Housing

Financing affordable housing is difficult, but a new Kansas City Regional Housing Fund backed by local foundations hopes to create or preserve thousands of homes across the nine-county area. A similar fund in Cleveland offers an early look at what to expect.

Permits in the Kansas City metro area rose 5.7% in May, and they're up nearly 67% compared to a year before. The increase comes after Kansas City eased some of its energy efficiency requirements that developers say raised building costs.

The city previously made a deal to subsidize rent at the apartment complex in the Historic Northeast in exchange for repairs. Conditions at the property have gotten worse, and the city is considering stepping in once again to make it habitable.

Missouri Rep. Mark Alford is running for reelection in the newly redrawn 4th congressional district. He joined KCUR’s Up To Date to discuss the war in Iran, the bipartisan housing bill that President Trump has refused to sign, the Supreme Court’s birthright citizenship ruling and more.

A new tax credit could help fill financial gaps for projects and ease housing shortages in the region. The office buildings must be in a downtown or central business district area, and 25 years or older, but converting them into apartments isn't cheap.

Rent prices in Nebraska have increased 29% over the last seven years, and experts say wages are not keeping up. Nebraskans are finding temporary fixes to housing costs.

Residents at the North Lawn apartment complex in the Historic Northeast got together and formed a tenant's union earlier this year. They say their landlord hasn’t held up his end of the bargain while they’ve been dealing with unbearable heat.

After Congress passed the "21st Century ROAD to Housing Act" this week, President Donald Trump said he wouldn't sign it into law unless lawmakers also passed an unrelated bill focused on voting restrictions. Johnson County Rep. Sharice Davids joined KCUR's Up To Date to share her reactions and to discuss what could come next.

Missouri and Kansas laborers unions float a potential affordable housing solution — investing pension money in projects that would also provide paid workforce training — that’s been done in other cities.

Residents in a Northeast apartment complex won historic rent protections in 2023. As those are running out, they’ve expanded their tenant union. They demand repairs and affordable rent from their landlord.

The Kansas City Council recently removed a 75-year-old rule that required businesses to provide a certain number of parking spots. Some residents and visitors say the change will exacerbate an already frustrating parking situation.

An anonymous donor provided the initial funding for Pope Leo Village, in honor of the first American Pope. It will be comprised of eight renovated homes in northeast Wichita.