“When we look at this experience, we are keenly aware that doors were opened, conference rooms were made available and seats were placed at the table for billionaires, millionaires and developers,” said [COPS/Metro] leader Father Jimmy Drennan, referring to Missions investors, such as Weston Urban co-founder Graham Weston, a one-time billionaire."
MVP Leader Residents of Cavern Springs Mobile Home Park Reach Historic Deal to Purchase Their Land

After over a year of organizing with Mountain Voices Project (MVP), residents of Cavern Springs Mobile Home Park in Colorado’s Roaring Fork have raised millions of dollars and negotiated a contract with their landowner to purchase the land under their homes.
Read moreAMOS Drives First Permanently Affordable Homes in Des Moines’ Columbus Park

A Mid-Iowa Organizing Strategy (AMOS) is at the center of a major milestone for housing in Des Moines: the first two permanently affordable homes have now been built in Des Moines' South Side.
Read moreCalgary Alliance for the Common Good Presses City Council to Protect Affordable Housing

After Calgary City Council voted to repeal rezoning without a replacement plan, the Calgary Alliance for the Common Good (CACG) organized a press conference with a coalition of 11 organizations representing tens of thousands of community members, urging leaders to advance clear, responsible solutions to the city’s growing housing crisis.
Read moreVIP Presses Mesa to Complete Transitional Housing Plan

Mesa faith and community leaders with Valley Interfaith Project (VIP) are pressing the City Council to complete the final step needed to open the Sunaire Hotel as transitional housing for families experiencing homelessness. Gathering outside City Hall, clergy and residents called on the council to approve the contract needed to furnish the renovated hotel so Mesa’s Off the Streets program can move into the facility — expanding a program that has already helped thousands of residents regain stability.
Read moreVIP Sounds the Alarm: "Every Delay is a Night Without a Home"
“Every delay means there’s folks that don’t have a place to sleep more permanently,” Valley Interfaith Project (VIP)'s Rev. Sarah Oglesby-Dunegan told Arizona’s Family.
After an old hotel was set to become transitional housing for seniors, families, and domestic violence victims, Mesa City Council took the final vote off the council agenda with no explanation why. The move pushes the decision to February, delaying the opening by about two months.
Read more600 Calgary Alliance Leaders Gain Landmark Commitments from Mayoral Candidatesfor Advances on Mental Health, Affordable Housing, Climate Change, and More

Demonstrating the power of organized people, Calgary Alliance for the Common Good (Calgary Alliance) packed Knox United Methodist Church with 600 people for its 2025 Mayoral Forum.
“Over the last year, we have been consulting with the members of our constituent organizations, and have heard stories about life in Calgary and what would make it better," said Rev. Kersi Bird, co-chair of the Calgary Alliance Affordable Housing Team.
Read moreVIP Urges the State to Incentivize Affordable Housing Development
Amidst rate hikes and low-income housing tax credits set to expire this year, Valley Interfaith Project continues to urge State lawmakers to incentivize affordable housing development.
Read moreTogether West Michigan Demands Transparency & Higher Affordable Housing Contribution in $565M Development Deal

120+ TWM Members Overflow City Commission Meeting & Press Conference: Contribute More or "Show us the Math!"
Together West Michigan members packed the Grand Rapids City Commission Chamber yesterday, calling for equity and transparency in the proposed Three Towers project downtown. Citizens are being asked to forgo over $565 million in future tax revenue to subsidize developers — receiving just $8.5 million for affordable housing spread over 20 years in return.
“We don’t oppose private development,” said Rev. Lynette Sparks of Westminster Presbyterian Church. “What we DO oppose is this insultingly small contribution to affordable housing. Public dollars demand real public benefit.”
“We keep hearing this project isn't ‘viable’ with a greater contribution,” added Pastor Peter Tewinkle of Oakdale Park Church. “Then show us the math. If it’s true, put it on paper and make it public.”
Despite assurances from the City Clerk’s office, over 40 TWM members were forced to watch the meeting from the lobby on their phones due to lack of space.
The fight isn’t over—TWM will be back when the Commission meets again.
Read moreIn Missions Stadium Deal, COPS/ Metro Secures Living Wages, $500K in Relocation Aid + $34M for Infrastructure From Developer
Concrete Community Benefits are Now Included in Tax-Funded Downtown Project
Thanks to the intervention of COPS/Metro, concrete community benefits are now part of a partially tax-funded Downtown Missions Stadium project, thus creating a fairer deal for San Antonio residents, including those who will be relocated in advance of construction.
COPS/Metro had been in negotiations with elected officials, city council members, city staff, Weston Urban, SAISD officials, institutional leaders, community leaders, and local residents. COPS/Metro's complete statement and press can be read below:
Read moreCOPS/Metro Fights for Community Benefits in Missions Baseball Stadium Deal

More than a year after closed-door talks began around a proposed stadium that would displace thousands of low-income residents, the City of San Antonio held its first public hearing. COPS/Metro clergy and leaders decried the secrecy of negotiations and displacement of low-income families, while questioning whether the plan would actually come at no cost to taxpayers.
Leaders presented Council a list of demands: community benefits that would ease the transition for thousands of Soap Factory Apartment residents, guarantee a place to return upon completion of the development, include provisions for affordable housing as part of the redevelopment and ensure living wages for workers involved in the project. Councilmember Pelaez responded from the dais, calling the list of demands "not unreasonable requests" and urging their consideration by Council.
According to the San Antonio Express-News, "city officials pushed the vote back a week [to next Thursday] because of sharp questions about the deal from the public and some council members."
[Photo Credit: Jessica Phelps, San Antonio Express-News]
Council Vote on Ballpark Deal Pushed to Sept. 12 after Backlash, San Antonio Express-News
'Kicking the Community Out': Proposal for Missions Ballpark Development Draws Criticism, Concern, San Antonio Express-News [pdf]
City Council Makes Added Demands to Downtown Ballpark Deal That Will Displace Renters, San Antonio Report [pdf]
COPS/Metro Testimony Starts at 48:59, City of San Antonio Special Meeting

