Latest news with #SafeHarbour
USA Today
12-06-2025
- Business
- USA Today
Rents remain far above pre-COVID levels. Use this tool to check prices in your area
Rents remain far above pre-COVID levels. Use this tool to check prices in your area Show Caption Hide Caption Father's Day: Projects you can do with your kids It's never too early to share home skills with your little ones. These simple projects make it fun for kids to learn. After seven years of work and more than $18 million invested, Harbor Village, a new affordable housing development in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, officially opened its doors in January. The 40-unit rental development came together thanks to Safe Harbour, a housing nonprofit based in Carlisle. By the time Safe Harbour started screening prospective tenants, there were over 400 applications, said Scott Shewell, the group's long-time president and CEO. 'And I still get calls every day,' he told USA TODAY. The median apartment rent in Carlisle was $1,259 in May. It was one of the fastest-growing areas for rent prices that month, up 6% from a year ago, according to a USA TODAY analysis of Apartment List data. Shewell wasn't surprised. The area, he said, has seen blockbuster growth over the past several years and even well-meaning local governments committed to affordable housing haven't been able to keep up with the demand. Population in Carlisle borough has gone up nearly 12% since 2020, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. In May, Manhattan, Kansas, led other metros as the fastest-growing market in rental prices. The metro saw a 14% increase in rent prices from the same month last year. It was followed by Abilene, Texas; Grand Forks, North Dakota-Minnesota and Shreveport-Bossier City, Louisiana. Recent data shows that the rental prices in most metro areas have leveled off, but for millions of renters, the typical rent still remains dramatically higher than it was before the COVID-19 pandemic began. The USA TODAY analysis of Apartment List data for 202 metro areas found that average monthly rent between January and May was significantly higher in 94% of the metros, compared with the same period in 2019. Excluding the handful that stayed about the same as pre-pandemic levels, the data showed that prices were up by an average of 31%. The pandemic supercharged the rental market, breaking old patterns of steady growth as the population shuffled, cities closed, and people started working from home. After a short drop in rental prices, prices rebounded aggressively, hitting record highs before flattening in the latter half of 2022. The impact has been felt across the board, from Manhattan in New York City to Manhattan in Kansas. The Apartment List data shows that the new level remained steady in May 2025, which, although a relief, does not do away with the rent burden the already high prices have put on families. According to census data, about 25% of renters in America are so rent-burdened that they spent more than half of their income on rent in 2023. That figure was 22% in 2019. A three-percentage point difference means millions more Americans are spending a substantial chunk of their paycheck in rent. When these high prices were accompanied by broader inflation in groceries, gas and energy, the strain was felt by families – charting up as a top issue in the 2024 presidential election, in which Americans elected President Donald Trump who centered his campaign on bringing down prices. Housing market experts say that the rental market might have settled on a new baseline, which means prices might not go back down to what they were in 2019. Read more: Work from home is reshaping the housing market 5 years after COVID Rob Warnock, a senior research associate at Apartment List, said a reversal to pre-pandemic prices is unlikely, as we're now at a level for how much housing costs. 'More realistic than rent prices coming down is rent prices stabilizing at a place where incomes can catch up,' Warnock said. For now, two trends in the market have emerged to keep the rental prices at a stable level: slowed rental demand and a recent construction frenzy. 'The past year has been really defined by a lot of new housing construction that was built over the previous three years, coupled with fairly low demand in the rental market,' Warnock said. 