Grounding Justice: Toward Reparative Spatial Futures in Land and Housing serves as the foundational document for our commitment to reparative spatial justice. It is both a clarion call to action and an open invitation for collaboration and dialogue, embracing the necessary conversations, tensions, and collective growth inherent in this journey.

In this inaugural publication, we underscore the urgent need for a reparative spatial justice framework in land and housing policy. The paper elevates critical concepts, research findings, and diverse perspectives from the field, illuminating the complex and multifaceted nature of reparative spatial justice. Drawing from a comprehensive literature review by the PolicyLink housing team and empirical insights from qualitative research conducted by Social Insights, this publication synthesizes conversations with advocates, frontline workers, and thought leaders in spatial justice, reparations, housing justice, and land justice. Together, these insights form a set of evidence-based recommendations, charting a strategic course for practitioners, researchers, policymakers, organizers, and advocates dedicated to this transformative work.

• Read the Executive Summary (English)
• Read the Executive Summary (Spanish)
• Read the Full Publication (English)

On February 14, 2024, the Department of Treasury released an NPRM to combat the illicit finance risks from anonymous companies and all-cash real estate transactions. This rule would help local, state, and federal governments address the rapid and high-volume shifts in ownership of housing stock that are difficult to trace and track. As residential real estate ownership structures continue to evolve, local jurisdictions struggle to understand who owns their housing stock. This, in turn, has serious implications for tenants, prospective homebuyers, current homeowners, and local landlords who are impacted daily by absentee landlords that disrupt the fabric of our communities. 

On April 16, 2024, PolicyLink submitted the following comment supporting the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) of the Department of Treasury in expanding Anti-Money Laundering requirements to a broader category of investment advisors and collecting and reporting residential beneficial ownership data. The proposed rule will support efforts to identify predatory actors in the housing market, develop policy to halt their activity, and shift the benefits of ownership and housing stability back to the people who need it most: households who live and work in our communities.

We look forward to continuing to support the administration in regulating the residential real estate market to advance housing justice for the 100 million.

In April, HUD released a NPRM on reducing barriers to HUD-assisted Housing, namely reducing the barriers that criminal records pose on people trying to access HUD-assisted housing like public housing. This NPRM has been lauded by PolicyLink partners across the field as ground-breaking work from HUD. 

This NPRM came before the strong and comprehensive guidance that HUD released in late April. Although the guidance is more comprehensive, the NPRM still follows similar principles as the guidance. Specifically, the proposed rule tries to establish more equitable standards for HUD-assisted housing providers to evaluate criminal records when making housing decisions related to admission, eviction, and program termination.  

On June 10, 2024, we submitted the following comment supporting HUD’s role to regulate the usage of criminal records in housing decisions with brief recommendations that would improve clarity, consistency, and the impact of the proposed rule. 

We look forward to continuing to support the administration in regulating housing practices to support more fair, just, and equitable housing markets.

Today, millions face the daunting reality of skyrocketing costs and the constant threat of eviction and displacement. The increasing use of housing as a wealth and investment vehicle, the concentration of profit-driven corporate control of housing, and the political and financial retreat of the state are key drivers of our housing affordability crisis.

"Building Our Future: Grassroots Reflections on Social Housing," delves into the urgent need for social housing as a radical, transformative, and common-sense solution to our housing crisis. A growing movement of organizers is advocating for permanently and deeply affordable social housing that is publicly, collectively or non-profit owned and under democratic resident or community control. Through tenant unions, rent strikes, and policy campaigns, groups are demanding public, government intervention to overcome catastrophic market failures and ensure housing for everyone.

As the report makes clear, campaigns for social housing are underway across various regions: 

• In California, organizers claim legislative victories such as SB 555, which mandates a government study on social housing.
• In Seattle, the establishment of the Seattle Social Housing Developer (SSHD) to build publicly owned, permanently affordable housing.
• In Kansas City, Missouri, organizers secured a $50 million bond for affordable housing and through mass tenant organizing are shifting towards campaigns for building municipal social housing. 

This report, crafted by organizers, policy analysts, and educators rooted in housing, racial, and climate justice movements, is intended to serve as a rallying cry and blueprint for transformational housing futures

Read the Full Report. 

Today, millions face the daunting reality of skyrocketing costs and the constant threat of eviction and displacement. The increasing use of housing as a wealth and investment vehicle, the concentration of profit-driven corporate control of housing, and the political and financial retreat of the state are key drivers of our housing affordability crisis.

"Building Our Future: Grassroots Reflections on Social Housing," delves into the urgent need for social housing as a radical, transformative, and common-sense solution to our housing crisis. A growing movement of organizers is advocating for permanently and deeply affordable social housing that is publicly, collectively or non-profit owned and under democratic resident or community control. Through tenant unions, rent strikes, and policy campaigns, groups are demanding public, government intervention to overcome catastrophic market failures and ensure housing for everyone.

As the report makes clear, campaigns for social housing are underway across various regions: 

• In California, organizers claim legislative victories such as SB 555, which mandates a government study on social housing.
• In Seattle, the establishment of the Seattle Social Housing Developer (SSHD) to build publicly owned, permanently affordable housing.
• In Kansas City, Missouri, organizers secured a $50 million bond for affordable housing and through mass tenant organizing are shifting towards campaigns for building municipal social housing. 

This report, crafted by organizers, policy analysts, and educators rooted in housing, racial, and climate justice movements, is intended to serve as a rallying cry and blueprint for transformational housing futures

Read the Executive Summary. 

As one of his first acts in office, President Biden established the Justice40 Initiative through Executive Order 14008: Tackling the Climate Crisis at Home and Abroad.  Alongside several executive orders and initiatives focused on equitable governance, Justice40 aims to ensure that at least 40 percent of overall benefits of certain federal investments flow to disadvantaged communities. Developed in partnership with the Emerald Cities Collaborative, and in consultation with state and local agencies and policymakers, this guide aims to assist state and local-level administrators optimize federal investments to benefit underserved communities in alignment with the Justice40 Initiative.