Shelterforce

What's the solidarity economy? In this Shelterforce webinar, we talk all-things solitary economy, learn how some organizations are employing its principles in their own communities, and ways these principles might be applied more broadly. Joining us are: —Alison Chopel, professor at the Graduate School of Planning, University of Puerto Rico. Chopel employs her research and design skills to support...

Three years after a major Supreme Court case, bills to criminalize homelessness and ban encampments have popped up widely. But here are some places that are fighting back. Reporting by Roshan Abraham, read by John Ludas. Read the full story at https://shelterforce.org/2026/05/21/in-the-shadow-of-grants-pass-some-communities-reject-homeless-crackdowns/ Music by ComaStudio

New York City’s public housing authority plans to install 20,000 window heat pumps and 10,000 induction stoves over the next five years. The effort shows how large-scale procurement could help affordable housing providers cut emissions and lower the cost of green upgrades. Timi Koyejo , the housing and communities policy manager at the Climate and Community Institute, explains. Music by ComaStudio

Laws designed to ease regulations that limit housing diversity and supply are passing in states around the country. Affordable housing advocates in four states talked with us about the coalitions that have come together, and how they might fit within the larger advocacy framework. Shelterforce's Miriam Axel-Lute reports. Read the full article at https://shelterforce.org/2026/05/20/supply-reforms-p...

When Chicago tenants on rent strike agreed to stop speaking publicly about their landlord as part of settling their eviction cases, they honored the agreement. They never dreamed the landlord's lawyers would try to charge them with violating the agreement for having talked to us in the past. Hope Davis reports. Read the story here: https://shelterforce.org/2026/05/18/how-a-landlord-tried-to-silenc...

In Houston, where a Housing First strategy has dramatically decreased the number of people without a place to stay, artists and unhoused residents teamed up to create public art works. Listen as Lara Heard reads her article, "Houston Artists and Homeless Residents Collaborate to Create Public Art." Read the full story at: https://shelterforce.org/2026/05/04/houston-artists-and-homeless-residents-c...

Climate funding from the federal government has become unreliable. But state and local programs in the Northeast offer alternative ways to make homes more efficient for low-income residents and reduce their utility bills. Listen as Lara Heard reads her piece, "State and Cities Advance Affordability by Lowering Utility Costs." Read it at https://shelterforce.org/2026/05/12/state-and-cities-advance-...

Rev. Jesse Jackson’s passing reminds us of the need to combine political and economic organizing—and to translate protest gains into lasting structural change. Ron Stubblefield, director of Housing and Place-Based Initiatives at the Greater Cincinnati Foundation, explains. Music by ComaStudio

In Brazil’s settlements, or favelas, residents risk displacement due to unclear property title—but getting clear title could price them out of the community. Could community land trusts offer a solution to this dilemma? Felipe Litsek and Tarcyla Fidalgo, coordinators of the Favela-CLT Project, explain. This piece is read by John Ludas for Shelterforce. Music by ComaStudio

Facing both federal and state legislature intransigence, many tenant organizers are shifting their tactics away from policy campaigns and toward direct, building-by-building organizing. Reporting by Aaron Fernando, read by Miriam Axel-Lute. Read the story at https://shelterforce.org/2026/05/06/stalled-in-state-houses-tenant-unions-organize-against-landlords-directly/ Music by ComaStudio

The proposed FY 2027 budget for rural housing shows improvements from last year, but still fundamentally fails to provide the support needed for small towns and rural areas to thrive. Samantha Booth, government relations manager at the Housing Assistance Council, explains. Read more at https://shelterforce.org/2026/05/07/the-white-house-rural-housing-budget-the-good-the-bad-and-the-bigger-picture/...

It's not new for states and localities to have their own fair housing and community reinvestment measures—but as the federal government backs away from enforcement, their versions may grow more important. Minhae Roth reports for Shelterforce. Read the story at https://shelterforce.org/2026/05/05/when-the-feds-step-back-on-fair-housing-can-states-step-up/ ℗ Music by ComaStudio

In Canada, more than half of all housing on community land trusts is cooperative housing. In the U.S., that number is less than 2 percent. Why? Shelterforce's Steve Dubb reports. Read Steve's column at https://shelterforce.org/2026/04/27/how-clts-are-powering-co-op-growth-in-canada-lessons-for-the-u-s/. ℗ Music by ComaStudio

In this webinar, co-sponsored by Shelterforce and the Lincoln Institute for Land Policy, we examine some of the steps Fannie and Freddie can take to make homeownership more affordable. The webinar was moderated by Steve Dubb, Shelterforce‘s strategic initiatives editor, and included: —George McCarthy, president and CEO of the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy. —Sara Morgan, president of Fahe, an Ap...

