The People & Places Collaborative represents community development organizations across the nation. We are committed to creating conditions where residents can shape the destiny of their neighborhoods, securing their long-term stability, health, and prosperity. 

Community developers from across the country shared our policy priorities with
Congressional leaders during our 2024 Policy Convening.

The collaborative is led by three organizations:

Pillars of Our Work

Our collaborative efforts are organized around three pillars, which each play a vital role in advancing community development and fostering a more just society for all. 

  • Community Power

  • Fair Funding Distribution and Data 

  • Accountability

Together, we strive to advance community prosperity through convenings and strategic policy advocacy. View the People & Places Council.

2025 Policy PRIoRITIES

We advocate with policymakers at all levels of the federal government to address challenges and champion opportunities for the advancement of communities nationwide. View our 2025 Policy Priorities.

Affordable Housing priorities:

  • Securing sustained funding for the Home Investment Partnerships Program (HOME) and the implementation of reforms to improve access and nonprofit capacity, as outlined in the HUD's 2025 Final Rule.

  • Supporting legislative efforts to strengthen the Low Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) and ensure its effectiveness in expanding affordable housing.

  • Advocating for passage of the Neighborhood Homes Investment Act, which would provide gap funding for revitalizing distressed communities and increasing homeownership stability.

  • Addressing insurance barriers impacting affordable housing development.

Small Business & Entrepreneurship priorities:

  • Championing small businesses as economic catalysts, especially in low-income communities.

  • Advocating for reauthorization and strengthening of the Small Business Administration (SBA).

  • Protecting SBA microloan funding to ensure small businesses maintain access to essential capital.

Community Development priorities:

  • Advocating to ensure that Opportunity Zones support equitable and impactful investments in underserved areas.

  • Defending the Community Reinvestment Act’s statutory intent, ensuring that community development organizations are able to access resources for their communities.

  • Ensuring continued funding for the Community Economic Development (CED) Program to foster local economic growth and stability.

  • Securing stable funding for the Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI) Fund and streamlining processes to increase accessibility.

People & Places Events

Uniting Leaders for Impactful Change

At the People & Places Collaborative, we convene leaders from across the nation to tackle the most pressing issues facing our communities today. Through our events, we bring together community development organizations to forge solutions that drive substantial and sustainable impact.

  • Join us at the People & Places Conference on October 5-7 in Washington, DC. 
  • View our People & Places Policy Convening event agenda. We brought a group of 70 community development leaders to the nation’s capital in May 2024 to champion the needs of low-income communities.