On NLIHC’s most recent (December 5) national call for the “HoUSed: Universal, Stable, Affordable Homes” campaign, we heard from the National Consumer Law Center (NCLC) about the risks of rent reporting policies and NLIHC’s End Rental Arrears to Stop Evictions (ERASE) team about the challenges and successes of emergency rental assistance spending by Native American Tribes and Tribally Designated Housing Entities (TDHEs). We received field updates on HousingNOLA’s statewide efforts to combat the housing crisis and Pathways to Housing DC’s success using the Housing First model to reduce homelessness. NLIHC’s Sarah Saadian provided an update from Capitol Hill on the state of the fiscal year (FY) 2023 spending bill and a potential tax extenders package.
NCLC’s Chi Chi Wu discussed the potential risks of rent reporting, as outlined in a new report, “Even the Catch-22s Come with Catch-22s: Potential Harms & Drawbacks of Rent Reporting.” Rent reporting policies require that tenants’ monthly rent payment histories be documented in consumer credit reports. While rent reporting can increase credit scores by varying degrees, especially for “credit invisible” consumers, the majority of whom are Black and Latino, rent reporting policies that lack proper safeguards can also hurt the lowest-income renters, who may struggle to make on-time rental payments. The report suggests that rent reporting be employed only as an opt-in program and that rent reports only include records of positive payments.
NLIHC’s Neetu Nair shared the findings from a new ERASE report, “Serving Native American Households Using Emergency Rental Assistance (ERA): Learning from High-Spending Programs.” Published in partnership with the United Native American Housing Association (UNAHA), the report explores the challenges and successes of ERA allocation spending by Native American Tribes and TDHEs in the Great Plains region. TDHEs utilized ERA resources and guidance to serve all households on native lands as well as tribal members outside of native lands. TDHEs temporarily addressed overcrowding and the risks associated with the pandemic by helping families secure housing outside of native lands. Among other needs, administrators expressed the need for adequate federal guidance, longer spending timelines, and sustained funding for future ERA programs.
HousingNOLA’s Andreanecia Morris shared a field update concerning her organization’s annual report card, which evaluates the progress made in promoting affordable housing in New Orleans, Louisiana. Unfortunately, HousingNOLA was compelled to issue the city a failing grade on affordable housing progress for the third consecutive year. Ms. Morris stressed the need for a generational investment strategy and improved housing regulation to address the affordable housing crisis.
Pathways to Housing DC’s Julia Fowler shared her team’s efforts to address homelessness in some of the largest encampments in the District of Columbia. Using the Housing First model, Pathways to Housing DC provides housing to people experiencing homelessness without any prerequisites, while case workers assist with applications for permanent housing. More than 60 individuals were housed during the first year of the program, and in the future, Pathways hopes to expand partnerships with landlords in the city and collaborate with mental health professionals to support clients.
NLIHC’s Sarah Saadian provided an update from Capitol Hill on the FY23 spending bill and a potential tax extenders package. Since October 1, Congress has been operating under a continuing resolution (CR) set to expire on December 16, but members of Congress are still in disagreement over topline spending goals. There is an increased risk that Congress will issue a yearlong CR through September 2023, which would keep funding at the currently appropriated level and would not account for record-level inflation. Without a funding increase, a yearlong CR will act as a cut to critical housing programs, reducing the number of households served. In addition to appropriations advocacy, NLIHC also supports using a tax extenders bill to reform and expand the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) to ensure the program better serves people experiencing or at risk of homelessness through deeper income targeting and by addressing the unique needs of rural and tribal areas.
Sign on to NLIHC’s national letter to Congress to support higher funding: https://p2a.co/2xztqvh
Take action to support LIHTC expansion and reform: nlihc.org/take-action
National HoUSed campaign calls occur every other week. Our next call will be held on December 19 from 2:30 to 4 pm ET. Register for the call at: bit.ly/3ub2sWM
Watch a recording of the December 5 call at: tinyurl.com/s5fdatbk
View presentation slides from the December 5 call at: tinyurl.com/mtyjezxt