Court narrows New Jersey’s case against RealPage in rent-setting suit

A federal judge partially dismissed claims against the rental software provider and several major landlords in a suit that alleges collusion to raise rent prices.

By Julie Strupp • April 9, 2026

Affordable housing standard evolves from sustainability to resilience

Updated Enterprise Green Communities Criteria focus on extreme heat, wildfire, flooding and power outages, treating climate risk as a core housing responsibility.

By Robyn Griggs Lawrence • Updated an hour ago

Explore the Trendline➔

Top 5 stories from Smart Cities Dive

From worsening climate change to a shifting transportation landscape and the housing affordability crisis, cities have their work cut out for them.

By Smart Cities Dive staff

Single-staircase reform proposed in California

Reducing the number of staircases smaller multifamily buildings require could unlock more housing, advocates say, but a state fire marshal report urges caution.

By Ryan Kushner • April 8, 2026

Trump budget proposal once again targets affordable housing, homeless assistance

Elimination of the HOME Investment Partnerships and Community Development Block Grant programs would be part of the 13% cut in the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s discretionary budget.

By Ryan Kushner • April 7, 2026

Trump administration effort to rewrite federal housing grant criteria hits setbacks

A judge found the administration illegally imposed a criteria change for federal funds, and an appeals court upheld an order blocking Trump from cutting permanent supportive housing grants.

By Ryan Kushner • April 6, 2026

Housing referrals from United Way helpline hit all-time high: ‘a sounding alarm for communities’

The 211 network saw “a sharp increase in people struggling — particularly around finding and keeping stable housing,” a United Way representative said.

By Ryan Kushner • April 3, 2026

FTC seeks public input on junk fee rule for rental housing

The agency is continuing to crack down on unfair or deceptive advertising in the rental housing industry.

By Julie Strupp • April 3, 2026

Federal build-to-rent limits could reduce housing supply, researchers warn

Provisions in the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act forcing the sale of BTR homes could mean 72,000 fewer houses are built each year, a recent Urban Institute study found.

By Julie Strupp • April 2, 2026

Office-to-housing conversions grew 28% last year

New York City led other cities in converted residential units by a wide margin, followed by Washington, D.C., and Chicago, according to RentCafe.

By Ryan Kushner • March 30, 2026

HUD investigates Washington state housing program

The agency claims the Covenant Homeownership Program, which aims to remedy historic housing discrimination, may be racially discriminatory toward White people and other groups.

By Julie Strupp • March 30, 2026

New York City program aims to fast-track affordable housing on city-owned land

The Neighborhood Builders Fast Track program will cut pre-development timelines for some projects nearly in half, Mayor Zohran Mamdani said.

By Ryan Kushner • March 27, 2026

Indiana city bans groups from sending it homeless individuals from other jurisdictions

Fort Wayne, Indiana, is imposing penalties of up to $2,500 for organizations that relocate unhoused individuals to the city without approval.

By Ryan Kushner • March 26, 2026

Detroit to dedicate 100% of city-owned commercial property sales proceeds to affordable housing fund

The measure is expected to generate $4 million annually for affordable housing development and preservation.

By Ryan Kushner • March 25, 2026

Office-to-housing conversion initiatives proliferate in California

State policymakers have been pursuing policy changes that remove barriers to converting older commercial buildings into housing, with mixed success.

By Keith Loria • March 25, 2026

Trump housing order could mean new barriers to federal funding for cities

Local governments may need to ease zoning and environmental rules to stay eligible for federal support, an attorney says.

By Robyn Griggs Lawrence • March 25, 2026

To make housing more affordable, invest in infrastructure

Homes need roads, water systems and power to serve them. A good start is renewing the federal surface transportation funding set to expire in September, writes a building materials executive.

By Nathan Creech • March 23, 2026

NYC reinvigorates push for ADUs

The city launched a dedicated website and is restarting a program to offer up to $395,000 to help qualifying homeowners build an ancillary dwelling unit.

By Ryan Kushner • March 23, 2026

How housing policy reform drove down rents in Austin, Texas

Removing regulatory barriers and subsidizing affordable housing helped clear the way for 120,000 new homes in the city between 2015 and 2024, according to Pew.

By Ryan Kushner • March 19, 2026

Multifamily starts jump in January

New apartment construction rose on a monthly and yearly basis, buoying residential building overall.

By Julie Strupp • March 16, 2026

Could transit agency-owned land help solve California’s housing problem?

A new study identified nearly 3,000 parcels suitable for affordable housing development.

By Ryan Kushner • March 16, 2026

Bipartisan affordable housing legislation just cleared the Senate. Here’s what it could mean for cities.

The 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act does not tamper with local zoning regulations or include unfunded mandates, experts say.

By Ryan Kushner • March 13, 2026

Trump administration unveils new plan for some homeless veterans: legal guardianship

The Department of Veterans Affairs is teaming up with the Department of Justice for the initiative, which an advocacy group calls dehumanizing. 

By Ryan Kushner • March 12, 2026

HUD appeals ruling that paused its plans to cut Housing First

The agency wants to shift away from long-term supportive housing in favor of transitional housing with work requirements and addiction treatment mandates.

By Julie Strupp • March 12, 2026

Florida advances bill to bypass local zoning, allow residential development on brownfields

The Infill Redevelopment Act would increase housing supply in the state’s denser South Florida counties.

By Ryan Kushner • March 11, 2026

How Durham, North Carolina, kick-started affordable housing development

A $95 million bond agreement in 2019 has led to a swell of affordable housing units in the city. More local governments are following suit.

By Ryan Kushner • March 10, 2026