Links
There is an enormous amount of information on the web about affordable housing. The following are a few of our favorites, which we’ve found to offer useful and thought-provoking ideas and information. These could be useful for those wanting detailed information and solutions regarding the creation of affordable housing. Center on Budget Policy and Priorities - www.cbpp.org
The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities provides analysis of fiscal policy and public programs at the federal and state levels that affect low- and moderate-income families and individuals. Much of their housing policy work focuses on the effective use of rental assistance vouchers and improving the Federal housing voucher program so that it can provide assistance to more of those who need it. The Commonwealth Housing Task Force - www.tbf.org/tbfgen1.asp?id=1986
For those interested in learning more about Massachusetts' Chapter 40R & 40S programs. The CHTF provides quarterly updates on the implementation of Smart Growth Zones in communities throughout Massachusetts according to Chapters 40R and 40S. They report on the number of communities that have created Smart Growth Zones and the number of units created, along with communities currently pursuing Zones and those who have expressed interest. Connecticut Economic Resource Center, Inc. (CERC) – www.cerc.com
CERC is a nonprofit company funded primarily by utility companies to promote Connecticut as a competitive business location. CERC publishes a number of reports and studies on the economic conditions in the state and provides economic profiles of Connecticut's counties and towns. - Benchmarking Connecticut 2006: Determinants of Economic Growth - http://www.cerc.com/benchmarks.html
CERC report that states that quality affordable housing is one of the five critical areas that the state must address in order to continue to grow the economy. - Town and County Profiles - http://www.cerc.com/townprofiles.html
Profiles of every town and county in Connecticut updated every year. The profiles include statistical information related to demographics, economics, education, government, housing/real estate, labor force and quality of life.
Connecticut Housing Coalition - www.ct-housing.org
The Connecticut Housing Coalition represents more than 250 member organizations that work on community-based, affordable housing activity across the state, including non-profit developers, human service agencies, resident associations and other housing practitioners and activists. - Nonprofit Developers Network - http://www.ct-housing.org/npd.html
The Network facilitates communications between nonprofit developers and public agencies, coordinates advocacy around policy initiatives, provides training and technical assistance, promotes opportunities to increase affordable housing production, and seeks to overcome barriers to the efficiency and scale of production. - Out of Reach Report - http://www.ct-housing.org/out_of_reach_2006.html
The Connecticut Housing Coalition works with the National Low Income Housing Coalition to issue this annual report on wages and rents throughout Connecticut.
Connecticut Housing Finance Authority (CHFA) - www.chfa.org
The purpose of CHFA is to help alleviate the shortage of affordable housing for low- and moderate-income families and persons in Connecticut, and when appropriate, to promote or maintain the economic development of the state through employer-assisted housing efforts. - Tax Credit Programs - http://www.chfa.org/TaxCredits/taxcredits.asp
CHFA administers various tax credit programs, a major source of funds for developers that build affordable housing. A list of these programs is available on the web page listed above. - CHFA Maximum Affordable Rents & Income Limits - http://www.chfa.org/Multifamily/multifamily_IncomeLimits.asp
Found on the webpage listed above, CHFA provides schedules of maximum affordable rents and income limits for Connecticut's Metro and non-Metro areas. These schedules provide guidelines as to how much rent can be charged for those using various CHFA affordable housing funding programs. - CHFA Income & Sales Limits for Homebuyer Programs- http://www.chfa.org/FirstHome/IncomeSalesPriceLimits.htm
CHFA offers a variety of homebuyer programs and this webpage provides information regarding income and sales prices for those interested in participating in these programs.
Connecticut Main Street Center (CMSC) - www.ctmainstreet.org/
CMSC is the state's leading resource for cities and towns seeking to comprehensively revitalize their "main street" districts. CMSC provides education and training, resources and tools, and advocacy. Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD) - http://www.ct.gov/ecd/site/default.asp
The Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development is the state's lead agency for the development and implementation of policies, strategies and programs all of which are designed to enhance Connecticut's communities and business and housing environments. Enterprise Community Partners - ww.enterprisecommunity.org
An array of “how-to” material on affordable housing and community development – much of it geared toward people in the business of creating housing. Federal Reserve Bank of Boston - http://www.bos.frb.org
As part of the nation's central bank, the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston promotes sound growth and financial stability in New England and the nation. - New England Public Policy Center (NEPPC) - www.bos.frb.org/economic/neppc/index.htm
NEPPC is dedicated to enhancing access to high-quality analysis on economic and public policy issues that affect the region. NEPPC conducts objective research on regional public policy issues, supports regional research projects and responds to requests for assistance, provides data on the region, hosts public events and forums, and builds a network of public policy analysts.
Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) - www.hud.gov
HUD's mission is to increase homeownership, support community development and increase access to affordable housing free from discrimination. HUD maintains two websites that you might find especially useful: - HUD USER – http://www.huduser.org/
Maintained by HUD’s Office of Policy Development & Research, this site includes a wealth of research and policy analysis. - HUD FY2008 Income Limits - http://www.huduser.org/datasets/il/il08/index.html
The latest HUD income limits are available on this page, including state median income and area median income. - Regulatory Barriers Clearinghouse – http://www.regbarriers.org/
Part of the HUD USER site, this section collects and disseminates the experiences and solutions of practitioners around the country faced with red-tape that hinders housing development.
KnowledgePlex – http://www.knowledgeplex.org/
Maintained by the Fannie Mae Foundation, there is a wealth of information here, including articles on many facets of housing and community development, by researchers and practitioners. We recommend: - Week In Review Newsletter
A compilation of news articles from around the country. This is a great way to stay on top of national trends and learn from other states’ efforts. Find this on the left-side navigation bar. (requires registration with the site, which is free and easy)
Lincoln Institute of Land Policy - http://www.lincolninst.edu/
The Lincoln Institute of Land Policy was founded to improve the quality of public debate and decisions in the areas of land policy and land-related taxation. The Institute's goals are to integrate theory and practice to better shape land policy and to provide a nonpartisan forum for discussion of the multidisciplinary forces that influence public policy. - Visualizing Density -
http://www.lincolninst.edu/subcenters/VD/
"Visualizing Density" is an online toolkit that assists users in understanding what development at different levels can look like, depending upon how it is designed and the context in which it exists. The toolkit includes an image gallery, interactive game and quizzes.
Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) – http://www.lisc.org/
LISC helps resident-led, community-based development organizations transform distressed communities and neighborhoods into healthy ones. LISC supports the development of local leadership and the creation of affordable housing, commercial, industrial and community facilities, businesses and jobs by providing capital, technical expertise, training and information. LISC provides two tools that we think you might find helpful: - LISC eNewsletter – http://www.lisc.org/content/publications/?topic=&year=&type=13 A compilation of policy information and activity around the country. You can subscribe to this email newsletter at the bottom of the left-side navigation bar on the site. Past issues are archived here.
- Experts Online – http://www.lisc.org/section/events/
These webcasts are an interactive forum for discussion among industry experts, as well as national and local practitioners. They are free of charge, and past discussions are archived here, on a wide range of topics.
National Low Income Housing Coalition (NLIHC) - www.nlihc.org
NLIHC is dedicated solely to ending America’s affordable housing crisis and believes that the affordable housing crisis is a problem that Americans are capable of solving. NLIHC focuses their advocacy on those with the most serious housing problems, the lowest income households. - Out of Reach Report - http://www.nlihc.org/oor/oor2009/
Out of Reach is a side-by-side comparison of wages and rents throughout the US. For each jurisdiction studied, the report calculates the amount of money a household must earn in order to afford a rental unit at the area’s Fair Market Rent (FMR), paying no more than 30% of income for housing costs. From these calculations the hourly wage a worker must earn to afford the FMR for a two-bedroom home is derived, known as the Housing Wage.
NeighborWorks America - www.nw.org
NeighborWorks America is a national nonprofit organization created by Congress to provide financial support, technical assistance, and training for community-based revitalization efforts. Policy Link - www.policylink.org
PolicyLink is a national research and action institute that works collaboratively to develop and implement local, state, and federal policies to achieve economic and social equity. - Equitable Development Toolkit - www.policylink.org/EDTK/default.html
The tools in the Equitable Development ToolKit have been crafted to help community builders achieve diverse, mixed-income neighborhoods that provide access to opportunities for employment, educations, and safe, affordable housing. One of the tools is Affordable Housing 101, which offers general information and guidance about affordable housing development.
Reconnecting America, Center for Transit Oriented Development - http://www.reconnectingamerica.org
Reconnecting America has a variety of studies on their website that examine the relationships between housing and transportation costs and their combined effect on American households. Urban Land Institute (ULI) - http://www.uli.org/
ULI offers research and ideas on a wide range of land use and real estate development topics. ULI's Research & Publications section includes a great deal of information that is useful for those interested in affordable housing, land use, transit oriented development and other topics.
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