Gain insights from our staff and partners on the latest in narrative research and strategic communications. Hear stories from real people who have experienced homelessness and housing insecurity.
If you would like to share a story or unique insight into the housing crisis forcing so many of our neighbors into homelessness, reach out to us at info@housingnarrativelab.org.
04/24/2026
By Sarah Armour What we Learned From 16 Storytellers The digital content creators filling our social media feeds and taking up air time on podcasts and YouTube have a growing influence on American values, ideas and politics. But organizations working to ensure everyone has a safe and affordable place to live are not reaching people...
04/21/2026
By Gillian Gaynair We’ve said this before, but it’s worth repeating: In today’s divisive environment, our messages and words matter more than ever. They really do have the ability to connect with people’s hearts in ways that create empathy for others and build support for solutions that can ensure everyone has a home. The power...
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...
10/08/2025
By Gillian Gaynair Try something with me: Do not think about swimming in clear, turquoise water. Do not think about the jellyfish you see while swimming in clear, turquoise water. What was in your mind for you when you read those sentences? Did you imagine something other than clear, turquoise water and jellyfish? Probably not....
10/01/2025
By Isaiah Franco The stories we tell and hear have a powerful way of shaping our world. I first saw this in a Portland coffee shop, where the narratives of the youth I worked with changed my perspective on what community means, and would shape the course of my life to come. In high school,...
07/11/2025
At the Housing Narrative Lab, we are on a mission to get the housing world to speak plainly. If we could put it on a bumper sticker, it would say, “Keep It Simple Superstar."
05/22/2025
By Marisol Bello At the Lab, we know that everyone — from advocates and politicians to celebrities and social media influencers — has a role in shaping the national conversation about housing and homelessness. The stories and messages we share can inform how the press covers these issues, what the public believes and how people...
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