Spotlight

Using Housing Indicator Tool to Serve Black and Brown Communities in the Washington, D.C Region

In Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia, a region known as the DMV, HAND is one of the leading housing nonprofit membership collectives with over 450 members across the public and private sectors. HAND’s members are working to achieve their goal of producing and preserving affordable housing throughout the region. HAND convenes its members, educates and activates them to advocate for the right policies that further affordable housing goals.
Recently, we had the privilege of speaking with two members of HAND’s team, Executive Director Heather Raspberry and Director of Strategic Membership & Partnerships, Courtney Battle, about the organization’s mission, role in the field and the tools they use to make an impact the DMV.

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COMING TOMORROW: 2023 Prosperity Now Scorecard

Our Prosperity Now Scorecard team is cooking up a special sweet treat for you this Valentine’s Day! Tomorrow, February 14 we will be releasing the 2023 Prosperity Now Scorecard, taking a look at updated financial security outcomes and progressive policy changes. We’re excited to share more about this release and all the exciting things we have in store for you all year long. Stay tuned!

Policy Updates

Rule is Major Step in Right Direction to Advance Fair and Affordable Housing and Strengthen Communities | The National Fair Housing Alliance & Prosperity Now

Recently, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced their Proposed Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing (AFFH) rule, which will attempt to combat “longstanding inequities” by remedying America’s long history of housing discrimination.

HUD Announces over $116 million to Public Housing Agencies for the Family Self Sufficiency Program | HUD

As a part of their Bridging the Wealth Gap agenda, HUD has recently dedicated $116 million to programming that offers families in HUD-assisted housing coaching, service referrals and helps them establish family escrow savings accounts.

Resources and Publications

Lost in Translation: Bridging the Divide in Emergency Rental Assistance Outreach | Urban Institute

This brief from the Urban Institute reveals that language and technology barriers made it more difficult for some communities to benefit from the federal emergency rental assistance that came out of the COVID-19 pandemic.

As Pandemic Rent Relief Ends, States Struggle to Prevent Homelessness | Pew Charitable Trusts

With the emergency federal housing aid from the COVID-19 pandemic running out and eviction moratoriums ending across the country, eviction rates increased in 2022. With many states also suffering housing shortages, it has become exceedingly difficult to combat rising homelessness rates.

How FHA Support of Small-Dollar Mortgages Could Have a Big Impact on Families of Color | Prosperity Now

This blog from Prosperity Now supports the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) removing barriers to small-dollar mortgages through fee reduction, innovative partnerships, and homebuyer education. Implementing these strategies can turn lifelong renters into homeowners.

A 7-point plan to increase Black homeownership by 3 million households by 2030 | National Housing Conference

This comprehensive report maps out a plan to build up Black homeownership by 2030 as Black homeownership is at its lowest rate since segregated housing was legal.

In the News

Detroit’s long history of evicting Black people for profit | The Metro Times

This comprehensive article details the history and current cruelty of Detroit’s housing policies, which include evicting low-income Black residents without their promised right to counsel.

Biden-Harris Administration Releases Blueprint for a Renter's Bill of Rights, Announces Agency Action for Implementation | National Low Income Housing Coalition

With the ongoing rental housing crisis created by skyrocketing rents, the Biden-Harris Administration is rolling out a call to action to make rent more affordable and protect tenant rights

This new initiative funded by the EPA aims to help new Mainers advocate for safe housing | NBC News Center Maine

A nonprofit in Maine is using an EPA grant to help immigrants in the state advocate for and live in safer homes.

Is suburban zoning the enemy? NY’s affordable housing plan looks to bypass local officials | Syracuse.com

To try to combat New York’s affordable housing crisis, Governor Kathy Hochul is implementing a plan that will bypass local zoning laws, which often restrict low-income and Black housing opportunities, in order to create more affordable housing units in the coming years.