Housing Policy Glossary

Housing for which occupants pay no more than 30 percent of gross income on housing costs including utilities.

The midpoint household income for a geographic area, calculated by HUD and used to set eligibility thresholds for housing programs.

The illegal practice of inducing homeowners to sell at below-market prices by exploiting fears about neighborhood racial change.

A federal program providing flexible annual grants to communities for housing, economic development, and neighborhood improvement benefiting low- and moderate-income persons.

A nonprofit organization that holds land in trust for the community, leasing it to homeowners or developers to preserve long-term housing affordability.

A 1977 federal law requiring banks to meet the credit needs of all communities they serve, including low- and moderate-income neighborhoods.

A household spending more than 30 percent of gross income on housing costs. Severely cost-burdened households spend more than 50 percent.

A legal standard under which facially neutral policies can violate fair housing law if they disproportionately harm a protected group without sufficient justification.

Land-use regulations that effectively exclude affordable or multi-family housing, such as large-lot minimums and single-family-only districts.

Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968, prohibiting discrimination in housing based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, familial status, and disability.

A federal agency created in 1934 that insures private mortgage loans, reducing lender risk and enabling broader access to homeownership.

A process of neighborhood change involving investment, rising property values, and the potential displacement of lower-income residents.

A federal rental subsidy allowing low-income households to rent in the private market, paying approximately 30 percent of income toward rent.

An evidence-based approach providing permanent housing to homeless individuals without preconditions such as sobriety or employment.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, the principal federal agency for housing programs, fair housing enforcement, and community development.

Land-use policies requiring or incentivizing developers to include affordable units in new residential projects, often in exchange for density bonuses.

A federal tax credit program created in 1986 that incentivizes private development of affordable rental housing by providing tax credits over a ten-year period.

Not In My Backyard. Opposition by existing residents to proposed nearby developments, particularly affordable housing, shelters, or denser construction.

Government-owned housing developments for low-income residents, managed by local Public Housing Authorities under HUD oversight.

A clause in a property deed prohibiting sale or rental to members of certain racial groups. Declared unenforceable by Shelley v. Kraemer (1948).

The discriminatory practice of denying financial services to neighborhoods based on racial or ethnic composition, originating with HOLC maps in the 1930s.

Government regulation limiting the amount landlords can increase rents annually on existing tenants, designed to prevent displacement.

The illegal practice of directing housing seekers toward or away from neighborhoods based on race, ethnicity, or other protected characteristics.

A mortgage loan made to borrowers with lower credit scores or higher risk profiles, typically carrying higher interest rates. Their proliferation contributed to the 2008 financial crisis.

Local government regulations that divide land into districts with specified permitted uses and development standards governing density, height, and building types.