'As a result, what we see is that prices are largely flat, if not down.' A race to build There are only a handful of metros where rent prices have decreased over the past year. Notable among them is Bozeman, Montana, where people flocked during the pandemic for lower costs and outdoor spaces while working remotely. '(It) expedited everyone's decision-making to move to a town like Bozeman. There's a lot of fantasy around it,' said Casey Rose, an adviser at Sterling Commercial Real Estate Advisors. Amid the increased demand in the Montana mountain metro, developers started to build apartments. Many of the projects were delivered at the same time, which resulted in very low vacancy rates, Rose said. Compared with last year, rents in Bozeman are down roughly 10%, the second largest decline, according to the Apartment List data. But the actual prices, Rose said, can be masked by incentives like offering two months of free rent, or even a free iPad, TV, or ski pass. A similar pattern has played out in Austin, where rental prices are down 6.4% compared with a year ago. Stacey Auzanne, a property manager and a third-generation Austin resident, watched pandemic digital nomads flood into the city, while builders kept erecting new developments, creating a supply glut that kept rental prices suppressed. Auzanne, who manages dozens of properties, said the landlords she works with are holding rents steady, with one even dropping the price $50 a month. It's worth it to keep good tenants in place, she said – particularly in a market where there's more supply than demand. 'The market just kept accelerating and the bubble burst,' Auzanne said. 'This year, we're really feeling it.' Experts raised concerns that prices could go up because of the changing political landscape that has seen a stringent tariff policy and crackdown on immigrants who form a large part of the construction workforce. While housing inflation has dropped from its peak of over 8% in early 2023, costs have not fallen as quickly as overall inflation. According to consumer price index data released by the Labor Department on Wednesday, rent inflation was at 3.8% in May, the smallest annual increase since January 2022. This slowdown reflects lower rents for new leases finally filtering into rates for existing tenants. While the overall rise in consumer prices was modest in May, housing costs remained the largest contributor to inflation, accounting for 35% of all price increases. More: CPI report reveals inflation crept higher in May as tariff impact was tamer than expected
Yahoo
12-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Rents remain far above pre-COVID levels. Use this tool to check prices in your area
After seven years of work and more than $18 million invested, Harbor Village, a new affordable housing development in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, officially opened its doors in January. The 40-unit rental development came together thanks to Safe Harbour, a housing nonprofit based in Carlisle. By the time Safe Harbour started screening prospective tenants, there were over 400 applications, said Scott Shewell, the group's long-time president and CEO. 'And I still get calls every day,' he told USA TODAY. The median apartment rent in Carlisle was $1,259 in May. It was one of the fastest-growing areas for rent prices that month, up 6% from a year ago, according to a USA TODAY analysis of Apartment List data. Shewell wasn't surprised. The area, he said, has seen blockbuster growth over the past several years and even well-meaning local governments committed to affordable housing haven't been able to keep up with the demand. Population in Carlisle borough has gone up nearly 12% since 2020, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. In May, Manhattan, Kansas, led other metros as the fastest-growing market in rental prices. The metro saw a 14% increase in rent prices from the same month last year. It was followed by Abilene, Texas; Grand Forks, North Dakota-Minnesota and Shreveport-Bossier City, Louisiana. Recent data shows that the rental prices in most metro areas have leveled off, but for millions of renters, the typical rent still remains dramatically higher than it was before the COVID-19 pandemic began. The USA TODAY analysis of Apartment List data for 202 metro areas found that average monthly rent between January and May was significantly higher in 94% of the metros, compared with the same period in 2019. Excluding the handful that stayed about the same as pre-pandemic levels, the data showed that prices were up by an average of 31%. The pandemic supercharged the rental market, breaking old patterns of steady growth as the population shuffled, cities closed, and people started working from home. After a short drop in rental prices, prices rebounded aggressively, hitting record highs before flattening in the latter half of 2022. The impact has been felt across the board, from Manhattan in New York City to Manhattan in Kansas. The Apartment List data shows that the new level remained steady in May 2025, which, although a relief, does not do away with the rent burden the already high prices have put on families. According to census data, about 25% of renters in America are so rent-burdened that they spent more than half of their income on rent in 2023. That figure was 22% in 2019. A three-percentage point difference means millions more Americans are spending a substantial chunk of their paycheck in rent. When these high prices were accompanied by broader inflation in groceries, gas and energy, the strain was felt by families – charting up as a top issue in the 2024 presidential election, in which Americans elected President Donald Trump who centered his campaign on bringing down prices. Housing market experts say that the rental market might have settled on a new baseline, which means prices might not go back down to what they were in 2019. Read more: Work from home is reshaping the housing market 5 years after COVID Rob Warnock, a senior research associate at Apartment List, said a reversal to pre-pandemic prices is unlikely, as we're now at a level for how much housing costs. 