Affordable Housing
Filters
Denver, CO uses AI to streamline building permit reviews and target 80% first-round approval rate
Denver's Permitting Office launched CivCheck, an AI-enabled plan review platform by Clariti, to tackle a backlog of housing permits. Currently only 30% of applications pass on first submission — the tool prompts applicants to upload required documents, flags incomplete data in real time, and generates AI reports to speed up staff review. Denver's goal is to raise the first-round approval rate to at least 80%.
Denver, CO
United States
Virginia Beach, VA boosts affordable housing with new grant program
Virginia Beach has launched the Attainable Workforce Housing Performance Grant program to incentivize private developers to build affordable multifamily rental housing. The program provides annual performance-based grants to approved developers to help bridge funding gaps and make such projects more financially viable. The initiative has already supported two initial projects resulting in 372 affordable rental units.
Virginia Beach, VA
United States
San Jose, CA piloting AI to speed up the building permitting process
San Jose is launching a pilot program this fall to deploy AI technology aimed at streamlining the building permitting process for accessory dwelling units, directly tackling the city's housing crisis by reducing delays in approvals. The AI software from CivCheck will allow applicants to pre-check their submissions for missing or incomplete information, while city staff conduct internal testing with manual oversight to ensure accuracy and responsible implementation.
San Jose, CA
United States
Cincinnati, OH to repurpose vacant downtown office buildings into residential units
Cincinnati City Council is proposing a plan to repurpose vacant downtown office buildings into residential units, aiming to address the city's housing shortage and revitalize the urban core. The initiative seeks to incentivize developers to convert unused office space into apartments or condos, potentially bringing new life to underutilized areas of the city.
Cincinnati, OH
United States
Atlanta, GA converts shipping containers into affordable housing
In light of a growing homeless population in Atlanta, city officials are converting shipping containers into affordable housing units that are accessible for those with disabilities and also include a bathroom, a bed and a refrigerator.. With 40 housing units now in use, the city has plans to add another 20,000 units by 2030.
Atlanta, GA
United States
Johnson County, KS Landlord Incentive Pilot Program seeks uptick in housing voucher participation
County officials recognized a steady downturn in Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) acceptance from 2019 to 2022. The Landlord Incentive Pilot Program is funded by $200,000 in federal funding and offers several layers of incentives for property owners. Participating landlords qualify for sign-on bonuses worth up to three times their monthly rent. A Damage Reimbursement Fund covers up to $3,500 per unit in damages for valid claims beyond what's covered by security deposits.
Johnson County, KS
United States
Santa Barbara County, CA evaluates 3D printing for affordable home construction during pilot
The Santa Barbara County Association of Governments received a $375,000 state grant for a 3D-printed home in Goleta. Apis Cor will print walls with innovative robotic technology and install them on a standard foundation. The county's Housing Trust Fund will work with university researchers to compare the structure's environmental impacts with traditional construction. This trial seeks an option for mass home construction in a county with an average home cost of $870,000.
Santa Barbara County, CA
United States
Swindon Borough Council, GB deploys drones for streamlined roofing inspections in social housing
The borough's emerging tech team coordinated a drone inspection pilot across multiple departments. A drone equipped with multi-direction obstacle sensing and geofencing completed inspections in an average of 17 minutes. Drone inspections also identified hazardous materials and structural issues before they became costly issues. The now-permanent drone program achieved a 100% rate of first-time repairs and annual savings of £80,265 during the pilot.
Swindon Borough Council, GB
United Kingdom
Evanston, IL addresses long-term impacts of housing discrimination with Restorative Housing Program
The first-of-its-type Restorative Housing Program offers $25,000 per direct descendent of African American or Black families who lived in Evanston between 1919 and 1969. These payments were initially limited to down payments, mortgage assistance, and home renovations. Evanston approved a direct cash payment option for eligible residents in 2023. The program's budget is funded by taxes collected on recreational marijuana sales.
Evanston, IL
United States
Boston, MA Healthy and Green Retrofit Pilot Program seeks decarbonization of owner-occupied rentals
The pilot randomly selects ten qualified applicants for decarbonization retrofit assistance in buildings with two to four units. Qualifications for the program include owner occupancy and pre-1999 construction dates. Customized green energy plans and construction management services guide participants through retrofits. Grants up to $50,000 per unit cover heat pump installation, weatherization, and other improvements.
Boston, MA
United States
Baltimore, MD boosts middle neighborhood development with its City Employee Homeownership Program
Full-time city employees qualify for $5,000 in down payment assistance under the existing program. A one-year enhancement offers $10,000 per approved applicant for home purchases in 205 middle neighborhoods. Participants must contribute at least $1,000 of their own money and complete homeownership counseling certificates. The program is part of a strategy to strengthen stable neighborhoods that includes home repair grants and city service promotion.
Baltimore, MD
United States
Moyne, VIC Worker Accommodation program takes aim at housing impacts on regional labor market
The program recognizes the connection between housing shortages and long-term vacancies in key industries. Council-owned cabins were installed in caravan parks at Koroit and Mortlake. Each fully furnished unit includes a living room, kitchenette, and HVAC system. Moyne works with interested employers on placing new hires in worker accommodations. The short-term accommodations help workers ease into new roles and can be rented out to tourists when not in use.
Moyne, VIC
Australia