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Mapping the Future

Mapping the Future investigates and explains the history, economics, politics and policies that shape the way land is used in the city of New York and beyond. It is supported by the Ford Foundation and the Neighborhoods First Fund.

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Must Reads

Homelessness Lurks Behind the Scenes of New Hampshire’s Primary

Pete for AmericaMayor Pete Buttigieg campaigns in New Hampshire, October 2019.
By Jarrett Murphy
In Election Rematch, Brooklyn Congressional Candidates Serve Up Housing Policy

Office of Rep. Clarke/Bunkeddeko 2020Rep. Yvette Clarke and Adem Bunkeddeko are two of the six declared candidates in the June Democratic primary for the Ninth Congressional district.
By Jarrett Murphy
This Year, Running for President Means Talking About the Housing Crisis

EuanA homeless couple in San Franscisco in 2010.
By Sadef Ali Kully
Amid Youth Homeless Crisis, NYC Has Ramped up Shelter Capacity

Demetrius Freeman/Mayoral Photography OfficeMayor de Blasio and DYCD commissioner Bill Chong (foreground) at the 2016 event where the increase in youth beds was announced.
By David Brand
Opinion: On Fair Housing, New York City Needs Bold Action, Not Further Analysis

HPD/Beyond My Ken After a two-year long process, the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) and other stakeholders have put forth their draft plan – Where We Live NYC (WWL) – to complete a more inclusive, comprehensive, and affirmative fair housing plan.
By Barika Williams
Opinion: Bring Humanity to the Fight Against Homelessness

DHS As one of the wealthiest cities in the world, New York City has long battled the tragic irony of homelessness among its residents – the indignity of those sleeping on the street or in the ever-rising numbers of families and children in shelters.
By Tori Lyon
NYC’s Homeless Hotel Population Surges as City Grapples with Housing Crisis

A hotel in the Bronx is one of dozens used by the city to shelter homeless families.
By David Brand
Listen: Gentrification’s Winners, Losers and Questions

Brooklyn Historical SocietyA crowd listens to Matthew Schuerman, Kay Hymowitz and James Rodriguez (and moderator Jarrett Murphy) discuss what gentrification has meant to Brooklyn and the broader city.
By Jarrett Murphy

Mapping the Future: Opinion

Opinion: Permanent Safety, Not Short-Term Fixes, Is What Domestic Violence Survivors Need

'To end this cycle and significantly reduce family homelessness caused by domestic violence, we urge the city to move beyond short-term fixes.'
By Carol Corden
Opinion: If Council Passes Homeless Set-Aside Law, De Blasio Should Veto It

'It's counterproductive to tie the hands of the City’s Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD), an agency already stretched to the limit as they attempt to deal with an affordable housing crisis.'
By Rafael Cestero
Opinion: Queens Councilmember on the Glendale Shelter Debate

'Why should we roll over and accept the mayor's plan without putting up a fight?'
By Robert Holden
Opinion: Murders Demand a Deeper Look at How We Treat the Homeless

'An honest examination of what happened must consider larger contextual factors at play, which include a marked lack of truly affordable housing, useful mental health services, and easily accessible and appropriate shelter options.'
By Kiana Davis, Craig Hughes and Helen Strom
Opinion: Why We Disrupted a Public Hearing About the Homeless

'Often, hearings on proposed rules are dry and the rooms fairly empty. But Wednesday’s hearing had dozens of individuals ready to testify – most of them individuals who had intimate experiences with DHS and social services in New York City.'
By Helen Strom and Brenda Riley