Lillian M. Ortiz
@lillianortiz.bsky.social
Managing editor at @shelterforce.bsky.social. NJ native. Lover of all-things science, nature, and books. 📚🇵🇷 ♎
Millions of people could lose their housing assistance if these plans go through. “It’s going to cause people to become homeless, kids to be pulled out of their schools, people to lose their jobs.” www.propublica.org/article/trum...
Millions Could Lose Housing Aid Under Trump Plan
Drafts of unpublished rules obtained by ProPublica detail plans that would open the door to full-time work requirements, two-year limits on living in federally supported housing and stripping aid from...
www.propublica.org
September 29, 2025 at 2:42 PM
Millions of people could lose their housing assistance if these plans go through. “It’s going to cause people to become homeless, kids to be pulled out of their schools, people to lose their jobs.” www.propublica.org/article/trum...
Reposted by Lillian M. Ortiz
🚨 New Series: Innovations in Community Ownership | Over the next 6 weeks, we’ll explore bold new ways communities are taking control of land + housing to ensure affordability, stability, and a real say in their futures.
Learn more: bit.ly/3JYmYqS
#CommunityOwnership #HousingJustice #UnderTheLens
Learn more: bit.ly/3JYmYqS
#CommunityOwnership #HousingJustice #UnderTheLens
September 10, 2025 at 4:02 PM
🚨 New Series: Innovations in Community Ownership | Over the next 6 weeks, we’ll explore bold new ways communities are taking control of land + housing to ensure affordability, stability, and a real say in their futures.
Learn more: bit.ly/3JYmYqS
#CommunityOwnership #HousingJustice #UnderTheLens
Learn more: bit.ly/3JYmYqS
#CommunityOwnership #HousingJustice #UnderTheLens
Few released under NJ law meant to allow gravely ill inmates to die at home newjerseymonitor.com/2025/07/31/f...
Few released under NJ law meant to allow gravely ill inmates to die at home • New Jersey Monitor
Only four people have been freed under a 2020 compassionate release law meant to allow more gravely ill inmates to die at home.
newjerseymonitor.com
August 1, 2025 at 2:20 PM
Few released under NJ law meant to allow gravely ill inmates to die at home newjerseymonitor.com/2025/07/31/f...
Reposted by Lillian M. Ortiz
Shelterforce reporter Shelby R. King joins a July 31 virtual forum at 10 pm EST on the future of affordable housing under Trump.
Topics:
✅ LIHTC funding
✅ Section 8 vouchers
✅ HUD budget cuts
Register here: bit.ly/4mgBpEB
#AffordableHousing #HUD #Shelterforce #LIHTC (edited)
Topics:
✅ LIHTC funding
✅ Section 8 vouchers
✅ HUD budget cuts
Register here: bit.ly/4mgBpEB
#AffordableHousing #HUD #Shelterforce #LIHTC (edited)
July 29, 2025 at 5:54 PM
Shelterforce reporter Shelby R. King joins a July 31 virtual forum at 10 pm EST on the future of affordable housing under Trump.
Topics:
✅ LIHTC funding
✅ Section 8 vouchers
✅ HUD budget cuts
Register here: bit.ly/4mgBpEB
#AffordableHousing #HUD #Shelterforce #LIHTC (edited)
Topics:
✅ LIHTC funding
✅ Section 8 vouchers
✅ HUD budget cuts
Register here: bit.ly/4mgBpEB
#AffordableHousing #HUD #Shelterforce #LIHTC (edited)
Reposted by Lillian M. Ortiz
When rent hikes came, Betty Lewis stayed.
She helped lead a 6-year fight that ended in victory: capped rents + permanent affordability.
This is what community organizing looks like.
🔗 bit.ly/40iQayp
#TenantOrganizing #BlackHousingJustice #Mattapan
She helped lead a 6-year fight that ended in victory: capped rents + permanent affordability.
This is what community organizing looks like.
🔗 bit.ly/40iQayp
#TenantOrganizing #BlackHousingJustice #Mattapan
July 20, 2025 at 6:01 PM
When rent hikes came, Betty Lewis stayed.
She helped lead a 6-year fight that ended in victory: capped rents + permanent affordability.
This is what community organizing looks like.
🔗 bit.ly/40iQayp
#TenantOrganizing #BlackHousingJustice #Mattapan
She helped lead a 6-year fight that ended in victory: capped rents + permanent affordability.
This is what community organizing looks like.
🔗 bit.ly/40iQayp
#TenantOrganizing #BlackHousingJustice #Mattapan
I've been tracking state and local legislative efforts to ban landlords from using rent-setting algorithms. Hoboken, New Jersey, is the latest city to ban the practice.
Here's an updated list of the proposed and passed legislation so far: public.flourish.studio/visualisatio...
