Tag: affordable housing crisis

A Perfect Storm

Center for American Progress logoExtreme Weather as an Affordable Housing Crisis Multiplier

Overview

Extreme weather events fueled by climate change are exacerbating the intertwined crises of affordable housing and homelessness and thus require timely intervention by federal, state, and local governments.

Authors’ note: The disability community is rapidly evolving to using identity-first language in place of person-first language. This is because it views disability as being a core component of identity, much like race and gender. Some members of the community, such as people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, prefer person-first language. In this report, the terms are used interchangeably.

Introduction and summary

Weeks after Hurricane Michael hit the Florida Panhandle last fall, leaders of the local recovery initiative estimated that as many as 20,000 residents of Bay County—more than 1 in 10 residents in the community of 185,000—were experiencing homelessness as a result of the storm.1 Rental homes make up nearly three-fourths of the community’s damaged properties, and when residents scrambled to find new places to live, they discovered that rents had skyrocketed due to the sudden supply shortage.2 The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has been slow to provide temporary homes—which are only offered for up to six months—and is approving very few extension requests for the small number of residents lucky enough to receive temporary housing.3 As a result, many residents are living in structures that are not fit for human habitation, including damaged homes and tents, while others wait and wonder what will happen when the clock runs out on their FEMA housing.4

View the complete August 1 article by Guillermo Ortiz, Heidi Schultheis, Valerie Novak and Aleah Holt on the Center for American Progress website here.

Home for All Coalition calls for boldest agenda in state history to address statewide housing crisis

Homes for All, a statewide coalition of more than 200 organizations advancing shared policy initiatives leading to housing stability for all Minnesotans is calling for the boldest agenda in state history to address Minnesota’s statewide housing crisis. The Homes for All Coalition unveiled their agenda today in Minnesota State House hearing and joined a strong and diverse group of supporters from across Minnesota at the State Capitol to push for action.

Advocates representing nonprofits, business, health care, education, and other sectors will come together Wednesday morning to share with lawmakers how housing impacts their world in the Capitol Press Conference Room (B971) at 11 a.m. Speakers include Rep. Michael Howard, Rep. Alice Hausman, Jordan May, Executive Director of the Red Lake Band of Chippewa Indians Reservation, Jonathan Weinhagen, President and CEO of Minneapolis Regional Chamber and Fatima Moore, Co-Chair of the Homes for All policy team.

Homes for All is a statewide coalition advancing shared policy initiatives of more than 200 organizations that lead to housing stability for all Minnesotans. Visit our website for more information:  www.homesforallmn.org.