In July 2024, the Nowak Metro Finance Lab at Drexel University and Accelerator for America launched the National Housing Crisis Task Force (link).
The Task Force was created to tackle “the breadth and depth of the housing crisis and the urgent need for all layers of government and the private and civic sectors to rise to the occasion and fully treat the housing crisis like the crisis it is.”
In March 2025 they released “The introduction to the State and Local Housing Action Plan” (link) summarizing all of the expected tools planned and includes a “how to” guide for the action plan.
In May 2025 they released a second set of tools being added to its State and Local Housing Action Plan (link)
Following are the listing of the announced tools: (Each item is hyperlinked to additional details)
March 2025
Responding to a Crisis: Lessons from Atlanta’s Housing Strike Force
“Right-Sizing” Property Tax Incentives to Increase Housing Affordability
Expanding Housing Supply: A Call for Municipal Property Advisors
Land Use, Permitting, and Building Code Reform: A Path Forward
May 2025
A recent article from CBS News Miami (link) highlighted a challenging situation, where an elderly couple in their 80s is facing over $366,000 in fines related to code violations on their duplex.
To be fair, it’s entirely possible the article doesn’t tell the full story. There may be additional context — perhaps the property owners are habitual offenders, or the violations were more severe than described. Municipal enforcement is rarely black and white.
That said, the overall optics of this case are concerning. Regardless of any missing context, this situation has created a narrative that reflects poorly on the city — and that’s something most municipalities would want to avoid.
There are a few important lessons worth reflecting on:
1. Communication Matters — Even When It’s Limited
During a public meeting, city commissioners were informed of the case by a reporter. Their decision not to respond may have been due to the issue being in active litigation — a perfectly valid reason to withhold comment. That said, even a brief explanation such as “We’re unable to discuss ongoing legal matters at this time” would have signaled to the public that the matter is being taken seriously and not ignored.
In sensitive cases, communication — even when limited — helps build public trust.
2. Delays and Discretion: A Need for Flexibility
The more substantial concern involves the timeline and the fine structure itself.
According to the article, the homeowners believe they addressed the violations promptly. Yet it reportedly took more than 220 days for the city to return and verify compliance. Perhaps there was a breakdown in communication — maybe the city was never notified that the work was completed. Still, such a long delay raises questions about the system’s efficiency and responsiveness to timely resolutions.
What really stands out, however, is what happened after compliance. Once the property was brought up to code, there doesn’t appear to have been a clear, accessible path to drastically reduce or rescind the fines. While every city needs safeguards to ensure fairness and prevent abuse, there must also be room for discretion — especially when dealing with long-time residents and unique circumstances.
To an outsider, this situation called for a “slap on the wrist” penalty, not a “$366,000 sledgehammer.”
Moving Forward
Again, there may be more to this case than what has been publicly reported — and perhaps that additional context would help explain how things escalated. But from a public policy perspective, it’s hard not to conclude that this situation could have — and should have — been handled differently.
To be fair, many code enforcement departments are operating with limited resources. Staffing shortages, increasing caseloads, and budget constraints all impact the speed and consistency of enforcement activities. It’s entirely possible that delays or missed opportunities in this case were not due to neglect, but to overburdened staff doing their best under pressure. Code enforcement officials are deeply dedicated public servants who want what’s best for the community as a whole — and for its residents in particular. But without the proper support and flexibility in the system, even well-intentioned efforts can produce unfortunate outcomes.
A more flexible and transparent code enforcement process could have saved the city time, money, and the damage of negative media exposure.
Code enforcement is a vital municipal function, but it works best when it’s seen as fair, efficient, and responsive to the people it serves. Everyone benefits when systems are designed to resolve issues quickly and equitably.
No system is perfect, and enforcement is rarely simple. But cases like this are reminders of the human impact behind these processes. With thoughtful updates to policy — and a bit more flexibility and communication — similar situations can often be resolved with less stress, less cost, and greater community goodwill.