DeShanda Williams and Nikea Ward have spent their careers supporting young people in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, helping them move from instability to safety through housing, trust, and consistent support. In this interview, Shelterforce's Schlonn Hawkins chats with Williams and Ward about their work, how they establish trust with youth, their challenges and triumph as women of color, and more. This int...

At a time when support for housing homeless people is under attack, preventing unnecessary evictions—which are costly as well as cruel—is more important than ever for local governments. Sandra Sadek reports on some of the approaches being tried. Read the full article at https://shelterforce.org/2026/04/29/avoiding-evictions-how-state-and-local-policy-can-keep-tenants-in-their-homes/ ℗ Music by Com...

States can pursue legal remedies under anti-trust laws when landlords collude to raise rents or use deceptive practices to institute extra fees, even if the FTC backs away from these cases. Caroline Nagy, associate director of housing policy for Americans for Financial Reform Education Fund, explains. Read Nagy's op-ed at https://shelterforce.org/2026/04/28/states-can-put-the-brakes-on-landlord-co...

Affordable housing has never been easy to finance. Now, with rising insurance, debt, and operating costs outpacing rents and subsidies, developers say it’s getting harder to make the math work. Shelterforce's Shelby R. King reports. Read the full article at https://shelterforce.org/2026/04/24/breaking-point-why-the-affordable-housing-business-model-is-unraveling/ Music by ComaStudio

Housing markets don't stay within state boundaries. Why should housing finance agencies? Peter Sabonis, director of housing and equitable development for Partners for Dignity and Rights, explains. Read Peter's op-ed at https://shelterforce.org/2026/04/22/how-states-can-build-housing-together-a-proposal-to-create-joint-authorities/ Music by ℗ Music by ComaStudio

Housing funding programs are notoriously fragmented. One way to make limited housing dollars go further is to improve the systems distributing them. Reporting by Amanda Abrams; article read by John Ludas. Read the full story at https://shelterforce.org/2026/04/21/making-money-for-housing-go-further/ ℗ Music by ComaStudio

My experience with a utility shutoff led me to look more closely at who provides my city’s power. It turns out there's a push for the city to buy out the investor-owned utility and create a public one. Gabb Schivone reports. Read the full story at https://shelterforce.org/2026/04/02/will-tucson-take-back-its-power-literally/ ℗ Music by ComaStudio

In the hunt for ways to fund affordable housing, taxes on controversial activities from gambling to short-term rentals are often appealing. Colby Sledge, regional policy director for Grounded Solutions Network, explores how that's been working in four communities. Read the article at https://shelterforce.org/2026/04/17/are-dedicated-sin-taxes-a-useful-path-for-affordable-housing-funding/. ℗ Music...

Chattanooga aligned its housing tax incentive with the actual cost of charging more affordable rents. Developers are participating. Hanneke van Deursen, the director of housing finance for the city of Chattanooga, shares the story. For more, go to https://shelterforce.org/2026/04/14/how-we-rewrote-a-tax-incentive-to-encourage-more-affordable-housing/ ℗ Music by ComaStudio

Voters said yes to speeding up housing approvals. Now the city is putting that plan into action. While there's excitement among affordable housing developers, some housing advocates worry the new process may quiet community voices. Reporting by Roshan Abraham; read by John Ludas. Check out the story at https://shelterforce.org/2026/04/01/nycs-new-housing-approval-process-faces-first-tests/ ℗ Music...

Two bills passed with rare 80-percent-plus majorities in the Senate and House appear to be headed to a joint conference committee. The outcome could be a broad update to federal housing and community development rules—or it all might fall apart. Shelterforce's Steve Dubb reports. Read the full article at https://shelterforce.org/2026/04/01/federal-housing-legislation-attracts-broad-support-but-fac...