New Updates on The Edge

Featured Story

Message from PD&R Leadership:
Preparing for Habitat III
In October 2016, Habitat III, the United Nations Conference on Housing and Urban Sustainability, will be held in Quito, Ecuador. Deputy Assistant Secretary for International and Philanthropic Innovation Salin Geevarghese describes how HUD is preparing for the upcoming conference by co-sponsoring related events, releasing relevant reports, and participating in the U.S. National Committee for Habitat III, chaired by HUD Secretary Julián Castro.

Research:
Improving Veterans' Housing and Employment Outcomes: The Veterans Homelessness Prevention Demonstration
In 2009, Congress authorized the Veterans Homelessness Prevention Demonstration Program (VHPD), a 3-year program intended to help veterans overcome employment and housing challenges. A report recently released by PD&R, Veterans Homelessness Prevention Demonstration Evaluation: Final Report, examines the effectiveness of the program in improving housing and employment outcomes and in reaching its targeted populations.

Spotlight on PD&R Data:
Apartment Market Conditions
The latest Spotlight on PD&R Data from the U.S. Housing Market Conditions portal focuses on rental vacancy rates and apartment market conditions, showing how the data vary across regions and how they compare to national trends.

In Practice:
South Bend's Vacant and Abandoned Housing Challenge: 1,000 Houses in 1,000 Days
After organizing a task force to analyze the stock of vacant and abandoned houses in South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg initiated a program that aimed to rehabilitate or demolish 1,000 of those properties in 1,000 days. Under the program, the city's code enforcement department assessed each home to determine if it was repairable or should be demolished. The program ultimately addressed 1,222 houses and encouraged owners of vacant or abandoned properties to take action.

Policy Update:
Moving Toward a Sustainable Future: Three Models of Regional Planning
HUD's Sustainable Communities Regional Planning Grant program encouraged coordination among local jurisdictions and planning agencies to address regional challenges. Supported by the program, grant recipients in Northeast Ohio, Western North Carolina, and Washington's Puget Sound brought together local stakeholders to systematically study the conditions of each region and develop a long-term vision and policy framework that integrates the needs of all residents and communities.