The second week of March 2025 brought several significant developments in the affordable housing sector across the United States. From program suspensions and campus expansion controversies to innovative repurposing of office buildings, these stories underscore the complex dynamics shaping housing access and affordability nationwide.

1. Trump Administration Halts $1 Billion Affordable Housing Preservation Program

The Trump administration has suspended a $1 billion HUD program designed to preserve affordable housing for low-income Americans. The initiative had provided funding for much-needed upgrades and maintenance of aging affordable housing units, helping thousands of families remain housed in safe and stable environments.

Advocates are voicing concern that halting this program could lead to widespread displacement and an increase in homelessness, as properties may fall into disrepair or convert to market-rate housing. Without intervention, the country could see a further deepening of the affordable housing crisis.
More on AP News

2. UConn’s Stamford Campus to Convert Downtown Apartment Building into Student Housing

The University of Connecticut (UConn) announced a plan to convert The BLVD, an apartment building in downtown Stamford, into student housing—a move that is forcing current tenants to relocate. The building currently houses 177 residents across 88 units, but UConn plans to lease it for student accommodations starting in fall 2025.

Tenants, some of whom have lived there for years, expressed frustration and disappointment with the lack of warning or relocation support. The situation has sparked conversation about how housing strategies by large institutions can unintentionally displace vulnerable populations in high-demand areas.
More on Stamford Advocate

3. Affordable Housing Lottery Opens at 25 Water Street in Manhattan

New York City has opened a lottery for 330 affordable housing units at 25 Water Street, a former office building being converted into residential apartments. This marks one of the most ambitious office-to-residential transformations in the country and is part of the city’s broader strategy to address the housing shortage through adaptive reuse.

The affordable units are targeted toward low- and moderate-income households, with rents starting at $932/month. The project is a high-profile example of how underused commercial spaces can be repurposed to meet urgent housing needs.