2017 Advocates' Guide

364 Pages·2017·8.32 MB·English

Established in 1974 by Cushing N. Dolbeare, the National Low
Income Housing Coalition is dedicated solely to achieving
socially just public policy that assures people with the lowest
incomes in the United States have affordable and decent homes.
NLIHC STAFF
Andrew Aurand, Vice President for Research
Josephine Clarke, Executive Assistant
Dan Emmanuel, Research Analyst
Ellen Errico, Creative Services Manager
Ed Gramlich, Senior Advisor
Sarah Jemison, Housing Advocacy Organizer
Paul Kealey, Chief Operating Officer
Joseph Lindstrom, Manager of Field Organizing
Lisa Marlow, Communications Specialist
Sarah Mickelson, Director of Public Policy
Khara Norris, Director of Administration
James Saucedo, Housing Advocacy Organizer
Christina Sin, Development Coordinator
Elayne Weiss, Senior Housing Policy Analyst
Renee Willis, Vice President for Field and Communications
Diane Yentel, President and CEO
NLIHC BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Brenda J. Clement, Chair, HousingWorks RI, Providence, RI
William C. Apgar, Orleans, MA
Dara Baldwin, National Disability Rights Network, Washington, DC
David Bowers, Enterprise Community Partners, Washington, DC
Delorise Calhoun, Jurisdiction-Wide Resident Advisory Board, Cincinnati Housing Authority, Cincinnati, OH
Emma “Pinky” Clifford, Oglala Sioux Tribe Partnership for Housing, Pine Ridge, SD
Lot Diaz, National Council of La Raza, Washington, DC
Chris Estes, National Housing Conference, Washington, DC
Daisy Franklin, Publicly-Assisted Housing Resident Network, Norwalk, CT
Dora Leong Gallo, A Community of Friends, Los Angeles, CA
Matt Gerard, Minneapolis Highrise Representative Council, Minneapolis, MN
Deirdre “DeeDee” Gilmore, Charlottesville, VA
Lisa Hasegawa, Los Angeles, CA
Isabelle Headrick, Accessible Housing Austin!, Austin, TX
Moises Loza, Housing Assistance Council, Washington, DC
Rachael Myers, Washington Low Income Housing Alliance, Seattle, WA
Marla Newman, Baton Rouge, LA
Ann O’Hara, Technical Assistance Collaborative, Boston, MA
Robert Palmer, Housing Action Illinois, Chicago, IL
Greg Payne, Maine Affordable Housing Coalition, Portland, ME
Eric Price, AFL-CIO Housing Investment Trust, Washington, DC
Tara Rollins, Utah Housing Coalition, Salt Lake City, UT
Michael Steele, Rutgers Houses Resident Association, New York, NY
Martha Weatherspoon, Lincoln Home Resident Council, Clarksville, TN
1000 Vermont Avenue, Suite 500, Washington, DC 20005
(Phone) 202.662.1530 • (Fax) 202.393.1973 • www.nlihc.org
Layout and Design by Ellen Errico
Table of Contents
CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION CHAPTER 4: RENTAL HOUSING PROGRAMS FOR
THE LOWEST INCOME HOUSEHOLDS
About the Advocates’ Guide ..................... 1–1
Homeless Assistance:
National Low Income Housing Coalition
McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Programs ..... 4–1
2017 Public Policy Agenda ....................... 1–2
Homeless Assistance: Federal Surplus
A Brief Historical Overview of Affordable
Property to Address Homelessness ............... 4–4
Rental Housing. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1–5
Housing Opportunities for Persons
The National Need for Affordable Housing ......... 1–9
with AIDS (HOPWA) ............................ 4–6
Income Targeting and Expenditures for
Public Housing ................................. 4–8
Major Housing Programs ....................... 1–11
Rental Assistance Demonstration ................ 4–15
Housing as a Human Right ...................... 1–13
Project-Based Rental Assistance ................. 4–22
CHAPTER 2: ADVOCACY RESOURCES
Section 202: Supportive Housing
for the Elderly ................................. 4–28
How Laws Are Made ............................ 2–1
Section 811: Supportive Housing for
The Federal Budget and Appropriations Process .... 2–3
Persons with Disabilities Program ................ 4–31
FY17 Budget Chart ............................. 2–6
USDA Rural Rental Housing Programs ............ 4–34
Introduction to the Federal Regulatory Process ...... 2–7
Housing Choice Vouchers ....................... 4–38
Lobbying: Individual and 501(c)(3) Organizations .... 2–11
Vouchers: Family Unification Program ............. 4–43
Congressional Advocacy and
Vouchers: Project-Based Vouchers ................ 4–46
