Why it Was Time for an Alliance — And What’s Next for TCHA

Two years ago, we started the Twin Cities Housing Alliance because it was evident that there was something missing when it came to understanding the realities – the nuanced, confusing, and sometimes at loggerheads realities – of the housing market and industry.

Coming out of the 2021 municipal elections, any Metro area voter would tell you that politics were fraught, tense, and falling into restrictive binaries of perceived good vs. bad. In the housing and real estate space, we are often characterized as seeking maximum profits rather than meaningful partnerships. This misconception is reaching new heights where resident advocates tout that housing providers are walking around with money falling out of their pockets when in reality, they are faced with higher costs and increased labor shortages to just keep the door open. In response, we decided it was time to take a more active role in the discussion.

The Twin Cities Housing Alliance (TCHA) aimed to take a proactive approach. Established by experienced professionals who are engaged across the entirety of the housing ecosystem, TCHA aims to change the dynamic of housing conversations and foster better communication, collaboration, and outcomes for all residents with an emphasis on protecting and prioritizing residents who experience the worst income disparities and/or are at the greatest risk of displacement.

To that end, we’re working directly with local elected officials and their offices to help them understand the nuances of the housing ecosystem and the role their policies can play in helping or harming the housing market. We’re creating guides, graphics, and information that helps explain the complications and opportunities of producing and preserving housing, especially affordable housing. We’re eager to change the tone and temperature of discussions on housing so we focus on what everyone wants: more homes and thriving communities. 

Looking ahead, TCHA will continue to build trust and be a partner that comes to the table with facts, transparency, and a desire to overcome the current tenor of politics, misinformation, and emotions that lead to distrust.