City supervisors in San Francisco are currently debating a first-of-its-kind proposal for legislation that would grant new organizing rights to all private housing tenants, protecting them in forming tenant associations and requiring landlords to meet with tenant associations “in good faith” to discuss tenant concerns. In a city famous for sky-high rents and rapid gentrification, the mere introduction of such a proposal, authored by city supervisor Aaron Peskin, represents a huge victory and an opportunity for tenants nationwide.

Moreover, the proposal in San Francisco is modeled after Right to Organize regulations that NAHT fought to win for tenants in federally assisted housing nearly two decades ago. NAHT Executive Director Michael Kane, quoted in a recent San Francisco Public Press article, describes how such regulations increase tenant power and promote tenant organizing in federally subsidized buildings: “I heard stories of people getting harassed, and they would take the regulations to the property manager, who would back off.”

Stay tuned for more news on this exciting development in San Francisco!

Across the country, some tenants have been forced to live in substandard conditions, lacking sufficient hot water, reliable heat, or a roofthat keeps out rain and snow. Tenants of color, in particular, are disproportionately impacted by health-related hazards in these homes such as mold, allergens, lead, and poor air quality.

In July, Reps. Ayanna Pressley, Rashida Tlaib, and Maxine Waters introduced The Tenant Empowerment Act alongside NAHT tenants! NAHT's proposed bill would empower Project Based Section 8 tenants to improve their homes as partners with HUD in various ways.

More specifically, it would:

• Extend Rent Withholding and Repair and Deduct rights to Section 8 tenants nationwide;
• Require HUD to match tenants' rent withholding in properties that have failed HUD inspections;
• Allow tenants and communities to trigger HUD inspections;
• Allow tenants to accompany and meet with HUD inspectors;
• Provide Access to Information and Third Party Enforcement Rights;
• Extend Right to Organize protections to Project Based Voucher tenants;
• Provide funds for tenant organizing;
• and much more!

Read the bill summary prepared by Rep. Pressley's office here and the full Discussion Draft text here.

Individuals and organizations should contact their member of Congress and ask them to cosponsor HR4237. You can use this letter as a template to email/call your legislator-- just copy and paste it into an email, then personalize it.

If you/your organization are in NY, CA, MA, GA, IL, FL, TX, or OH, you are in states with PRIORITY COSPONSORS-- use this chart to get their contact information; it is critical that you contact them!

To cosponsor this legislation, Representatives should fill out this form and/or please reach out to Jen Curt ([email protected]) with questions.

Thank You For Your Support!

The Annual NAHT Conference will take place Mon, June 28- Wed, June 30 on Zoom! 

See the conference program and register here.

Just announced: Senator Chuck Schumer & Representative Rashida Tlaib will join us on Wednesday!

More to be announced in the coming days!

The 2021 NAHT Annual Meeting will take place on Zoom as part of the 2021 NAHT Annual Conference.  A Zoom link and conference call number will be provided to all Voting Member and Associate Member Group Representatives three days prior to the meeting. 

Please note that most current dues will expire prior to June 28.  Be sure to renew your group’s dues no later than Friday, June 18, 2021. $25 dues will entitle all members of your board or committee to register free of additional charge for the entire NAHT Conference. 

            NAHT’s Annual Membership Meeting will convene at 3:15 p.m. on June 28, 2021 during the Virtual NAHT conference and may be continued at subsequent times on that date.  The meeting will hear and vote on board reports on NAHT activities and elect a new Board of Directors.

            Voting membership in NAHT is open to resident organizations in current or formerly HUD-assisted and/or insured multi-family housing. This includes Public Housing developments proposed for conversion to private ownership by a Public Housing Agency through Notice to tenants pursuant to HUD’s Rental Assistance Demonstration or other programs; resident owner groups, or organizing committees, that meet regularly, are democratic, representative of all groups in their development, independent of non-resident owners or management agents, and are committed to permanently affordable housing for low and moderate income people.

            Each member organization will have one vote at the membership meeting.  The dues for resident organizations are currently $25 annually for voting membership and are effective for one year from date of receipt. Voting member groups will be able to vote at NAHT’s Special Membership Meeting and in elections for the NAHT Board of Directors.  Only designated representatives of dues-paying voting member groups in good standing may vote for or run for the NAHT board.

            Associate (non-voting) membership in NAHT is open to non-profit organizations that work with HUD tenants and share the goals and objectives of NAHT.  Associate member group representatives may attend the Special Membership Meeting as observers but may not vote in membership proceedings.

David Nollman, Secretary
National Alliance of HUD Tenants

National Alliance of HUD Tenants Annual Conference by Zoom! Monday, June 29 through Wednesday, July 1, 2020

Three Days of Exciting Zoom Meetings!
All sessions start at Noon EDT

Monday June 29: Group Awards to tell NAHT’s Story and Vision for 2020
Invited Guest Speakers at 1 pm
NAHT Annual Meeting (Voting Reps only) at 3:15 pm

Tuesday June 30: Plenary Session with Top HUD Officials (confirmed)
Help Advance NAHT’s Tenant Empowerment Agenda

Wednesday July 1: Senate and House Lobby Forums
Invited key Senate and House Leaders

Tenant-Led Workshops Including:
HUD Tenants Rights Under COVID
Protecting Senior High Rise buildings from COVID
How to Fight Management Harassment and Abuse
Racism, Displacement and Gentrification in HUD Housing
How to Save Our Homes from Market Conversion
Enforcing the Right to Organize
Organizing Tenants in “Tax Credit” Buildings

All members of Tenant Groups that renew dues or join NAHT, will be able to participate in ALL Conference meetings, for NO additional registration fee!

NAHT’s Membership Dues for building-level Tenant Groups, are $25 per group per year. You can pay or renew your group’s dues online or mail to it NAHT. 

Non-profit tenant organizing or advocacy groups can join NAHT as non-voting Associate Members. Associate Member dues are on a sliding scale based on budget ($75 for organizations with budgets under $25,000 per year; $125 for budgets between $25,000 and $100,000 per year; $225 if over $100,000 per year).

Please submit your Board or Committee or Staff list with your dues payment, including emails and cellphone numbers, so that ALL your organizations members can participate in NAHT Conference sessions! 

Individuals who are not from a Tenant Group or Associate Member organization can participate in the conference for $25. Click here to pay your individual 2020 Conference fee.

For more information, email NAHT at: [email protected]
Or call 617-522-4523 or 617-233-1885
mail – National Alliance of HUD Tenants, 42 Seaverns Ave., Jamaica Plain MA 02130
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nahudtenants
Twitter: @nahudtenants