Here's an updated list of the proposed and passed legislation so far: public.flourish.studio/visualisatio...
Rent setting legislation
A Flourish data visualization by Lillian
public.flourish.studio
July 22, 2025 at 6:25 PM
I've been tracking state and local legislative efforts to ban landlords from using rent-setting algorithms. Hoboken, New Jersey, is the latest city to ban the practice.
Here's an updated list of the proposed and passed legislation so far: public.flourish.studio/visualisatio...
Here's an updated list of the proposed and passed legislation so far: public.flourish.studio/visualisatio...
Reposted by Lillian M. Ortiz
Judge Hannah Dugan, Newark Mayor Ras Baraka, Rep. LaMonica McIver, Sen. Alex Padilla, and now Brad Lander.
The Trump administration keeps detaining and prosecuting elected officials who get in its way.
This is the timeline of authoritarianism.
The Trump administration keeps detaining and prosecuting elected officials who get in its way.
This is the timeline of authoritarianism.
The Trump admin keeps detaining and prosecuting elected officials who get in his way
A timeline of authoritarianism.
www.motherjones.com
June 17, 2025 at 7:08 PM
Judge Hannah Dugan, Newark Mayor Ras Baraka, Rep. LaMonica McIver, Sen. Alex Padilla, and now Brad Lander.
The Trump administration keeps detaining and prosecuting elected officials who get in its way.
This is the timeline of authoritarianism.
The Trump administration keeps detaining and prosecuting elected officials who get in its way.
This is the timeline of authoritarianism.
Super pumped to lead this new Shelterforce series! Over the next several weeks, we'll examine the growing use of tech in the housing world, and what's needed to ensure that “innovative" tools don’t make the housing crisis worse.
Sign up for our newsletter for more: shelterforce.org/shelterforce...
Sign up for our newsletter for more: shelterforce.org/shelterforce...
Over the years, we’ve seen the use of new tech tools explode among landlords, property managers, mortgage lenders, and tenants. And while that means some good things (and potentially even better possibilities), it also means quite a few bad things, especially for renters. bit.ly/HousingandTech
June 11, 2025 at 5:39 PM
Super pumped to lead this new Shelterforce series! Over the next several weeks, we'll examine the growing use of tech in the housing world, and what's needed to ensure that “innovative" tools don’t make the housing crisis worse.
Sign up for our newsletter for more: shelterforce.org/shelterforce...
Sign up for our newsletter for more: shelterforce.org/shelterforce...
The Trump administration has slashed or delayed a lot of different HUD grants. But there’s one type of grant in particular that has had massive cuts that's not getting much attention—and it should. @shelterforce.bsky.social gets into it: shelterforce.org/2025/04/07/t...
These HUD Cuts Have Gotten Less Attention, But the Effects Will Still Be Harmful
Technical assistance may seem dull, but it’s vital for addressing the homelessness and housing crisis. For federal grantees, it's about to be harder to get.
shelterforce.org
April 8, 2025 at 3:04 PM
The Trump administration has slashed or delayed a lot of different HUD grants. But there’s one type of grant in particular that has had massive cuts that's not getting much attention—and it should. @shelterforce.bsky.social gets into it: shelterforce.org/2025/04/07/t...
“If they’re going to turn this into a homeless shelter, hell, cut everybody a check and give them a Barnes and Noble gift card," said the MAYOR of Toms River. 😞 🤯 www.nj.com/ocean/2025/0...
N.J. mayor bashes Bon Jovi’s makeshift restaurant the needy in town
Jon Bon Jovi opened his first JBJ Soul Kitchen in 2011. Since then, it's added four other locations to its roster, including the pop-up restaurant that opened this winter in Toms River.
www.nj.com
April 8, 2025 at 2:40 PM
“If they’re going to turn this into a homeless shelter, hell, cut everybody a check and give them a Barnes and Noble gift card," said the MAYOR of Toms River. 😞 🤯 www.nj.com/ocean/2025/0...
The Trump administration is threatening to pull $1 billion in federal funding from NJ public schools if they have diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives. These funds primarily help low-income communities and students who have disabilities. newjerseymonitor.com/briefs/new-j...
New Jersey officials reviewing federal threat to pull school funding over DEI • New Jersey Monitor
The federal Department of Education sends more than $1 billion annually to New Jersey K-12 schools.
newjerseymonitor.com
April 4, 2025 at 2:18 PM
The Trump administration is threatening to pull $1 billion in federal funding from NJ public schools if they have diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives. These funds primarily help low-income communities and students who have disabilities. newjerseymonitor.com/briefs/new-j...
"Even a two-day pause is going to frighten landlords away.”
