Publications

A guide to policy and practice for veterans permanent supportive housing, highlighting essential elements, funding programs, and examples of developments across the U.S.

This research working paper uses the lifecycle cost methodology to compare the total cost of developing and maintaining multifamily affordable rental housing over a 50-year period using either acquisition-rehab or new construction. Our analysis of a convenience sample of more than 200 properties found that, all else equal, new construction added approximately $40,000 to $71,000 (25 to 45 percent) per-unit to the lifecycle costs.   

This paper is part of a suite of materials exploring lifecycle underwriting, including an online tool and two additional working papers.

View suite of materials

Lifecycle underwriting represents a new way of thinking about the costs of multifamily affordable housing. A policy working paper explores the policy and practical implications of lifecycle underwriting and opens up a debate about the trade-offs of financing properties for a 50-year viability period, rather than the more typical 15-year time frame.

The suite of materials also includes L-Cycle, a free tool that enables users to estimate whether a property is likely to have sufficient funds to meet expected capital needs over a full 50-year lifecycle. 

[view the suite of materials]

This paper examines how inclusionary housing policies fared during the nation’s historic housing downturn, as well as the major issues and opportunities that confront inclusionary housing today, as the housing market begins to recover.

This report from the Center for Housing Policy explores the effects of the growing population of older adults on the demand for housing, the challenge of providing meaningful housing choices for older adults of all incomes, and the policies that could help communities across the country respond to the dual challenges of providing older adults with affordable housing and adequate services.