Author: Chris Holden
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How can state and local governments protect renters as the pandemic drags on?
A new document listing effective state and local strategies to protect tenants during the COVID-19 pandemic has a lot of information that can help low-income renters stay in their homes during these difficult times. The current national eviction moratorium does not address all the needs faced by desperate low-income renters, but many state and local…
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Research shows eviction moratoria slow the spread of COVID-19 and save lives
New research shows that eviction moratoria and bans on utility cutoffs greatly slow the spread of COVID-19. These protections for low-income renters have an even larger impact reducing deaths from the coronavirus. If there had been a national, uniform moratorium on evictions and utility cutoffs from the start of the pandemic, millions would not have…
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HUD Secretary Ben Carson’s record leaves low-income renters short
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is charged with housing our nation’s most vulnerable people and revitalizing blighted communities. The success of HUD Secretaries should reflect how much their policies improve the lives of low-income renters. Ben Carson’s time as Secretary of HUD was spent undermining this important mission. Carson’s lack of…
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Research shows millions protected from eviction in 2020, but back rent grows
New research from Princeton’s Eviction Lab shows that protections enacted during the coronavirus pandemic have prevented at least 1.6 million eviction filings nationwide. Although eviction filings are rising going into 2021, eviction rates are still only about half what they were before the pandemic. Over the last decade, the U.S. has seen a growing eviction…
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What will President Biden do about affordable housing in his first 100 days?
Joe Biden is now president of the United States, and will have a narrow Democratic majority backing him up in the House and Senate. He faces many challenges and has an ambitious agenda for his first 100 days in office. What does this mean for America’s low-income renters? President Biden has already moved quickly to…
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Now that emergency rental assistance has passed, where will it go?
Congress included $25 billion for emergency rental assistance in the latest coronavirus stimulus package; but where is the emergency rental assistance going, and how will it be distributed? The National Low-Income Housing Coalition (NLIHC) has developed estimates for what each state will receive. The largest states will likely get more than a billion dollars each…
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HUD nominee Fudge has strong commitment and leadership skills, despite limited housing experience
Congresswoman Marcia Fudge (D-OH) was named by President-elect Biden as his nominee for Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Some have criticized Biden’s choice because Fudge has little experience with affordable housing, but she has strong professional credentials and leadership experience. Most importantly, she has long been a champion for racial equity, empowering women,…
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Trump signs FY21 spending bill and pandemic relief package
CORRECTION: Earlier reports said that persons getting unemployment benefits would miss a week of payment because of Trump’s delay to sign these bills. However, the U.S. Department of Labor said in a December 29 statement to CNBC that it “does not anticipate that eligible claimants will miss a week of benefits.” President Trump signed the…
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Congress reaches stimulus deal with rental assistance and eviction protection
Congress has passed a coronavirus stimulus package that will provide relief to millions of low-income renters. The $900 billion stimulus legislation is attached to a $1.4 trillion FY 2021 spending bill that will fund government operations until the end of next September. The spending packages will keep the government open through the year and give…
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Biden announces notable nominations for HUD, USDA departments
President-elect Biden has made a historic selection to lead the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), while sticking with a familiar face to head the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Biden will nominate Representative Marcia Fudge (D-OH) to lead HUD, which will make her the second Black woman to serve as Secretary of…