Aurora Housing Observer

2024

2023

2022

2021

2020

My name’s Pranet Swain. I regularly try to interview local residents with personal perspectives on Aurora’s housing shortage that are usually hard to thoughtfully share through our crowded town hall meetings. I regularly meet interviewees while sitting in on local town hall meetings, volunteering at local homeless shelters, as well as through email request. While I usually stick to publishing interviews with those currently at risk of eviction or homelessness, the publication does include some conversations with those with different perspectives on the crisis. As a disclaimer, all conversations are condensed for clarity and some names have been altered for privacy upon request.

2023

  • 8/10/23 – Melinda Hill

    Welcome, and thank you for joining us today. As we continue to explore the nuanced landscape of Aurora’s housing crisis, personal stories provide a powerful lens through which we can understand the broader issues. Can you share with us your journey and how it intersects with the challenges of finding stable, affordable housing in Aurora?…

    8/10/23 – Melinda Hill
  • 8/3/23 – Adam Lopez

    Welcome. Today, we delve into the intersection of housing affordability and environmental sustainability in Aurora. It’s a topic that’s gaining attention as we seek solutions that not only address the housing crisis but also consider long-term environmental impacts. Could you start by sharing your personal experience with this issue? Thank you for having me. My…

    8/3/23 – Adam Lopez
  • 7/27/23 – Melissa Meyer

    Welcome. Today, we’re shedding light on a deeply personal and increasingly common experience among residents of Aurora—the impact of eviction. Can you share your journey through an eviction and how it’s influenced your perspective on Aurora’s housing crisis? Thank you for having me. My encounter with eviction was both sudden and life-altering. A few years…

    7/27/23 – Melissa Meyer
  • 7/20/23 – Martin Black

    Welcome, and thank you for joining us today. Our discussion focuses on a critical issue many in Aurora are facing: the impact of inflation on housing affordability and availability. To start, could you share with us how inflation has impacted your personal experience with housing in Aurora? Thank you for having me. My experience with…

    7/20/23 – Martin Black
  • 7/13/23 – Martha Ramos

    Welcome, and thank you for joining us. Today, we’re discussing a topic that touches the lives of many in Aurora: the journey to homeownership against the backdrop of a challenging housing market. Can you share your unique personal story related to this journey? Thank you for the opportunity. My journey to homeownership in Aurora is…

    7/13/23 – Martha Ramos
  • 7/6/23 – Louisa Hopkins

    Welcome, and thank you for joining us to discuss a vital yet often overlooked aspect of the housing crisis in Aurora: the psychological impact of housing insecurity on individuals and families. Could you share with us your personal story and how it highlights this issue? Thank you for having me. My personal story with housing…

    7/6/23 – Louisa Hopkins
  • 6/29/23 – Alexis Raynier

    Welcome, and thank you for taking the time to share your experiences with us today. Our discussion centers around a critical but often unseen aspect of the housing crisis: the conditions and realities of living within a homeless shelter in Aurora. Could you start by sharing your personal journey and how you came to reside…

    6/29/23 – Alexis Raynier
  • 6/22/23 – Bernice King

    Welcome, and thank you for joining us today. Our conversation centers on a crucial issue affecting many in our community: the intricate link between finding and retaining a job and the challenges of securing and keeping an apartment in Aurora. Could you begin by sharing your personal experience with this issue? Thank you for having…

    6/22/23 – Bernice King
  • 6/15/23 – Patricia Agustin

    Welcome, and thank you for joining us today. Our focus is on an issue increasingly impacting families in Aurora: the challenge of accessing quality, affordable childcare and its implications for housing stability. Could you share with us your personal story and how these interconnected issues have affected you? Thank you for having me. My journey…

    6/15/23 – Patricia Agustin
  • 6/8/23 – Filip Daniels

    Welcome, and thank you for joining us today. Our focus is on the significant impact of transportation access on housing choices and affordability in Aurora. This issue touches on the broader challenges of urban development, sustainability, and social equity. Could you share with us how transportation access has shaped your housing decisions and overall quality…

    6/8/23 – Filip Daniels