CLPHA Encourages Members to Join the Administration’s Resident-Centered Housing Challenge
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The Biden-Harris Administration today announced several new actions to increase fairness in the rental market and further principles of fair housing, coinciding with a new Blueprint for a Renters Bill of Rights that also was released today. Additionally, the Administration is launching a Resident-Centered Housing Challenge. A webinar will be held today at 1:30 PM to detail these actions.
Notable actions announced today include:
- HUD will publish a notice of proposed rulemaking that would require public housing authorities and owners of project-based rental assistance properties to provide at least 30 days’ advanced notice before terminating a lease due to nonpayment of rent.
- The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) will collect a broad range of information to identify practices that unfairly prevent applicants and tenants from accessing or staying in housing. FTC and CFPB will seek information on the creation and use of tenant background checks, the use of algorithms in tenant screenings, the provision of adverse action notices by landlords and property management companies, and how an applicant’s source of income factors into housing decisions.
- The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) will launch a new public process to examine proposed actions promoting renter protections and limits on egregious rent increases for future investments.
The Blueprint for a Renters Bill of Rights is a statement of principles and is not legally binding. It is based on five key principles:
- Safe, Quality, Accessible, and Affordable Housing: Renters should have access to housing that is safe, decent, and affordable.
- Clear and Fair Leases: Renters should have a clear and fair lease that has defined rental terms, rights, and responsibilities.
- Education, Enforcement, and Enhancement of Renter Rights: Federal, state, and local governments should do all they can to ensure renters know their rights and to protect renters from unlawful discrimination and exclusion.
- The Right to Organize: Renters should have the freedom to organize without obstruction or harassment from their housing provider or property manager.
- Eviction Prevention, Diversion, and Relief: Renters should be able to access resources that help them avoid eviction, ensure the legal process during an eviction proceeding is fair, and avoid future housing instability.
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Resident-Centered Housing Challenge
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The Resident-Centered Housing Challenge is a call to action to housing providers and other stakeholders to strengthen practices and make their own independent commitments that improve the quality of life for renters. The Challenge encourages housing providers at all levels to enhance existing policies and develop new ones that promote fairness and transparency in the rental market. CLPHA encourages members to submit their commitments and success stories to the Challenge via the Administration’s survey – if your PHA completes this survey, please let CLPHA know by emailing Malcolm Guy at mguy@clpha.org.
The Challenge will occur during the Spring of 2023. To join the Challenge, complete this survey by April 28, 2023.
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