Opportunity Starts at Home

In this episode, we examine the role of architects in public housing and their impact on driving positive social change. Learn how architectural innovation in public housing can address social challenges, foster community engagement, and create environments that support social equity and climate justice.

In this episode we delve into the crucial role architects play in preservation of housing affordability with an exploration of Naturally Occurring Affordable Housing (NOAH). This episode shares insight on how architects can act as scope and grant writers, helping to secure funding and develop plans for the preservation and improvement of affordable housing. Hear from professionals who have successfully navigated these challenges and learn about strategies to maintain and enhance existing affordable housing stock. Learn more about Delta Design Build Workshop here: https://www.deltadb.org/ Learn more about Architectural Resource Team here: https://art-team.com/

Our guest architects explore the intricate connections between design, health, and the environment. Architects will discuss how holistic design approaches can create healthier living environments that also benefit the whole community. From improving indoor air quality to integrating green spaces and promoting sustainable living practices, discover how innovative design can enhance both human well-being and environmental health.

In this episode, we explore culturally mindful housing that prioritizes residents' needs and aspirations. Our guests discuss housing projects and community design processes that have successfully integrated these principles, demonstrating that when housing is designed with people in mind, it becomes a powerful catalyst for social change. Learn more about Salazar Architect here: https://www.salazarch.com/ Learn more about MASS Design Group here: https://massdesigngroup.org/

Our guest architects Karen Kubey and Casius Pealer share their experiences and insights on how thoughtful design can address both immediate needs and long-term community benefits. Discover how innovative architectural approaches can create sustainable, inclusive, and vibrant neighborhoods and support residents' human rights. To learn more about the AIA Housing & Community Development Knowledge Community, visit www.aia.org/hcd AIA Right to Housing Working Group Members: Tara Bray, AIA, Modus Studio, Fayetteville, Arkansas Yanitza Brongers-Marrero, FAIA, Moody Nolan, Columbus, Ohio Kathleen A. Dorgan, FAIA, Dorgan Architecture & Planning, Storrs, Connecticut Ismar Enriquez, AIA, Practice, Pasadena, California Alexis Gregory, AIA, Mississippi State University, Starkville, Mississippi Sabrina Herrell, LOGIK Legal LLC, Chicago, Illinois Iza Khan, Urban Idea Lab, Boston, Massachusetts Karen Kubey, University of Toronto, New York, New York / Toronto, Ontario Alix Ogilvie, AIA, LDA Architects, Cleveland, Ohio Etty Padmodipoetro, AIA, Urban Idea Lab, Boston, Massachusetts Casius Pealer, Institute for Market Transformation / Tulane University, New Orleans, Louisiana Emily Roush-Elliott, AIA, Delta Design Build Workshop, Greenwood, Mississippi Alexander Salazar, AIA, Salazar Architect Inc., Portland, Oregon Thuy Shutt, AIA, Palm Beach County, Delray Beach, Florida Christian Solorio, AIA, Architectural Resource Team, Phoenix, Arizona Adrianne Steichen, AIA, PYATOK architecture + urban design, Oakland, California Intro/Closing Song: Free Music Library, YouTube, “Blurry Vision” URL: www.youtube.com/audiolibrary

In this episode, Julie Walker, Campaign Coordinator for Opportunity Starts at Home (OSAH), moderates an insightful panel exploring the powerful partnerships at the heart of the OSAH campaign. Joining her are leaders from key areas including domestic violence prevention, early childhood development, food security, and education: Dfox from the National Network to End Domestic Violence (NNEDV), Patricia Cole from ZEROTOTHREE, Robert Campbell from Feeding America, and Barbara Duffield from Schoolhouse Connection. Together, they share why their organizations joined the OSAH Roundtable and reflect on six years of collaborative advocacy to address housing insecurity across America. This panel was recorded live at the OSAH Roundtable on October 1, 2024, in Washington, DC. To learn more about the campaign and Roundtable event, visit: Opportunity Starts at Home Roundtable (https://www.opportunityhome.org/organizations-2/opportunity-roundtable/). Intro/Closing Song: Free Music Library, YouTube, “Blurry Vision” URL: www.youtube.com/audiolibrary

In this episode, we talk with Dr. Sabrina Johnson, Senior Housing Policy Advocate at the Natural Resources Defense Council. Dr. Johnson discusses the work of the Natural Resources Defense Council, the history of the environmental justice movement, the intersection of environmental justice and housing justice, the impact of environmental racism on communities of color, the impact of climate change, and ways to take action though advancing policy solutions. Dr. Johnson takes a deep dive into our recently released issue brief entitled, “Housing Policy is Environmental Policy: The Complementary Aims of Fair Housing and Environmental Justice.” Read the article at: https://www.opportunityhome.org/resources/housing-policy-is-environmental-policy-the-complementary-aims-of-fair-housing-and-environmental-justice/

