The Louisiana Housing Alliance (LHA), an NLIHC State Coalition Partner, held its Fifth Annual Listening Tour in August. More than 200 people registered for the events, which covered nine regions statewide and helped LHA to identify pressing housing issues that its members have encountered. These issues include funding for Louisiana’s state housing trust fund, strengthened tenant rights, and housing for previously incarcerated individuals, foster youth, victims of domestic violence, and persons with HIV/AIDS. LHA will incorporate these priorities into its 2014 legislative agenda.An undercurrent of affordable housing concern was present at all tour stops, though each region had unique experiences. Louisianans in the Lake Charles area are experiencing a significant job boom; the expansion of natural gas plants and the opening of a casino are expected to generate at least 5,000 jobs. Along with those developments comes concern that demand for housing will increase and low income people will be priced out of the market. Local advocates focused on the need for state housing trust fund dollars, inclusionary zoning, regional planning processes, and an increase in the minimum wage.Residents and community leaders in Houma, a city in southeastern Louisiana, focused on sequestration’s impact on public housing and the ongoing need for community support services. They also highlighted the need for effective local and regional planning. Their focus differed from other stops as they emphasized the need for these plans to include walkable amenities like grocery stores, adequate transportation, and plans to address blight. Expanding the capacity of organizations that help homeless people access available services was discussed as well. At each stop, LHA stressed the importance of being actively engaged in regional, state, and federal policy, planning, and regulatory discussions. Advocates helped tour participants delve into core issues and tie values to affordable housing and community development needs: for instance, connecting housing to health care. LHA plans to develop values-based fact sheets for local communities to use in their advocacy efforts.LHA will continue to focus its advocacy efforts on establishing a dedicated source of revenue for the state trust fund, as well as a uniform residential landlord tenant law. In June, Governor Bobby Jindal (R) signed legislation establishing protections for residents in foreclosed properties. These protections initially were part of a comprehensive landlord/tenant bill, which legislators saw as too cumbersome to tackle during their session (see Memo, 6/28). LHA will continue its work with the Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, an NLIHC member, to strengthen draft legislation for a uniform law. “Once again, our Listening Tour provided LHA with firsthand knowledge of the concerns that families, advocates, and practitioners face across the state,” said Marla Newman, LHA executive director and NLIHC board member. “This opportunity to shape our policy and advocacy agenda in a way that is meaningful for those in the trenches enables us to remain relevant and an ongoing resource for building better communities.”View coverage of the tour at: http://bit.ly/17bKBQp and http://bit.ly/OlUuoP Visit LHA’s blog for tour information: http://louisianahousingtrustfund.wordpress.com For more information, contact Marla Newman at [email protected].