Ideally, we should all be working toward systems that uphold standards while also supporting the people who live in our neighborhoods.
Often overlooked, abandoned boats are visible blight and potential safety hazards.
Pennsylvania State Rep. Anita Kulik, chair of the House Game and Fisheries Committee, introduced H.B. 103 “providing for at-risk, derelict and abandoned boats; and imposing penalties.”
The bill has passed the House and now moves to the Senate.
To view the text of the proposed legislation, please click here.
To view Rep. Kulik’s press release, please click here.
To view a related media article, please click here.
A new report by Housing Action Illinois and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Code Enforcement as a Tool for Safe, Equitable & Affordable Housing, explores the impact of local housing code enforcement on health, safety, and stability.
The study analyzed housing code enforcement practices in five midsize Illinois cities and Chicago, exploring challenges in current enforcement models and identifying opportunities for reform.
Key findings
Recommendations
To view the full report, please click here
To view a summary article from the Urban Institute, please click here.
A recent article by Anthony A. Braga, Jerry Lee Professor of Criminology and Director, Crime and Justice Policy Lab, at the University of Pennsylvania revisits the 1982 landmark article in Atlantic, written by James Q. Wilson and George L. Kelling introducing the Broken Windows thesis.
Policing as Public Health
Why Broken Windows still applies
Twenty-first-century policymakers profess a deep commitment to “public health,” and they now apply the concept to the problem of violent crime in cities. When Joe Biden took office as president in 2021, for example, he promoted the adoption of public-health interventions to address an uptick of murders; last June, U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy declared gun violence a public-health crisis.
These initiatives may be well-intentioned, but they ignore a hard truth. Police departments play a critical role in controlling violent crime and should be part of the public-health approach. Advocates of such an approach to crime tend to be reluctant to engage the police, worried about racially disparate policing and incarceration statistics. Yet the wholesale avoidance of the police works against their goals.
Public-health advocates regularly suggest preventing violence by, for instance, securing abandoned properties, cleaning up blighted lots, and fixing street lighting. But improving the physical environment is an old and well-established idea in policing.
To read the complete article, please click here.
The proposed “Blight Mitigation Act (HB0006) was most recently referred to the House Rules Committee (January 9th).
The synopsis of the bill states:
Creates the Blight Mitigation Act.
Provides that a property owner that lives within one-fourth of a mile of and on the same street as residential real property that has been abandoned may, after the property has been continuously abandoned for 12 months, petition the court for title to the land.
Provides that the court shall order that title to the real property be transferred to the petitioner if the petitioner presents clear and convincing evidence that:
(1) the property is abandoned;
(2) the owner of the property has been made a party to the action in accordance with the Code of Civil Procedure and court rules; and
(3) the property is not: listed for sale on a multiple listing service; being maintained in receivership status; or under contract for sale. Effective immediately.
To view the text of the bill, please click here.
To view a related media article, please click here.
In January we reported on articles in the Wall Street Journal and other major outlets that highlighted a concerning trend in some housing market, hidden costs and the potential for it to result in higher foreclosures.
Now the Joint Center For Housing Studies of Harvard University has issued a new research brief.
“Housing affordability is a growing concern for homeowners. While high home prices and mortgage interest rates have forced first-time buyers to stretch their budgets, longtime homeowners are increasingly burdened by rising costs for home insurance, property taxes, utilities and routine maintenance of their homes. The greatest burdens are being shouldered by those with the lowest incomes, many of whom are older adults on fixed incomes or single-person and single-parent households relying on a single income. These homeowners have few options available to get immediate help paying housing-related bills, although several programs offer financial support for home improvements that can offer longer-term gains, such as for urgent repairs, weatherization, energy efficiency, or increased accessibility. With costs of homeownership rising and the number of households with burdens growing, demand for these programs will be necessary to keep homeowners safely and securely housed.”
To access the brief, please click here.
On Monday, February 10, the Pennsylvania Senate Majority Policy Committee, chaired by long-time anti-blight advocate Senator David Argall, held a public hearing to review successful strategies for combating blighted, decaying buildings in communities large and small.