In this episode, we talk with Victoria Palacio, Deputy Director of State Strategy at the Legal Action Center. Mrs. Palacio discusses the work of the Legal Action Center, its participation in the OSAH campaign's Roundtable, the latest findings from a survey conducted by the Black Harm Reduction Network, the impact of housing on harm reduction efforts and justice-involved populations, the importance of language in advocacy, and the future projects of the Legal Action Center. Mrs. Palacio also speaks about the work of the Legal Action Center's “No Health=No Justice” campaign, a multi-state advocacy and organizing strategy that works to support de-carceration efforts to ensure that people are not criminalized for conditions related to their health. The campaign involves close partnerships with Legal Action Center's local and state partners, including Alabama Justice Initiative, Black Futurists Group, Illinois Alliance for Reentry & Justice, Just City Memphis/Decarcerate Memphis, Lifeline 2 Success, National Incarceration Association, Northeastern University School of Law/Civil Rights and Restorative Justice Project, RestoreHER, Restoring Rights and Opportunities Coalition of Illinois/Heartland Alliance, Safer Foundation, Southern Center for Human Rights, The Ordinary Peoples Society, Voices for a Second Chance, and Women on the Rise. Read the article at: https://www.opportunityhome.org/resources/housing-is-a-solution-why-housing-matters-to-harm-reductionists-and-criminal-legal-system-and-health-care-reform-advocates/ Intro/Closing Song: Free Music Library, YouTube, “Clover 3” URL: www.youtube.com/audiolibrary

In this episode, we talk with Dr. Justin Steil, a professor of Law and Urban Planning at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dr. Steil joins us to discuss the origins of his interdisciplinary approach to housing policy, the historical context of the Fair Housing Act, decades of failed implementation related to the Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing (AFFH) mandate, the progress made under the AFFH rule established during the Obama administration, and the rule's prospects for revival during the Biden administration. Intro/Closing Song: Free Music Library, YouTube, “Clover 3” URL: www.youtube.com/audiolibrary

In this episode we talk with Dr. Lance Freeman, the Penn Integrates Knowledge Professor of City and Regional Planning & Sociology at the University of Pennsylvania. Dr. Freeman joins us to discuss how growing up in New York City spurred his interest in housing policy, the historical context of segregated living patterns in US cities, how the government contributed to those patterns, the emergence of gentrification in urban development, and the specific policies that can better promote affordable housing and integration.

In this episode, we talk to Thea Sebastian, Director of Policy at Civil Rights Corps, and Sam Washington, Policy Associate at Civil Rights Corps. Sebastian and Washington explore the deep connections between affordable housing and safety for individuals and families and discuss why Civil Rights Corps joined the OSAH campaign's Roundtable and participated in the campaign's recent sign-on letter supporting the campaign's housing priorities. They also examine the ways safety, racial equity, and housing are connected and share additional resources for learning about housing and safety. Additional Resources: ARPA: https://civilrightscorps.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Community-Safety-and-ARP_Policy-Guide_CivRightsCorps.pdf IIJA: https://civilrightscorps.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/3_21_CRC_Harnessing-Infrastructure-Grants-for-Community-Safety-Report.pdf Evidence Guide: https://civilrightscorps.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Getting-Smart-On-Safety.pdf Intro/Closing Song: Free Music Library, YouTube, “Clover 3” URL: www.youtube.com/audiolibrary

In this episode we talk with Dr. Eva Rosen, an Assistant Professor at Georgetown University's McCourt School of Public Policy, Dr. Philip Garboden, the HCRC Professor in Affordable Housing Economics, Policy, and Planning at the University of Hawaii Manoa, Dr. Jennifer Cossyleon, a Senior Policy and Advocacy Manager at Community Change Action. Dr. Rosen, Dr. Garboden, and Dr. Cossyleon join us to discuss a recent article published in the American Sociological Review (2021), "Racial Discrimination in Housing: How Landlords use Algorithms and Home Visits to Screen Tenants." The conversation explores their mixed methods approach to research, the different types of landlords in the housing rental market, inequitable screening practices, the importance of understanding intersectional discrimination, and what an equitable approach to matching landlords and tenants might look like. Intro/Closing Song: Free Music Library, YouTube, “Clover 3” URL: www.youtube.com/audiolibrary

Leaders from the health, faith, and food security sectors join us for a discussion on advancing racial equity through their participation on the Opportunity Starts at Home campaign. In the past two years, the campaign has formed a Racial Equity Working Group to advance racial equity within the campaign. In this episode, members of the Racial Equity Working Group explore how their organizations are advancing racial equity, the intersectional impact of correcting racial inequities in housing policy, the work of the racial equity working group and major reflections and takeaways. The discussion features Curtis Johnson, Vice President of Housing Strategy, Catholic Charities, Alexandra Ashbrook, Director of Root Causes and Specific Populations, Food Research and Action Center, and Charlotte Bruce, Research and Policy Analyst, Children's HealthWatch. Intro/Closing Song: Free Music Library, YouTube, “Clover 3” URL: www.youtube.com/audiolibrary

