Housing
Grenfell Tower tragedy shows social housing system has failed UK citizens
In the housing system, cost-cutting and reckless decisions were made with little fear of anyone being held responsible<p>The fire at Grenfell Tower has highlighted a number of issues relating to government housing policy in recent years, not only the failure to apply proper safety measures but also …
Social HousingWhy Hasn't the Real Estate President Fixed Housing Yet?
The mogul president’s name is synonymous with real estate. But as Donald Trump enthusiastically holds forth on America’s “crumbling” infrastructure, …
Freddie MacAs cities look to get greener, lower-income residents fear gentrification
CHICAGO — By many measures, the effort to convert old elevated railway on Chicago’s Northwest Side into a signature park has been a smashing success.<p>The 2.7-mile recreation trail, known as The 606, built on old Chicago & Pacific Railroad line has been praised as a model use of public space since it …
Urban DesignDecent homes for all… Has the social housing dream died?
In the wake of the Grenfell Tower tragedy, it is clear that Britain’s social housing is in crisis. As a new film looks at the legacy of Thatcher’s right-to-buy, Rowan Moore asks whether the postwar housing ideal can be revived. Below: David Harewood, Kerry Hudson and others on their experiences of …
Social HousingFinally, everyone's paying attention to social housing, but it shouldn't have taken a tragedy to get us here
In the past fortnight the country has struggled to deal with a deepening civil emergency in the wake of the Grenfell Tower fire, exposing systemic …
Social HousingThe Observer view on the housing crisis
Government must be prepared to build when private initiatives fail<p>As we report today, research by Shelter shows that by 2020 more than a million households are likely to find that their housing benefit doesn’t cover the rent they pay to private landlords. The consequence will be hardship, eviction …
Queen's SpeechMore than a million households ‘at risk of becoming homeless in the next three years’
More than a million households who are privately renting at the moment are at risk of becoming homeless by 2020, as those on low incomes and benefits …
Social HousingI introduced a bill to protect tenants. Grenfell shows why they need it
Amendments to housing regulations that I first proposed in 2015 were voted down by the government. It must now support measures like them<p>Today the friends and families of the victims of the Grenfell Tower disaster remain in mourning and a community remains in shock. As a neighbouring MP – and …
Social HousingThe truth about housing wealth is that most of us didn't earn it
Way back in the mists of time when “Red Ed” Miliband proposed a new tax on homes worth more than £2m, Michael Caine considered the idea terribly …
Ed MilibandTower block residents need justice. History shows they must lead the fight
I campaigned for safety measures after the Ronan Point disaster of 1968. After Grenfell, residents must be given a far greater say in all decisions<p>There’s no place like home, they say. So what a devastating revelation it will be for the thousands of tower block residents up and down the country who …
Residents told they 'MUST leave' fire-risk London flats as tenants claim they're being 'bullied' by security guards
Residents yet to evacuate four London tower blocks over fire safety concerns claim they are being intimidated by security guards and that tensions …
How to take advantage of the retail apocalypse
Amazon’s stunning acquisition last week of Whole Foods signaled an inflection point in the development of retail, notably the $800 billion …
TrendsHomeless college students a growing concern on campuses
Jennifer Carr knows she's not the profile of a typical college student. The Detroit area woman is 37, and has battled alcohol and heroin addiction. …
EducationTrumps, Pence among guests at Mnuchin's wedding
President Trump was among the guests at Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin’s wedding Saturday night.<p>Trump and first lady Melania were joined by Press …
U.S. Secretary of HousingHigh-cost US Cities See Homeless Population Grow
Homelessness is increasing in Los Angeles, and the signs are visible. From tents under freeways and shopping carts at street corners, to people …
PovertyGrenfell Tower
This note does not replace the need for local judgment of course, but aims to summarise recent and current guidance, and will be updated daily.<p>The …
London Fire BrigadeHow Exclusionary Zoning Comes at a Loss for Housing and Jobs
Harvard economist Edward Glaeser, perhaps the nation’s leading expert on the economics of zoning, has an interesting Brookings Institution essay on …
Foundation for Economic EducationNumber of tower blocks found to fail fire tests nearly doubles
The number of tower blocks which have failed emergency fire tests has nearly doubled to 60 in 25 different council areas - up from 34 in 17 …
UK NewsHow To Be Successful With Affordable Housing Without Being Evil
<i>You can download an audio podcast here or subscribe via iTunes.</i><p>“Our nation is in the midst of a true affordability crisis.” Daryl Carter, founder, chairman and CEO of Avanath Capital Management, sees that as both a problem and an opportunity. He’s found a way to deliver returns to investors while …
Affordable HousingNew Mexico group unveils estimated $20M homelessness project
SANTA FE, N.M. – A local architect and a pair of organizations that serve Santa Fe's homeless population have been working together for nearly two years to develop a long-term solution to homelessness that extends far beyond a bed and a meal.<p>The group's estimated $20 million proposal called One …
Oakland commits $14 million to buy residential hotel to house homeless residents
OAKLAND — As private developers snatch up downtown Oakland’s remaining single-room occupancy hotels, the city has decided it wants to preserve one, …
OaklandBerlin 24/7: Alternative living in Berlin
Whether it's up in the air, in a construction container or on the water, Berliners are inventive when it comes to alternative - and affordable - …
39 Million Americans Can't Afford Their Homes
And they're putting their long-term financial security at risk as a result.<p>It's not unusual for housing to constitute a given family's single largest …
RetirementThe Bank of Canada thinks housing is still pretty cheap
Turns out housing may be affordable, at least by one measure. While home prices have been climbing in Toronto and Vancouver, people that didn’t buy into the madness seem just fine.<p>The Bank of Canada (BoC) Housing Affordability Index shows that the cost of housing across Canada is below historic …
Bank of CanadaBuffett Bullish on Canada But Not as Much on Its Housing: Globe - Bloomberg
Warren Buffett may have thrown a lifeline to embattled Canadian alternative lender Home Capital Group Inc., but that doesn’t mean he’s as enthused …
BusinessTiny house on the run: Couple's journey to find a home for their home hits dead end
‘We are trying to do everything legally on the up-and-up and I feel like a criminal’<p>Vancouver Island couple Robin and Jenn Sheffield traded their …
Tiny House MovementIt's never been so expensive to buy a new house
New U.S. single-family home sales rose in May and the median sales price surged to an all-time high, suggesting the housing market had regained momentum.<p>The Commerce Department said on Friday new home sales increased 2.9 percent to a seasonally adjusted rate of 610,000 units last month. April's …
Real EstateOntario rent increases capped at 1.8 per cent for next year
TORONTO - Landlords in Ontario will be able to increase rents up to 1.8 per cent next year, as rent controls are expanded under the Liberal …
TorontoDan Fumano: Applying Vancouver's empty home tax may cost an $2.7 million more than expected
With the July 1 deadline approaching for Vancouver dwellings to be rented out or be hit with the country’s first vacancy tax, it appears the cost of …
Vancouver Real EstateMulti-million-dollar property owners requested cap on empty homes tax
Report coming before council June 28 shows who requested exemptions and why, while implementation costs have risen from $4 to $7 million.
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