Rethinking Federal Housing Policy

State Mandates, Housing Elements, and Low-income Housing Production

“…However, low-income housing production requires three factors: clear rules that are easily interpreted by developers, housing advocates, and planners (Bratt 2012;Knaap et al 2007;Mitchell 2004;Talen and Knaap 2003;Veazey 2008); strong political will to place lowincome housing on the local/regional agenda (Basolo 1999b;Landis and McClure 2010;Mallach 2009;Mueller and Schwartz 2008;Mukhija et al 2010;Scally 2013); and consistent subsidies that allow low-income households to live without financial hardship (Defilippis and Wyly 2008;Goetz 2002;McClure 2004). Under Section 701, Congress fiscally supported the creation of municipal planning (clear rules).…”

“…A supply-side strategy should increase the housing supply to deflate existing housing prices or provide new units at all prices (Galster 1997;Listokin 1976). Alternatively, a demand-side strategy should increase low-income housing consumption by directly raising household incomes through vouchers or indirectly with compulsory education (Chevalier et al 2005;Landis and McClure 2010). The housing element is a "quasi" supply-side strategy because it attends to low-income housing needs, but federal or state agencies do not provide consistent subsidies for planned low-income units, deficiencies in household incomes, or increases in housing prices.…”

“…At present, federal low-income housing policy emphasizes renting via housing vouchers (demand side) or tax credits (supply side) and operates at scales greater than municipalities (Goetz 2012;Landis and McClure 2010). Returning to HUD programs, both the Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) and HOME Investment Partnerships Program (HOME) provide support for low-income housing; however, they are not the focus of this article because these programs as driven by population-based formulas rather than local land-use decisions.…”

The impact of income inequality on rental affordability: An empirical study in large American metropolitan areas

“…Federal rental housing assistance programs have gradually shifted from project-oriented to tenant-oriented subsidies (Quigley and Raphael, 2004), but they still fall short of the total need of the nation by at least 40% (Landis, 2010). Given that the earnings of low-income households are unlikely to grow markedly and income inequalities are likely to keep rising in the foreseeable future, there is an urgent need to increase the priority and funding of rental assistance to lowincome tenants.…”

La carga de la vivienda de interés social: Comparación entre hogares de la periferia y del centro en ciudades de Brasil, Colombia y México

“…Bajo este enfoque, el Estado ya no es constructor sino facilitador y regulador de los mercados de vivienda (Lang y Sohmer, 2000), así como promotor de la vivienda en propiedad (Landis y McClure, 2010). Sin embargo, la política de vivienda latinoamericana difiere del modelo de Estados Unidos en dos dimensiones importantes.…”