NLIHC hosted a national HoUSed campaign call on December 4. Alex Horowitz of Pew Charitable Trusts joined the call to discuss new research on how rising housing costs drive homelessness. Chi Chi Wu of the National Consumer Law Center reviewed recent actions by the U.S. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and Federal Trade Commission to reduce junk fees and address unscrupulous background check practices. NLIHC’s Kim Johnson provided policy updates on the federal appropriations process and prospects for the passage of an end-of-year tax bill by Congress. We also received field updates from Catrina Grigsby-Thedford of the Nevada Homeless Alliance, Sonya Starr of Housing Alliance Delaware, and Erin Hahn of Texas Housers.
Alex Horowitz discussed new research published by Pew Charitable Trust, “How Housing Costs Drive Homelessness Levels,” which finds that areas with greater increases in the cost of rent also saw greater increases in rates of homelessness. For this reason, areas with high rents had higher rates of homelessness overall. The findings align with existing research showing a strong link between strict zoning regulations, high housing prices and high levels of homelessness. In addition, the new data confirm existing research that additional affordable housing supply lowers the cost of housing overall and that lower housing costs lower the rate of people experiencing homelessness.
Chi Chi Wu of National Consumer Law Center discussed the most recent efforts by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) and Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to reduce the prevalence of junk fees and address unscrupulous background check practices by TransUnion, a background screening conglomerate. FTC issued a proposed rule that would require all businesses and industries to disclose a total price for goods and services, inclusive of fees. This rule would allow renters to be informed of all total fees upfront and increase transparency so renters know exactly what they are paying each month. FTC is asking for comments on the new rule, and NCLC is urging housing advocates and renters to comment on rental junk fees through its comment portal. Wu also discussed enforcement actions CFPB and FTC have taken against the tenant screening subsidiary of background screening conglomerate TransUnion for unscrupulous practices. The action charges TransUnion with failure to follow reasonable procedures to assure maximum possible accuracy of the eviction records and its tenant screening reports.
Catrina Grisby-Thedford of the Nevada Homeless Alliance discussed “Project Homeless Connect,” a one-stop resource fair featuring the Nevada Homeless Alliance and multiple community partners, including employment agencies, legal agencies, housing agencies, and medical, dental, and vision services, as well as offering access to clothing and showers. The event was designed to help individuals experiencing or at risk of homelessness receive immediate services and resources. The alliance assisted 1,194 people, including children and families, during the event.
Rabbi Sonya Starr from Housing Alliance Delaware discussed the organization’s Faith and Housing Justice Weekend. Held the weekend before Thanksgiving, the Faith and Housing Justice Weekend brought together communities across the state to learn more about housing instability and homelessness and to unite around the common cause of ensuring everyone has a safe place to call home. Rabbi Starr also shared Housing Alliance Delaware’s Faith and Housing Justice Weekend Curriculum, noting other communities are welcome to use the materials with proper citation and credit.
Erin Hahn of Texas Housers shared Texas Housers’ Bexar County Eviction Case Dashboard, the first ever public-facing analysis of all eviction filings in Bexar County, Texas. The dashboard tracks eviction trends from 2018 to 2022 and eviction filings in 2022. According to the dashboard, 17,900 households in the county received an eviction filing in 2022. An estimated 80% of extremely low-income households in Brexar county are severely housing cost-burdened, spending over half of their income on rent and utilities every month and putting them at risk of eviction and, in the worst cases, homelessness.
Finally, NLIHC’s Kim Johnson discussed recent events in Congress. Members have until January 19 to reach a final agreement on four of the 12 fiscal year (FY) 2024 spending bills, including Transportation, Housing, and Urban Development (THUD). However, House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) is threatening to delay and push instead for a year-long continuing resolution that would hold FY24 funding at FY23 levels, plus an additional, mandatory cut. Members are also hoping to move a tax package before the end of the year, with NLIHC urging Congress to include reforms to the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) outlined in the bipartisan “Affordable Housing Credit Improvement Act.”
Watch a recording of the call here.
Access slides from the call here.
Our next HoUSed Campaign National Call will be held on Monday, December 18, from 2:30 4 pm ET. Register here.