Shelterforce

Shelterforce

Shelterforce is nonprofit news publication that covers affordable housing in the U.S., as well as community planning, racial equity, community development, and more. Here you can listen to authors read their latest Shelterforce articles, as well as our interviews with folks on the ground. For more, go to shelterforce.org. To support our nonprofit newsroom, make a tax-deductible donation at https://shelterforce.org/donate.

Episodes

Everyone's Talking About Private Equity in Housing: Here's What You Need to Know

July 31, 2026 • 13 mins
Private equity firms are major players in the rental housing market. Here's how private equity ownership works, how it harms tenants, and the organizing strategies and policy responses that could help. This piece is read by Caroline Nagy, the associate director of housing policy at Americans for Financial Reform (AFR). Nagy co-wrote this piece with her AFR colleague Aditi Sen. Read the full piece at https://shelterforce.org/2026/...
Listen
Watch
Mark as Played

For Older Renters, the Housing Crisis Comes with Higher Stakes

July 30, 2026 • 15 mins
Seniors have long been more likely to own than rent. But the number of older renters is growing, and they’re especially vulnerable to rising housing costs, inaccessible buildings, weak tenant protections, and homelessness. Here’s why the stakes are higher later in life. Shelterforce's Frances Nguyen reports. Music by ℗ ComaStudio Read the full story at https://shelterforce.org/2026/07/30/for-older-renters-the-housing...
Listen
Watch
Mark as Played

When Home Equity Isn’t Enough: The Challenge Facing House-Rich, Income-Poor Older Adults

July 28, 2026 • 17 mins
Older homeowners often fall into a Catch-22: too much home equity to qualify for aid, but too little income to comfortably live in their homes. Some housing models aim to bridge that gap. Franklin Schneider reports for Shelterforce. Music by ℗ ComaStudio
Listen
Watch
Mark as Played

See No Evil: Oregon Retreats on Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing Initiative

July 24, 2026 • 13 mins
In 2019 and 2023, Oregon passed two laws requiring city housing plans to affirmatively further fair housing. But rather than using maps to inform policy, many Oregon cities are refraining from mapping to avoid confronting patterns of segregated housing. Jennifer Bragar, president of Housing Land Advocates, explains. Bragar co-wrote this piece with John Miller, executive director of Fair Housing Council of Oregon. Music by ℗ Coma...
Listen
Watch
Mark as Played

Everyone Supports Aging in Place. But Can We Actually Deliver It?

July 22, 2026 • 21 mins
Helping older adults remain in their homes has become a policy goal across the country. Making it happen is far more complicated. Reporting by Sandra Larson, a freelance reporter. This story is read by John Ludas, Shelterforce's audio producer. Read the story at https://shelterforce.org/2026/07/22/everyone-supports-aging-in-place-but-can-we-actually-deliver-it/ Music by ℗ ComaStudio
Listen
Watch
Mark as Played

Housing for an Older America: From ‘Aging in Place’ to ‘Aging in Community’

July 21, 2026 • 17 mins
The debate over aging in place is shifting from how to keep older adults in their homes to what kinds of communities allow people to age safely, affordably, and with dignity. Shelterforce's Frances Nguyen reports. Read the full story at https://shelterforce.org/2026/07/21/housing-for-an-older-america-from-aging-in-place-to-aging-in-community/ Music by ℗ ComaStudio
Listen
Watch
Mark as Played

The Population Is Getting Older. Our Housing System Isn’t Ready.

July 20, 2026 • 5 mins
Stability in older age depends on a host of overlapping conditions being met. Our new Under the Lens series explores those conditions, how to achieve them, and what it means when our housing system isn’t built for a population that’s growing older. Shelterforce's Lillian Ortiz explains what you can expect over the next several weeks. Read the full editor's note here: https://shelterforce.org/2026/07/20/the-population...
Listen
Watch
Mark as Played

Proposed Federal Rule Would Undercut Fannie and Freddie’s Duty to Serve Underserved Markets

