Our Blog

Gain insights from our staff and partners on the latest in narrative research and grassroots communication. 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.

Human rights should be a higher priority than hard work

11/01/2023

By Zack Ward Work hard and be independent.  This is the dominant narrative in our society – that we have what we need only through hard work. ‘Americans roll up their sleeves and get the job done.’ Every speech that our Presidents give depict hard work as the most important tenet of our society. Politicians […]

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Back on the Road with the Lab: Fall 2023 Edition

10/23/2023

We always say narrative change requires us to reach Everyone. Everywhere. All the Time. That has meant HNL staff have been traveling everywhere this Fall, teaching and training about all things narrative change, from the basics to the details. We kicked off the travel season in September, when Sarah presented “The Essentials of Narrative Change” […]

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Essentials for Transformative Narratives: Emphasize Root Causes of Homelessness

08/25/2023

Narrative plays an important role in building the public will to solve homelessness. Dominant narratives about people experiencing homelessness focus on individuals making bad personal decisions, which often lead to ineffective and dehumanizing “solutions” – like throwing out people’s tents, IDs, medications and what they need to survive. That’s why we’re working to build a […]

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Reflections on Empathy and Accuracy from the Media Impact Forum

06/22/2023

By Sarah Armour-Jones, Deputy Director San Francisco is the epicenter of a national debate about homelessness so it was a fitting place for Executive Director Marisol Bello to share her expertise and perspectives at the Media Impact Forum, hosted by Media Impact Funders earlier this month. The power of storytelling was a big theme throughout […]

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Check out our 2022-23 Impact Report

06/05/2023

At Housing Narrative Lab, we know we cannot move policies until we move people. The Lab was created to build public support for proven solutions that can solve homelessness. Changing public opinion requires creativity, consistency and deep collaboration with others in the sector. After all, we are working to undo decades of narratives that blame […]

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Writing for Movements: Navigating the Maze of Academic Jargon

05/18/2023

By Meriam Salem, Narrative Specialist As a visual storyteller and academic, I know that words and images are powerful in creating social change. Whether working on a film project, writing an academic paper or advocating for a cause, I am always looking for ways to communicate my message more effectively and authentically. That said, I […]

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