In this episode we talk with Dr. Alexander von Hoffman, an American urban planner and historian at the Harvard University Graduate School of Design and Joint Center for Housing Studies. Dr. von Hoffman joins us to discuss his recent book chapter "The Origins of the Fair Housing Act of 1968” in Furthering Fair Housing: Prospects for Racial Justice in America's Neighborhoods, a volume that explores the past, present and future of fair housing policies in the United States. The conversation explores the historical roots of segregation, the ways that federal policy exacerbated issues of fair housing, the grassroots and legislative history of the Fair Housing Act, and the challenges facing housing integration advocates today. Intro/Closing Song: Free Music Library, YouTube, “Clover 3” URL: www.youtube.com/audiolibrary

In this episode, we talk with Dr. Lincoln Quillian, a Professor of Sociology and Faculty Fellow at the Institute for Policy Research at Northwestern University. Dr. Quillian joins us to discuss a recent article published in the journal Race and Social Problems (2020), "Racial Discrimination in the U.S. Housing and Mortgage Lending Markets: A Quantitative Review of Trends, 1976–2016." The conversation explores the importance of housing to equal opportunity, the methodological approach to analyzing housing and mortgage discrimination over time, how different types of discrimination have changed over time, and the implications of these findings for policymakers. Episode recorded in April 2022. Intro/Closing Song: Free Music Library, YouTube, “Clover 3” URL: www.youtube.com/audiolibrary

The episode explores the work of the campaign's state-based affiliates in North Carolina and features Adam Sotak, community engagement director at NCChild. Throughout the episode, Mr. Sotak discusses their unqiue partnership with the North Carolina Housing Coalition, the opportunities and challenges of building multi-sector partnerships, best practices for organizations looking to build a multi-sector coalition, how NCChild is advancing racial equity, and how NCChild is leveraging multi-sector partnerships to advance more robust and equitable housing policies. "What we have tried to do with this opportunity is integrate the issue of safe and affordable housing for children and families into everything we do as a child advocacy organization because it is such a key part of children being able to thrive," said Mr. Sotak. We all know that affordable housing is an issue in any city or state across our country...so to us, it just makes sense to have this be a key part of the multi-issue way we are trying to make policy change in North Carolina."

In this episode, we speak with Dr. Stefan Lallinger and Sam Adams about why education advocates must concern themselves with matters of housing policy. Dr. Lallinger is a Fellow at the Century Foundation and Director of the Bridges Collaborative, focused on issues of racial and socioeconomic integration, equity, school governance, and district-charter relationships. Sam Adams is the education programs manager at the Come to Believe Foundation and ongoing contributor to the Opportunity Starts at Home campaign. "The way that we have set up where kids go to school in this country, which is based largely on where they live, has necessitated that educators take an interest in housing policy," said Dr. Lallinger. Intro/Closing Song: Free Music Library, YouTube, “Clover 3” URL: www.youtube.com/audiolibrary

The campaign continues its three-part webinar series entitled “Building Multi-Sector Partnerships to Advance Housing Policy,” with the second webinar on August 24. This webinar series explores the opportunities, challenges, and best practices of building multi-sector coalitions to advance policy, featuring speakers from leading national and state organizations from many fields of work. The second part of the webinar series, entitled “Best Practices to Building Multi-sector Partnerships on the State Level,” featured: Chantelle Wilkinson, National Campaign Manager, Opportunity Starts at Home Gina Wilt, Advocacy Director, Coalition on Homelessness and Housing in Ohio Kendra Knighten, Policy Associate, Idaho Asset Building Network Tara Rollins, Executive Director, Utah Housing Coalition Sharon Barker, Vice President and COO, Housing and Community Development Network of New Jersey Through the Opportunity Starts at Home campaign, leading national organizations from an array of sectors are pushing Congress to act on more robust and equitable housing policies. Even before the pandemic, America was in the grips of an affordable housing crisis, most severely impacting the most marginalized and lowest-income people. Advocates from health, education, racial equity, food security, environmental protection, economic mobility, domestic violence, social work, faith, and more are recognizing that affordable homes are inextricably linked to their own priorities and concerns. As Congress begins to discuss robust infrastructure and recovery packages, we have a historic opportunity to advance bold housing solutions. These solutions are more likely to come to fruition when multi-sector coalitions are leading the way, as opposed to housing advocates alone. Learn more about the webinar series by signing up for the campaign's newsletter: https://www.opportunityhome.org/take-action/lets-stand-together/ Intro/Closing Song: Free Music Library, YouTube, “Clover 3” URL: www.youtube.com/audiolibrary

The Opportunity Starts at Home campaign hosted the first of a three-part webinar series, entitled “Building Multi-Sector Partnerships to Advance Housing Policy,” on May 18. The webinar featured leaders in the climate, health, and education sector discussing their participation in the campaign, the benefits and challenges of building cross-sector partnerships and engaging other advocates in their fields to advance affordable housing policy. Speakers Included: Nan Roman, president and CEO, National Alliance to End Homelessness Khalil Shahyd, senior policy advisor, Equity Environment and Just Communities, Natural Resources Defense Council Makeda Harris, senior policy analyst, National Education Association Dr. Janna Gewirtz O'Brien, MD, FAAP, University of Minnesota, American Academy of Pediatrics Chantelle Wilkinson, campaign manager, Opportunity Starts at Home Over the course of three parts, this webinar series will explore the opportunities, challenges, and best practices of building multi-sector coalitions to advance policy, featuring speakers from leading national and state organizations from many fields of work. Learn more about the webinar series by signing up for the campaign's newsletter: https://www.opportunityhome.org/take-action/lets-stand-together/ Intro/Closing Song: Free Music Library, YouTube, “Clover 3” URL: www.youtube.com/audiolibrary

This episode explores a recent report published by Community Legal Services of Philadelphia (CLS) featuring Rasheedah Phillips, managing attorney of housing policy at CLS. Throughout the episode, Ms. Phillips discusses the report’s key findings, equitable solutions beyond the pandemic, research methods that center people with lived experience, guidance for organizations seeking to strengthen racial justice work, and using language to better capture racial inequities. “When we look at the rate of evictions in Philadelphia and that those evicted most are Black people, we recognize that when speaking about housing instability and unaffordability we should frame these issues as race and gender issues,” says Ms. Phillips. “These issues connect back to redlining which still impacts Black communities today as we look at overall disinvestment and blight in these communities.” Intro/Closing Song: Free Music Library, YouTube, “Clover 3” URL: www.youtube.com/audiolibrary

The episode explores the work of the campaign’s state-based affiliates in Ohio and features Gina Wilt, advocacy director at the Coalition on Homelessness and Housing in Ohio (COHHIO). Throughout the episode, Ms. Wilt discusses the housing crisis in Ohio, the opportunities and challenges of building multi-sector partnerships, best practices for organizations looking to build a multi-sector coalition, how COHHIO is advancing racial equity, and how COHHIO is leveraging multi-sector partnerships to advance more robust and equitable housing policies. “I cannot underscore enough the importance of education and outreach in congressional meetings,” says Ms. Wilt. “And without having the diversity in COHHIO’s coalition partners to fully participate, I really don’t think it would be as successful.” Intro/Closing Song: Free Music Library, YouTube, “Clover 3” URL: www.youtube.com/audiolibrary

In this episode, we discuss the work of the Opportunity Starts at Home campaign’s Racial Equity Working Group with Peggy Bailey, Vice President of Housing Policy at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. Throughout the episode, Ms. Bailey discusses the history of racism in housing policy, the first steps when organizations embark upon racial equity work, her major reflections and takeaways, the intersectional impact of correcting racial inequities in housing policy, and the value of applying an anti-racist framework to housing justice. “There is a true commitment to race equity work and doing better in the housing space,” said Ms. Bailey. “Policies and practices have caused racial disparities, so intentionality and courage are needed to reverse and correct them.” Intro/Closing Song: Free Music Library, YouTube, “Clover 3” URL: www.youtube.com/audiolibrary

In this episode, we talk with Dr. Myra Jones-Taylor, Chief Policy Officer at ZERO TO THREE, about the intersection of healthy early childhood development and housing stability. Dr. Jones-Taylor discusses the research around baby and toddler development, persistent racial disparities, effective best practices, the short- and long-term impacts of COVID-19, and why ZERO TO THREE is pushing Congress to invest in housing stability. "Babies need a place to call home," said Dr. Jones-Taylor. "Safe, affordable housing is at the heart of healthy early development. I can’t think of anything that is more foundational to young children’s well-being. The experience of the pandemic has laid bare that our systems for supporting the health and well-being of families with young children are threadbare to practically non-existent. For us, it’s important that Congress hears from the baby perspective so we can make this connection for them." ZERO TO THREE is a national nonprofit that works to ensure that all babies and toddlers have a strong start in life. Intro/Closing Song: Free Music Library, YouTube, “Clover 3” URL: www.youtube.com/audiolibrary

This episode discusses the intersections between racial equity and housing with Amanda Andere, CEO of Funders Together to End Homelessness. Ms. Andere discusses the work of her organization, how racial inequities manifest in housing and homelessness, the history of housing discrimination, what it takes to achieve large-scale policy change, the common mistakes that organizations make in pursuing racial equity work, the importance of distinguishing between intent and impact, how the philanthropic community is increasingly committed to addressing structural and racial inequities, and why centering racial equity becomes even more important in crises such as the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. "For us, racial equity is not just the absence of overt racial discrimination," said Ms. Andere. "It is also the presence of deliberate policies and practices that provide everyone with the support they need to improve their quality of lives." Intro/Closing Song: Free Music Library, YouTube, “Clover 3” URL: www.youtube.com/audiolibrary

This episode discusses the intersections between the growing coronavirus pandemic, housing instability, and homelessness with Dr. Barbara DiPietro, senior director of policy at National Health Care for the Homeless Council. Dr. DiPietro explains why those experiencing housing instability and homelessness are especially susceptible to the virus and what solutions should be implemented immediately to mitigate the harm. “Our housing crisis is a public health issue,” said Dr. DiPietro. “People experiencing homelessness should be a priority population in our emergency response to the coronavirus.” Intro/Closing Song: Free Music Library, YouTube, “Clover 3” URL: www.youtube.com/audiolibrary