July 17, 2026 • 6 mins
The Federal Housing Finance Agency is proposing to significantly change how it enforces Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac’s duty to serve underserved mortgage markets. Comments from the public are due July 24. Doug Ryan, vice president of housing policy at Grounded Solutions Network, explains. Read Ryan's op-ed at https://shelterforce.org/2026/07/17/proposed-federal-rule-would-undercut-fannie-and-freddies-duty-to-serve-underserved-...
Listen
Watch
Mark as Played

Should Everyone Have a Decent Home? Obscure HUD Document Suggests No

July 13, 2026 • 11 mins
A call for research proposals on reducing housing demand suggests a radical and troubling shift that may be coming in housing policy. This op-ed was written by Alan Mallach, a senior fellow at the Center for Community Progress. It is read by Miriam Axel-Lute, Shelterforce's editor-in-chief. Read the full op-ed at https://shelterforce.org/2026/07/13/should-everyone-have-a-decent-home-obscure-hud-document-suggests-no/ Music by ℗ C...
Listen
Watch
Mark as Played

Laboratories of Democracy: Emerging State and Local Policy Visions, a Shelterforce Webinar

July 9, 2026 • 86 mins
There is a lot that can be done to advance housing and community investment at the local and state level. This is the perfect moment to do it. This Shelterforce webinar explored some of the many ways that local and state governments can independently take create action to advance affordable housing and healthy communities. The four panelists discussed reining in corporate power and enforcing anti-trust laws, instituting public ban...
Listen
Watch
Mark as Played

How HUD Is Seeking to Make Fighting Housing Discrimination Even Harder

July 8, 2026 • 7 mins
Fair housing law has never been easy to enforce. But HUD's proposal to eliminate the use of disparate impact analysis will remove another crucial tool for doing so. Amber Banks, the president and CEO of the African American Alliance of CDFI CEOs, explains. Read the full piece at https://shelterforce.org/2026/07/08/how-hud-is-seeking-to-make-fighting-housing-discrimination-even-harder/ Music by ℗ ComaStudio
Listen
Watch
Mark as Played

HUD’s Work Requirement and Time Limit Proposals Put Rental Assistance at Risk

July 7, 2026 • 5 mins
A proposed HUD rule that would allow housing agencies and subsidized housing owners to impose work requirements and time limits on tenants has drawn nearly 2,000 public comments, most opposing changes that advocates say could threaten housing stability for millions. Erik Gartland, a research analyst at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, explains. Read the piece at https://shelterforce.org/2026/07/07/huds-work-requirement-...
Listen
Watch
Mark as Played

Federal Grant Rule Change Threatens Community Access to Public Funds

July 1, 2026 • 7 mins
A proposed rule from the Office of Management and Budget would facilitate political interference in federal grant disbursements across all agencies. Alexandra Gallo, former special advisor at the EPA, explains. Read the full piece at https://shelterforce.org/2026/07/01/federal-grant-rule-change-threatens-community-access-to-public-funds/ Music by ℗ ComaStudio
Listen
Watch
Mark as Played

Linking Immigrant, Worker, and Tenant Struggles to Build Community Power

July 1, 2026 • 21 mins
In Atlanta, nearly 1,000 labor union members and community allies gathered at the Jobs With Justice national conference, where one of the themes was linking immigrant, worker, and tenant struggles to build community power. Shelterforce's Steve Dubb reports. Read Steve's column at https://shelterforce.org/2026/06/29/linking-immigrant-worker-and-tenant-struggles-to-build-community-power/ Music by ℗ ComaStudio
Listen
Watch
Mark as Played

Are NYC’s Rent-Stabilized Buildings Really in Crisis?

June 30, 2026 • 16 mins
A two-year rent freeze, affecting about 1 million rent-stabilized apartments in New York, was just approved. Before the freeze passed, landlords said their buildings wouldn’t survive it. But recent analyses suggest the real culprit behind distressed buildings is predatory equity, not rent stabilization. Reporting by Roshan Abraham; read by John Ludas. Read the full story at https://shelterforce.org/2026/06/24/are-nycs-rent-s...
Listen
Watch
Mark as Played

Affordable Housing Financing Is Overpriced, But It Doesn’t Have to Be

June 30, 2026 • 17 mins
Affordable housing construction finance reflects market norms, but its track record shows it’s far less risky than conventional market-rate housing loans. While lower default rates should lead to lower interest rates, they currently do not. Kris Adhikari, a housing development and real estate finance professional, explains. Read Adhikari's piece here: https://shelterforce.org/2026/06/30/affordable-housing-financing-is-overpr...
Listen
Watch
Mark as Played

