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Survivors of domestic and sexual violence can break their lease early in some states
The pandemic lockdown prompted state lawmakers to help victims of assault who are struggling to move away from their alleged abusers.
Anxiety over squatters, fueled by TikTok, inspires a wave of legislation
Squatter horror stories have reached a fever pitch after a migrant on TikTok encouraged people to squat in homes across the United States.
As consumers lose millions to gift card scams, lawmakers pressure businesses
In 2023, gift card-related fraud made up $217 million of the record-high $10 billion in money lost from scams nationwide, the Federal Trade Commission says.
Deadly fires from phone, scooter batteries leave lawmakers playing catch-up on safety
Rechargeable lithium batteries power our daily lives — but if they ignite, they burn hot, explosively and with a tenacity that makes them difficult to extinguish.
Working-class people rarely have a seat ‘at the legislative table’ in state capitols
Just 116 of the nearly 7,400 state legislators in the United States come from working-class backgrounds, according to a biennial study.
Desperate for affordable housing, some cities sweeten tax breaks for developers
Last month, city council members in Fort Worth, Texas, decided developers that received massive tax breaks to build affordable housing would no longer be able to buy their way out of the obligation by paying a $200 annual fee in lieu of each unbuilt low-income unit. In Columbus, Ohio, leaders voted in December to expand […]
The U.S. needs homes. But first, it needs the workers to build them.
The construction industry says it is experiencing a workforce shortage and has been since well before the pandemic.
As homeless people become more visible, some cities and states take a tougher line
More places are siding with residents and business owners when it comes to homeless people’s rights.
Homeless residents face uncertainty as encampment sweeps gain steam
More than 653,000 Americans are experiencing homelessness, a 12% increase from last year, per federal statistics.
States grapple with racist language in real estate deeds
Several states recently have passed laws banning racist language in property deeds that prohibited home sales to Black or immigrant buyers.
States are trying to prop up the child care industry. It isn’t enough.
The unraveling of a system plagued by a lack of affordability and access, low wages, staffing turnover and burnout will continue, experts say.
Amid rising evictions and rents, states grapple with protections in tenant-landlord laws
As the number of renters rises, organizers pushing for renters’ rights are finding more of their own among the ranks of state legislatures across the country.