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Communities
Here you’ll find articles on some of the broader forces that affect the physical communities we live in, questions about what makes a community and who gets to live there, and explorations of the ways people try to shape and reclaim control over their communities.
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What’s Happening with the Billions in Climate Funding for Low-Income Communities?
Shelterforce breaks down the latest information on the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund. How can the affordable housing industry take advantage of the funding opportunities, and why are some folks worried about the fund's rollout?
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Redlining Maps Didn’t Affect Neighborhoods the Way You Think They Did
Home Owners’ Loan Corporation maps have long been blamed for racial inequities in today’s Black neighborhoods, but recent research shows that’s misleading.
In Houston, ‘Climate Ambassadors’ Represent Their Own Neighborhoods
CEER recruits residents to gauge their communities’ climate needs and to act as climate educators. Shelterforce asked Rita Robles and Carmen Cavezza about the program, how it works, and future plans.
How Quito’s Climate Relocation Plan Left 44 Families in Jeopardy
Thirteen years ago, an ambitious government initiative set out to move hundreds of families away from perilous conditions, including landslides, in Ecuador’s capital. Today, 37 of those households are still waiting for the subsidies they need to become true owners of their new homes.
Will This Resident Group Get Full Control of the Complex They Helped Fix?
For decades, a group of Cambodian refugees worked to improve and upgrade their Stockton, California, affordable housing complex. While they technically own half of the property, they’re still waiting for HUD to approve their full ownership. Why hasn’t it happened yet?
What Two Wildfires Reveal About the Cracks in Our Emergency Response
Thousands lost their homes in the Almeda and Marshall fires. Years into long-term recovery, a look at who received emergency assistance and who was left out can teach us a lot about which populations are most vulnerable to climate events.
Retreating From the Coasts Makes Sense, But Our Current Approach Isn’t Working
As flooding, sea level rise, fires, and other climate impacts increase, we’ll need to move about 20 million Americans by 2100. Here’s how we can rethink managed retreat to get ahead of the rising tides.
What Makes Affordable Housing ‘Green’?
There’s no one way to determine what makes “green” housing. Here’s a breakdown of the standards and considerations used by the affordable housing industry.
Beating Extreme Heat as a Community
U.S. cities don’t provide residents with enough protection against heat, the deadliest weather-related killer in the world. But in NYC, one organization came together to distribute ACs to neighbors in need.
How Policy Can Help Tenants Purchase Their Homes, a Webinar
Laws that give tenants the ability to purchase their own apartments are popping up across the country. In this webinar, a panel of folks who have been reporting on, fighting for, and using these policies offer their perspectives on this powerful anti-displacement tool.
Does Cleveland’s Plan for Public Green Space Pave the Way for Gentrification?
Who gets to benefit from neighborhood revitalization efforts, and at what cost?
D.C. Had the Country’s First TOPA Law. Could Real Estate Developers Gut It?
Developers are pushing for two exemptions to the landmark tenant rights legislation—affordable housing properties and buildings that are 25 years old or newer.
A (Much) Older Example of Social Housing Than Vienna
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.