This episode discusses how the housing affordability crisis impacts Latino households across the nation, featuring Agatha So, Senior Policy Analyst at UnidosUS. UnidosUS, formerly the National Council of La Raza, is the nation's largest Latino nonprofit advocacy and services organization and is a Steering Committee member of the Opportunity Starts at Home campaign. Ms. So discusses recent findings from a UnidosUS report that interviewed 25 Latino renter households in New York City, Washington DC, San Francisco, Phoenix, Denver, Orlando, and Las Vegas. The overall findings demonstrate that the housing crisis is felt deeply by the Latino community. Ms. So also discusses the history of housing discrimination that shapes today's current landscape, as well as concrete policy actions that should be taken to solve the problem. "Action is urgently needed," states Ms. So. "The lack of affordable rental housing has a significant impact on a family's economic security, feelings of safety in their neighborhood, their housing options, and their prospects of saving for the future." Intro/Closing Song: Free Music Library, YouTube, “Clover 3” URL: www.youtube.com/audiolibrary

This episode features an array of elected officials, experts, advocates, and people with lived experience to discuss two major pieces of bipartisan housing legislation that were recently introduced in Congress. This is a live recording of a Congressional Briefing hosted by the Opportunity Starts at Home campaign in Washington D.C. on January 14, 2020. The Eviction Crisis Act, introduced by Senators Bennet(D-CO) and Portman (R-OH), along with Senators Brown (D-OH) and Young (R-IN), would create a new Emergency Assistance Fund to provide direct financial assistance to help families remain stably housed during an unforeseen economic shock, such as a broken-down car or sudden medical bill. The Family Stability and Opportunity Vouchers Act, introduced by Senator Young (R-IN) and Van Hollen (D-MD), would create 500,000 new housing vouchers specifically designed to help families with young children access neighborhoods of opportunity with high-performing schools, strong job prospects, and other crucial resources. Guests include: U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown; U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen; U.S. Senator Michael Bennet; Dr. Matthew Desmond, professor of sociology at Princeton University and author of the Pulitzer Prize-winning book Evicted; Diane Yentel, CEO of the National Low Income Housing Coalition; Peggy Bailey, Vice President for Housing Policy at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities; Sarah Oppenheimer, Associate Director of Policy and Research at Opportunity Insights; Nan Roman, CEO of the National Alliance to End Homelessness; and Jeffrey Williams, a tenant advocate from Richmond, Virginia. Intro/Closing Song: Free Music Library, YouTube, “Clover 3” URL: www.youtube.com/audiolibrary

This episode focuses on the intersections of affordable housing and criminal justice reform. Two experts from the campaign’s multi-sector Steering Committee join the conversation: Mel Wilson, senior policy consultant for social justice and human rights at the National Association of Social Workers; and Dylan Hayre, senior policy advisor at JustLeadershipUSA. In the episode, Mr. Wilson and Mr. Hayre discuss the scale of the nation’s mass incarceration crisis and the legacy of public policies that shaped it; how housing instability leads to encounters with the criminal legal system; how encounters with the criminal legal system, in turn, create major barriers to finding stable affordable housing; the importance of cross-sector work; and the necessary solutions. “Housing is the foundation,” said Mr. Hayre. “It’s the building block from which a lot of other things can fall into place. For criminal justice folks, there’s an emerging recognition that we need to be intersectional in our approach.” “There is an education that we need to do with our fellow reformers, explaining that we have to put energy around investment of funds towards housing,” said Mr. Wilson. “This has to get as much of a priority as some of the other issues that we’re dealing with in criminal justice reform.” The National Association of Social Workers is the largest membership organization of professional social workers in the world, with more than 120,000 members. JustLeadershipUSA is one of the nation’s leading criminal justice reform advocacy organizations, dedicated to cutting the U.S. prison population in half by 2030. Intro/Closing Song: Free Music Library, YouTube, “Clover 3” URL: www.youtube.com/audiolibrary

“Victims of domestic violence struggle to find permanent housing after fleeing abusive relationships. Many have left in the middle of the night with nothing but the clothes on their backs, and now must entirely rebuild their lives. As long-term housing options become scarcer, victims are staying longer in emergency domestic violence shelters. As a result, shelters are frequently full and must turn families away.” -- National Network to End Domestic Violence In this episode, we talk about the intersections between affordable housing and domestic violence with two experts at the National Network to End Domestic Violence: Monica McLaughlin, Director of Public Policy; and Debbie Fox, Senior Housing Policy & Practice Specialist. Intro/Closing Song: Free Music Library, YouTube, “Clover 3” URL: www.youtube.com/audiolibrary

This year marks the 30th anniversary of "Out of Reach," a report published annually by the National Low Income Housing Coalition (NLIHC). NLIHC chairs and leads the Opportunity Starts at Home campaign. "Out of Reach" has become an indispensable, landmark resource to help people understand the affordable housing crisis and its solutions. Year in and year out, its findings are cited in the press, by policymakers at all levels of government, by academics, and by advocates. To commemorate the 30th anniversary of the report and to capture the history around it, we invited New York Times reporter Emily Badger to interview an esteemed panel: Peggy Bailey, Vice President for Housing Policy at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities; Shelia Crowley, former President and CEO of NLIHC; Erhard Mahnke, board member of NLIHC and Coordinator at the Vermont Affordable Housing Coalition; and Andrew Aurand, Vice President for Research at NLIHC. The panelists share their thoughts on "Out of Reach," the history of how we got to today's current crisis, how policy changes have impacted access to affordable housing, solutions and resources that we already have in place but are underutilized and threatened, and what the next president should do in their first 100 days in office to significantly increase affordable housing for the lowest-income people.

