Topic
Policy
The rules of the game—and the attitudes of the players—have an enormous effect on community development work at all levels. Here we look at some of the conversations about how to shift that policy for the better.
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HUD’s FY 2027 Spending Bill Funds Vouchers—But Would Make Them Harder to Get
While not adjusting for inflation, the White House’s FY 2027 budget request otherwise maintains HUD’s Housing Choice Voucher funding, but proposed policy changes would make it harder for families to access and maintain assistance.
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Acting Locally: States, Counties, and Cities on the Front Lines
Even in challenging times, there are many actions that state and local governments can take to improve housing access and look out for their residents.
Will Tucson Take Back Its Power—Literally?
My experience with a utility shutoff led me to look more closely at who provides my city’s power. It turns out there’s a push for the city to buy out the investor-owned utility and create a public one.
NYC’s New Housing Approval Process Faces First Tests
Voters said yes to speeding up housing approvals. Now the city is putting that plan into action. While there’s excitement among affordable housing developers, some housing advocates worry the new process may quiet community voices.
The Federal Housing Bill: ‘A Bunch of Tweaks, But Good Ones’
Two bills passed with rare 80-percent-plus majorities in the Senate and House appear to be headed to a joint conference committee. The outcome could be a broad update to federal housing and community development rules—or it all might fall apart.
The Results of a HUD Study Don’t Tell the Full Story of a Program That Helps Families Save
The Family Self-Sufficiency Program has benefits and potential that make the program worth funding—despite the administration’s move to the contrary.
From DACA Advocate to Leading Organizer: Erika Castro
Community organizer Erika Castro has turned the barriers she faced early in life into a pathway for leadership and immigration rights advocacy. This video is part of Shelterforce’s Women of Color on the Front Lines series.
How to Make the Case for Supportive Housing
As federal funding for homelessness programs is threatened, housing advocates are combining large-scale research and case-level data to show why supportive housing works—and why it matters.
Fit to Live in: From Ordinances to Outcomes in Habitability, a Shelterforce webinar
What makes a home habitable? What makes habitability laws successful? In this webinar, an organizer in New Orleans and a representative from a nonprofit working with communities across the country affected by vacancy and abandonment share their perspectives.
When Rent Rises, So Does Minimum Wage: A New Model in Santa Fe
Wages have long been out of step with housing costs. Santa Fe hopes to change that by tying minimum wage increases to HUD’s Fair Market Rent estimates.
HUD Scolds Boston and Minneapolis for Doing What It Says It Wants Done
Investigations into the fair housing practices of two US cities directly contradict race-neutral guidance from the Supreme Court. Cities must continue this work.
Judge Blocks HUD’s Effort to Overhaul Federal Funding for Homeless Services
The Continuum of Care Program, the federal government’s biggest pool of funds for housing homeless people, will continue with its original funding plan—pending a final decision from the courts.
New National Collaborative Links Local Housing Justice Efforts
Bridge to Power aims to boost partner organizations’ capacity, information exchange, and agency.