Financial System

We don’t often make a clear distinction between investors and speculators, which makes it harder to identify harmful behavior—and to find solutions for it.

Affordable housing and neighborhood investment programs are closely tied to banking and the Treasury Department. What is the incoming administration’s attitude toward some key financial regulations, and how easy would it be for them to enact changes?

What is the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund and how will it benefit affordable housing residents and community development organizations?

A new statewide program aims to help renters benefit from the value they add to the buildings they live in. Here’s how the program could work, and when it could begin.

Shelterforce spoke with community-lending leaders and experts about the current mood across the sector. What, if anything, are organizations planning to do to avoid becoming the next target?

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?

The End Hedge Fund Control of American Homes Act is an ambitious attempt to keep private equity’s influence out of single-family homes. If passed, the bill will need ownership transparency to be effective.

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.

What were the biggest Shelterforce stories of the year? We count down the top 10 of 2023.

In 2018, the Family Self-Sufficiency Program was expanded to privately owned properties receiving project-based rental assistance. Here’s a look at how early adopters have used the program to support residents, and the lessons they learned along the way.

In 2022, a government task force released an action plan about combating bias in the appraisal industry. How can CDFIs fight back against the damage caused by under-appraisals?

“We have seen corporate landlords—who own a larger share of the rental market than ever before—use inflation as an excuse to hike rents and reap excess profits beyond what should be considered fair and reasonable.”