Using Queer Power to Stem Gentrification

When finding an affordable place to live seemed fanciful, these organizers formed a collective called Queer The Land and purchased housing together.

(Photo courtesy Queer the Land)

Marginalized people feel especially left behind by the housing shortage and rising prices. So a group of queer organizers in Seattle took it upon themselves to secure collective ownership of a 12-bedroom property that will safeguard their community.

In this episode of the podcast, Next City Executive Director Lucas Grindley talks with correspondent Emily Nonko about her reporting on how Queer The Land persisted through a system stacked against collectively-owned housing. 

We also meet two members of the collective. LC is the operations and development coordinator at Queer The Land, and Evana Enabulele is a program manager. 

“I think that that's like a queer politic, right? To take care of your community,” says LC. “We're all still trying to live this existence. We all need help. And we all know that we’ve gone through different struggles, and the queer community is solid for that.”

“It's still really hard because we're not really getting the funding that other traditional, straight, hetero mainstream groups get,” adds Enabulele.

Listen to this episode below or subscribe to Next City’s podcast on Apple or Spotify.

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