Congress Passes Broad Housing Package After Years of Gridlock

June 26, 2026 • 6 mins
A federal housing bill passed by strong majorities in both houses of Congress marks the first major overhaul of housing legislation in over 30 years. It awaits the president's signature. Shelterforce's Steve Dubb reports. Read the full story at https://shelterforce.org/2026/06/24/congress-passes-broad-housing-package-after-years-of-gridlock/ Music by ℗ ComaStudio
Listen
Watch
Mark as Played

Poem: Exodus

June 23, 2026 • 3 mins
A poem by housing attorney Eric Sirota that highlights the existential absurdity of our system’s treatment of low-income renters. Music by ℗ ComaStudio
Listen
Watch
Mark as Played

How State Coalitions Are Advancing Community Ownership of Housing

June 19, 2026 • 11 mins
In recent years, housing coalitions promoting community land trusts and real estate cooperatives have formed in multiple cities and states—and they are achieving results. Nonetheless, a lot of work is needed to achieve the policy changes these groups desire. Leo Goldberg, a policy researcher and advocate, explains. Music by ℗ ComaStudio
Listen
Watch
Mark as Played

HUD’s FY 2027 Spending Bill Funds Vouchers—But Would Make Them Harder to Get

June 17, 2026 • 5 mins
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. Kim Johnson, senior director of policy at the National Low Income Housing Coalition, explains. Read the piece at https://shelterforce.org/2026/06/16/huds-fy-2027-spending-bill-funds-vouchers-...
Listen
Watch
Mark as Played

Popular Podcasts

    Stuff You Should Know

    Stuff You Should Know

    If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.

    Math & Magic: Stories from the Frontiers of Marketing with Bob Pittman

    Math & Magic: Stories from the Frontiers of Marketing with Bob Pittman

    How do the smartest marketers and business entrepreneurs cut through the noise? And how do they manage to do it again and again? It's a combination of math—the strategy and analytics—and magic, the creative spark. Join iHeartMedia Chairman and CEO Bob Pittman as he analyzes the Math and Magic of marketing—sitting down with today's most gifted disruptors and compelling storytellers.

    Crime Junkie

    Crime Junkie

    Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by Audiochuck Media Company.

    Betrayal Weekly

    Betrayal Weekly

    Betrayal Weekly is back for a new season. Every Thursday, Betrayal Weekly shares first-hand accounts of broken trust, shocking deceptions, and the trail of destruction they leave behind. Hosted by Andrea Gunning, this weekly ongoing series digs into real-life stories of betrayal and the aftermath. From stories of double lives to dark discoveries, these are cautionary tales and accounts of resilience against all odds. From the producers of the critically acclaimed Betrayal series, Betrayal Weekly drops new episodes every Thursday. If you would like to share your story, you can reach out to the Betrayal Team by emailing them at betrayalpod@gmail.com and follow us on Instagram at @betrayalpod and @glasspodcasts. Please join our Substack for additional exclusive content, curated book recommendations, and community discussions. Sign up FREE by clicking this link Beyond Betrayal Substack. Join our community dedicated to truth, resilience, and healing. Your voice matters! Be a part of our Betrayal journey on Substack.

    The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show

    The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show

    The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show. Clay Travis and Buck Sexton tackle the biggest stories in news, politics and current events with intelligence and humor. From the border crisis, to the madness of cancel culture and far-left missteps, Clay and Buck guide listeners through the latest headlines and hot topics with fun and entertaining conversations and opinions.

Advertise With Us
Music, radio and podcasts, all free. Listen online or download the iHeart App.

Connect

Explore

iHeart

Live Radio

Podcasts

Artist Radio

Exclusives

News

Features

Events

Contests

Photos

Information

About

Advertise

Blog

Brand Guidelines

Contest Guidelines

Subscription Offers

Jobs

Get the App

Automotive

Home

Wearables

© 2026 iHeartMedia, Inc.

  • Help
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • AdChoicesAd Choices