Key Housing Committees ...................... 2–18
Vouchers: Tenant Protection Vouchers ............ 4–50
Federal Administrative Advocacy ................ 2–24
Renters’ Tax Credit ............................ 4–54
Using Federal Data Sources for
Housing Advocacy ............................. 2–27
CHAPTER 5: ADDITIONAL HOUSING PROGRAMS
Using the Freedom of Information Act for Housing
Advocacy .................................... 2–33 Fair Housing Programs .......................... 5–1
Avoiding and Overcoming Neighborhood Federal Housing Administration .................. 5–4
Opposition to Affordable Rental Housing ......... 2–36
Lead Hazard Control and Healthy Homes ........... 5–6
Resident and Tenant Organizing ................. 2–39
HOME Investment Partnerships Program .......... 5–10
Resident Participation
in Federally Subsidized Housing ................. 2–43 HUD-Funded Service Coordination Programs:
ROSS, Family Self-Sufficiency, and
Voterization: 2017 Voterization Narrative Guide ..... 2–49 Service Coordinators in Multifamily
Housing for Elderly and Disabled ................ 5–14
2017 Voterization Plan ......................... 2–54
Housing Bonds ............................... 5–21
CHAPTER 3: THE NATIONAL HOUSING
Housing Counseling ........................... 5–24
TRUST FUND
The Low Income Home Energy
The National Housing Trust Fund ................. 3–1 Assistance Program (LIHEAP) .................... 5–27
National Housing Trust Fund: Funding ............ 3–10 Low Income Housing Tax Credits ................. 5–30
Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, Native American, Alaska Native,
and Housing Finance Reform .................... 3–13 and Native Hawaiian Housing Programs ........... 5–37
Mortgage Interest Deduction Reform ............. 3–19
NATIONAL LOW INCOME HOUSING COALITION TOC–1
The Affordable Housing Program and CHAPTER 8: COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
Community Investment Program of the
RESOURCES
Federal Home Loan Banks ...................... 5–40
Capital Magnet Fund ........................... 8–1
Self-Help Homeownership Opportunity Program ... 5–43
Community Development Block Grant Program ..... 8–3
State and Local Housing Trust Funds ............. 5–45
Community Development Financial Institutions Fund . 8–6
Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing Vouchers ...... 5–50
CHAPTER 9: INCOME PROGRAMS AND LAWS
CHAPTER 6: SPECIAL HOUSING ISSUES
Earned Income Tax Credit ....................... 9–1
Housing Needs of Victims of Domestic
Violence, Sexual Assault, Dating Violence, The Minimum Wage ............................ 9–4
and Stalking ................................... 6–1
Supplemental Security Income ................... 9–7
Inclusionary Housing Policies ..................... 6–6
Temporary Assistance for Needy Families ......... 9–10
Manufactured Housing ......................... 6–10
Olmstead Implementation ...................... 6–13 CHAPTER 10: ABOUT NLIHC
Protecting Tenants at Foreclosure ................ 6–19 Make a Difference: Ways to Engage with
and Support the National Low Income
Housing Access for People with Housing Coalition and Policy Center .............. 10–1
Criminal Records .............................. 6–21
NLIHC Resources .............................. 10–3
Criminalization of Homelessness ................. 6–27
NLIHC State Coalition Partners .................. 10–5
CHAPTER 7: HOUSING TOOLS
CHAPTER 11: APPENDIX
Disparate Impact ............................... 7–1
List of Abbreviated Statutory References .......... 11–1
Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing (AFFH):
For Jurisdictions Required to Comply in Selected List of Major Housing
2016 and 2017 with the 2015 AFFH Rule ............ 7–5 and Housing-Related Laws ...................... 11–3
Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing (AFFH): Glossary ..................................... 11–5
For Jurisdictions and Public Housing Agencies
Advocates’ Guide Authors ..................... 11–15
Not Yet Required to Comply with the
2015 AFFH Rule ............................... 7–16
The Community Reinvestment Act ............... 7–20
Consolidated Planning Process .................. 7–22
Continuum of Care Planning .................... 7–29
Public Housing Agency Plan .................... 7–31
Section 3: Job Training, Employment,