'More realistic than rent prices coming down is rent prices stabilizing at a place where incomes can catch up,' Warnock said. For now, two trends in the market have emerged to keep the rental prices at a stable level: slowed rental demand and a recent construction frenzy. 'The past year has been really defined by a lot of new housing construction that was built over the previous three years, coupled with fairly low demand in the rental market,' Warnock said. 'As a result, what we see is that prices are largely flat, if not down.' There are only a handful of metros where rent prices have decreased over the past year. Notable among them is Bozeman, Montana, where people flocked during the pandemic for lower costs and outdoor spaces while working remotely. '(It) expedited everyone's decision-making to move to a town like Bozeman. There's a lot of fantasy around it,' said Casey Rose, an adviser at Sterling Commercial Real Estate Advisors. Amid the increased demand in the Montana mountain metro, developers started to build apartments. Many of the projects were delivered at the same time, which resulted in very low vacancy rates, Rose said. Compared with last year, rents in Bozeman are down roughly 10%, the second largest decline, according to the Apartment List data. But the actual prices, Rose said, can be masked by incentives like offering two months of free rent, or even a free iPad, TV, or ski pass. A similar pattern has played out in Austin, where rental prices are down 6.4% compared with a year ago. Stacey Auzanne, a property manager and a third-generation Austin resident, watched pandemic digital nomads flood into the city, while builders kept erecting new developments, creating a supply glut that kept rental prices suppressed. Auzanne, who manages dozens of properties, said the landlords she works with are holding rents steady, with one even dropping the price $50 a month. It's worth it to keep good tenants in place, she said – particularly in a market where there's more supply than demand. 'The market just kept accelerating and the bubble burst,' Auzanne said. 'This year, we're really feeling it.' Experts raised concerns that prices could go up because of the changing political landscape that has seen a stringent tariff policy and crackdown on immigrants who form a large part of the construction workforce. While housing inflation has dropped from its peak of over 8% in early 2023, costs have not fallen as quickly as overall inflation. According to consumer price index data released by the Labor Department on Wednesday, rent inflation was at 3.8% in May, the smallest annual increase since January 2022. This slowdown reflects lower rents for new leases finally filtering into rates for existing tenants. While the overall rise in consumer prices was modest in May, housing costs remained the largest contributor to inflation, accounting for 35% of all price increases. More: CPI report reveals inflation crept higher in May as tariff impact was tamer than expected This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Rents remain far above pre-COVID levels. Check prices in your area
Irish Independent
08-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Independent
Notions and Necessities: From creative and restorative escapes to literary festivals and museums, it's all here
Summer in the second city One of the nicest spots for a Cork city summer cocktail is The River Lee Hotel's River Club. In collaboration with The Boatyard Distillery, the popular terrace is decked out in foliage from west Cork, courtesy of Fox Flowers, and has a new cocktail menu to boot. A Safe Harbour (spiced rum, lime, sugar and ginger beer with a Beamish float) is the recommendation from Derry Girls star and soon to be Traitors Ireland host Siobhán McSweeney, who the hotel has teamed up with to create a Curated Weekend itinerary. SC See NECESSITY Your cosmetic clean sweep Formulated with eyecare specialists, Optase Life Sensitive Eye Makeup Remover is ophthalmologist-approved and capable of removing even waterproof cosmetics without any stinging or oily residue. No rubbing and no waking up with panda eyes. SC Optase Life Sensitive Eye Makeup Remove, €9.98, selected pharmacies and opticians NOTION Pinball wizard Specsavers has launched an Elton John Eyewear collection inspired by the Rocket Man himself. The selection, which includes 12 frames and two limited-edition sunglasses, is a mixture of the out there, and some more subtle options. LH Priced from €190, available in Specsavers nationwide, see NECESSITY Midweek switch off The Station House Hotel in Meath is running Midweek Departures, a