Research Consultancy -Housing Justice and Community Land Trusts

African Communities Together (ACT) is an organization of immigrants from Africa and their families. ACT empowers African immigrants to integrate socially, advance economically, and engage civically. ACT was founded in 2013 by a first-generation Ethiopian immigrant organizer to address the “organizing gap” in African immigrant communities. Since then, ACT has built a base encompassing tens of thousands of grassroots African immigrant members, connected thousands of African immigrants to direct services, engaged hundreds of community members in leadership development and public actions, and waged numerous successful policy campaigns. 

ACT’s African immigrant membership comes from a diverse range of nationalities, cultures, and languages, is religiously diverse, and is predominantly working-class and low-income. We have offices in New York City, Philadelphia and the Washington, D.C. metro area.

Position Summary

ACT is seeking an experienced part-time researcher to execute two projects in support of our housing justice work: a feasibility study on Community Land Trusts, and research on pension fund investing in private equity housing portfolios. The consultant will lead research efforts—including data collection, analysis, and reporting—to generate critical insights that inform and advance ACT’s housing advocacy.

Scope of Work

The researcher will: 

• Conduct research on the Community Land Trust (CLT) model, particularly its role in preserving affordable housing and prioritizing community-centered approaches to development and land use;
  • Carry out feasibility studies for establishing CLTs in ACT’s current geographies: New York City, the DMV (D.C., Maryland, Virginia), and Philadelphia;
  • Investigate the political, economic, and social conditions that enabled successful CLT development in other predominantly Black and immigrant communities, including the role of local and state governments;
  • Examine the advantages and disadvantages of CLTs for Black immigrant renters, including the impact on housing stability and affordability;
• Conduct research on the use of pension funds to invest in private equity’s housing portfolios and the impact of said investments on pensioners’ housing stability;
• Produce two comprehensive reports of roughly 30-40 pages each, detailing findings and recommendations for effective housing solutions as they pertain to CLTs and the use of pension funds in private equity investments;
• Produce supportive materials such as policy briefs, position papers, case studies, and data visualizations;
• Manage project timeline and workflow independently, engaging with external stakeholders/experts as needed and proactively providing regular updates to ACT's National Housing Justice Director. The expectation is that the researcher will work at least 30hrs/month and meet with the National Housing Justice Director on a biweekly basis.

This is primarily a remote position, with the expectation that some limited travel may be required to engage with stakeholders.

Timeline

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled, with priority given to applications submitted by November 7, 2025. The consultancy is expected to begin by December 2025, and to be part-time over a period of 12 months with the possibility of an extension. 

Qualifications 

We seek an experienced research consultant with: 

• Excellent research skills, including a track record of producing accessible, policy-relevant reports for advocacy or community-based organizations.
• Housing expertise and familiarity with conducting research related to immigrant and/or BIPOC communities.
• Demonstrated intellectual curiosity, strategic thinking, and an ability to work independently. 
• Strong writing, researching, editing, and interpersonal communication skills. 
• A Master’s degree (or equivalent experience) in Public Policy, Urban Planning, or relevant discipline.