Housing vouchers are a federally-funded payment system. They’re used by low-income people to rent a home — any home. Or at least, that’s how it’s supposed to work. While the Fair Housing Act of 1968 offered legal protections against discrimination based on race, religion, sex, and disability, there is nothing in it that says you can’t discriminate against someone based on how the source of their income.

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Whether it’s medical care, addiction treatment, counseling — or whatever the issue might be that individual case-work would reveal — many people experiencing homelessness need more than stable housing. But there’s evidence that without first offering someone a stable home, all those other issues can’t be properly addressed. That is a concept called “Housing First.”

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An East Boston tenant had been fighting her eviction for eight years when the city established a new neighborhood trust and bought her building — plus, 35 others.

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Today we’re learning about a solution in Lexington, Kentucky, where a non-profit called CivicLex is changing things up. We’re speaking with the founder of CivicLex about how they’re getting folks informed and involved in local decisions big and small.

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The first Black-owned bank to open in the last 20 years is in Columbus, Ohio.

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In this episode of Next City, Lucas Grindley explores the history of LGBTQ neighborhoods, or "Gayborhoods," and how they've been affected by skyrocketing housing prices. Developers are trying to spark the birth of a new queer neighborhood in Cleveland. But can a massive real estate development even succeed as LGBTQ-focused? This ambitious 300,000-square-foot complex called Studio West 117 will include sports, dining, entertainment and housing alongside identity-affirming businesses and social services.

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A Minneapolis startup is raising awareness about all the building materials that can be salvaged instead of sent to landfills.

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This episode of Next City delves into the impact of natural disasters such as hurricanes Harvey and Irma, and how they affect people even years later.

In the wake of Hurricanes Irma and Harvey, two organizations provide solutions to the displacement crisis. The Florida Keys Community Land Trust was initiated by two altruistic individuals and creates housing that is far more affordable than market rate. The Houston Community Land Trust was created with $52 million of public funds and provides disaster resilient housing.

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In this episode of Next City, we learn about the importance of giving back to one's community and promoting environmental sustainability. A nonprofit at the border is collecting food and redistributing it to shelters.

The founder of No Lost Food shares her experience with "food rescue" and the impact it had on the children helped.

Guests include reporter Christian Betancourt, who is Next City and El Paso Matters' joint Equitable Cities Reporting Fellow for Borderland Narratives. The fellowship is made possible with support from the Mellon Foundation.

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In this episode of Next City, we explore the challenges faced by the Kensington neighborhood in Philadelphia — a historically disinvested area known for its struggles. The Kensington Corridor Trust is one of several community-owned or community-led commercial real estate entities across the U.S., and developments like these are starting to get more recognition.

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