In July 2024, the Nowak Metro Finance Lab at Drexel University and Accelerator for America launched the National Housing Crisis Task Force (link). The Task Force was created to tackle “the breadth and depth ofREAD MORE
Reflections on a Difficult Code Enforcement Case
A recent article from CBS News Miami (link) highlighted a challenging situation, where an elderly couple in their 80s is facing over $366,000 in fines related to code violations on their duplex. To be fair, it’sREAD MORE
PA H.B. 103 Abandoned Boats
Often overlooked, abandoned boats are visible blight and potential safety hazards. Pennsylvania State Rep. Anita Kulik, chair of the House Game and Fisheries Committee, introduced H.B. 103 “providing for at-risk, derelict and abandoned boats; andREAD MORE
How Housing Code Enforcement Shapes Stability and Access to Safe Homes
A new report by Housing Action Illinois and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Code Enforcement as a Tool for Safe, Equitable & Affordable Housing, explores the impact of local housing code enforcement on health,READ MORE
Policing as Public Health – Why Broken Windows still applies
A recent article by Anthony A. Braga, Jerry Lee Professor of Criminology and Director, Crime and Justice Policy Lab, at the University of Pennsylvania revisits the 1982 landmark article in Atlantic, written by James Q.READ MORE
Illinois Blight Mitigation Act
The proposed “Blight Mitigation Act (HB0006) was most recently referred to the House Rules Committee (January 9th). The synopsis of the bill states: Creates the Blight Mitigation Act. Provides that a property owner that livesREAD MORE
Rising Costs of Homeownership Are a Growing Burden
In January we reported on articles in the Wall Street Journal and other major outlets that highlighted a concerning trend in some housing market, hidden costs and the potential for it to result in higherREAD MORE
Pennsylvania Leads the Charge in Fighting Blight: Key Takeaways from the Senate Majority Policy Committee Hearing
On Monday, February 10, the Pennsylvania Senate Majority Policy Committee, chaired by long-time anti-blight advocate Senator David Argall, held a public hearing to review successful strategies for combating blighted, decaying buildings in communities large andREAD MORE
Rental Registry – One Step Back Two Steps Forward
Two recent developments in Syracuse NY center around its rental registration program. First, on January 23rd syracuse.com reported that per the City’s Auditor, its “rental registry’s weak compliance is worse than believed”. Per City Auditor 25% ofREAD MORE
Civil Nuisance Law – Private Nuisance Lawsuits
One Georgia municipality is working to develop “a civil nuisance law that would allow private citizens to file nuisance complaints in Municipal Court.” The stated intent is to assist in scenarios where a violation exists thatREAD MORE
Rental Registries – Opposite Agendas at the Statehouse
Two states are seeing contrasting efforts pertaining to rental property registries. In Kentucky, House Bill 173, introduced by Rep. Ryan Dotson, R-Winchester, would prohibit any local government in Kentucky from adopting or enforcing “policy thatREAD MORE
When Mortgages Aren’t the Issue: How Rising Taxes and Insurance Costs are Impacting Homeowners
Recent reports from the Wall Street Journal and other major outlets have highlighted a concerning trend: in some housing markets, homeowners are now paying more for insurance and property taxes than they are for theirREAD MORE