When Talking Race = Real Results

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In this issue: Are Mixed-Income Policies Too Little Too Late? ● How One City Is Keeping Jobs Local With Co-ops

A Conversation on Race That Actually Went Somewhere

Ana Garcia-Ashley, Gamaliel Foundation

Before the summit, we would have demanded that the police force recruit African-American candidates for the force and walked away. Now . . . More

Are Mixed-Income Policies Too Little Too Late?

James Fraser and Joshua Bazuin, Vanderbilt University

If social inclusion and the creation of mixed-income neighborhoods is embraced by so many, why does it seem to be so difficult to materialize this vision for the city? More

How One City Is Keeping Jobs Local Using Co-ops

Araz Hachadourian, YES! Magazine

A growing number of cities are investing in co-ops to keep money local and neighborhoods affordable . . . More

You Said It!

On Why We Must Build

To low-income renters displacement means so much more that having to move to a different neighborhood. It can mean being cut off from support networks or the loss of access to necessary, affordable amenities. For renters who live paycheck to paycheck and have no equity it can even mean homelessness, especially in cities that lack . . . --Sarah Rodriguez

An important note regarding Rent Control: In some states -- such as Michigan -- it is illegal by *state* law. So unless you can get legislation passed at the state level, against business interests, it is off the table anyway. --Adam Tauno Williams

On Matthew Desmond's "Evicted" Supports, Challenges Housing Field

In advocating for universal section 8 vouchers for every family that falls below the poverty line Matthew Desmond also points to the need to do tax reform . . . Wouldn't America be a better place if people, even if they didn't own a home, held more municipal bonds and treasury notes in order to rebuild our infrastructure and industrial base? --Abbott Gorin

The book is fantastic. However, others have argued for "universal" vouchers, or vouchers as an entitlement. The late John Quigley' comes to mind . . . --Dan Immergluck

Author Reply

You are right, of course. Desmond could not be the first individual to actually have called for universal vouchers. But I have rarely heard it come up as a serious proposal in active policy and funding campaigns, agenda, or platforms put forth by major organizations in the community development field.
--Miriam Axel-Lute

On Using the Wrong Tools to Build Affordable Housing

Rejuvenating proven systems needs to be evaluated. The 221(d)(3) Below Market Interest Rate program produced a lot of affordable housing in a short time both rental and cooperative. After 20 years or in subsequent years, practically all of the rentals disappeared--physically or as affordable housing. Today, 40-50 years later . . . --Herb Fisher

Without a federal housing policy that allocated real dollars to the development of affordable housing, the best we can hope for is the development of a few homes a year. Bring back the . . .
--Louis A. Riccio

Looking for a Job?


Vice President for Applied Research The Vice President for Applied Research designs and conducts applied research projects to examine the relationships between economic and demographic disparities in access to economic opportunity, and to support Woodstock Institute's policy advocacy. The research encompasses equitable lending and investments . . . Read Full Listing	Associate Director, Affordable Homeownership CFED is a national nonprofit with a mission of empowering low- and moderate-income households to build and preserve assets. We seek a proven leader who combines a depth of affordable housing policy experience and project management know-how, who thrives on collaboration, curiosity, and . . . Read Full Listing


Community Development Director The Community Development Director will prepare assessments and inventories of existing community conditions and resources for revitalization and related projects in cooperation with community-based groups, local businesses, individual residents, appropriate city departments and other nonprofit org . . . Read Full Listing	Director - Single Family Housing This position requires strong real estate experience and a genuine commitment to the mission of building and preserving quality housing and transforming communities. The ideal candidate will have experience managing traditional "soft second" and NSP/HOME acquisition/rehab/sale programs, as well as a thorough understanding of . . . Read Full Listing