Housing Policy & Affordable Housing Flashcards

In the context of urban housing policy, 'gentrification' refers to:

Answer: The displacement of lower-income residents as higher-income newcomers raise rents and property values in a neighborhood

Gentrification describes the socioeconomic transformation of a neighborhood when rising investment and higher-income in-migration price out existing lower-income residents through rising rents and property values.

A 'housing element' required in many state comprehensive plans is a document that:

Answer: Identifies a jurisdiction's housing needs and adopted policies to address them, including adequate sites for all income levels

State law in many states requires local governments to include a housing element in their general plan that inventories sites suitable for housing and sets policies to meet the needs of all income groups.

'Upzoning' in housing and land use policy typically refers to:

Answer: Changing zoning regulations to permit greater housing density or a broader mix of housing types

Upzoning increases allowed density or expands permitted housing types in a zone—such as allowing multifamily development where only single-family homes were previously permitted—to expand housing supply.

Which federal agency primarily administers affordable housing programs including public housing, Housing Choice Vouchers, CDBG, and HOME in the United States?

Answer: Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)

HUD, established in 1965, is the cabinet-level agency responsible for administering federal housing assistance programs, enforcing fair housing laws, and supporting community development.

A 'community land trust' (CLT) in affordable housing is best described as:

Answer: A nonprofit organization that acquires land and maintains long-term housing affordability through permanent ground leases to homeowners

CLTs retain ownership of land and lease it to homeowners through 99-year ground leases, controlling resale prices to keep homes permanently affordable for subsequent buyers.

The HOME Investment Partnerships Program (HOME) primarily provides:

Answer: Formula grants to states and localities to fund a wide range of affordable housing activities

HOME is a flexible block grant from HUD to states and localities that can fund construction, rehabilitation, homebuyer assistance, and tenant-based rental assistance for affordable housing.

'Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing' (AFFH) is a HUD requirement that obligates program participants to:

Answer: Proactively identify and take meaningful steps to overcome barriers to fair housing choice and segregation patterns

AFFH requires HUD grantees to conduct fair housing analyses and take affirmative steps to address segregation, disparities, and other barriers to fair housing—going beyond simply not discriminating.