Truly understanding all the dimensions of the nation's housing affordability crisis requires listening to those with lived experience – people who have experienced homelessness and housing instability. In this episode, we look at issues of affordable housing through the stories of seven people across the country who have been directly impacted. These stories were captured by the campaign's partner at the "Where Will We Live" campaign at the National Housing Trust and Enterprise Community Partners. "Where Will We Live" amplifies the voices of those with lived experience and arms them with the knowledge to take action to ensure affordable housing resources are protected and expanded. Intro/Closing Song: Free Music Library, YouTube, “Clover 3” URL: www.youtube.com/audiolibrary

In this episode, we talk to Dr. Dan Kammen about the many intersections between housing policy and climate policy. Dr. Kammen is one of the world’s leading energy experts. He is a Distinguished Professor of Energy at UC Berkeley, where he holds appointments in the Energy and Resources Group, the Goldman School of Public Policy, and the Department of Nuclear Engineering. He is a former Science Envoy for the U.S. State Department, appointed during the Obama presidency. He was a coordinating lead author for the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, which won the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize for its report which assessed man-made global warming. He was a chief specialist for renewable energy and energy efficiency at the World Bank and served in a variety of roles in global energy initiatives and other federal roles, including at the Energy Department and the Environmental Protection Agency. Throughout the conversation, Dr. Kammen discusses how the lack of housing affordability significantly contributes to transportation-related greenhouse gas emissions, as well as necessary policy changes, the Green New Deal, the urgency of the situation, and how housing and climate advocates can better partner together. Intro/Closing Song: Free Music Library, YouTube, “Clover 3” URL: www.youtube.com/audiolibrary

“We have built a school funding system that is reliant on geography, and therefore the school funding system has inherited all of the historical ills of where we have forced and incentivized people to live" -- Rebecca Sibilia Because school funding largely comes from local property taxes, housing plays a pivotal role in how much schools can spend on students’ education. In this episode, the CEO of EdBuild, Rebecca Sibilia, discusses the interplay between housing and school funding inequities. EdBuild is a nonprofit organization focused on bringing common sense and fairness to the way we fund public schools. In a recent report, EdBuild found that nonwhite school districts get $23 billion less than white districts, despite serving the same number of students. These education disparities are largely rooted in housing disparities. Intro/Closing Song: Free Music Library, YouTube, “Clover 3” URL: www.youtube.com/audiolibrary

Dr. Richard Florida is a world renowned urbanist and one of the leading public intellectuals on economic competitiveness, demographic trends, and cultural and technological innovation. He is a co-founder and editor at large of CityLab and a senior editor at The Atlantic. He is a university professor in the University of Toronto’s School of Cities and Rotman School of Management, and a distinguished fellow at New York University’s Schack Institute of Real Estate. In this episode, Dr. Florida discusses the complex nexus between housing affordability and economic productivity. "Because we have not built enough housing in these superstar places, we get a shock to our national productivity which is in the trillions," said Dr. Florida. "It’s a national imperative that we work together to make sure that we have the affordable housing we need..." Intro/Closing Song: Free Music Library, YouTube, “Clover 3” URL: www.youtube.com/audiolibrary

John King served in President Barack Obama’s cabinet as the 10th U.S. Secretary of Education. Secretary King is one of the most prominent voices on the connections between housing policy and education policy, particularly with respect to pervasive socioeconomic and racial segregation. We sat down with Secretary King in Los Angeles to discuss the state of modern-day school and housing segregation, why he prioritized integration while in office, promising practices on both the education and housing fronts, and why education advocates must also be housing advocates. “As citizens, we need to be engaged on the issues that affect the kids and families that we serve,” said Secretary King. “We have to be engaged on housing…We have a responsibility as educators to be engaged across a range of issues.” Intro/Closing Song: Free Music Library, YouTube, “Clover 3” URL: www.youtube.com/audiolibrary