and Business Opportunities Related to
HUD Funding ................................ 7–36
TOC–2 2017 ADVOCATES’ GUIDE
Chapter 1:
Introduction

About the Advocates’ Guide
he Advocates’ Guide: An Educational Primer
HOW TO USE THIS GUIDE
T
on Federal Programs and Resources Related
to Affordable Housing and Community The first section orients you to affordable housing
Development, is—as the title suggests—a guide to and community development programs with articles
affordable housing. But on many levels it is much that explain how affordable housing works, why it
more than that. The guide comprises hundreds of is needed, and what NLIHC believes are the highest
pages of useful resources and practical know-how, housing priorities, including the National Housing
written by leading experts in the affordable housing Trust Fund. The advocacy resources section provides
and community development field, with a singular vital information to guide your advocacy with the
purpose: to educate advocates and affordable legislative and executive branches of government, as
housing providers of all kinds about the programs well as tips about how organizations and individuals
and policies that make housing affordable to low- can be effective advocates.
income people across America.
The next few sections cover housing programs for
The National Low Income Housing Coalition low-income households, additional housing and
(NLIHC) is pleased to present the 2017 edition community development programs, special housing
of the Advocates’ Guide. For many years, the issues, housing tools, community development
Advocates’ Guide has been the leading authoritative resources, and low-income programs and laws.
reference for advocates and affordable housing These are the core affordable housing programs and
providers seeking a quick and convenient way issues to understand.
to understand affordable housing programs and
Take this Guide with you to meetings with
policies.
lawmakers. And share the Guide with your friends
With the right information and a little know- and colleagues. The more advocates using this
how, all of us can effectively advocate for housing Guide, the greater our collective impact will be.
programs with our Members of Congress and
A NOTE OF GRATITUDE
other policymakers. Whether you are a student
in an urban planning program, a new employee The Advocates’ Guide was compiled with the help of
at a housing agency or community development many of our partner organizations. We are deeply
corporation, or a seasoned affordable housing grateful to each of the authors for their assistance—
advocate looking for a refresher on key programs, the Advocates’ Guide would not be possible
this book will give you the overview of housing without them. Several articles build on the work of
programs and advocacy tools you need to be a authors from previous versions of the Advocates’
leader in the affordable housing movement and to Guide, and we appreciate and acknowledge their
advocate effectively for socially-just housing policy contributions as well.
for low-income Americans.
Thank you to PNC for their ongoing support for
this publication.
NATIONAL LOW INCOME HOUSING COALITION 1–1
National Low Income Housing Coalition
2017 Public Policy Agenda
more through MID than we do to help the poorest
APPROVED DECEMBER 5, 2016
55 million households with incomes of $50,000
LIHC works with members of Congress, or less, even though lower-income families are far
N
the Administration, affordable housing and more likely to struggle to afford housing.
community development organizations and
At a time when America’s housing affordability
advocates, and other stakeholders across the nation
crisis has reached new heights, our nation should
to advance NLIHC’s mission of achieving socially
be investing scarce resources into programs that
just public policy that assures people with the lowest
serve those with the greatest needs.
incomes in the United States have affordable and
decent homes. Our United for Homes campaign—endorsed by
more than 2,300 organizations, local governments,
Our policy priorities for 2017-2018 include:
and elected officials—proposes to reform the MID
• Reprioritizing current federal spending to better and drive the savings into effective and proven
serve those with the greatest needs; affordable housing programs.
