Shelterforce

There is a lot that can be done to advance housing and community investment at the local and state level. This is the perfect moment to do it. This Shelterforce webinar explored some of the many ways that local and state governments can independently take create action to advance affordable housing and healthy communities. The four panelists discussed reining in corporate power and enforcing anti-...

Fair housing law has never been easy to enforce. But HUD's proposal to eliminate the use of disparate impact analysis will remove another crucial tool for doing so. Amber Banks, the president and CEO of the African American Alliance of CDFI CEOs, explains. Read the full piece at https://shelterforce.org/2026/07/08/how-hud-is-seeking-to-make-fighting-housing-discrimination-even-harder/ Music by ℗ C...

A proposed HUD rule that would allow housing agencies and subsidized housing owners to impose work requirements and time limits on tenants has drawn nearly 2,000 public comments, most opposing changes that advocates say could threaten housing stability for millions. Erik Gartland, a research analyst at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, explains. Read the piece at https://shelterforce.org...

A proposed rule from the Office of Management and Budget would facilitate political interference in federal grant disbursements across all agencies. Alexandra Gallo, former special advisor at the EPA, explains. Read the full piece at https://shelterforce.org/2026/07/01/federal-grant-rule-change-threatens-community-access-to-public-funds/ Music by ℗ ComaStudio

In Atlanta, nearly 1,000 labor union members and community allies gathered at the Jobs With Justice national conference, where one of the themes was linking immigrant, worker, and tenant struggles to build community power. Shelterforce's Steve Dubb reports. Read Steve's column at https://shelterforce.org/2026/06/29/linking-immigrant-worker-and-tenant-struggles-to-build-community-power/ Music by ℗...

A two-year rent freeze, affecting about 1 million rent-stabilized apartments in New York, was just approved. Before the freeze passed, landlords said their buildings wouldn’t survive it. But recent analyses suggest the real culprit behind distressed buildings is predatory equity, not rent stabilization. Reporting by Roshan Abraham; read by John Ludas. Read the full story at https://shelterforce.or...

Affordable housing construction finance reflects market norms, but its track record shows it’s far less risky than conventional market-rate housing loans. While lower default rates should lead to lower interest rates, they currently do not. Kris Adhikari, a housing development and real estate finance professional, explains. Read Adhikari's piece here: https://shelterforce.org/2026/06/30/affordable...

A federal housing bill passed by strong majorities in both houses of Congress marks the first major overhaul of housing legislation in over 30 years. It awaits the president's signature. Shelterforce's Steve Dubb reports. Read the full story at https://shelterforce.org/2026/06/24/congress-passes-broad-housing-package-after-years-of-gridlock/ Music by ℗ ComaStudio

A poem by housing attorney Eric Sirota that highlights the existential absurdity of our system’s treatment of low-income renters. Music by ℗ ComaStudio

In recent years, housing coalitions promoting community land trusts and real estate cooperatives have formed in multiple cities and states—and they are achieving results. Nonetheless, a lot of work is needed to achieve the policy changes these groups desire. Leo Goldberg, a policy researcher and advocate, explains. Music by ℗ ComaStudio

While not adjusting for inflation, the White House’s FY 2027 budget request otherwise maintains HUD’s Housing Choice Voucher funding, but proposed policy changes would make it harder for families to access and maintain assistance. Kim Johnson, senior director of policy at the National Low Income Housing Coalition, explains. Read the piece at https://shelterforce.org/2026/06/16/huds-fy-2027-spendin...

As the country’s mental health, substance use, homelessness, and affordability crises collide, traditional affordable housing providers say they’re being pushed to fill the gaps left by underfunded supportive systems—without the money, staff, or resources to do so. Shelterforce's Shelby R. King reports. Read the story at https://shelterforce.org/2026/06/16/unsupported-housing-when-stability-isnt-e...

As the World Cup arrives in 11 American cities, Airbnb is spending millions lobbying to loosen short-term rental regulations. Here's how cities are responding. Reporting by Roshan Abraham; read by John Ludas. Read the full story at https://shelterforce.org/2026/06/11/airbnbs-lobbying-campaign-meets-resistance-across-world-cup-host-cities/ Music by ℗ ComaStudio

As World Cup matches begin, advocates warn that Atlanta is on track to repeat the arrests, displacement, and criminalization of homeless residents that drew criticism during the city's 1996 Olympics. Sean Keenan reports. This article was co-reported with Hailey Weiner. Read the full story at https://shelterforce.org/2026/06/12/will-the-world-cup-fuel-arrests-of-homeless-people-in-atlanta/ Music by...

A former hub of Black-owned businesses in North Memphis that suffered urban renewal seeks to rebuild without a new wave of displacement. Can a community land trust strike that balance? Laurie Mazur reports for Shelterforce. Read the full story at https://shelterforce.org/2026/06/09/a-historic-black-memphis-neighborhood-turns-to-a-clt-to-avoid-displacement/ Music by ℗ Music by ComaStudio

In Massachusetts, the collection of more than 124,000 signatures makes it likely that a statewide rent control measure will be on the ballot in November. Shelterforce's Steve Dubb reports. Read the full story here: In Massachusetts, the collection of more than 124,000 signatures makes it likely that a statewide rent control measure will be on the ballot in November. Music by ℗ ComaStudio

In the 1970s, anti-redlining movements were in full swing and the idea that activists, lenders, and elected officials could share power to revitalize communities and advance homeownership felt like a reach. But that was exactly my charge. Bruce Gottschall, former executive director of Neighborhood Housing Services of Chicago, shares the story. Music by ℗ Music by ComaStudio

In states across the South, coalitions that include housing justice advocates, tenant leaders, and legal service providers are coming together to oppose anti-tenant policies and advance tenant rights. Nada Hussein, a research analyst at the National Low Income Housing Coalition, explains. Read Hussein's piece at https://shelterforce.org/2026/06/03/advocates-in-the-south-get-organized-to-advance-te...

Housing advocates in Eugene, Oregon, are seeking to create a legislative framework that would allow tenants to collectively acquire multifamily buildings when a building comes up for sale. Shelterforce's Steve Dubb reports. Read the story at https://shelterforce.org/2026/05/29/in-eugene-housing-advocates-call-for-a-tenant-right-to-purchase-act/ Music by ℗ Music by ComaStudio

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...