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As some lawmakers worry they’re losing the power of the purse, a plaque describing that power went missing - Streetlight

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Streetlight @streetlightnews.bsky.social · Sep 2

The disappearance of a plaque describing Congress's power of the purse embodies some lawmakers' concerns that they're losing the authority to appropriate taxpayer funds
streetlightnews.org/appropriatio...

The Trump administration believes a law blocking the executive branch from withholding funds without Congress's approval is unconstitutional

RealPage fended off Berkeley ban. How will other cities fare?

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Streetlight @streetlightnews.bsky.social · Jul 10

Berkeley postponed its ban against software that uses algorithms to set rents after RealPage sued the city. The software developer alleged the ban violated RealPage's First Amendment rights. Read more from @sfstandard.com: sfstandard.com/2025/07/09/r...

A lawsuit in Berkeley may spell trouble for other cities aiming to restrict software that jacks up rent, but bipartisan support for such bans is swelling.

sfstandard.com

Streetlight @streetlightnews.bsky.social · Jul 9

For the average homebuyer, single-family houses are affordable in just three of the nation’s 100 largest metro areas streetlightnews.org/housing-costs/

For the third year in a row, a record number of renters can’t afford their housing costs - Streetlight

Zoning updates that allow more types of housing are helping some Americans become homeowners

For the third year in a row, a record number of renters can’t afford their housing costs - Streetlight

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Streetlight @streetlightnews.bsky.social · Jun 30

If you want to learn more about housing affordability by the numbers, check out this report from @harvard-jchs.bsky.social, which was our main source for the data in these stories. www.jchs.harvard.edu/sites/defaul...

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Streetlight @streetlightnews.bsky.social · Jun 30

Homeownership is increasingly out of reach for many Americans, as median home prices and mortgage payments hit record highs. One solution is zoning updates that are leading to construction of more types of housing and helping some renters become homeowners
streetlightnews.org/housing-costs/

Zoning updates that allow more types of housing are helping some Americans become homeowners

While the nation faces record housing unaffordability and homelessness, HUD is pushing massive cuts and a move to Virginia - Streetlight

Streetlight @streetlightnews.bsky.social · Jun 30

As a record number of Americans can't afford housing costs, the Trump administration is pushing massive cuts to HUD and planning to move the agency's headquarters to Virginia from Washington, DC streetlightnews.org/hud-headquar...

HUD says a takeover of NSF’s Alexandria offices will save money but won’t share projected costs for the move

Meet the 51 finalists for the 2025 LION Sustainability Awards - LION Publishers

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Streetlight @streetlightnews.bsky.social · Jun 26

We're proud to share Streetlight is a finalist in @lionpubs.bsky.social's 2025 Sustainability Awards. Read about these 51 organizations, which are working to make news businesses that are sustainable, resilient and impactful: lionpublishers.com/meet-the-51-...

Winners will be announced live, in person, at the LION Awards Ceremony & Dinner on Wednesday, September 3, in St. Louis, Missouri.

lionpublishers.com

HUD is withholding funds despite court orders, while creating delays that are killing homebuilding projects, senators say - Streetlight

Streetlight @streetlightnews.bsky.social · Jun 18

Under the program, states would be required to limit housing assistance to two years, except for older adults and renters with disabilities. streetlightnews.org/hud-budget/

Meanwhile, HUD is seeking cuts to slash the agency’s budget in half

HUD is withholding funds despite court orders, while creating delays that are killing homebuilding projects, senators say - Streetlight

Streetlight @streetlightnews.bsky.social · Jun 18

The Trump administration’s proposed budget calls for rolling almost all of HUD’s housing assistance programs, including public housing and housing choice vouchers, into a state rental assistance program at about half the cost. streetlightnews.org/hud-budget/

Meanwhile, HUD is seeking cuts to slash the agency’s budget in half

HUD is withholding funds despite court orders, while creating delays that are killing homebuilding projects, senators say - Streetlight

Streetlight @streetlightnews.bsky.social · Jun 17

During budget hearings last week, lawmakers questioned proposed cuts to housing assistance, development and homeownership programs. HUD’s proposed budget would eliminate funding for public housing, housing choice vouchers and many other programs that millions rely on. streetlightnews.org/hud-budget/

Meanwhile, HUD is seeking cuts to slash the agency’s budget in half

HUD is withholding funds despite court orders, while creating delays that are killing homebuilding projects, senators say - Streetlight

Streetlight @streetlightnews.bsky.social · Jun 16

The Trump administration wants to hack HUD's budget in half. But as it is, HUD is withholding previously awarded funds in violation of court orders, and staff cuts have caused delays that are killing housing development projects.
streetlightnews.org/hud-budget/

Meanwhile, HUD is seeking cuts to slash the agency’s budget in half

EPA excluded, then restored, data on Black people who live closest to toxic sites - Streetlight

Streetlight @streetlightnews.bsky.social · Jun 2

“We need some immediate action,” Dianne McDaniel said of environmental hazards that have plagued residents of Oklahoma City’s JFK neighborhood for decades. “Why does it have to take this much to get things done when it’s affecting so many?” streetlightnews.org/epa-echo-data/

The EPA said a bug caused the error, which only affected data on Black residents

EPA excluded, then restored, data on Black people who live closest to toxic sites - Streetlight

