The Ugly Truth Behind “We Buy Ugly Houses”
HomeVestors of America, the self-proclaimed “largest homebuyer in the U.S.,” trains its nearly 1,150 franchisees to zero in on homeowners’ desperation.
New Yorkers Need Land. The NYPD Is Sitting On Nearly 150 Lots.
A new map reveals how much land in New York City is being wasted by city police—often sitting vacant, rather than serving the public good.
When a Land Bank Starts a Land Trust
An Ohio land bank adds to its developing power through a nonprofit land trust.
Landlords on Notice: Section 8 Discrimination Will Cost You
Landmark lawsuits in D.C., New York, and California make source of income discrimination risky for landlords.
Who Gets Tenant Protection Vouchers?
A program to stabilize residents whose subsidized housing is disrupted has also been used to support other highly vulnerable residents, but those uses are a matter of controversy.
Should Virginia Build Housing for Public Servants on Public Land?
Amid widespread rent increases, directing public land to affordable housing could allow people to stay in their communities, as well as reduce commutes and employee turnover.
Is the Solution to Homelessness Obvious?
Some say yes. But simply making it easier to build will not reach those who are unhoused.
Why Bangor’s Affordable Housing Policies Won’t Address Homelessness
After the population of unhoused people in Bangor increased during the pandemic, the city put forward a series of affordable housing solutions. But the new policies may harm unhoused residents rather than help them.
Egg Prices and Rents—What Do They Have in Common?
Avian flu gave companies cover to price gouge. Could the attention to lack of housing supply do the same for landlords?
The Real Reason Why Babies at a St. Louis Public Housing Complex Weren’t Sleeping...
When a St. Louis-based group convened public housing residents to talk about infant mortality, they discovered a serious housing issue that affected tenants’ health. To the organization’s credit, they didn’t turn away from the problem.
How Atlantic Yards Failed to Deliver Affordable Homeownership (With a Hakeem Jeffries Cameo)
Atlantic Yards demonstrates that developers' promises must be backed up in contracts, otherwise economic and political cycles can undermine them.
Taking the ADU Model to the Next Level, a Shelterforce and Next City Webinar
How can we get more accessory dwelling units built, keep them affordable, and make them forces for increasing racial equity?
Black Congregations Are Developing Housing on Church Land
Many Black churches in the U.S. are developing housing on their property, and becoming stronger activists in the fight for affordable housing.
Instead of Toys, These Organizers Want You to Give Rent Money
Rent for Moms is a fundraising campaign looking to help 50 single Black moms in select cities retain or obtain housing by Christmas. Under the tagline, “because everyone deserves to be home for the...
After the Fire: Bronx Residents Return to Building that Burned
A deadly fire in an affordable housing complex in the Bronx was said to have been caused by a space heater. But a pattern of negligence created the conditions for the tragedy, and made the fire more deadly.
The Racists Next Door: Black Homebuyers Face Discrimination After Purchasing, Too
The danger of unwelcoming neighbors should not be underestimated.
Going Home: LGBTQ Renters Find Housing on Facebook
Niche groups on Facebook help the LGBTQ community find affordable housing with folks who share their values.
Have the YIMBYs Evolved?
Yes in My Back Yard activists started with a simple—and some would say simplistic—argument: to solve the nation’s housing crisis we just need to build more housing, of any type and in as many places as possible. But as the movement nears a decade of existence, some of its members argue that their message has become more nuanced.
Rent Going Up? One Company’s Algorithm Could Be Why.
Texas-based RealPage’s YieldStar software helps landlords set prices for apartments across the U.S. With rents soaring, critics are concerned that the company’s proprietary algorithm is hurting competition.
New Philly Land Trust Was Promised Dozens of Homes; How’s It Going?
Two years ago, Philadelphia officials agreed to give 59 vacant buildings to homeless advocates. The historic deal has faced several setbacks, but is still moving forward.