By Sarita Kelkar, NLIHC Policy Intern
On August 11, NLIHC hosted a national HoUSed campaign call with panelists providing information on the final public charge rule, proposed changes to the “Community Reinvestment Act,” and disaster recovery efforts in response to wildfires in Washington.
NLIHC Senior Vice President of Policy David Gonzalez Rice began by introducing the panelists and topics discussed in the call. First, Maddie Geschu, director of policy & advocacy at the Protecting Immigrant Families (PIF) Coalition, gave background on the meaning and history of “public charge”—sharing how it has often been used as a tool of discrimination while contextualizing how the public charge test has changed over time. With the final rule going into effect September 18, Geschu emphasized 1) the loss of guardrails established previously under the Biden rule that allow immigration officers personal discretion, 2) the expansive nature of the final rule in allowing the benefits an applicant’s dependents use to be considered, and 3) the uncertainty and harm the final rule poses to immigrant families even when the test only applies to a limited group of immigrants.
Next, National Community Reinvestment Coalition Senior Policy Advisor Kevin Hill defined how the “Community Reinvestment Act” (CRA) requires banks to serve the financial needs of all communities, describing how recent proposed changes attempt to roll back community development requirements while weakening evaluation components. By first providing insight into how banks are currently evaluated, Hill shared how, dependent on bank size, half of banks have had community development requirements for over thirty years; in illustrating this precedent, Hill characterized how the proposal of raising the “small bank” threshold from $412 million to $1 billion would disproportionately harm rural and Southern states by voiding the compulsory development of affordable housing. Hill noted how this proposal not only removes requirements, but also threatens bank accountability, branches in low-to-moderate income areas that are majority people of color, and communities’ financial health.
Disability integration advisors Duaa-Rahemaah Hunter and Todd Holloway—at the Washington Housing Alliance and Washington State Coalition on Inclusive Emergency Planning, respectively—switched discussion over to the field, covering the current wildfires in Washington. Hunter recounted disaster recovery responses the day the fires started in Spokane, stressing the need to find relief for people experiencing homelessness. Mentioning relevant concerns like income security, eviction, and health, Hunter spoke to the overwhelming reality of encountering devastation in real time while relaying the importance of organizing and mutual aid. Holloway’s account underscored how legislation like the “Reforming Disaster Recovery Act” (RDRA) and partnerships with groups like NLIHC’s Disaster Housing Recovery Coalition (DHRC) can contribute to aiding disaster survivors in Spokane and beyond.
NLIHC Manager of Membership Engagement Lindsay Duvall closed the call by reiterating how critical it is to hear from people working on the ground. Duvall also shared ways to take action through digital advocacy links and joining NLIHC as a member. A recording of the call, as well as the presentation slides, are now available. Register here for NLIHC’s next National HoUSed campaign call September 8 from 4:00 pm to 5:00 pm ET.
Public Charge
- Read more about public charge and how it impacts your communities using PIF’s toolkit.
- Learn about the harms of the public charge rule changes in 2019 here.
- Explore the different types of benefits and what’s considered in the new public charge rule here.
- Explore this community-facing resource that helps families determine if they might be subject to the new public charge rule.
Community Reinvestment Act
- Learn more about the CRA.
Washington Wildfires and Disaster Recovery
- Support Spokane wildfire relief and mutual aid here and here.
- Reach out to the Emergency Operation Center (EOC) at 509-634-2043 from 8:00 am to 6:00 pm PT with any new items to aid in Colville Tribes’ wildfire relief.
- Learn more about the Washington wildfires through this tracking map.
- Check out the WA Housing Alliance and WA Coalition on Inclusive Emergency Planning’s incredible work.
- Learn more about the DHRC.
- Learn how to advocate for eviction moratorium and mortgage forbearance in the wake of disasters.
- Text +1 (800) 626-4959, email [email protected], or go to https://disasterstrategies.org/hotline/ to access the disability & disaster hotline.
Take Action
- Access NLIHC’s August Recess Advocacy Toolkit.
- Learn more about NLIHC membership and become a NLIHC member.
- Support NLIHC policy priorities by taking action.
NLIHC’s national HoUSed campaign calls take place on the second and last Tuesday of every month from 4:00 pm to 5:00 pm ET. Register for the next call on September 8 and the series, and access NLIHC’s archive of HoUSed campaign recordings.