KP Government Launches Interest-Free Loans for 18,555 Low-Income Homeowners

Several regions in the U.S. and abroad are implementing innovative affordable housing initiatives to address growing shortages. In Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the government launched an interest-free housing loan scheme targeting low-income families and government employees, aiming to alleviate a significant housing shortfall amid rapid urbanization. Similarly, Seattle voters approved a payroll tax on high earners to fund a public authority focused on building permanently affordable homes, signaling a shift toward social housing models that protect affordability long-term. In New Jersey's Piscataway township, a Fair Share Housing Plan outlines zoning for over 1,200 units, including a target for 539 affordable units, though current projections leave a shortfall that requires additional proposals. Meanwhile, Sarasota County in Florida faces a housing crisis impacting essential workers and families, with efforts underway to increase affordable units through federal relief funds and potential restoration of development requirements for affordable housing. These efforts collectively highlight diverse but urgent responses to housing affordability challenges across different contexts.