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
- JoBeth Hamon, Oklahoma City Council Member
- Michele Hirsch, Kingston Alderwoman
- Mitra Jalali, St. Paul City Councilmember
- Jaime Kinder, Meadville Mayor
- Robin Kniech, Denver City Council Member
- Teresa Mosqueda, Seattle City Councilmember
- Odette Ramos, Baltimore City Council Member
- Colby Sledge, Nashville Metropolitan Councilmember
- Kim Smith, Rochester City Councilmember
Blogs And Featured News
- News Article ▹ December 9, 2022
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
- Housing
- ▹ May 10, 2023
Local Progress New York Meets to Advance Housing Justice
Over 40 local elected officials and partner organizations met in Albany to discuss how to advance housing justice at the local level.
- Home Rule, Housing
- ▹ April 23, 2023
Attack on renter protection is another attack on local democracy
State Rep. LaVon Bracy Davis and Orange County Commissioner Emily Bonilla stress that preemption bills like HB 1417 just take power away from everyday Floridians.
- Housing
- ▹ April 14, 2023
Local Progress Members Submit Amicus Brief in Support of Housing First
This week, Local Progress Impact Lab filed an amicus brief in support of Housing First approaches. 63 LP members signed on in support of a court decision to require sufficient shelter for all unhoused residents before making encampment sweeps.