series of creative and restorative escapes throughout the summer on Wednesdays. The line-up includes pilates, sauna and stretch on July 9; a landscaping and gardening workshop on July 2 and August 6; Swainstown farm to fork experience with Arthur Preston, seen above, and Station House head chef, Gordon Mooney on July 16; and wine tasting on August 13. LH For information on the full overnight package see NOTION Dublin can be heaven Following a €4.3m transformation, The Little Museum of Dublin has reopened in its St Stephen's Green home. Even when in its temporary location, the popular museum had remained the No 1 thing to do in Dublin according to TripAdvisor, and it is likely to stay on top now it is back permanently on The Green, with a newly expanded exhibition space and many recently donated Dublin artefacts, a sunny patio space and a lift to improve accessibility. SC See NECESSITY Turn on the water works We all know to ramp up electrolytes after a workout or an upset tummy, but ORS Hydration Tablets are also worth adding to holiday packing, as hot weather can dehydrate and deplete essential minerals. Available in a variety of flavours with Sports, Immune and Kids options. SC ORS Hydration Tablets, 24 soluble-tablet tube, €9.95, pharmacies nationwide NOTION Afternoon delight The Galmont Hotel in Galway has launched a new Afternoon Tea taking place in their Coopers Lounge, with views of Lough Atalia. Alongside your meal, the hotel is now playing host to a live pianist on Saturdays, adding to the generally chilled-out vibe. LH Thursday-Sunday 2.30pm to 5pm. The Galmont's Afternoon Tea in the City costs €46pp (€39pp without prosecco or cocktail), see NECESSITY Go West The week-long West Cork Literary Festival is taking place in Bantry from July 11-18, with a programme that includes master classes, readings, workshops, interviews and book launches. Authors with events include Eimear McBride, Katherine May, Seán Ronayne (pictured) and Wendy Erskine. LH For tickets and further information, see
CTV News
07-06-2025
- Health
- CTV News
Six new transitional housing beds in Sudbury
Northern Ontario Watch Greater Sudbury is funding six new transitional beds, which have been added to the Safe Harbour House on Cedar Street.
Scotsman
04-06-2025
- General
- Scotsman
Scottish charities and schools receive tech donation from Amazon Dunfermline
The Amazon Devices team at the Dunfermline fulfilment centre has donated £10,000 worth of Amazon technology to two Scottish charities and two schools in the area. Sign up to our daily newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... The donation, which includes eight Fire TVs and 35 Fire Tablets, was delivered to Safe Harbour, Friends of Queen Margaret Hospital, Lumphinnans Primary School and Lochgelly High School. The donation aims to support these groups with education, healthcare and community wellbeing by providing essential tech resources. Speaking on the donations, General Manager, Jamie Strain, said: Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'We are committed to supporting charities and schools across Scotland through donations and volunteering. We hope these devices will have a meaningful impact on the teams, helping students with their learning and supporting the essential work done by these incredible organisations.' Safe Harbour and Amazon Jessie Concannon, an Amazon Devices associate from Dunfermline, added: 'It's fantastic to be part of a company that gives back to the community. The devices will be a great resource for both the students and charities, helping them stay connected and access important digital tools.' Melissa Mann, principal teacher from Lochgelly High School who received three Fire TVs and 15 Fire Tablets, said: Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'Having access to Fire Tablets and Fire TVs will allow us to provide better support for the students we teach. These devices will make digital learning more engaging and accessible. We are incredibly grateful for Amazon's continued support and commitment to our community.' Community donations and employee volunteering are just two of the ways Amazon supports the communities where it operates. Amazon co-founded The Big House Multibank in Fife with former UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown to support to families in need. The Multibank network has now donated more than 7 million surplus goods to over 600,000 families across Scotland, Wales, Greater Manchester, London, Tees Valley and Birmingham. Amazon has supported more than one million students across the UK with free STEM education programmes through Amazon Future Engineer and helps community organisations transport meals and other essentials to families in need through its pro bono logistics programme, Amazon Local Good. Amazon partners with Comic Relief and is the official home of the charity's iconic Red Nose. Together with its employees, customers, and partners, Amazon has raised over £4.8 million to fund projects that support people across the UK, and around the world.
