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Housing Call: July 16, 2024

Special guest –  NLIHC Staff – Federal Updates & National Tenants Bill of Rights

 

Bio/Intro for Billy Cerullo (BC)

Billy Cerullo is a housing advocacy organizer on the National Low Income Housing Coalition’s (NLIHC) field team. In this role, Billy helps grow the Coalition’s network of advocates and support efforts to strategically engage federal policymakers on key policy priorities. Billy has been working as an organizer for almost a decade and has organized winning campaigns to change education and healthcare policies. Before joining NLIHC, he organized multiple unionization drives as an organizer for the Laborers International Union of North America (LiUNA).

 

Bio/Intro for Kayla Laywell (KL)

Kayla Laywell is a Policy Analyst at the National Low Income Housing Coalition (NLIHC), where she works on policy related to housing supply, fair housing, tenant protections, and rural and Native housing. Before joining NLIHC, she worked in the offices of Senator Ben Ray Luján in D.C. and the district office of former Congresswoman Xochitl (pronounced “so-cheel”) Torres Small (D-NM). Kayla started her career as a case manager in a Rapid Rehousing program in Houston, and holds a master’s degree in social work from the University of Houston Graduate College of Social Work, and a bachelor’s degree in social work from New Mexico State University.

  • At the end of June – NLIHC along with the National Housing Law Project and Tenant Union Federation released the National Tenants Bill of Rights – can you speak to that process and why this was created?
    • KL: The National Tenants Bill of Rights was created to set a baseline of tenant protections nationwide for all 114 million renters, both in subsidized rental housing and those in the private market. The national housing conversation has focused on housing supply and folks have often failed to consider the demand side and the tenant protections side. What we’ve seen is that without strong renter protections, no amount of new housing will keep renters stably housed and we really need protections to address the power imbalance between landlords and renters. This work is also building upon the over 300 renter protections that have passed in states and localities since the Covid-19 pandemic and the power of tenants organizing nationwide.
  • What are some of the reactions you’re seeing across the country regarding the tool? How can people engage with it or NLIHC around this issue? {mention endorsement etc}
    • KL: NLIHC launched the National Tenants Bill of Rights on June 25 and while it is not yet legislation (we’re working toward that), we’ve been working to build as much support as possible. This platform is the preeminent platform for tenants rights and our goal is to get as many endorsers as possible so that in the new Congress in January 2025, we can have members introduce this as legislation and get it enacted, either as one big bill or parts of it. Indinviduals, organizations, elected officials, and even candidates for elected office that are interested in supporting this are invited to endorse the National Tenants Bill of Rights. For the first time, NLIHC is asking individuals to support this platform, which is typically just open to organizations, to show that both renters and homeowners support this. Correcting this unbalanced rental market is going to take a wide coalition and tons of support so we invite everyone to endorse the National Tenants Bill of Rights.
  • In addition to all the great resource releases lately, I know you’ve been keeping an eye on the Federal appropriations process – any updates or federal policy highlights we should be aware of?
    • KL: Last week, the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) announced the introduction of renter protections in properties that receive a federally backed mortgage. The policy changes will do very little to protect renters from the power imbalance between tenants and landlords, so we’re really using this FHFA announcement from last week to call more attention to the National Tenants Bill of Rights. In addition, we’re continuing to push for the strongest affordable housing and homelessness funding in Congress during this appropriations cycle. Last week, the Transportation, Housing, & Urban Development (THUD) bill passed out of the House of Representatives Committee on Appropriations. It calls for dramatic cuts to affordable housing funding. We’ve got more details in our memo to members. We’re calling on folks to engage their members of Congress by emailing or calling to tell them about the importance of affordable housing, homelessness, and community development resources to you, your family, your community, or your work. Our Disaster Housing Recovery Team is also continuing to track devastating disasters and their impact on affordable housing and tenants’ housing stability.
  • Thank you so much for being a part of our housing call, I know the NC Housing Coalition really enjoys working with you and also values all the work that you all do. For those that may not be familiar with how you interact with states across the country, could you speak to how you partner with organizations across the state and how NLIHC can be a resource for others in North Carolina as well?
    • BC: In my role, I’m the main conduit between our members organizations and individuals in the states in our region and NLIHC. The National Tenants Bill of Rights is one example. I also lead trainings on advocacy and organizing and particular policy areas. For example, couple of weeks back, I gave a presentation on the National Housing Trust Fund for our folks in Arkansas. My role is to make sure that our members are supported in their work and that you all have the tools you need to be able to engage in advocacy and organizing across the state and on a municipal level as well. I also enjoy highlighting the great work that partner organizations are doing. Last week, we included an article in our memo to members on the North Carolina Coalition to End Homelessness’s Client Bill of Rights through their Balance of State Lived Expertise Advisory Council.

Contact Information:

Billy Cerullo, Housing Advocacy Organizer:  wcerullo@nlihc.org.

Kayla Laywell, Policy Analyst and point of contact for technical feedback on the National Tenants Bill of Rights: klaywell@nlihc.org.

 

Organizational Updates

Nominations Open: NC Housing Coalition Awards

Nominations are now open for the 2024 NC Housing Coalition Awards! Each year we recognize housing advocates across the state at our Annual Breakfast during the NC Affordable Housing Conference (September 5-6). If you or someone you know has gone above and beyond to advocate for affordable housing in North Carolina, nominate them today! The deadline to submit is July 26.

Federal Updates

State Updates

  • NC Housing Finance Agency Increases Housing Opportunities for At-Risk North Carolinians – Mecklenburg Times The NC Housing Finance Agency recently approved more than $5.5M in funding through their Supportive Housing Development Program (SHDP) for 9 affordable housing projects. The SHDP is funded by the State Housing Trust Fund and finances emergency, transitional and permanent housing services for special populations, including people experiencing homelessness, children and youth who are in or aging out of foster care, people with disabilities, and survivors of domestic violence. 

State Legislative Updates

 

Local Community Updates

 

Events

the 2024 WNC Regional Housing Forum! Join us for a day filled with insightful discussions and networking opportunities focused on housing in the Western North Carolina region. This year we are focusing on resident retention strategies (keeping current residents in their homes), community development, and opportunities for small and rural communities. (Agenda distributed shortly)

The event will take place on Friday, Aug 09, starting at 9 AM (doors at 8:30) at the Blue Ridge Conference Hall in Flat Rock. Don’t miss out on this chance to connect with industry professionals and learn about the latest trends in housing. See you there!

 

Resources & Reports

Reports

Resources

 

In the News

Recommended read

Housing Call: July 9, 2024

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