New Updates on The Edge

Message from PD&R Leadership:
Happy New Year 2018
In the leadership message, Todd Richardson, acting general deputy assistant secretary for PD&R, presents highlights of the office's 2017 work and provides insight into projects planned for 2018. Research planned for the coming year includes topics such as building technology, local policies to create affordable rental housing, and policies to promote self-sufficiency for HUD-assisted households. Richardson also outlines an upcoming collaboration with the Office of Public and Indian Housing.

In Practice:
Renovation of the Winston Hale Apartments Adds Units for Homeless Individuals in Honolulu
In 2017, the city and county of Honolulu, Hawaii, performed renovations and additions to the affordable Winston Hale Apartments. Originally constructed in 1964, the city-owned development consisted of 94 studio apartments, 29 of which were vacant due to water damage. The city fully renovated the damaged units and transformed 2,800 square feet of commercial space into 6 new micro-units. The micro-units and 13 of the renovated studios are leased to individuals who are homeless or in danger of becoming homeless and who receive rent vouchers as part of the city's Housing First program.

Research:
Reducing Work Disincentives in the Housing Choice Voucher Program
A recently released report describes the methodology and sample population of HUD's Rent Reform Demonstration. The Rent Reform Demonstration is a randomized controlled trial to test an alternative rent model intended to incentivize work without inducing undue hardship for participating families or the public housing agencies (PHAs) that administer housing assistance. The research article summarizes the alternative model that is being tested, the sample populations at the four participating PHAs, and the methodology of the demonstration.

Trending:
New St. Louis Fed Tool Dives Deep into Community Investment
The Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis recently launched an interactive tool called the Community Investment Explorer, which aggregates transactions from the Low Income Housing Tax Credit, Community Development Financial Institutions, and New Market Tax Credit programs. These three programs are collectively responsible for billions of dollars of investment in underserved communities each year. The trending article describes the potential applications of the tool, which shows geographic comparisons and trends over time.

Please send your comments and suggestions to editor@huduser.gov.