As the Trump administration reshapes the federal landscape, #Section8 voucher holders, landlords, and admins brace for potential funding cuts and fiscal chaos. Read or listen to the story here: bit.ly/3FIgn1J
As the Trump administration reshapes the federal landscape, #Section8 voucher holders, landlords, and admins brace for potential funding cuts and fiscal chaos. Read or listen to the story here: bit.ly/3FIgn1J
Section 8 Under Trump: How Policy Uncertainty Is Affecting Affordable Housing
As Trump reshapes the federal landscape, housing voucher recipients, landlords, and administrators brace for funding cuts and fiscal chaos.
bit.ly
March 26, 2025 at 5:17 PM
"Even a two-day pause is going to frighten landlords away.”
As the Trump administration reshapes the federal landscape, #Section8 voucher holders, landlords, and admins brace for potential funding cuts and fiscal chaos. Read or listen to the story here: bit.ly/3FIgn1J
As the Trump administration reshapes the federal landscape, #Section8 voucher holders, landlords, and admins brace for potential funding cuts and fiscal chaos. Read or listen to the story here: bit.ly/3FIgn1J
Reposted by Lillian M. Ortiz
1/ We’re celebrating 50 years of #Shelterforce — and we want you to be there! Join us in Newark, NJ, on April 28–29 for two days of connection, learning & reflection on the past, present, and future of housing justice! #Shelterforce50
February 10, 2025 at 6:04 PM
1/ We’re celebrating 50 years of #Shelterforce — and we want you to be there! Join us in Newark, NJ, on April 28–29 for two days of connection, learning & reflection on the past, present, and future of housing justice! #Shelterforce50
Reposted by Lillian M. Ortiz
Enterprise is a major player in the affordable housing world. It has created or preserved 1M homes in the U.S. But it has also earned $ from a for-profit subsidiary that lends to companies whose business practices contradict Enterprise’s mission of preserving #affordablehousing. bit.ly/43KBla2
Mission-Driven or Profit-Driven? Enterprise’s Hidden Role in Mobile Home Park Purchases
Enterprise has a majority voting stake in Bellwether Enterprise, yet long insisted it couldn’t change the subsidiary’s lending habits.
shelterforce.org
March 11, 2025 at 9:50 PM
Enterprise is a major player in the affordable housing world. It has created or preserved 1M homes in the U.S. But it has also earned $ from a for-profit subsidiary that lends to companies whose business practices contradict Enterprise’s mission of preserving #affordablehousing. bit.ly/43KBla2
We're heading toward a partial government shutdown if the Senate fails to pass a continuing resolution. But if the current continuing resolution passes, critical housing assistance programs will face significant cuts. Shelterforce's @shelby-r-king.bsky.social reports: bit.ly/3DSYlsW
What's Going On With the HUD Budget?
As a federal government shutdown looms, advocates warn of cuts to affordable housing programs in the remaining months of FY 2025—and deeper threats in 2026.
bit.ly
March 13, 2025 at 8:43 PM
We're heading toward a partial government shutdown if the Senate fails to pass a continuing resolution. But if the current continuing resolution passes, critical housing assistance programs will face significant cuts. Shelterforce's @shelby-r-king.bsky.social reports: bit.ly/3DSYlsW
Reposted by Lillian M. Ortiz
NEW: My staff has confirmed reports that Medicaid portals are down in all 50 states following last night's federal funding freeze. This is a blatant attempt to rip away health care from millions of Americans overnight and will get people killed.
Illinois shut out of Medicaid after Trump administration halts federal grants and loans chicago.suntimes.com/politics/don...
Illinois shut out of Medicaid after Trump administration halts federal grants and loans
The Trump administration's federal freeze has shut Illinois out of Medicaid, according to Gov. JB. Pritzker's office. The government-funded health insurance program covered about 3.9 million people in...
chicago.suntimes.com
January 28, 2025 at 6:13 PM
NEW: My staff has confirmed reports that Medicaid portals are down in all 50 states following last night's federal funding freeze. This is a blatant attempt to rip away health care from millions of Americans overnight and will get people killed.
Reposted by Lillian M. Ortiz
Scott Turner voted to ensure landlords could refuse to rent to people on government assistance. He agreed with an interviewer that welfare is worse than slavery. He may soon lead the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
w/ @andykroll.bsky.social
www.propublica.org/article/scot...
w/ @andykroll.bsky.social
www.propublica.org/article/scot...
Trump’s Pick to Lead Federal Housing Agency Has Opposed Efforts to Aid the Poor
As HUD secretary, Scott Turner would oversee billions in housing aid, but as a Texas state legislator he voted against protections for poor tenants and has called government assistance “one of the mos...
www.propublica.org
December 23, 2024 at 2:48 PM
Scott Turner voted to ensure landlords could refuse to rent to people on government assistance. He agreed with an interviewer that welfare is worse than slavery. He may soon lead the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
w/ @andykroll.bsky.social
www.propublica.org/article/scot...
w/ @andykroll.bsky.social
www.propublica.org/article/scot...