• Protecting, expanding and monitoring the The changes are simple: Reduce the amount of a
implementation of the national Housing Trust mortgage eligible for a tax break from $1 million
Fund; to the first $500,000 and convert the deduction to
a 15% non-refundable tax credit. In doing so, 15
• Preserving and increasing resources for federal
million additional low-income homeowners who
affordable housing programs serving extremely
currently do not benefit from the mortgage interest
low-income families;
deduction will receive a tax break. Moreover, this
• Ensuring equitable access to affordable housing;
would create more than $241 billion in revenue over
and
10 years to end homelessness and housing poverty
• Championing anti-poverty solutions. once and for all by investing much-needed resources
in the national Housing Trust Fund, Housing Choice
REPRIORITIZE CURRENT FEDERAL Vouchers, public housing, homeless assistance
SPENDING TO BETTER SERVE programs, and other critical resources designed to
FAMILIES WITH THE GREATEST serve families with the greatest, clearest needs.
NEEDS
PROTECT AND EXPAND THE
The federal government spends almost $200 billion
NATIONAL HOUSING TRUST FUND
each year to help Americans buy and rent their homes.
A full three-quarters of those resources goes to subsidize The national Housing Trust Fund is the first new
higher income homeowners—most of whom would be housing resource in a generation. It is exclusively
stably housed without the government’s help—though targeted to help build, preserve, and rehabilitate
the mortgage interest deduction (MID) and other housing for people with the lowest incomes.
homeownership tax breaks. Only a quarter is left to
NLIHC, its members, and other stakeholders played
assist the poorest families—those with the greatest and
a critical role in the creation of the Housing Trust
the clearest needs.
Fund through the passage of the Housing and
The MID alone costs taxpayers more than $62 Economic Recovery Act of 2008. In 2016, the first
billion each year. Four out of every 10 dollars $174 million in Housing Trust Fund dollars were
spent through MID benefits families earning more allocated to states. This is an important step, but far
than $200,000 a year. Eight out of every 10 dollars more resources are needed.
goes to families making more than $100,000. In
NLIHC leads the Housing Trust Fund
fact, we spend more to subsidize the homes of the
Implementation and Policy Group, a coalition of
7 million households earning $200,000 a year or
national advocates committed to protecting and
1–2 2017 ADVOCATES’ GUIDE
expanding this new resource. In 2017, NLIHC will
Advancing Fair Housing
work with stakeholders to build Congressional
NLIHC supports U.S. Department of Housing
support to increase funding to the Housing
and Urban Development’s (HUD) Affirmatively
Trust Fund through the budget process, tax
Furthering Fair Housing rule and works to protect
reform, housing finance reform, investments in
the agency’s fair housing efforts from Congressional
infrastructure, and other legislative opportunities.
attacks. We believe fair housing and civil rights
advocates and affordable housing and community
PRESERVE AND INCREASE
development practitioners can find common
RESOURCES FOR FEDERAL
ground on policies that increase opportunities for
AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROGRAMS
underserved people in both high-opportunity areas
Despite a proven track record, federal housing
and through revitalizing urban neighborhoods.
programs have been chronically underfunded.
Today, just one in four families eligible for federal NLIHC also supports increasing mobility
housing assistance get the help they need. In order opportunities through expanded mobility
to fully address our nation’s housing affordability counseling and regional mobility programs, as
crisis, Congress must significantly increase well as the adoption of HUD Small Area Fair
resources for federal housing programs. Market Rents (SAFMRs) in certain metropolitan
areas that protect current and future tenants.
NLIHC leads the Campaign for Housing and
Community Development Funding (CHCDF), a Achieving Criminal Justice Reform
coalition of 75 national and regional organizations
The United States incarcerates its citizens at a
dedicated to ensuring the highest allocation of
shockingly high rate and nearly one in three
resources possible to support affordable housing
Americans has a criminal record. As more
and community development. In 2017, CHCDF
formerly incarcerated individuals return to their
will work to lift the low spending caps required by
communities, they face barriers to accessing
the Budget Control Act of 2011 and prevent across-
affordable housing, which is already scarce in the
the-board funding cuts known as sequestration.
low-income communities to which they return.
