Despite a variety of programs designed to reduce the cost burden on homeowners in the wake of the financial crisis, a new study from the Center for Housing Policy confirms that many working households are paying half or more of their income into housing costs. CivSource spoke with Laura Williams, research associate with the Center [...]
The recall action against Governor Scott Walker of Wisconsin is going forward but at a significant cost to local municipalities and with a significant fight over the privacy of residents that signed recall petitions. Cash strapped municipalities are facing thousands in additional costs that will result from a special election. Citizens and privacy advocates are [...]
Lower revenues and budget cuts continue to dominate the agendas of state governments. Yet, demand for human services such as unemployment insurance and welfare benefits have seen a dramatic increase as people find themselves struggling and out of work. In this environment, many states are looking for ways to streamline their benefits systems to cut [...]
Six states have worked out an understanding with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to reduce duplicate inspections of affordable housing units. The states hope that by cutting back on repetitive housing inspections, those resources can go to providing more affordable housing. The agreement it part of the Obama Administration’s goal of [...]
Last night, the Topeka, Kansas city council took an extraordinary step to manage budget cuts — decriminalizing domestic violence. The move was spurred by a lack of prosecutorial budgets at all levels of the city and county court system, a problem which came to its tipping point last night.
Michigan Governor Rick Snyder signed a tighter limit on how long residents can draw welfare benefits into law yesterday. The bill signed yesterday places a strict 48 month lifetime limit on welfare cash assistance. Another bill moving through the state legislature would further limit where and when people can use that cash assistance – prohibiting [...]
We are now but a few weeks away from the November elections. From a state perspective, the 2010 election represents perhaps the most daunting level of leadership changes ever experienced at one time. This creates significant opportunities, but also some risks and uncertainties. As has been widely reported, there are an unprecedented 37 contested governors [...]
New York is giving $28 million in funding awards to not-for-profit housing agencies in the state. The funds will go towards building, renovating or modifying 1,472 homes for low-income families, the disabled or the elderly. In addition to that 120 units will be made available to provide home ownership opportunities for veterans, homeless and first [...]
The Colorado Department of Human Services (CDHS), Division of Child Support Enforcement (CSE) is looking for a way to monitor and track an online training system for county and state CSE staff. The RFI is seeking information on software programs that can automate administrative, registration, tracking and notification tasks associated to CSE training.
Last week, the US Labor Department announced $9.6 million to improve unemployment insurance information technology systems. According to the Labor Dept., the money is designed to help states solidify IT security and contingency plans for their unemployment insurance (UI) systems.
