housing shortage

The Legislature passed laws allowing smaller homes on smaller lots and making it harder for neighbors to block new housing.

South Plains Community Action Association, Inc., or SPCAA, serves approximately 114 counties in Texas, with a focus on assisting in rural communities. It is one of many organizations whose programs are under threat in upcoming federal budget proposals.

Advocates for people who are homeless say eliminating the credit will mean it's harder to find affordable places to live. Lawmakers say when they passed the tax credits in 2022, they didn’t realize how much they would cost.

Critics of the affordable housing tax credit argue it is costing Kansas too much money. But supporters say it's helping construct new homes amid a housing shortage that’s driving up the costs of homes and contributing to homelessness.

Kansas has a lack of housing in both rural and urban areas. The bill would focus on areas with “minimal building activity.”

The bill proposes requiring courts to automatically seal certain eviction records and expunge others after two years.

Demand for homes in Kansas is high, but construction of new homes has been slow for more than a decade. Kansas saw a significant drop in home construction after the Great Recession, contributing to a housing shortage today that drives up prices.

A new Harvard University study found an increase in the number of Texas households headed by people 65 or older spending more than 30% of their income on housing. Advocates say keeping older adults housed will require substantial public investment and reforms.

The state’s First Time Homebuyer program offers assistance with down payments and closing costs for low-income residents. And they’re encouraging potential homeowners to apply.

The Wichita housing crisis is impacting hundreds of refugees who come to the community for a new life.