About the Council of Large Public Housing Authorities
The Council of Large Public Housing Authorities is a national non-profit organization that works to preserve and improve public and affordable housing through advocacy, research, policy analysis and public education. CLPHA’s 70 members represent virtually every major metropolitan area in the country. Together they manage 40 percent of the nation’s public housing program; administer more than a quarter of the Housing Choice Voucher program; and operate a wide array of other housing programs. Learn more at clpha.org and on Twitter @CLPHA and follow @housing_is for news on CLPHA’s work to better intersect the housing field and other areas of critical importance such as health and education.
Date Published:
September 4th, 2020
(202) 550-1381
Washington, D.C. (September 4, 2020) – Council of Large Public Housing Authorities Executive Director Sunia Zaterman released the following statement imploring Congress to honor American workers this Labor Day by prioritizing emergency rental assistance in the next COVID stimulus package:
"Celebrating the efforts of the American worker this Labor Day is the proverbial throwing salt into the wound when many are facing a devastating cliff with their unemployment insurance ending and eviction moratoriums that only delay the pain. Our nation’s essential workers deserve more, especially those who have risked their lives during the COVID-19 crisis.
The Council of Large Public Housing Authorities urges Congressional negotiators to immediately return to the table and hammer out a stimulus deal prioritizing emergency rental assistance. Secretary of the Treasury Steve Mnuchin recently agreed with House Democrats that emergency rental assistance should be prioritized over eviction moratoriums. Essential workers are most at risk because they currently do not receive direct rental assistance. Housing Choice Vouchers are the most effective emergency rental assistance program because they provide immediate relief for not only tenants, but also landlords, especially small landlords.
This Labor Day, Congressional negotiators can truly honor essential workers, protect landlords, and prevent local communities from bankruptcy by agreeing to a stimulus package with a significant increase in emergency rental assistance."