Research & Advocacy
We turn real-world conditions into actionable insight.
Too often, solutions are designed without a full picture of the problem – leaving communities behind. SAFER pairs field-grounded research with advocacy to surface what’s missing and move better ideas into practice.
The Challenge
Important details get lost between policy, practice, and lived experience. We connect the dots so solutions reflect what communities actually face.
What we do
01
Landscape scans & briefs that translate complex issues into clear options.
02
Community-informed research that centers worker, tenant, and neighborhood experience.
03
Policy design & testimony to move ideas through boards, councils, and agencies.
04
Data stories & toolkits for partners to use in campaigns, hearings, and funding asks.
05
Impact evaluations to learn what works and iterate quickly.
AREAS OF FOCUS
01. Housing Innovation
Roles for public, private, and civic sectors to produce and preserve homes.
02. Labor & Work
Worker protections, skills, and power in a changing economy.
03. 21st-Century Adaptations
Climate, technology, and governance shifts shaping daily life.
Our Initiative
State of the Worker – our annual summit convening labor, business, government, and academia to chart “Creating Jobs for a New Economy.”