Month: January, 2005

The end of a VA-HUD Subcommittee?

31 January, 2005 (11:45) | Uncategorized |

As we discussed earlier, Congress is rethinking its committee structures.  Now, via the National Council of State Housing Agencies, more details are emerging:
 
On the spending front, newly seated House Appropriations Committee Chairman Jerry Lewis (R-CA) has proposed eliminating the House Appropriations HUD-VA Subcommittee and two other appropriations subcommittees. Under his plan, the Transportation-Treasury Subcommittee would assume […]

Elderly housing: the best is yet to be?

30 January, 2005 (17:07) | Uncategorized |

Using illustration-by-example, today’s New York Times (subscription required) focuses on assisted living, a fast-growing tenure option that is also a challenge for housing policy:
 
In the last decade the number of elderly Americans in assisted living has tripled, to nearly one million, and industry experts say the residents, overwhelmingly widowed women with an average age of […]

Of carrots, sticks, bootstraps, and cherry-picking

29 January, 2005 (13:21) | Uncategorized |

When is a tough compromise not a compromise?  When only some parts of it are implemented.
 
We can consider affordable housing reform legislation as a package of four things:
 
·        Carrots: Rewards for those who behave in new and better ways.
·        Sticks: Punishments for those who don’t.
·        Bootstraps.  Resources and tools to enable those who want […]

Section 8: a day in the life

28 January, 2005 (17:38) | Uncategorized |

 “I read the news today oh, boyAbout a lucky man who made the gradeAnd though the news was rather sadWell I just had to laugh”
– The Beatles, A Day in the Life
 
With Section 8 under continuing severe pressure, the system is springing leaks in such heartland America places as:
 
Akron, Ohio, where the Akron Metropolitan Housing […]

Of old bull elephants, Tokyo subways, and Section 8

27 January, 2005 (21:17) | Uncategorized |

Today’s ever-helpful Congressional Quarterly’s online update (subscription only) breaks what may sound like the ultimate insider story:
 
House Appropriations Chairman Jerry Lewis indicated he is serious about reshaping the Appropriations subcommittees, based on a proposal he gave to Senate counterpart Thad Cochran in a closed meeting on the topic Wednesday.
 
What, my gentle reader asks, could this […]