The Housing Narrative Lab builds public support for housing solutions that make our communities healthy, safe and thriving. We combine groundbreaking narrative research and insights with storytelling to change public mindsets, so we can shift the public conversation about why everyone needs an affordable safe place to live.
Narratives are the collection of stories that shape how we feel, think and act. They are all around us — in the news, in politics, in pop culture, in every conversation. Narratives not only influence us, but they define us. Narratives shape what people believe is possible and what is worth fighting for. They reflect our vision of a world where everyone has what they need to lead good lives.
03/31/2026
By Claire Haas Imagine your idea of a good neighborhood. Then, imagine a bad neighborhood. You can picture both easily, right? We all know this code, deeply based in unspoken racial lines about where we desire to live. This is the deeply ingrained cultural myth that underpins how we think about housing. Good neighborhoods are...
10/29/2025
By Isaiah Franco As a storytelling volunteer with the Lab, I’ve been spending time speaking with people who are unhoused in Washington, D.C., asking about their experiences, what they see changing in the city and what they wish others understood. What follows are some of the moments and conversations that have stayed with me. On...
10/24/2025
By Dustin Valdez For the past nine months, I’ve found myself at the intersection of policy, power, and personal survival. As part of a tenants association in Los Angeles, I’ve been fighting alongside neighbors against the city, developers and property owners. The issue? A proposed eight-story luxury building that will swallow more than two apartment...
The Housing Narrative Lab is turning the tide of public sentiment and increasing demand for proven solutions to the nation’s housing challenges. We are researchers, communicators and storytellers who focus on what we all gain when everyone is housed, elevating the housing experiences of people and their communities and highlighting what works.
Everyone has a housing story. What’s yours?
Learn more about our work.
You can connect with us in several ways. Please visit our contact page by clicking the button below to find out how we can support your work, or to subscribe to our newsletter and follow us on social media.
You can connect with us in several ways. Please visit our contact page by clicking the button below to find out how we can support your work, or to subscribe to our newsletter and follow us on social media.
