The National Low Income Housing Coalition (NLIHC) is a nonprofit policy advocacy and research organization based in Washington, DC. NLIHC works to achieve racially and socially equitable public policy that ensures people with the lowest incomes have quality homes that are accessible and affordable in communities of their choice.
While we don’t provide direct services to people in need of housing assistance, we have shared some resources below for finding housing or legal assistance, getting connected to NLIHC and fellow tenants, and taking action for housing justice.
Find Housing or Legal Assistance
- Find Help in Your Area: Call 2-1-1 to connect with someone who can tell you about local programs that might be able to help, or visit the 2-1-1 website.
- Facing Eviction or Having Landlord Problems? Find your closest legal aid organization and contact a legal aid attorney who may provide services for free or at a low cost. You can also find helpful information on what to do if you think you might be evicted or if you are having landlord issues.
- Facing homelessness? If you are experiencing or at risk of homelessness, these resources from the National Alliance to End Homelessness and the National Coalition for the Homeless may be helpful to you.
- Need help with security deposits, housing costs, rental home repairs, discrimination, or other housing issues? Visit LawHelp.org to find helpful information for your state.
- Connect with a Housing Counselor: Housing counselors are available throughout the country to help people make decisions about their housing. Search for a counselor in your area or call 1-800-569-4287.
- Find Affordable and Subsidized Housing: Some states have housing search tools to help you find available rentals. Find out if your state has a housing search tool.
- Find Information for Non-Citizens:
- Were You Affected by A Disaster? Survivors of disasters like wildfires, floods, tornadoes, hurricanes, and earthquakes may find the resources below helpful.
- Learn how to prepare your household for disasters.
- Find resources like government assistance and emergency shelter after a disaster strikes.
- Find legal aid after a disaster or get help to appeal a denial of disaster assistance.
- If you or someone in your household lives with a disability and needs help after a disaster, you can find resources from the Partnership for Inclusive Disaster Strategies. You can also call or text them at 1-800-626-4959.
- The local offices of your representative and senators often know of available state and local resources, and it’s very important they hear about the housing challenges you are facing. Enter your address here to find your members of Congress.
Get Connected
- Become an NLIHC Member: Tenants and tenant-led organizations are encouraged to become an NLIHC member. Members support NLIHC’s advocacy and the production of publications like Tenant Talk and other NLIHC resources.
- Participate in Tenant Talk: Tenant Talk connects tenants with the housing policy issues affecting their lives.
- Register for Tenant Talk Live: NLIHC’s Tenant Talk Live meeting serves as an opportunity for tenants to connect with NLIHC and one another, learn how to be more involved in influencing federal housing policies, and to share best practices on how to lead in their communities. Topics include tenant protections, tenant organizing best practices, HUD programs for low-income tenants, and more!
- Join the Tenant Talk Facebook Group: The purpose of this group is to engage resident leaders across the country in ongoing dialogue and effective action necessary to end housing poverty.
- Read the latest issue of Tenant Talk: This semiannual publication was created to engage low-income people in housing advocacy. Tenant Talk covers issues of importance to low-income residents, like tenant protections, the budget and appropriations process, fair housing, disaster housing recovery, and so much more.
- Connect with NLIHC’s Field Team: Find the housing advocacy organizer or coordinator for your region to learn more about how to get involved with NLIHC and take your advocacy to the next level.
- Subscribe to NLIHC Emails: Sign up for the latest news and actions needed.
- Follow NLIHC on Social Media
Take Action
- Advocate for Increased Federal Funding for Affordable Homes: NLIHC’s Advocacy Hub provides an easy way to urge your members of Congress to support greater investments in affordable housing programs.
- Endorse the Tenant Bill of Rights: The National Low Income Housing Coalition, National Housing Law Project, and Tenant Union Federation created the National Tenants Bill of Rights to shift the balance of power between tenants and landlords.
- Share your Story: Share your housing story with policymakers and the public, or ask NLIHC advocacy organizers or coordinators about ways your story can be included in the affordable housing advocacy movement.