Housing
Housing is an essential need. Across the country, localities are working to advance renter protections, increase affordable housing and ensure all community members have protected access to safe housing in complete and thriving neighborhoods.

Our Vision and Work

Housing is an essential need that provides the foundation for people to build their lives, find work, raise the next generation, and age in place.

Our access to housing and the community resources near our homes have been shaped by policies and practices that have harmed and excluded people of color. These inequities continue today while our communities across the country grapple with an affordable housing shortage, weak tenant protections, and increasing corporate consolidation that contribute to displacement and persistent poor housing quality.

Local governments have a critical role in protecting tenants, ensuring their policies and programs preserve and develop housing so that it is accessible for all residents, is resilient and responsive to our changing environment, and contributes to the well-being of our communities and residents throughout its design, construction, and maintenance. 

HOUSING LEADERSHIP LAB

Our Housing Leadership Lab is a 10-month training program supporting local elected officials in improving housing access and stability for renters. Our 2022-2023 cohort kicked off in July!

Stay tuned for updates!

Resources

Housing Steering committee

As a membership organization, we believe our work is most impactful when it is informed and guided by members. Bringing a diverse range of expertise and local experience, our Housing Steering Committee advises and shapes our work in this area:

  • Jeremiah Ellison, Minneapolis City Council Member
  • Vanessa Fuentes, Austin City Council Member
  • Jamie Gauthier,  Philadelphia Councilmember 
  • Michele Hirsch, Kingston Alderwoman
  • Teresa Mosqueda, Seattle City Councilmember 
  • Colby Sledge, Nashville Metropolitan Councilmember
  • Kim Smith, Rochester City Councilmember

Blogs And Featured News

Housing Leadership Lab digs deep at Strategy Workshop

In November, the Housing Leadership Lab held their in-person Strategy Workshop for the cohort in Chicago. Here are some highlights

Florida legislature must stop interfering with local efforts to lower rents

In what has become an annual tradition, the Florida Legislature is poised to further restrict residents’ freedom to address issues affecting our local communities. In fact, they are taking a sledgehammer to local freedom amid the worst housing crisis in our lifetimes.

Local Progress New York Hosts Housing Conversations Across the State

Over the course of four meetings, we brought together local members and community partners to explore housing issues in New York.

Housing Leadership Lab digs deep at Strategy Workshop

In November, the Housing Leadership Lab held their in-person Strategy Workshop for the cohort in Chicago. Here are some highlights