Longtime NHLP supporter and leader, I. Michael Heyman, died on November 19 at his home in Berkeley, California. Mike had a legendary career as chief law clerk for Chief Justice Earl Warren, law professor and Chancellor of UC Berkeley, and leader of the Smithsonian Institution. He helped establish NHLP as part of the UC Berkeley Earl Warren Institute in the late sixties and served as an NHLP board member from 1979-1991.

After 4 years, Navneet Grewal has left NHLP to assume a new position at the Western Center on Law and Poverty in Los Angeles. We will miss her and wish her well in her new position where she will join WCLP’s housing team.

California Governor Jerry Brown signed into law Assembly Bill 588, which will allow survivors of domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking to end their leases without financial penalty. State law currently requires that survivors provide a police report or restraining order issued within the past 60 days in order to end the lease.

The Senate has approved legislation to renew the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA). The bill includes several new housing protections for survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking that were developed with assistance from NHLP.

In August, the Federal Housing Finance Agency, the Treasury Department, and HUD released a request for information to seek ideas on how to best dispose of foreclosed properties. NHLP submitted comments suggesting the Administration use REO properties to develop affordable housing for low-income families.

Assistant Secretary John Trasvina issued a letter to the NYC Housing Authority (NYCHA) affirming that any contract the provides operating subsidy funds to the NYC Police Department is subject to Section 3. The letter also declares that HUD would work with NYCPD and NYCHA to ensure that they meet their compliance obligations.

On August 4, 2011, the United States filed suit against the City of Joliet, alleging that it has violated federal housing laws by moving to condemn and take through eminent domain a federally-subsidized affordable housing development known as Evergreen Terrace.

On July 15, 2011, the National Housing Law Project and the Housing Justice Network submitted comments to HUD regarding the Moving to Work (MTW) program. HUD is seeking to improve the Annual Plan and Annual Report forms that MTW public housing agencies use to describe their innovative programs.

A recent Bulletin article covers the mortgage maturity problem. Thousands of low-income tenants nationwide face the expiration of federal use restrictions when their mortgage or use agreement expires. Rents may increase, sometimes substantially, where market rents exceed current restricted rent levels.

In a letter to HUD Secretary Donovan, NHLP requests that HUD promptly clarify its rules to support adult Section 8 tenants seeking to further their education and expand policy to exclude income from financial assistance covering school fees. Currently, some adults receiving financial assistance for college fees beyond "tuition" face unaffordable rent increases.