There are few things in our society as important to us as the place we live — both the physical dwelling and the broader community we’re situated in. Whether we rent or own, our homes should offer stability, safety, and a space for our families and neighbors to thrive.
This isn’t the case for many folks across the country, whether due to skyrocketing rents or housing prices, displacement and evictions, or simply living far from the things we need. The reality is: our housing system is shaped by forces outside of our control. For decades, real estate corporations have turned our basic need into a profit model. But it doesn’t have to be this way. We can create housing for the public good — what many people call social housing.
In a new report – titled Housing for the People: How Local Governments are Building Social Housing Solutions for Public Good – the Local Progress Impact Lab, Power Switch Action & PolicyLink have outlined how building and managing housing in the public interest can guide us out of our housing crisis.
At its heart, social housing is about collective care of our land and homes. As people become even more fed up with a system designed to benefit corporations, localities across the US are experimenting with ways to put housing back in the hands of our communities. The report shares this work and offers guidance for how to think about social housing policy for your community.
