Now Available! The 2023 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 resource 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.
Chapter 1: Introduction
- Chapter 1, Section 1: About the Advocates’ Guide
- Chapter 1, Section 2: 2023 Public Policy Priorities
- 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
- FY23 Budget Chart 2–6
- Congressional Advocacy and Key Housing Committees 2–8
- Federal Administration Advocacy 2–14
- Using Federal Data Sources for Housing Advocacy 2–18
- Introduction to the Federal Regulatory Process 2–24
- Using the “Freedom of Information Act” for Housing Advocacy 2–30
- Overcoming NIMBY Opposition to Affordable Housing 2–34
- Lofty Rhetoric, Prejudiced Policy: The Story of How the Federal Government Promised—and Undermined—Fair Housing 2–38
- Resident and Tenant Organizing 2–47
- Creating and Participating in a Tenant Group 2-49
- Our Homes, Our Votes: A Guide to Voter Engagement Activities for Nonprofit Housing Providers and Resident Organizations 2–54
- Housing Providers and Nonpartisan Voter Engagement 2–62
- Best Practices and Lessons Learned: Building Multi-Sector Coalitions 2–67
- Advocacy and Lobbying Tips for Communities and Beyond 2–71
- Lobbying: Important Legal Considerations for Individuals and 501(c)(3) Organizations 2–79
- Working with the Media 2–82
- The HoUSed Campaign 2–85
Chapter 4: Rental Housing Programs for the Lowest-Income Households
- Housing Choice Vouchers 4–1
- Project-Based Vouchers 4–9
- Tenant Protection Vouchers 4–13
- Vouchers: Family Unification Program 4–18
- Vouchers: Foster Youth to Independence Initiative 4–21
- Mainstream and Non-Elderly Disabled (NED) Vouchers 4–24
- Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing Vouchers 4–27
- Public Housing 4–32
- Rental Assistance Demonstration 4–46
- Repositioning of Public Housing 4–60
- Moving to Work (MTW) Demonstration & Expansion 4–68
- Project-Based Rental Assistance 4–77
- Section 202: Supportive Housing for the Elderly Program 4–87
- Section 811: Supportive Housing for Persons with Disabilities Program 4–93
- USDA Rural Rental Housing Programs 4–96
- Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA) 4–100
- McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Programs 4–103
- Homeless Assistance: Federal Surplus Property to Address Homelessness 4–106
- Rental Housing Programs for the Lowest- Income Households: Renters’ Tax Credit 4–108
Chapter 5: Additional Housing Programs
- HOME Investment Partnerships Program 5–1
- Low-Income Housing Tax Credits 5–6
- Housing Bonds 5–20
- The Affordable Housing Program and Community Investment Program of the Federal Home Loan Banks 5–24
- Native American, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian Housing Programs 5–27
- Self-Help Homeownership Opportunity Program 5–32
- The Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) 5–34
- Federal Housing Administration 5–38
- State and Local Housing Trust Funds 5–43
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 6–8
- Inclusionary Housing Policies 6–15
- Manufactured Housing 6–19
- Olmstead Implementation 6–24
- Housing Access for People Impacted by the Criminal-Legal 6–31
- Criminalization of Homelessness 6–40
- The Mortgage Interest Deduction 6–46
- Advocating for Housing-Related Services in Your State's Medicaid Plans 6–48
- Disaster Housing Programs 6–52
- Housing Access for Immigrant Households 6–63
- Land Use Restrictions and Affordable Housing 6–69
- Shelter Access for Transgender People Experiencing Homelessness 6–72
- The Preservation of Affordable Housing 6–77
Chapter 8: Housing Tools
- Housing Counseling Assistance 8-1
- Fair Housing Programs 8-5
- Disparate Impact 8-8
- Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing (AFFH) 8-12
- Consolidated Planning Process 8-23
- Public Housing Agency Plan 8-30
- The “Community Reinvestment Act” 8-37
- Section 3: Job Training, Employment, and Business Opportunities Related to HUD Funding 8-40
- Continuum of Care Planning 8-49
- Housing First 8-52
- HUD-Funded Service Coordination Programs: ROSS, Family Self-Sufficiency, and Service Coordinators in Multifamily Housing for Elderly and Disabled 8-58
Chapter 10: COVID-19-ERA Programs
- Federal Eviction Protections during the COVID-19 Pandemic 10-1
- The Role of FEMA in COVID-19 Response 10-6
- COVID-19 Relief Legislation 10-11
- Homeless Assistance, Coronavirus (Homeless Assistance-CV) 10-14
- Treasury Emergency Rental Assistance Program 10-15
- Emergency Housing Voucher Program 10-21
- Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (SLFRF) Program 10-22
- End Rental Arrears to Stop Evictions (ERASE) 10-25