Transformation Efforts
Transformation Efforts
It is necessary that the United States invests in affordable housing at a scale that equates to access to housing for all, ensuring that there are ample housing opportunities for individuals of all walks of life and so that individuals determine their own safety in their housing settings. Details on the investments needed can be found in the housing justice pillar. It is also critical to protect access and retention of housing for youth and young adults. The transformative efforts outlined below are related to ensuring access and retention.
Efforts Needed for Transformation:
Enact federal legal protections that ensure the right to housing regardless of past system interactions, histories of evictions, criminal history, or bad credit and fully fund federal enforcement of those federal protections.
Fund the right to counsel for anyone experiencing housing discrimination or facing eviction and ensure free legal representation in any matter related to accessing or retaining housing. The right to counsel should be publicly funded and designed to offer specialized counsel and services to youth and young adults to ensure their full legal rights are protected.
Fully enact and enforce the Federal Fair Housing Act, including the federal rules on Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing. The Federal Fair Housing Act has never been fully implemented; congress and HUD should move to immediately implement, offer comprehensive federal rules and regulations, and fully fund federal enforcement.
A Federal Landlord Engagement and Oversight Program that includes comprehensive enforcement of building code and anti-discrimination policies and a pathway to tenant ownership of buildings with chronic code or landlord discrimination violations.