise that this is your home, and they want you to know that." Shawna, living in a home of Co-operative Housing Ireland in County Wicklow, a region south of 🇮🇪 Dublin Great to hear solutions in an incredibly complex housing situation in Ireland. After all the jargon that we see see in this space... "community-led", "social innovation", "affordable housing", this is what Housing Europe's network does in practice. "If you're struggling, you reach out." This is the major difference between public, cooperative, or social housing and landlords who have never seen the families living in their apartments. #NewHousingParadigm Credits: RTE Upfront

King County Executive Dow Constantine’s years of service will leave an incomparable mark on our region. His tireless commitment to ambitious, evidence-based policy and his courage to address difficult and complex issues head-on have set the bar for the kind of leadership we need to meet our most pressing challenges. Under his direction, addressing homelessness has been a North Star for the County, and has helped our region approach this problem with collaboration, perseverance, and empathy.    We are deeply appreciative of his creation of long-term programs like the groundbreaking Health Through Housing Initiative, robust investments in veterans, seniors, and human services, and a County-wide commitment to creating stability for all—there are critical tools to help organizations like Plymouth make progress. There is still work to do to ensure everyone in our region has a place to call home, but King County is better equipped to meet this need thanks to Executive Constantine’s work. As an advocate and a King County resident—thank you, Executive Constantine…the work continues!   [Photo: Executive Dow Constantine, left, joined me and Susan Boyd, CEO of Bellwether Housing for the ribbon-cutting of Blake House / The Rise on Madison. This building was Seattle’s first affordable high-rise in more than 50 years.] Read more in The Seattle Times: https://bit.ly/3O7nwth

🚧 Atlanta City Council Development Updates 🚧 The Atlanta City Council recently approved several key development initiatives that will shape the city's future: -$1.4M for Affordable Housing: Funds allocated to the Metro Atlanta Land Bank for redeveloping foreclosed properties with a focus on affordable housing (24-O-1507). -$10.8M FEMA Grant: Funding to expand sheltering capacity for non-citizen migrants, providing essential services like food and transportation (24-O-1506). -Gulch Housing Trust Fund: $8.5M set aside to support affordable housing as part of the Atlanta Gulch Project (24-O-1521). -Grove Park Revitalization: $250,000 donation to support leadership in Grove Park and Westin Heights neighborhoods (24-R-4109). -Centennial Yards Streets Project: The Council seeks a $2M federal grant for the Reconnecting Communities Pilot Planning (24-R-4187). -2 Peachtree Property: Committed financial assistance to redevelop this property into a transformative, mixed-use development (24-R-4115). Items Introduced for Consideration: -$100M for Construction & Renovation: An ordinance to approve agreements for city-wide construction services for the next three years. -$750,000 for Park Pride: Additional funding to support disinvested communities through the Community Park Fund, beginning in Fiscal Year 2025. -$201,000 for Windsor Street Park: Contributions to fund lighting and ADA improvements at Windsor Street Park. How do you see these developments shaping Atlanta's growth and community impact? #AtlantaDevelopment #AffordableHousing #UrbanRevitalization #CommunityImpact #CRE https://lnkd.in/eCwgJHyV

Home, Health & Justice in San Antonio The San Antonio Coalition for Dignified Housing is more than a partnership—it’s a movement. Three incredible nonprofit organizations have united to amplify community voices, advocate for equitable housing, and empower residents to shape their neighborhoods and access the health benefits they deserve. Together, they’re proving that when communities lead, real change happens. From safe and affordable homes to healthier futures, they’re building more than houses—they’re building dignity and hope. Watch the full story unfold: https://lnkd.in/eUhDJZnp

Why Community Land Trusts Matter for Our Future I had the chance to attend LISC San Antonio’s event on community ownership, and it really hit home how important Community Land Trusts (CLTs) are for fair and just development. Julia Duranti-Martínez from LISC NYC talked about how community ownership can give people the power to stop displacement and keep local businesses and organizations in place. It’s about helping BIPOC-led businesses, and community groups have a real shot at staying in their neighborhoods by owning affordable spaces. The panel, featuring experts like Juleny Santa Cruz, M.Ed. (ROC USA), Crystal Requejo (MEXICAN AMERICAN UNITY COUNCIL, INC), and Nadia Mavrakis (Culturingua) moderated by Julia, discussed how CLTs allow communities to protect their spaces, build wealth, and shape their own future. This conversation was a great reminder that ownership isn’t just about land or buildings—it’s about empowerment and economic justice. If we want lasting change, we need more CLTs in our communities. Emerge and Rise, Inc #CommunityLandTrust #FairDevelopment #LISCSanAntonio #CommunityOwnership #EconomicJustice

