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.
08/21/2026
By Kriselle Gabriel Digital content creators are dominating our algorithms, and non-profit and advocacy organizations increasingly want to work with creators to amplify their messages and priorities. Creators have huge reach and trust among their followers, but most focus on non-political or issue-specific content, such as parenting, home life, travel and exercise. Figuring out how...
08/06/2026
By Kriselle Gabriel Welcome to our quarterly creator feature and meet Melody Pacheco, the woman behind Suicide Watch Global, a platform providing peer support and resources to people experiencing depression and suicidal behaviors. Melody participated in our joint creator program with the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health to educate creators about housing and...
07/24/2026
By Gillian Gaynair When I was missing the longtime home I loved, but had to leave, my mother would remind me that my house was just a structure, a material thing. Bricks and wood and glass. “You can’t take it with you,” when I’m gone from this earth, she would say. Her perspective comforted me...
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....
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