Category: Editorial
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Affordable housing is a big focus of Biden’s infrastructure plan
President Biden’s $2 trillion infrastructure plan — The American Jobs Plan — will rebuild the nation’s aging infrastructure. It will create millions of good paying jobs, support the shift to a clean energy economy, address longstanding racial equity issues, and invest heavily in affordable homes for low-income renters. The proposal has billions of dollars for…
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“Right to counsel” movement helping renters avoid eviction
There are few low-income renters who can afford lawyers when they go to eviction court, which puts them at a disadvantage. In these cases, landlords almost always win. A national movement supporting a right to civil counsel is pushing cities and states to make sure that low-income renters get a fair shake in eviction court.…
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Indiana law opens the door to more evictions
A law enacted recently in Indiana will make it easier for landlords to evict low-income renters. Being passed over the governor’s veto, this law will also prevent local governments from regulating landlord-tenant relations. Senate Enrolled Act (SEA) 148 expands the types of cases that are eligible for emergency possession orders. An emergency possession order means…
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Open letter from Affordable Housing Online: Considerations for new HUD Secretary Marcia Fudge
Editor’s Note: Now that Marcia Fudge has been sworn in as Secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), she faces several challenges to help low-income renters. Even before the pandemic, housing was not affordable for anyone earning minimum wage. And now, millions of more renters are at risk of eviction and homelessness.…
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Biden’s American Rescue Plan is a lifeline for low-income renters
The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, a $1.9 trillion COVID relief bill signed by President Joe Biden last week, provides a range of benefits that will help lift millions out of poverty, especially children. From emergency rental assistance directly helping low-income renters stay safe in their homes, to education funding, the aid that is…
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Recommendations to improve racial equity in emergency rental assistance programs
Before the pandemic, minority renters faced much greater housing challenges than their white counterparts. And with the economic crisis brought on by the pandemic; Black, Latino, and Native American renters have felt even more housing instability. Emergency rental assistance needs to be targeted so that these groups are not left out in the cold. The…
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CDC national eviction protections still in place despite Texas judge’s ruling
Low-income renters are still protected by the national eviction moratorium ordered by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), even though a Texas judge made a ruling last week that the CDC order was unconstitutional. As stated by National Housing Law Project (NHLP) in a review of the lawsuit, the decision only applies to the…
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“No-cause” evictions should be halted under CDC eviction moratorium, legal group says
Despite a national moratorium on evictions issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), many local courts continue to hear “no-cause” eviction cases. A review by the National Housing Law Project (NHLP) shows that many renters on month-to-month leases should be protected from losing their homes under the CDC order. Many local eviction…
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How have we improved homeless services during the pandemic?
Keeping homeless clients safe and slowing the spread of COVID-19 has forced homeless shelter providers to make a lot of changes. Some of these new approaches have been very effective and may continue being used after the health crisis has passed. There have been improvements in providing shelter because of social distancing requirements. The most…
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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…