Topic
Community Development Field
Shelterforce considers “community development” to be an extremely broad term. But there are still many conversations about the ways in which that broad work happens. Comprehensively or in coalitions of specialized organizations? Locally or regionally? Place or people? While the answers to all of these are usually “both,” there are many conversations to be had about “how.”
The Latest
Her Story, Her Power in Community Development: A Shelterforce Webinar
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.
Explore Articles in this Topic
Search & Filter Within this Topic
filter by Content Type
filter by Date Range
search by Keyword
Soaring Property Insurance Rates Threaten Affordable Housing Development
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.
LIHTC: Are Little Changes Enough? A Shelterforce Webinar
There are reforms and expansions of 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.
How Are LIHTC Rents Set—And Why Can’t So Many Renters Afford Them?
This video breaks down the LIHTC rent-setting process, and shows the surprising number of people it doesn’t serve.
Legitimate Debate or Short-Sighted Complaints? 5 Reasons Affordable Housing Is Expensive to Build
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.
How the New CRA Rule Will Help, and Where It Falls Short
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.
Shelterforce’s Top 10 Stories of 2023
What were the biggest Shelterforce stories of the year? We count down the top 10 of 2023.
How to Really Reform the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit Program
Adding more credits and making tweaks do not actually address some of the major weaknesses of the program. We should be bolder.
You Might Have to Accept Cuts—But Don’t Accept Devaluing of Your Work
As municipalities face post-pandemic fiscal shortages, there’s a longer-term danger lurking behind budget fights.
How We Can Bring Vienna’s Housing Model to the U.S.
Legislators visited Vienna to learn about the city’s social housing program. Here’s how they say their states’ housing crises would benefit from similar policies.
The Only Tool in the Box: What It Means That LIHTC Dominates Affordable Housing
Even those who praise the tax credit program and what it has accomplished are concerned that there are so few sizeable alternatives to it.
How Tenant Activists Won Protections Against Mid-Lease Rent Hikes in Affordable Housing
Last year, we reported on tenants in Northern Virginia LIHTC properties whose rents were raised in the middle of their leases. Here’s how other states have banned the practice.
LIHTC for Regular People
The Low-Income Housing Tax Credit is famously complex. We can’t exactly make it simple, but we’ve broken down the basics, especially those that residents of a LIHTC property might want to know, as clearly as possible.