Shelterforce

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...

Taxing land and buildings at different rates can discourage land speculation and encourage housing development. Josie Faass, the co-director of the Center for Property Tax Reform, explains. Read Josie's piece at https://shelterforce.org/2026/04/08/property-taxes-arent-the-cause-of-our-housing-crisis-theyre-a-solution-to-it/ ℗ Music by ComaStudio

Though the federal role will always be necessary, local governments, and developers themselves, are looking for ways to develop affordable housing with less federal subsidy. Here are some of the approaches they are trying. Franklin Schneider, a freelance reporter with Shelterforce, reads his latest article, "Free Land, Retail Rents, and Other Ways Cities Are Cutting Reliance on Federal Housing Fun...

To maintain older housing stock, aligning programs to address building deterioration before it is severe offers big payoffs, preserving both homes and housing affordability.​​ Amanda Soskin, a Philadelphia-based consultant, explains. Read Amanda's piece at https://shelterforce.org/2026/03/31/were-making-housing-harder-to-preserve-than-it-should-be/. ℗ Music by ComaStudio

Even in challenging times, there are many actions that state and local governments can take to improve housing access and look out for their residents. Shelterforce's Miriam Axel-Lute talks about what you can expect in our new series, Shelter in a Federal Storm: State and Local Housing Solutions for a Time of Federal Hostility. Read Miriam's editor's note here: https://shelterforce.org/2026/04/06/...

Members of the Belden Sawyer Tenant Association were unable to stop their homes from being converted into luxury apartments. But they've remained united, opening membership to the whole city and fighting to give tenants the right to purchase their homes. Reporting by Hope Davis; read by Miriam Axel-Lute. ℗ Music by ComaStudio

From shared meals to shared tools, cohousing offers a vision of lower-cost, community-centered living. While that vision is taking hold in the UK, communities in the US face barriers that drive up costs and limit who can participate. Steve Dubb, Shelterforce's strategic initiatives editor, reads his latest article, "Cohousing Promises Lower Costs. Why Hasn’t It Worked in the US?." Read the story a...