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Roshan Abraham

40 Posts

Roshan Abraham is a journalist whose reporting on criminal justice, housing, and health has appeared in Next City, VICE, The Verge, Pacific Standard, The Village Voice, and more. He is a graduate of the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism and a former Equitable Cities fellow.
In between two buses is a group of people wearing rain jackets. One is holding up a sign that reads "Zohran Mamdani, 2. Brad Lander, 3. Adrienne Adams, 4. Zellnor Myrie, do not rank Cuomo"
Reported Article

What Zohran Mamdani’s Primary Win Means for the Tenant Movement

The mayoral candidate made a rent freeze central to his campaign. Here’s how his supporters used in-person campaigning to clinch a victory, and what’s ahead.

In a city square, perhaps a park, four workers in white protective jumpsuits and wearing masks lift a tent into the back of a garbage truck, while three others look on. Nearby are other tents and jumbled personal belongings, blankets, and clothes. In the foreground, a throw pillow printed with the words "But first, coffee" lies in the dirt.
Reported Article

Criminalizing Homelessness Doesn’t Work, Study Finds

The analysis shows that these laws, including bans on sleeping outside, don’t reduce homelessness. Why are they on the rise?

Detroit, Michigan, USA downtown skyline from above at dawn.
Reported Article

Detroit Says Problems With Property Tax Assessments Are Fixed. Advocates Disagree

With higher-valued properties under assessed and lower-valued properties over assessed, advocates say there’s still a problem with Detroit’s property tax system.

Reported Article

9 Landlords Charged With Rent Gouging After L.A. Fires. Tenant Advocates Say That’s Just the Tip of the Iceberg

The Rent Brigade says it’s found evidence of thousands of likely instances of rent gouging. In some cases, the landlords accused of exploiting the fires had made campaign donations to those responsible for enforcement.

Close-up partial view of white male judge in black legal robe at a wooden table holding papers. In front, in focus, is a wooden gavel.
Reported Article

Blocked, Restored, Blocked Again—Housing Funds Are in Legal Limbo

Since Trump took office, the administration has blocked multiple affordable housing funding streams. Here’s a look at which funds have been frozen, which have been reinstated, and which are in the courts.

About 10 people in cool-weather clothing stand in front of large glass domes holding green signs with white/black lettering reading "Vote Yes on Prop 1A."
Reported Article

How Social Housing Won in Seattle, Despite a Flood of Big Tech Money

Voters chose to provide a new social housing development authority with the funding it needs to succeed—despite opposition from the mayor and tech corporations.

Landscape under a blue sky, with large looming rock cliff at right, single-story housing in the middle distance, and grass and rocks in the foreground. In the far distance is another rock formation.
Reported Article

These HUD Cuts Have Gotten Less Attention, But the Effects Will Still Be Harmful

Technical assistance might seem dull, but it’s vital for addressing the homelessness and housing crisis. And it’s about to be a lot harder for federal grantees to get.

The hands of a person in a business suit are tearing a white piece of paper in two vertically. The lower half of a man's face is blurry in the background.
Reported Article

DOGE Undermines Anti-Discrimination Protections in Housing With More Cuts

HUD is attempting to withdraw more than half of its grants to the private organizations that educate about and enforce housing-related anti-discrimination laws.

Rear view of a pony-tailed youngish woman in a plaid shirt and wearing hoop earrings facing a blank wall in front of which is a pile of moving boxes, not quite in focus.
Reported Article

HUD Funding Uncertainty Is Already Changing These People’s Lives

From a disabled supportive housing resident set to lose her apartment to homeless service providers awaiting frozen funds, those affected by HUD cutbacks tell us what’s at stake.

Louisville, Kentucky, USA skyline on the river.
Reported Article

‘Anti-Displacement Tool’ to Direct City Funding to Projects that Won’t Price Out Residents

After a years-long, tenant-led effort, Louisville will use a new tool to analyze whether a proposed housing development can meet a neighborhood’s housing needs and income levels. If it doesn’t, the city won’t subsidize it.

A young woman leans forward to address the occupant of a dome tent. The person in the tent is mostly hidden except for a knee. On the ground around the tent are food wrappers, slippers, and a newspaper.
Reported Article

HUD Staff Cuts and Grant Delays Endanger Homelessness Services

Housing advocates say they haven’t received answers about the status of $3.6 billion in funds awarded by the Biden administration to local continuums of care. Along with massive cuts planned for HUD’s staff, this means critical homelessness services are at risk.

A number of tents pitched on the buffer zone between the road and sidewalk. At least nine tents are discernible among the trees and shrubs. Photo taken in early spring; the trees are just in bud.
Reported Article

Trump Wants to Force Homeless People into ‘Tent Cities.’ Can He?

The president pushed for sweeping crackdowns and the possible internment of people experiencing homelessness. To see what’s coming, we should look to what states have already done