affordable housing

A new study points to a range of options for easing traffic and improving economic development around the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard.

The land use study was spearheaded by the town of Kittery, Maine. It's designed to help local officials plan improvements and seek federal funding.

Larry Dennis is president of the engineers' union at the shipyard, where nearly 7,000 people work.

Permits to build single-family homes and multi-family units in New Hampshire increased last year according to a report from the state’s Office of Strategic Initiatives.

Last year, close to 4,300 units were permitted, making 2018 the year with most number of units permitted since 2008.

U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson met with formerly homeless veterans in Manchester on Tuesday.

Carson also released new statistics showing that the rate of veterans experiencing homelessness dipped by 2% nationally, but by more than 20% in New Hampshire.

People in West Lebanon had a chance to tour New Hampshire’s first net-zero multi-family residential building. 

About 400 solar panels will power Tracy Community Housing. Some are on the roof, and others are on the south side of the building. Each apartment has a mini-split unit that’ll cool or heat the apartment using air source heat pumps.

A new report from the New Hampshire Housing Finance Authority says the affordable housing market has gotten even tighter this year. The survey polled owners and managers of more than 23,000 market rate rentals across the state, earlier this year. 

The results revealed that rent prices are rising and less housing is available.

• The median rental price for a two bedroom unit increased 4% since 2018
• The statewide vacancy rate decreased from 2% to less than 1%.

The head of the New Hampshire Housing Finance Authority does not see an end to the state’s affordable housing crisis any time soon.

Speaking on The Exchange, Dean Christon said the vacancy rate, particularly when it comes to rentals in multi-family homes, is the lowest in the region, hovering at or below 1 %. 

A new apartment building in Gilford is the first in the state to be certified as a “passive house.”

It uses airtight construction and energy efficient insulation that aims to sharply lower residents’ bills.

The building is the third phase of an affordable senior housing development called Gilford Village Knolls.

It includes 24 one-bedroom apartments, with a small rooftop solar array to cut residents' energy costs through net metering.

The nonprofit Lakes Region Community Developers built the multi-million dollar complex with state funding and tax credits.

Homelessness in New Hampshire has grown over the past two years, even as the state's economy has boomed.

A report from The New Hampshire Coalition to End Homelessness says the number of homeless people in the state increased by 10 percent between 2016 and 2018 to a total of 1,450 people.

A new study from the University of New Hampshire and the real estate website Zillow shows the impact rental housing affordability has on a community's rate of homelessness.

Researchers found that once residents are paying more than 32 percent of local median income to rent, the expected homelessness rate goes up sharply.  

UNH assistant professor of decision sciences Chris Glynn says this is most extreme in places like Los Angeles, where rents are nearly half of the median income and the homelessness crisis is clear.

An Upper Valley non-profit is hosting a public information session Thursday on accessory dwelling units, often known as in-law apartments.

New Hampshire is getting $14 million to support efforts to expand affordable housing.

The grants announced Friday by the state's Democratic congressional delegation come from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The money will go to a variety of projects, including those aimed at helping those experiencing a housing crisis or homelessness.

Members of the delegation said they are pleased that the money is a substantial increase — about $1.7 million — compared to last year.

Construction is now officially underway on New Hampshire's first net-zero, multi-family housing project.

Rep. Annie Kuster joined state and local officials for the groundbreaking Wednesday in Lebanon.

The building’s 29 units will not only be energy-neutral, their electric use offset by solar panels, but also affordable. Resident incomes will be capped at about 60 percent of the area median, or about $42,000 for a family of four.

If you are having trouble buying a home in New Hampshire right now, you are not alone.

New data released by the New Hampshire Housing Finance Authority shows that a dearth of single family homes is driving up prices, with many sellers receiving multiple offers above the listing price.

A bill that could double the maximum security deposit for most New Hampshire renters drew support from local landlords at its first hearing Wednesday — but also warnings that it would exacerbate New Hampshire’s already severe homelessness problem.

Rents continue to rise in New Hampshire as a shortage of units pushes prices up.

A new report from New Hampshire Housing, based on a telephone study conducted by the UNH Survey Center, puts the median monthly rent for a 2-bedroom unit at $1,263, up four percent from last year.

It’s hard to find housing in New Hampshire, according to those who spoke at a summit on the issue in Manchester on Friday — but it’s particularly challenging for young professionals, older adults and those with limited incomes.

Addressing this is a key part of ensuring the state’s economic viability in the long run, according to the local officials who spoke at the event.