@shelterforce.bsky.social published more than 120 articles in 2024—a mix of reported pieces, explainers, and voices from the community development and affordable housing fields. Here are the top stories of the year.
youtu.be/IjrQBYrR1qM
youtu.be/IjrQBYrR1qM
Shelterforce's Top 10 Stories of 2024
YouTube video by Shelterforce
youtu.be
December 13, 2024 at 9:16 PM
@shelterforce.bsky.social published more than 120 articles in 2024—a mix of reported pieces, explainers, and voices from the community development and affordable housing fields. Here are the top stories of the year.
youtu.be/IjrQBYrR1qM
youtu.be/IjrQBYrR1qM
I love a good, simple graphic: www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
What Trump's New Cabinet and Administration Picks Have in Common
See the links between more than 60 figures the president-elect wants for cabinet and other senior positions: billionaires, lobbyists, Fox personalities and more.
www.nytimes.com
December 3, 2024 at 6:11 PM
I love a good, simple graphic: www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
Reposted by Lillian M. Ortiz
In the face of teacher shortages and out-of-reach housing prices, efforts to provide educators with affordable housing options are taking shape across the U.S. We look at some of the emerging models and how they’re working so far. bit.ly/4fQ6BYw
Is Housing the Key to Attracting Teachers? These Folks Think So.
Teacher shortages and high housing prices are leading to efforts across the U.S. to provide educators with affordable housing options.
bit.ly
December 2, 2024 at 6:43 PM
In the face of teacher shortages and out-of-reach housing prices, efforts to provide educators with affordable housing options are taking shape across the U.S. We look at some of the emerging models and how they’re working so far. bit.ly/4fQ6BYw
We all know that school districts are struggling with significant teacher shortages and high turnover rates. But did you know there's been an increase in efforts to provide more affordable housing options for educators? Shelterforce reports on this growing trend: shelterforce.org/2024/11/25/i...
Is Housing the Key to Attracting Teachers? These Folks Think So.
Teacher shortages and high housing prices are leading to efforts across the U.S. to provide educators with affordable housing options.
shelterforce.org
November 27, 2024 at 8:05 PM
We all know that school districts are struggling with significant teacher shortages and high turnover rates. But did you know there's been an increase in efforts to provide more affordable housing options for educators? Shelterforce reports on this growing trend: shelterforce.org/2024/11/25/i...
Could NJ become the first state to ban landlords from using rent-setting tech?
newjerseymonitor.com/2024/10/24/l...
newjerseymonitor.com/2024/10/24/l...
Lawmakers advance bill to ban landlords' use of rent-setting software • New Jersey Monitor
If the bill passes, New Jersey would be the first U.S. state to bar landlords from using algorithims to fix rents and reduce competition.
newjerseymonitor.com
November 26, 2024 at 5:35 PM
Could NJ become the first state to ban landlords from using rent-setting tech?
newjerseymonitor.com/2024/10/24/l...
newjerseymonitor.com/2024/10/24/l...
The president-elect has been fairly quiet about who he wants to lead the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, but several names have been floating around: shelterforce.org/2024/11/22/w...
Who Could Lead HUD Under a Second Trump Administration?
The president-elect’s cabinet picks so far have been controversial, often alarming. What might that mean for housing?
shelterforce.org
November 22, 2024 at 9:07 PM
The president-elect has been fairly quiet about who he wants to lead the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, but several names have been floating around: shelterforce.org/2024/11/22/w...
👏 Good news for NYC tenants: www.curbed.com/article/brok...
Good-bye to the Broker Fee
The City Council voted today to stop your landlord from passing his expenses on to you.
www.curbed.com
November 21, 2024 at 5:28 PM
👏 Good news for NYC tenants: www.curbed.com/article/brok...
Reposted by Lillian M. Ortiz
Hi, folks!
We’ve joined the wave and are now on Bluesky!
Help us reach more housing and community development advocates by sharing our posts with your network. We’re excited to connect with you here and remain deeply committed to our mission of advancing housing justice and equitable communities.
We’ve joined the wave and are now on Bluesky!
Help us reach more housing and community development advocates by sharing our posts with your network. We’re excited to connect with you here and remain deeply committed to our mission of advancing housing justice and equitable communities.
November 18, 2024 at 8:01 PM
Hi, folks!
We’ve joined the wave and are now on Bluesky!
Help us reach more housing and community development advocates by sharing our posts with your network. We’re excited to connect with you here and remain deeply committed to our mission of advancing housing justice and equitable communities.
We’ve joined the wave and are now on Bluesky!
Help us reach more housing and community development advocates by sharing our posts with your network. We’re excited to connect with you here and remain deeply committed to our mission of advancing housing justice and equitable communities.