Since 2011, spending caps have only made it
Because of their criminal records, justice-involved
more difficult for extremely low-income seniors,
individuals face additional barriers in accessing
people with disabilities, families with children, and
affordable housing, putting them at risk of
people experiencing homelessness to access safe,
homelessness and recidivism.
decent, and affordable housing by squeezing federal
NLIHC advocates for safe, stable, affordable
budgets.
and accessible housing for those who have
NLIHC advocates for increased funding for
been involved in the criminal or juvenile justice
Housing Choice Vouchers, public housing,
system. By eliminating the barriers to housing
project-based rental assistance, and the HOME
and supporting programs that help formerly
Investment Partnerships program, among many
incarcerated people successfully reintegrate into
other programs. We also support the expansion and
their communities, people with criminal records
reform of the Low Income Housing Tax Credit to
can make the most of their second chance.
better serve families with the greatest needs.
In addition, NLIHC advocates to end the
criminalization of homelessness. Nationwide,
ENSURE EQUITABLE ACCESS TO
homeless people are targeted, arrested, and jailed
AFFORDABLE HOUSING
under laws that criminalize homelessness by
NLIHC believes in just communities, where all
making illegal those basic acts that are necessary for
community members have access to economic and
life. These laws are ineffective, expensive, and often
educational opportunities, as well as affordable
violate homeless persons’ civil and human rights.
housing. Evidence shows that access to stable,
affordable housing in communities of opportunity Opposing Work Requirements and Time
has broad, positive impacts. It can lead to better Limits on Housing Assistance
health and education outcomes and higher lifetime
NLIHC opposes work requirements and time limits
earnings, especially for children.
for households receiving housing assistance. A safe
NATIONAL LOW INCOME HOUSING COALITION 1–3
and stable place to call home is the first step to • Permanent reauthorization of the Protecting
helping people rise out of poverty, and arbitrary Tenants at Foreclosure Act, which expired at the
restrictions that prevent people from receiving the end of 2014.
help that they need will only make it more difficult
• Authorization of disaster recovery funding,
for them to climb the economic ladder.
when appropriate, to help address the housing
These so-called reforms are neither cost effective needs of extremely low-income renters
nor a solution to the very real issue of poverty impacted by natural and manmade disasters.
impacting millions of families living in subsidized
• Adoption of HUD’s final Section 3 rule to
housing or in need. NLIHC will continue to
ensure that preference for some of the new
educate members of Congress on proven solutions
jobs, training, and contracting opportunities
to ending housing poverty.
associated with HUD-assisted projects go to
low-income people and to the businesses that
CHAMPION ANTI-POVERTY
hire them.
SOLUTIONS
• Greater broadband access in all HUD-assisted
Beyond ensuring access to affordable housing,
housing and community development projects.
NLIHC is strongly committed to enacting
Internet access and digital literacy are integral to
legislation and protecting resources that alleviate
an individual’s ability to break out of entrenched
poverty.
poverty.
NLIHC supports efforts to protect vital safety net
• Implementation of housing protections in the
programs, including the Supplemental Nutrition
Violence Against Women Act. This includes
Assistance Program (SNAP), Earned Income Tax
language to bar landlords from screening out
Credit (EITC), unemployment insurance, Social
applicants or evicting tenants on the basis that
Security, Medicaid, Medicare, the Children’s Health
the renter is or has been a survivor of domestic
Insurance Program (CHIP), the Affordable Care Act,
violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or
Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Social Security
stalking.
Disability Income (SSDI) and Temporary Assistance
for Needy Families (TANF). • Implementation of the HEARTH Act, which
provided an overhaul of HUD’s homeless
Moreover, NLIHC strongly supports efforts to
assistance programs authorized through
increase the minimum wage and to target federal
McKinney-Vento.
resources to communities with persistent poverty.
• Implementation of HUD’s Moving to Work
OTHER PRIORITIES Demonstration and Rental Assistance
Demonstration to ensure that future and current
NLIHC monitors and advocates on other issues as
public housing residents are not negatively
well, including:
impacted.
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