The philanthropic community is increasingly focused on safe, decent, affordable housing as a cornerstone for progress in a variety of other areas. The Funders for Housing and Opportunity (FHO) is one of the nation’s most prominent examples of this. In this episode, we talk to Susan Thomas and Jeanne Fekade-Sellassie. Susan Thomas is the Chair of the FHO collaborative and the Senior Program Officer for Melville Charitable Trust. Jeanne Fekade-Sellassie is the Project Director of FHO. FHO is a philanthropic collaborative committed to better life outcomes for the millions of Americans that lack stable housing. FHO has brought together some of country’s leading foundations: Annie E. Casey Foundation, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, The Conrad N. Hilton Foundation, The Ford Foundation, The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, JPB Foundation, The Kresge Foundation, Melville Charitable Trust, Oak Foundation, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, and Trinity Church Wall Street. Susan and Jeanne discuss how and why FHO got started, why it focuses on rental housing for the lowest-income people, where it is headed in the future, its funding strategies, and the broader philanthropic community’s involvement in tackling poverty. Intro/Closing Song: Free Music Library, YouTube, “Clover 3” URL: https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary

Health insurance providers increasingly understand that good housing is good health. To more effectively address health conditions, insurance providers across the country are developing and implementing new ways to improve access to safe, decent, affordable housing for the people they serve. In this episode, we talk to Rhys Jones and Rashi Venkataraman with America’s Health Insurance Plans (AHIP). AHIP is the largest advocacy organization representing health insurers nationwide. AHIP has about 1,300 member companies that sell health insurance to over 200 million Americans. Rhys Jones is the Vice President of Medicaid Policy and Advocacy and Rashi Venkataraman is the Executive Director of Prevention and Population Health. They discuss the Opportunity Starts at Home campaign, the importance of multi-sector collaboration, the many linkages between housing and health, and why health insurance providers are increasingly taking action on housing. They also discuss specific examples of how certain health insurance providers are getting involved in housing, such as partnering with community organizations, providing case management services, and even investing in actual housing units. “Housing ends up being linked to treatment success,” explains Jones. “A person being discharged to a home is more likely to have a long-term positive outcome than a person with exactly the same clinical characteristics who is being discharged to homelessness.” Intro/Closing Song by: David Szesztay - "Joyful Meeting" URL:freemusicarchive.org/music/David_Sz…Joyful_Meeting Comments: freemusicarchive.org/ Copyright: Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 International: creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/

Senator Todd Young (R-IN) has been one of the most prominent voices on the housing affordability crisis and its spillover effects into other sectors. We sat down with Senator Young in his Washington, D.C. office to discuss a range of topics: his prioritization of the housing affordability issue; the impact of the affordability crisis throughout his home state of Indiana; his recent bipartisan legislation; the importance of housing voucher mobility; the role of the federal government; and even a little college football. According to Senator Young, the housing affordability crisis “transcends red America and blue America. It’s a purple issue and one that is inhibiting upward mobility and people’s opportunity to live the American Dream."

David Williams is the Policy Director of Opportunity Insights, the new research and policy institute led by world-renowned economists Raj Chetty (Harvard University), Nathaniel Hendren (Harvard University), and John Friedman (Brown University). In this episode, David discusses the fading American Dream, the work of his organization, the recent research showing how neighborhoods drive life outcomes, the implications for housing policy, “opportunity bargain” neighborhoods, and the latest Opportunity Atlas interactive map where users can search any neighborhood in the country and see where children have the best chance of climbing the income ladder as adults. "We’re trying to use big data to inform policy,” said Williams. “Neighborhoods are hyper-local. When kids are growing up in a certain place on a certain block, there is something about who they are growing up around, what they see, and those experiences that they’re exposed to that are extremely important. And that exposure is different just a mile away. And we can really see it through the numbers.” Intro/Closing Song by: David Szesztay - "Joyful Meeting" URL:freemusicarchive.org/music/David_Sz…Joyful_Meeting Comments: freemusicarchive.org/ Copyright: Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 International: creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/

“Very nearly we talk about housing just as much as we talk about hunger. The people we serve keep telling us it’s housing; it’s rent; it’s having a safe place to call home.” – Jeff Kleen, Oregon Food Bank Recorded in Portland, Oregon, this episode explores the intersections between food insecurity and affordable housing with Alison McIntosh of the Oregon Housing Alliance and Jeff Kleen and Anneliese Koehler with Oregon Food Bank. The Oregon Housing Alliance is one of seven state partners receiving capacity building grants from the national Opportunity Starts at Home campaign. Oregon Food Bank is a key partner of the Alliance. Alison, Jeff, and Anneliese discuss their multi-sector collaboration to influence better housing policies, including best practices, recent successes, and challenges. Intro/Closing Song by: David Szesztay - "Joyful Meeting" URL:freemusicarchive.org/music/David_Sz…Joyful_Meeting Comments: freemusicarchive.org/ Copyright: Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 International: creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/

Andrew Sperling, Director of Legislative and Policy Advocacy at the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), discusses the intersections of affordable housing and mental health. NAMI sits on the Steering Committee of the Opportunity Starts at Home campaign. Andrew explains NAMI's commitment to housing affordability issues, the history of housing and mental illness, the current housing barriers facing those with a mental health condition, and the necessity of stable housing for recovery. "Without access to decent, safe, affordable housing, all the aspirations we have for recovery just collapse," explains Sperling. "For the population I represent, no social determinant of health drives more bad health outcomes than unstable housing." Intro/Closing Song by: David Szesztay - "Joyful Meeting" URL:freemusicarchive.org/music/David_Sz…Joyful_Meeting Comments: freemusicarchive.org/ Copyright: Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 International: creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/

