Advocacy Opportunities:
Local/State Advocacy:
Support: City of Boise Tenant Protections: Prohibiting source of income discrimination. Although the City has approved an ordinance to expand tenant protections, they are still discussing this element of the proposed rules. While public testimony was largely in support of this protection, some small landlords and property management associations contend it creates hardships when “forced” to take housing vouchers. As always, the most compelling testimony came from individuals who had faced discrimination, were unable to find housing even after securing a voucher to ensure rent payments. If you have stories or a perspective, you might want to write to Mayor McLean and the City Council members to ensure they have more comprehensive information on which to base their decision.
Federal Advocacy:
Support: Affordable Housing Credit Improvement Act of 2023 (AHCIA),(S. 1557 and H.R. 3238). In a bipartisan effort, these bills “include a number of provisions that would expand/strengthen the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program and enable local governments to better serve their communities’ affordable housing needs. These provisions include increasing the Housing Credit authority by 50% over two years; lowering the threshold for developments financed with tax-exempt bonds from 50% to 25% to receive the 4% Housing Credit; and providing basis boosts to drive additional equity to certain difficult-to-develop projects.”
Support: The Eviction Crisis Act–(S. 2182). Another bipartisan effort, this bill was introduced in 2021 and remains in the Committee on Banking, Housing, & Urban Affairs. It would improve the data and analysis on evictions across the country (establishing a national database for use in policy decisions), reduce preventable evictions and mitigate eviction-related consequences (with a permanent Emergency Assistance Fund for short-term assistance, funding of community court supports for landlords and tenants), and improve tenant screening reports and the process for reporting/challenging reports.
READ MORE from one of the bill’s authors
Support: The Family Stability and Opportunity Vouchers Act (S. 1991). Another bipartisan bill that will provide 500,000 new housing vouchers (nationwide) and support services to families with young children. This will allow families the choice to live in high opportunity neighborhoods and improve socio-economic integration in our communities.
Federal Budget Input
The U.S. House of Representatives has substantially reduced line items for housing-related expenses and programs that would bridge pandemic-era programs to the dramatically increasing numbers of people who are being priced out of housing. See the letter from the National Low-Income Housing Coalition here: Campaign for Housing and Community Development Funding.
As Congress reconvenes from its August recess, it is the perfect time to address these essential needs with our Idaho Congressmen.
Extend Veteran Benefits
During the pandemic, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) was authorized to provide veterans experiencing homelessness with housing and additional services (food, clothing, transportation and communication options for staying housed). They were able to reduce veteran homelessness by 11% during this period. Unless we can extend these benefits, we risk losing ground (and the lives) of one of our most vulnerable populations. Bipartisan bills HR645 and S1436 would extend these benefits. Please urge Idaho’s Congressional delegation to co-sponsor and/or otherwise support these bills and the essential services they will provide. You can personalize a letter HERE.
Education Resources:
Housing affordability/shortage gets more and more visibility.
Listen to the NPR Podcast: Homelessness is compounded by more people losing housing because its unaffordable
This is a good (short) summary of the problems we know exist but are well articulated in a 3+ minute podcast. Although the problem is dire, there is benefit in this increasing level of visibility. Doesn’t it FEEL as if it should make some aspects of our work easier???
Learn about homelessness in Idaho: Read Idaho Housing and Finance’s report on The State of Homelessness in Idaho 2022. This illustrated 17-page report includes Forms of Homelessness, Primary Causes of Homelessness, Housing Permanency is Paramount, Extent of Homelessness, Resource Distribution, Characteristics of Homelessness, Need for Additional Housing, How You Can Help, and more.
Learn about homelessness in America: An Urban Institute quiz helps users assess how well they understand the causes of and solutions to one of the nation’s most pressing challenges.
Learn more about the factors that correlate most strongly with homelessness rates, interactions between the criminal justice system and homelessness, effective ways to end homelessness, and more.
Get the Action Alerts!
Throughout the year, as important opportunities arise to contact representatives at any level of government, or to reach out to the public, the Coalition emails action alerts to members and to everyone one our email list. Sign up to receive time-critical information about proposed legislation and policy issues. Most action alerts include links to easily submit input to your representatives, or addresses for your Letters to the Editor. See the Sign Up Form in the Sidebar to the right.