Category: Editorial
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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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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…
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Millions of renters will lose unemployment benefits as eviction crisis looms
Millions of workers will lose CARES Act unemployment benefits on December 26, unless Congress passes another pandemic stimulus package. Without help, these workers risk joining the millions of low-income renters who have have built up months worth of back rent. As the national eviction moratorium is set to expire at the end of the year,…
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Small landlords facing big challenges during the pandemic
The coronavirus pandemic has certainly hurt low-income renters, who struggle even in the best of times. Lost wages and jobs, the fear of eviction, and the ongoing threat of COVID-19 exposure have made life even harder for renters. But with many tenants not able to pay the rent, landlords are suffering too, and small landlords…
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Biden housing plan envisions a safe, affordable home for everyone
Now that the election is over, what can low-income renters look forward to from the Biden administration? President-elect Biden’s housing plan would provide more rental assistance to help people pay for costly housing, and would also build new affordable housing around the country. It would reward local governments that took steps to end residential segregation,…