Lisa Hershey from Housing California and Angela Jenkins from Kaiser Permanente talk about the intersections of housing and health, and how new cross-sector relationships and innovative solutions are playing out in California. They discuss the work of their respective organizations, why the health and housing sectors are increasingly cooperating, how that cooperation is changing the game in terms of policy advocacy, the inherent challenges of cross-sector relationships, and much more! Intro/Closing Song by: David Szesztay - "Joyful Meeting" URL:freemusicarchive.org/music/David_Sz…Joyful_Meeting Comments: freemusicarchive.org/ Copyright: Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 International: creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/

In this episode, we explore the intersections of housing affordability, segregation, zoning, and education with Richard Kahlenberg, senior fellow at The Century Foundation. Kahlenberg has been called “the intellectual father of the economic integration movement” in K-12 schooling and “arguably the nation’s chief proponent of class-based affirmative action in higher education admissions.” He is also an authority on teachers’ unions, private school vouchers, charter schools, turnaround school efforts, labor organizing and inequality in higher education. His articles have been published in The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, The New Republic, and elsewhere. He has appeared on ABC, CBS, CNN, FOX, C-SPAN, MSNBC, and NPR. More recently, he has turned an eye toward housing policy. In this episode, Kahlenberg discusses his career’s work on school segregation, why he’s recently focused more on housing policy, and his latest ideas about reducing exclusionary zoning and updating the Fair Housing Act to make housing more affordable. Intro/Closing Song by: David Szesztay - "Joyful Meeting" URL:freemusicarchive.org/music/David_Sz…Joyful_Meeting Comments: freemusicarchive.org/ Copyright: Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 International: creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/

In this episode, we explore the intersections of faith-based agencies and affordable housing with Curtis Johnson, Senior Director of Housing Strategy for Catholic Charities, USA. Mr. Johnson discusses the many ways Catholic Charities is involved in affordable housing development and advocacy, why it joined the Opportunity Starts at Home campaign, his personal experiences from a 30-year career in housing, and how social justice teachings can inform the nation’s housing policy. As Catholic Charities explains, “Having a stable, affordable home is essential for both individuals and society. Having a home underscores the inherent dignity of the persons who live there.” Intro/Closing Song by: David Szesztay - "Joyful Meeting" URL:freemusicarchive.org/music/David_Sz…Joyful_Meeting Comments: freemusicarchive.org/ Copyright: Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 International: creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/

Episode 3 - Dr. Heather Schwartz This episode dives into the deep connections between housing and education with a nationally recognized expert in the field: Dr. Heather Schwartz from RAND Education. She is the author of some of the most influential studies over the past decade on the connections between housing and schools. Dr. Schwartz takes the audience through her work, showing how affordable housing policies can promote higher educational attainment for low-income children - sometimes even more so than traditional education reform strategies. Using innovative housing policies as a strategy to drive better student outcomes is consistently overlooked by both housers and educators alike. As Dr. Schwartz explains, there remains a significant disconnect between the education sector and the housing sector, even though research shows that the two are inextricably linked. If you want to get smarter on the connections between housing and education, listen now! Intro/Closing Song by: David Szesztay - "Joyful Meeting" URL:freemusicarchive.org/music/David_Sz…Joyful_Meeting Comments: freemusicarchive.org/ Copyright: Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 International: creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/

A must listen! A fascinating panel discussion with senior leaders from the National Low Income Housing Coalition, National Education Association, National Alliance to End Homelessness, NAACP, Community Catalyst, and Children's Defense Fund about why each of their organizations joined the Opportunity Starts at Home campaign and the various ways in which housing is deeply connected to their own sectors of work, from education to civil rights to homelessness to healthcare to child advocacy. This panel was recorded before a live audience in Washington D.C. on May 10, 2018. Intro/Closing Song by: David Szesztay - "Joyful Meeting" URL:freemusicarchive.org/music/David_Sz…Joyful_Meeting Comments: freemusicarchive.org/ Copyright: Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 International: creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/

Episode 1 - Dr. Megan Sandel This episode dives into the deep connections between housing and health with a nationally recognized expert in the field. Sometimes, the prescription that patients really need for their ailments is a safe, decent, affordable home. Dr. Sandel explains her career journey as a pediatrician and how she became an affordable housing advocate; the various ways in which housing is one of the most important social determinants of health; how the housing sector and healthcare sector can do a better job of aligning efforts; why her organization, Children's HealthWatch, joined the Opportunity Starts at Home multi-sector housing campaign; and her ideas for innovative policy solutions. If you want to get smarter on the connections between housing and health, listen now! Intro/Closing Song by: David Szesztay - "Joyful Meeting" URL:http://freemusicarchive.org/music/David_Szesztay/Acoustic_Guitar/Joyful_Meeting Comments: http://freemusicarchive.org/ Copyright: Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 International: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/