A year ago, much of our downtown was covered by encampments. People on the streets were sick and tired of being moved along with no place to go, and neighborhoods were eager for solutions. Today, we are one of the only growing cities in the nation without large encampments in our downtown and we have emerged as a national leader in the fight to end unsheltered homelessness by treating people living in encampments with the respect and dignity that we all deserve. This morning we released a one-year report highlighting the progress we’ve made together over the last year. Here are some of the highlights from the report: -1673 people moved indoors from unsheltered homelessness in 12 months -583 people moved into permanent housing from unsheltered homelessness -More than 300 blocks of our city permanently closed to encampments -0 large encampments remaining in downtown Denver There is still plenty of work to do, but I’m grateful to be able to step back and celebrate the amazing progress we have made together in 12 months time. Onwards. Report Link: https://lnkd.in/gBqP357A

THE HISTORY AND PRESENT STATE OF THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX IN AMERICA CAN BE SUMMED UP IN ONE WORD: BROKEN #HOMELESSNESS IS THE RESULT OF DECADES OF THE FAILURE TO BUILD AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR ALL. DON'T BE FOOLED BY SLICK PROMOTIONAL POSTS THAT MAKE IT SEEM LIKE YOUR LOCAL, STATE OR FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ELECTED AND APPOINTED OFFICIALS ARE SOLVING THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING CRISIS. WHEN IT COMES TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING, THE PUBLIC AND TAXPAYERS MUST ASK: AT WHAT COST TO THE TAXPAYERS AND HOW LONG IS THE AFFORDABILITY PERIOD? EVERY TAXPAYER SHOULD BE ASKING THEIR ELECTED AND APPOINTED OFFICIALS THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS: 1. How much local, state, and federal funding, tax credits, density bonus increase, waivers of impact fees, or other government benefit or incentive did the project receive? 2. What is the affordability period for each project and, if the affordability period is not in perpetuity or permanent, WHY NOT? 3. What guarantees exist that tenants in the affordable housing units will not be displaced after an "affordability period expires? Any LOCAL, STATE or FEDERAL official that does not MANDATE "permanent" affordability periods or affordability "IN PERPETUITY" for any project receiving some government benefit is commiting MALFEASANCE and should quit, be removed from office or be terminated. IN MOST CASES WHEN IT COMES TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING, the public and taxpayer are being fooled into thinking their elected and appointed officials are solving problems, when in fact, all hey have done is "KICK THE CAN DOWN THE ROAD" to burden a future generation with the same problem or crisis!

ENCORE 🎙 On today's episode, we dive into stories showing the importance of affordable housing. First, with @westernregionaladvocacyproject, we examine what Grants Pass v. Johnson means for unhoused people and how disinvestment in public housing has created our current homelessness wave. Then, we'll hear from @chhayacdc about the fight to legalize and preserve one important type of affordable housing units in New York City: basement apartments. 🎧 listen now: https://lnkd.in/g3f7a9A4

A timeline: 1960's: Black farmers in Georgia, USA, start the first Community Land Trust. 1980: Bernie Sanders, as Mayor of Burlington, starts first municipally-funded CLT. It becomes one of the few remarkable success stories of America's last 40 years. 1993: British Columbia sees partnership between its Community Land Trust and Cooperative Housing Federation. Over next 30 years, grows to 2,600 units. 2008: at height of financial crisis, homes on CLT's found to be one tenth as likely to foreclose. The model expands globally. 2024: BC NDP makes $500 million Rental Protection Fund for affordable housing. First application is from CLT which immediately rescues housing coops with hundreds of affordable units from landlords who owned land underneath the buildings. TODAY: Canada's federal government announces $1.5 billion fund for same purpose. CREDIT DUE: local democratic actors building community wealth. Lesson: empower local democratic actors building community wealth.

Nationwide serving its community! 💙 The Weingart Towers, a 19-story, 278-unit permanent supportive housing development in Skid Row, Los Angeles, celebrated its grand opening June 19, 2024. Here are the key points: Purpose and Hope: The project aims to improve and transform Skid Row, which has been the epicenter of the region’s homelessness crisis. Elected officials and homeless services providers expressed hope that this initiative will make a positive impact. Amenities: Weingart Tower I features amenities such as a cafe, a club room, a gym, music and art rooms, a computer lab, dog runs, terraces with community gardens, and common balcony areas. It provides high-quality apartment living for homeless individuals. Cost: The first tower cost an estimated $165 million, with approximately $595,000 per residential unit. Funding came from Proposition HHH, a $1.2 billion bond measure approved by Los Angeles voters in 2016 to support affordable housing for people experiencing homelessness.   This project represents an important step toward providing dignified housing and support services for those in need.