Shelterforce

One of the major questions for the affordable housing world in the next couple of years will be how well its various segments come together. Listen as Shelterforce's Miriam Axel-Lute reads, "Community Development: Between a Rock and a Hard Place?" Read the piece at https://shelterforce.org/2024/06/18/community-development-between-a-rock-and-a-hard-place/

A high-stakes, high-profile community land trust project once hailed as a triumph in New Orleans ended in disaster for its residents, but it’s important to draw the right lessons about why. Shelby R. King reads her latest investigative piece for Shelterforce, "The Permanent Affordability That Wasn't: Lessons from the Pythian Building." Read the full story at https://shelterforce.org/2024/06/04/the...

Ohio’s largest conservation land trust has been accused of purchasing a manufactured housing community with the very intention of closing it, evicting more than 100 households in the process. But proponents of the park’s closure say the land's failing infrastructure—and the benefit the property will bring to an entire city—is what forced the decision. Frances Nguyen reads her latest Shelterforce a...

The nonprofit is giving the big bank a shot at proving it’s not the “worst” for Black borrowers. But after getting burned by the lender during the last community benefits agreement, what guardrails can NCRC put in place to ensure KeyBank keeps its promises? Shelterforce's Shelby R. King reports: "KeyBank and NCRC Are Back Together. What’s Different This Time?" Read the story at https://shelterforc...

Who gets to benefit from neighborhood revitalization efforts, and at what cost? Frances Nguyen reads her latest piece for Shelterforce, "Does Cleveland’s Plan for Public Green Space Pave the Way for Gentrification?" Read the full story at https://shelterforce.org/2024/05/17/does-clevelands-plan-for-public-green-space-pave-the-way-for-gentrification/

In the Twin Cities, where voters have recently supported rent control, most nonprofit housing developers have stayed silent, and some have openly lined up with the developers and landlords who oppose it. John Ludas reads, "Affordable Housing Sector Split on Rent Control," written by Aaron Fernando. Read the story at https://shelterforce.org/2024/05/21/affordable-housing-sector-split-on-rent-contro...

Research explores residents' experiences with and observations about community development organizations in four cities. Karis Tzeng reads, "What Do Residents Think of Community Development Organizations?" Read the full story at https://shelterforce.org/2024/05/07/what-do-residents-think-of-community-development-organizations/

Three fascinating research projects take very different approaches to learning more about the sector, but many of the storylines they are surfacing are related. Shelterforce's Miriam Axel-Lute explores more in, "New Research Gives Different—But Complementary—Looks at the Community Development Field." Read the story at https://shelterforce.org/2024/05/06/new-research-gives-different-but-complementa...

With attention—and funding—focused on new housing supply over preservation and operations, even mission-driven nonprofit affordable housing managers are struggling to maintain decent conditions in older affordable housing. Priya Jayachandran, CEO of National Housing Trust, explains more in, "In the Rush to Build, Existing Affordable Housing Is Falling Apart." Read the entire op-ed at https://shelt...

Intake questions about past evictions and mental health stopped families of color from accessing long-term housing support, but agencies in Arizona and elsewhere are asking new questions. Angela Mercado reads her latest article for Shelterforce, "Common Homelessness Assessment Leads to Racial Disparities in Housing Placements." Read the full article at https://shelterforce.org/2024/03/07/common-ho...

The community development field is in an interesting and challenging spot right now. Our new Under the Lens series zooms in and explores this moment in the field. Listen as Shelterforce's Miriam Axel-Lute breaks down what you can expect in our new Under the Lens series—Moving Community Development Forward.

The Grants Pass decision could shape how cities address homelessness in ways that may challenge housing advocates, but it also represents the best opportunity we've had in decades to change the narrative on homelessness and build stronger public will for housing. Tiffany Manuel, founder of TheCaseMade, explains. Read the op-ed at https://shelterforce.org/2024/04/26/criminalizing-homelessness-supre...

History often feels like a depressing account of the worst things people can do to each other. But a recent book contains reminders that nothing is inevitable, and sometimes people have done better than we’re doing now—even in terms of housing and social equity. Shelterforce's Miriam Axel-Lute explains. Read "A (Much) Older Example of Social Housing Than Vienna," at https://shelterforce.org/2024/0...