Reposted by Streetlight

Streetlight @streetlightnews.bsky.social · May 28

A Streetlight investigation found EPA data excluded how many Black residents live within one mile of sites under the agency's oversight. After questions from @molliebryant.bsky.social, the EPA restored the missing numbers, calling the error a coding "bug"
streetlightnews.org/epa-echo-data/

The EPA said a bug caused the error, which only affected data on Black residents

EPA excluded, then restored, data on Black people who live closest to toxic sites - Streetlight

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Streetlight @streetlightnews.bsky.social · May 28

A Streetlight investigation found EPA data excluded how many Black residents live within one mile of sites under the agency's oversight. After questions from @molliebryant.bsky.social, the EPA restored the missing numbers, calling the error a coding "bug"
streetlightnews.org/epa-echo-data/

The EPA said a bug caused the error, which only affected data on Black residents

For the first time since the 80s, the Census Bureau won’t conduct the biennial American Housing Survey this year - Streetlight

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Streetlight @streetlightnews.bsky.social · May 14

"If this is foreshadowing a real scaling back or cutting of it, it’s a shame." This year the Census Bureau won't conduct the American Housing Survey, a one-of-its-kind study that helps HUD, researchers, policymakers and journalists make sense of the housing market streetlightnews.org/american-hou...

The US Department of Housing and The US Department of Housing and Urban Development, which uses the data for funding allocations and to set assistance eligibility, won’t fund the survey again until Ja...

For the first time since the 80s, the Census Bureau won’t conduct the biennial American Housing Survey this year - Streetlight

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Reposted by Streetlight

mollie bryant @molliebryant.bsky.social · May 13

HUD won't fund a vital survey on the nation's housing stock this year, disrupting more than 50 years of data collection and breaking federal law
streetlightnews.org/american-hou...

The US Department of Housing and The US Department of Housing and Urban Development, which uses the data for funding allocations and to set assistance eligibility, won’t fund the survey again until Ja...

Some Grants Pass councilors want unsheltered people to get sober before they get help, but waitlists limit access to treatment - Streetlight

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Reposted by Streetlight

mollie bryant @molliebryant.bsky.social · May 7

Many people experiencing homelessness don't have substance use issues, but for those seeking treatment, their recovery journey is hampered by waitlists for treatment beds and the affordable housing shortage, which makes it harder for providers to recruit staff. streetlightnews.org/grants-pass-...

An affordable housing shortage fuels homelessness and hampers recruitment of health care workers, making recovery less accessible

Some Grants Pass councilors want unsheltered people to get sober before they get help, but waitlists limit access to treatment - Streetlight

Streetlight @streetlightnews.bsky.social · May 7

In Grants Pass, Oregon, an affordable housing shortage fuels homelessness and hampers recruitment of health care workers, making recovery less accessible streetlightnews.org/grants-pass-...

An affordable housing shortage fuels homelessness and hampers recruitment of health care workers, making recovery less accessible

HUD is months behind on sending some agreements for community grants to fight homelessness - Streetlight

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Streetlight @streetlightnews.bsky.social · May 2

HUD still hasn't sent some nonprofits agreements for grants in the Continuum of Care program, which helps communities coordinate efforts to reduce homelessness. Grantees usually receive the agreements by January or February.
streetlightnews.org/hud-grants/

Updated HUD grant agreements block recipients from running DEI programs

To escape an injunction limiting its camping ban, Grants Pass must add space and accessibility to its campsites for unsheltered people - Streetlight

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Streetlight @streetlightnews.bsky.social · Apr 14

The Grants Pass City Council has since voted to allow daytime camping again, and the city says it’s taking steps to make its campsites accessible to people with disabilities.
streetlightnews.org/grants-pass-...

At their next meeting, Grants Pass councilors will instead consider creating a system to track homeless outreach

Grants Pass’ new mayor and councilors scaled back housing efforts as most residents can’t afford rent - Streetlight

Streetlight @streetlightnews.bsky.social · Apr 14

That change came about after a newly elected mayor and four new councilors scaled back several Grants Pass housing initiatives, including the campsite program.
streetlightnews.org/grants-pass-...

Two days into their terms, new councilors left unsheltered residents with nowhere to rest during the day

Grants Pass will close one of its two campsites late Thursday night, effectively banning camping during the day - Streetlight

Streetlight @streetlightnews.bsky.social · Apr 14

The injunction stemmed from a lawsuit alleging Grants Pass’ ban discriminates against people with disabilities and breaks state law on camping bans. In January, the city banned camping during the day, which disproportionately affected people with disabilities.
streetlightnews.org/grants-pass-...

Service providers said many unsheltered people are uncertain where they’ll go next when the city's J Street campsite closes

To escape an injunction limiting its camping ban, Grants Pass must add space and accessibility to its campsites for unsheltered people - Streetlight

Streetlight @streetlightnews.bsky.social · Apr 14

Grants Pass, OR, the city behind last year’s landmark #SCOTUS ruling on camping bans, can’t fully enforce its ban because of an injunction. On Wednesday, city councilors will vote on adding 2 campsites for unsheltered people in an attempt to escape the injunction streetlightnews.org/grants-pass-...

At their next meeting, Grants Pass councilors will instead consider creating a system to track homeless outreach

streetlightnews.org/fannie-mae-f...

Streetlight @streetlightnews.bsky.social · Apr 9

Fannie Mae fired more than 100 employees for ethics violations but won’t answer basic questions about their alleged misconduct - Streetlight

The Federal Housing Finance Agency, which oversees Fannie Mae, has cut a quarter of its workforce