Now Available: The 2022 NLIHC Advocates' Guide!
Every year, the National Low Income Housing Coalition publishes the Advocates’ Guide to Housing and Community Development Policy to educate advocates of all kinds about the programs and policies that make housing affordable to low-income people across America.
All of us can effectively advocate for housing programs with our members of Congress and other policy makers.
Whether you are a student in an urban planning program, a new employee at a housing agency or community development corporation, or a seasoned affordable housing advocate looking for a refresher on key programs, this section will give you the overview of housing programs and advocacy tools you need to be a leader in the affordable housing movement and to advocate effectively for socially just housing policy for low-income Americans.
Made Possible by the Generosity of:
Advocates’ Guide 2022
The Advocates’ Guide is a go-to resource for affordable housing and community development practitioners, advocates, and policymakers for detailed descriptions of every federal housing and community development program, as well as current challenges, opportunities, and practical strategies for addressing the shortfall in housing that is affordable and available to low-income people and communities.
Chapter 1: Introduction
- Chapter 1, Section 1: About the Advocates’ Guide
- Chapter 1, Section 2: HoUSed Campaign
- Chapter 1, Section 3: A Brief Historical Overview of Affordable Rental Housing
- Chapter 1, Section 4: The National Need for Affordable Housing
- Chapter 1, Section 5: A Racial Equity Lens is Critical to Housing Justice Work
- Chapter 1, Section 6: Income Targeting and Expenditures for Major Housing Programs
- Chapter 1, Section 7: Housing as a Human Right
Chapter 2: Advocacy Resources
- How Laws Are Made............................................................ 2–1
- The Federal Budget and Appropriations Process...................................................... 2–3
- FY22 Budget Chart.............................................................. 2–6
- Lobbying: Important Legal Considerations for Individuals and 501(c)(3) Organizations.................. 2–8
- Congressional Advocacy and Key Housing Committees................................................. 2–11
- Federal Administration Advocacy................................ 2–17
- Using Federal Data Sources for Housing Advocacy............................................................ 2–21
- Introduction to the Federal Regulatory Process........................................................... 2–27
- Using the “Freedom of Information Act” for Housing Advocacy...................................................... 2–32
- Resident Participation in Federally Subsidized Housing....................................... 2–36
- Overcoming NIMBY Opposition to Affordable Housing...................................................... 2–42
- Lofty Rhetoric, Prejudiced Policy: The Story of How the Federal Government Promised—and Undermined—Fair Housing........................................... 2–46
- Resident and Tenant Organizing.................................. 2–55
- Our Homes, Our Votes: A Guide to Voter Engagement Activities for Nonprofit Housing Providers and Resident Organizations......................... 2–60
- Our Homes, Our Votes Engagement Plan.................... 2–70
- Housing Providers and Election Participation – Tips and Best Practices..................................................... 2–77
- Best Practices and Tips for Advocacy and Lobbying.................................................. 2–79
- Best Practices and Lessons Learned: Building Multi-Sector Coalitions................................... 2–87
- The HoUSed Campaign.................................................... 2–91
- Working with the Media.................................................... 2–95
Chapter 4: Rental Housing Programs for the Lowest-Income Households
- Housing Choice Vouchers................................................. 4–1
- Project-Based Vouchers..................................................... 4–8
- Tenant Protection Vouchers........................................... 4–12
- Vouchers: Family Unification Program....................... 4–17
- Vouchers: Foster Youth to Independence Initiative................................................... 4–20
- Mainstream and Non-Elderly Disabled (NED) Vouchers 4–23
- Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing Vouchers 4–26
- Public Housing................................................................... 4–31
- Rental Assistance Demonstration................................. 4–42
- Repositioning of Public Housing................................... 4–55
- Moving to Work Demonstration & Expansion............ 4–63
- Project-Based Rental Assistance................................... 4–67
- Section 202: Supportive Housing for the Elderly Program 4–73
- Section 811: Supportive Housing for Persons with Disabilities Program 4–78
- USDA Rural Rental Housing Programs......................... 4–81
- Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA) 4–85
- McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Programs 4–89
- Homeless Assistance: Federal Surplus Property to Address Homelessness 4–91
- Rental Housing Programs for the Lowest- Income Households: Renters’ Tax Credit 4–93
Chapter 5: Affordable Housing Programs
- HOME Investment Partnerships Program.................... 5–1
- Low-Income Housing Tax Credits.................................. 5–5
- Housing Bonds................................................................... 5–18
- The Affordable Housing Program and Community Investment Program of the Federal Home Loan Banks 5–22
- Native American, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian Housing Programs 5–25
- Self-Help Homeownership Opportunity Program 5–29
- The Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) 5–31
- Federal Housing Administration.................................. 5–35
- State and Local Housing Trust Funds......................... 5–40
Chapter 6: Special Housing Issues
- Lead Hazard Control and Healthy Homes.................... 6–1
- Housing Needs of Victims of Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault, Dating Violence, and Stalking.......................................................................... 6–7
- Inclusionary Housing Policies....................................... 6–14
- Manufactured Housing................................................... 6–18
- Olmstead Implementation............................................. 6–22
- Protecting Tenants at Foreclosure............................... 6–28
- Housing Access for People with Conviction Histories 6–30
- Criminalization of Homelessness................................. 6–38
- The Mortgage Interest Deduction................................. 6–43
- Medicaid Expansion......................................................... 6–45
- Disaster Housing Programs........................................... 6–48
- “Mixed Status” and “Public Charge” Rules: Attacks on Immigrants’ Access to Housing 6–57
- Land Use Restrictions and Affordable Housing........ 6–65
- Equal Access for Transgender People: The Trump Administration’s Attempt to Eliminate Shelter Protections for Transgender People 6–67
- Rent Control....................................................................... 6–72
- The Preservation of Affordable Housing 6–75
Chapter 7: Housing Tools
- Housing Counseling Assistance...................................... 7–1
- Fair Housing Programs...................................................... 7–5
- Disparate Impact................................................................. 7–8
- Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing (AFFH) 7–14
- Consolidated Planning Process.................................... 7–29
- Public Housing Agency Plan.......................................... 7–36
- The “Community Reinvestment Act”.......................... 7–43
- Section 3: Job Training, Employment, and Business Opportunities Related to HUD Funding............................................................................... 7–46
- Continuum of Care Planning......................................... 7–54
- Additional Housing Programs: Housing First........... 7–57
- HUD-Funded Service Coordination Programs: ROSS, Family Self-Sufficiency, and Service Coordinators in Multifamily Housing for Elderly and Disabled........................................................ 7–61
Chapter 9: Coronavirus, Housing, and Homelessness
- Eviction Protections during the COVID-19 Pandemic 9–1
- The Role of FEMA in COVID-19 Response.................... 9–6
- COVID-19 Relief Legislation.......................................... 9–11
- Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA-CV) (CARES Act) 9–14
- Homeless Assistance, Coronavirus (Homeless Assistance-CV) 9–17
- Treasury Emergency Rental Assistance....................... 9–18
- Emergency Housing Voucher Program....................... 9–23
- NLIHC ERASE Project to Ensure Unprecedented Rental Assistance Reaches Renters Most in Need...................................... 9–24