Sequestration continues to impact tenants and applicants in the voucher program. Advocates have been responding to the funding cuts in a number of ways, depending on public housing authority actions. Learn some of the ways advocacy has been successful across the nation.

NHLP joins twenty-one organizations in an amicus brief submitted by the Pennsylvania Coalition Against Domestic Violence in support of Lakisha Briggs, a domestic violence survivor, in Briggs. v. Borough of Norristown. The amicus explains how the nuisance ordinances penalize survivors for reporting abuse to police and further perpetuate the abuse committed against survivors. »

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NHLP has recently submitted an amicus brief in a case regarding preemption from the state foreclosure laws in California. NHLP argues that the state foreclosure laws are preserved under the OCC regulation’s savings clause. Read more.

"Before, it was really in a bank's discretion to stop a foreclosure sale or not, but now you can get the courts to force them to stop," said Kent Qian in an article in the Sacramento Bee. The article covers the story of Kevin Singh, one of the first homeowners to use the California Homeowners Bill of Rights to fight back against dual tracking.

As a member of the Preservation Working Group, NHLP urges the chairs and Ranking Members of the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development (THUD) Appropriations Subcommittees in Congress to ensure that the FY 2014 THUD Appropriations bill will provide adequate funding to preserve affordable housing for low-income families. Read more.

Collaborating with 15 organizations led by the National Alliance of HUD Tenants (NAHT), NHLP submitted comments to HUD on May 18, 2013 that seek improvements in HUD policy on utility allowances for subsidized multifamily housing. The recommendations contain specific suggestions for improving the process of adjusting allowances when rents are increased and obtaining tenant input.

This month’s Bulletin discusses housing provisions in the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2013, litigation approaches to challenge subsidized housing denials based on applicants’ criminal records, a language access conciliation agreement, and a commentary on voucher programs. Read article summaries.

This year, the Housing Justice Network (HJN) Conference will be held on October 16 & 17, 2013. There will be a special pre-meeting training on October 15th. Find out more.

Listen to NHLP Executive Director, Marcia Rosen, and Board Member, Sara Shortt, discuss the future of public housing on KALW FM, 91.7. The recording is posted on the City Visions calendar under "Re-imagining Public Housing in SF".

HUD has issued the final version of a long-awaited policy that will provide funds for tenant vouchers. The vouchers will aid unassisted low-income tenants residing in HUD properties that face mortgage maturity or expiration of use restrictions. It is important to keep track of this policy as there may be an opportunity to obtain protections for others tenants threatened by the end of HUD rent restrictions. Learn more.