Advancing Housing Affordability through Shared Ownership
What is permanently affordable housing?
As housing costs have surged over the past decade, preserving and developing affordable housing has become a pressing challenge across the country. Homeownership, long considered a cornerstone of wealth-building, is now out of reach for a significant portion of the population. Black, Latino, and Native households, which already trail white households in net worth, face even greater barriers as the national average home price climbs to $400,000. More than half of renters are “cost-burdened,” meaning they spend more than 30% of their income on rent, leaving little room to save for a future home.
In response, policymakers and communities are exploring models that aim to create and sustain permanently affordable housing. These approaches seek to remove housing from speculative markets, promote long-term stability, and offer pathways to ownership, community or resident control, and wealth-building. The goal is to extend affordability for a longs as possible—protecting residents from displacement and instability.
Why this catalog?
As communities race to address urgent housing needs, many are turning to innovative, locally driven solutions to help residents remain in place. These efforts are often “hyper local,” relying on collaboration among community groups, local officials, and housing advocates to share knowledge and strategize in concert.
Despite growing networks of public officials, tenant coalitions, and grassroots organizations, there remains a gap in accessible information about the models being used today. This catalog aims to fill that gap—offering clear descriptions and real-world examples to help communities make informed decisions about their housing futures.
Have a question about the catalog? Reach out to our team at info@ncba.coop.