Friday news roundup 5/22/15

HUD’s Office of Public and Indian Housing (PIH) has updated the two-year forecasting tool for the housing choice voucher (HCV) program. According to the announcement of Version 2015.2:

This tool contains a “wizard” that will assist you in populating the tool with PHA-specific leasing and spending numbers. You may also bypass the “wizard” to access a blank tool. The two-year tool also contains a high-level analysis of a PHA’s administrative fee situation, including peer group comparisons, when using the “wizard.”

PIH also posted a 20-page step-by-step guide for the updated tool and a “success rate document” which describes “potential routes a PHA may pursue to try and increase the success rate of issued vouchers.” You’ll find links to the updated tool and supporting documents on the HCV home page. In other news:

CityLab: The deep roots of America's housing affordability crisis

New York Times (via Planetizen): An aggressive plan to shore up New York City's deteriorating public housing

NLIHC: Congress has left Washington, DC for the Memorial Day recess

Our offices will be closed Monday, May 25, in observance of the Memorial Day holiday. We will reopen Tuesday, May 26, 2015. Have a nice long weekend!