Five women from diverse backgrounds who span the country—Missouri, New Mexico, Hawaii, California, and Texas—got together with Shelterforce to talk about the community development field and their work in it. Read the transcript or watch the webinar here: https://shelterforce.org/2024/04/03/her-story-her-power-in-community-development-a-shelterforce-webinar/ This webinar was part of Shelterforce's...

The proposed program could shrink the racial homeownership gap while serving a wide cross-section of people. But it only addresses some of the results of past discrimination. Shelterforce's Miriam Axel-Lute reads her latest piece, "Targeting First-Generation Homebuyers Is a Great Way to Direct Downpayment Assistance—And It Could Be Better." Read the op-ed at https://shelterforce.org/2024/03/28/tar...

Rapidly rising insurance premiums are forcing affordable housing developers to cut back on programming, lay off staff, and even sell. To add insult to injury, some insurers also seem to be adding penalties or withdrawing coverage for housing voucher holders. John Ludas reads, "Soaring Property Insurance Rates Threaten Affordable Housing Development," written by Franklin Schneider. Read the full st...

A survey of Cambridge, Massachusetts, residents found that residents of affordable units in inclusionary housing properties reported frequently experiencing bias, especially from management. How can we can change that? Mark Ludas reads, "Low-Income Residents of Inclusionary Housing Report Facing More Bias," written by Alexandra Curley, Judith Gonyea, Colette Ngana, and Alyssa Nickell. Read the sto...

There are reforms and expansions of the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit afoot. But some in the field argue that we need to change the tax credit model of financing housing more deeply—or move away from it entirely. Join scholars and organizers as they discuss these issues and explore a path forward. Watch the video and read the transcript here: https://shelterforce.org/2024/03/15/lihtc-are-little-ch...

As she retires from three decades as executive director of a housing authority in Georgia, Sandra Hudson reflects on her accomplishments. John Ludas reads, "Longtime PHA Exec Reflects on Three Decades of Work in Georgia," written by D. Amari Jackson. Read the full story at https://shelterforce.org/2024/02/22/a-sustainable-model-for-public-housing-longtime-pha-exec-reflects-on-three-decades-of-work...

Four disability advocates and experts explain what's needed to house Americans with disabilities and some of the work that's being done to get there. Shelterforce's Miriam Axel-Lute hosts, "Getting to More Accessible, Affordable, Inclusive Housing," a webinar featuring: —Anita Cameron, director of minority outreach for Not Dead Yet. —Chelsea Hayman, director of housing policy and programs for Mary...

They've helped more than 100 New York City renters fight source-of-income discrimination and find housing. How did this partnership begin and what lessons can they offer others? Damaly Gonzalez reads, "An Unlikely Collaboration—Real Estate Agent Joins Community Organization to Help Voucher Holders," in Shelterforce. Read the full story at: https://shelterforce.org/2024/02/09/an-unlikely-collaborat...

We sort out the different meanings of the term as it's used in the health sector and in the community organizing sector. Miriam Axel-Lute reads, "What Does ‘Community Benefit’ Mean?" See the full explainer at https://shelterforce.org/2024/01/23/q-what-does-community-benefit-mean/

There’s no denying that affordable housing can be expensive to build. But we need to look at the long-term benefits of those investments to see the bigger picture. Miriam Axel-Lute reads, "Legitimate Debate or Short-Sighted Complaints? 5 Reasons Affordable Housing Is Expensive to Build," her latest piece for Shelterforce. Read the piece at https://shelterforce.org/2024/02/02/5-reasons-affordable-h...

The assessments that evaluate a bank’s lending practices have improved, but there are several missed opportunities for reform. For one, the new rules won't incorporate a racial analysis into lending examinations. Kevin Hill reads, "How the New CRA Rule Will Help, and Where It Falls Short." Read the full article at https://shelterforce.org/2024/02/01/how-the-new-cra-rule-will-help-and-where-it-fall...

This housing cooperative is taking advantage of D.C.’s pioneering Tenant Opportunity to Purchase Act, but the pressure of paying back a loan with mounting interest could stymie the group's plans to provide affordable housing. John Ludas reads, "How 'Tenant Stewards' Are Using TOPA to Form a Co-op," written by Roshan Abraham. Read the full story at https://shelterforce.org/2024/01/26/how-tenant-ste...