New Updates on The Edge - 07/15/2014

New on The Edge

Message from PD&R Leadership:
A New Partner in PD&R
New Deputy Assistant Secretary for Policy Development Lynn Ross introduces herself to The Edge community by discussing how her plans for OPD will advance opportunities for partnerships with housing and community development stakeholders.

Research:
Connected Communities: Linking Affordable Housing and Transportation
A recent report released by HUD, "Creating Connected Communities: A Guidebook for Improving Transportation Connections for Low- and Moderate-Income In Small and Mid-Sized Cities," provides a portrait of efforts to improve transportation and connectivity to housing in five smaller communities across the country.

In Practice:
Artist Housing in Downtown Minot
The Minot Artspace Lofts is a 34 affordable- housing unit building for the burgeoning artist community in Minot, North Dakota. It is leading the revitalization of the downtown by catalyzing other developments.

Policy Update:
Expanding Opportunity Through Fair Housing Choice
Fair housing remains critical to the pursuit of sustainable and inclusive communities, yet housing discrimination continues to undermine efforts to support equal opportunity for all. Renewed efforts at both local and federal level are promoting fair housing choice with the ultimate goal of reducing economic inequality by ensuring equal opportunity.

Housing Scorecard:
June 2014 Housing Scorecard
The latest data show progress in the housing market among several important indicators as sales of new and existing homes have rebounded after a harsh winter. New home purchases increased by 18.6 percent in May, rising to their highest level since May 2008 — the biggest monthly gain in 22 years. Sales of existing homes also rose for the second consecutive month, but remained 5 percent below the 5.15 million pace from a year earlier.