Once again, Pennsylvania is taking a leadership role in addressing blight, with Sen. Argall at the forefront. While the discussion focused on Pennsylvania, the issues and solutions discussed have national implications. Communities across the country should look for state representatives willing to champion anti-blight initiatives. Having a knowledgeable and passionate team, including individuals like Mary Beth Dougherty, can make all the difference in driving real change.
The complexities of balancing the rights of property owners with those of affected neighbors remain a significant challenge. This issue was highlighted in a December 2023 blog post Uncooperative Judge? Share This Perspective. Ensuring fair yet effective judicial action on blighted properties is critical to making progress. As mentioned in the hearing, former Chief Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes’ famous quote—“The right to swing my fist ends where the other man’s nose begins”—rings especially true in the context of balancing property rights and community well-being.
A lack of funding for code enforcement officers, training, and the establishment of enforcement standards is an ongoing issue. Without adequate resources, even the best policies and laws struggle to be effectively implemented. This funding gap is a common problem across states and must be addressed to strengthen local governments’ ability to combat blight.
One of the more frustrating realities is that many communities do not take full advantage of the tools already available to them. A telling example shared during the hearing was a legislative shift from requiring municipalities to establish housing/property maintenance courts (“shall establish”) to making it optional (“may establish”). Without a clear mandate and dedicated state funding, it’s no surprise that no such courts were ever created. Policymakers must be mindful of the practical implications of their language choices and ensure that local governments have the direction and support they need.
It was encouraging to hear about innovative approaches to zoning. One City Manager detailed his efforts to find legal alternatives to the costly $7,000 fee associated with advertising simple zoning changes. Additionally, a proactive approach to making necessary zoning adjustments—rather than waiting for developers to request variances—saves time and money while fostering a more development-friendly environment. These types of forward-thinking solutions are essential in making cities more attractive to responsible developers.
Many communities face difficulties in promoting homeownership over rental properties. While rental properties serve an important purpose, increasing owner-occupancy rates has been shown to contribute to neighborhood stability, higher property values, and better-maintained properties. More work is needed to find effective ways to encourage and support homeownership.
A vacant property registry was referenced multiple times during the hearing, but it was not the focal point. However, one quote from the discussion stands out as a crucial reminder for municipalities: “The blight world is not a profit-making world.”
Addressing blight is about public service, community investment, and long-term neighborhood revitalization. It requires cooperation between local governments, courts, legislators, and community stakeholders. Pennsylvania continues to set an example, but there is still much work to be done.
For those working in this space, the key takeaway is clear: creative thinking, persistent advocacy, and strategic partnerships are essential to tackling blight effectively. Let’s keep the momentum going.
To view a recording of the hearing, please click here.
Two recent developments in Syracuse NY center around its rental registration program.
First, on January 23rd syracuse.com reported that per the City’s Auditor, its “rental registry’s weak compliance is worse than believed”.
Per City Auditor 25% of properties requiring registration are actually registered, the Department of Neighborhood and Business Development believes compliance to be at 33%, still well below the previously reported 42% rate.
On February 3rd, syracuse.com reported, that a recent court ruling affirmed the City’s authority to mandate apartment inspections. The landlords originally contended that these inspections infringed upon their property rights and constituted unwarranted searches. However, the court determined that the city’s inspection requirements are lawful and essential for ensuring tenant safety and maintaining housing standards.
For more information, please click on the following links:
Jan 23: Syracuse rental registry’s weak compliance is worse than believed, auditor says
Feb 3: Syracuse wins lawsuit brought by landlords, can continue to demand apartment inspections
One Georgia municipality is working to develop “a civil nuisance law that would allow private citizens to file nuisance complaints in Municipal Court.”
The stated intent is to assist in scenarios where a violation exists that code enforcement does not have access to or to avoid the weaponization of code enforcement.
To view the article please click here.
For additional information this topic please click on the following links: