Landlords and Tenants, Unite!

In the face of potentially draconian policies and reduction of support for subsidized and affordable housing, citizens that rely on such programs face a bleak future. And landlords who have partnered with HUD to provide decent, safe, affordable housing may face the collapse of their business model. The Washington Post reported on proposed cuts of 14% in housing budgets. For families, elderly, and disabled people who have no alternative, this policy will lead to evictions, homelessness, and likely deaths. By cutting budgets for long overdue repairs to public housing (the backlog is $26 billion), the government will in effect become a slumlord.

Too often the differences of interest and perspective that can separate landlord and tenant are magnified, when in fact we have major common interests that should supersede our differences and perhaps lead to better common understanding.

Therefore, I wish to explore the potential for citizens living in subsidized housing to join with landlords of public and subsidized multifamily housing to collaborate in advocacy for the continued Federal support of existing housing programs. We should advocate for the development of additional innovation to address the growing problems of homelessness and affordable housing, and seek effective and continuing support for the enhancement and protection of the rights and wellbeing of all tenants.

I raise this idea for discussion as an individual, but also in my role as Coordinator of the Stop Bullying Coalition. Because while bullying is a terrible reality, homelessness is worse, and we need to exercise our democratic rights to assure that government fulfills the needs of the public. Let's make democracy work!

Let me know your thoughts, please. http://stopbullyingcoalition.org/contact

References

Center on Budget and Budget Priorities, http://www.cbpp.org/blog/leaked-trump-budget-would-slash-housing-aid

National Low Income Housing Coalition, http://nlihc.org/events/webinars, How President Trump’s First Budget Could Impact Affordable Housing — Originally aired March 6, 2017