| On February 20, HUD published a proposed rule that would separate families with mixed immigration statuses (“mixed-status families”) and require burdensome immigration verification for everyone, including U.S. citizens, living in HUD-assisted housing, regardless of age. If finalized and implemented, this proposal would cause nearly 80,000 families to lose their housing assistance, including nearly 37,000 children.
Everyone, including immigrant families, deserves a safe, stable, and affordable place to call home. Major rental assistance programs currently help “mixed status” households, those with at least one member who isn’t eligible for assistance because of their immigration status, afford housing. These households receive prorated amounts of assistance based on eligible members. Under this proposed rule, households would be excluded from most housing assistance programs if someone in the household isn’t eligible for assistance because of their immigration status. These families would be faced with the choice to either give up the rental assistance they need or split up their family.
The proposed rule includes a 60-day public comment period. NLIHC, together with campaign Roundtable members the National Housing Law Project, and Protecting Immigrant Families Coalition are leading the Keep Families Together campaign to oppose HUD’s proposal. The Keep Families Together website includes resources to educate housing and immigration advocates on the harms of the proposed rule. Advocates are encouraged to monitor the Keep Families Together website and NLIHC’s resources to oppose the rule.
Take action to oppose HUD’s Mixed-Status Rule:
- Draft and submit your comment with help from the prompts at the Take Action section of the Keep Families Together website by April 21!
- The website includes prompts for specific communities, including children, families, Latino, Black, and Asian American and Pacific Islander communities.
- Add your organization to a comment letter led by the Protecting Immigrant Families Coalition by April 20!
- The comment letter summarizes how the proposed rule punishes U.S. citizens, while doing nothing to increase the availability of affordable housing.
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Follow the Campaign Instagram Account!
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Recently we’ve started using the OSAH fact sheets to create sector specific Instagram content. Check out recent posts that highlight the impact of affordable housing on animal welfare, veterans, child wellbeing, and environmental health. If your sector is missing and you have content ideas, reach out and let us know! We would love to collaborate on more short-form social media posts to enhance campaign and partner online visibility and engagement. |
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Thrive From the Start Webinar
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| Thrive From the Start is comprised of leading organizations across the early childhood, housing, and homelessness systems (including campaign Roundtable members Zero to Three, SchoolHouse Connection, and Housing Is) dedicated to ensuring all expectant parents, infants, toddlers, and their families have the resources and opportunities to thrive.
When families have safe, stable housing, safe shelter when they need it, access to high-quality early childhood development programs, and other supports that meet their needs, young children have a strong foundation to grow.
Learn more about the Thrive From the Start network in a one-hour introductory webinar on Thursday, March 5 at 2pm ET/ 11am PT that will cover what the network is all about and provide concrete steps for how you can engage. |
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Housing for Homeless Students Act
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| SchoolHouse Connection, a campaign Roundtable member, is seeking endorsements for the Housing for Homeless Students Act (HHSA).
Background: HHSA ensures that homeless youth and veterans can access affordable housing while pursuing an education. Due to a limitation in the eligibility criteria for the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC), homeless or previously homeless individuals who would otherwise qualify to live in affordable housing lose eligibility for LIHTC rental units if they are full-time students. According to the Joint Committee on Taxation, this bill would have a negligible effect on Federal budget receipts. The House bill will be led by Representatives Danny Davis (D-IL) and Michael Carey (R-OH) and the Senate bill will be led by Senator Angus King (I-ME). |
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New Research on the Relationship Between Housing and Food Insecurity
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| The American Journal of Preventive Medicine recently published an article, “Associations Between Housing Stability and Food Insecurity Among U.S. Low-Wage Workers,” examining the relationship between housing instability and food insecurity. Using data from a cohort of 969 low-wage workers in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and Raleigh, North Carolina, collected between 2018 and 2022, the authors find that the previously observed predictive relationship between housing instability and food insecurity was disrupted during the COVID-19 pandemic. This interruption appears to be linked to federal policy responses aimed at addressing housing and food insecurity from 2020 to 2022. |
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The Impact of Medical Debt on Housing Instability
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| Jama Network Open recently published an article, “Housing Instability Following Medical Debt Exposure Among US Adults, 2023 to 2025,” examining the association between medical debt and housing instability. Using data from a national sample of 1,515 U.S. adults who participated in the Cumulative Life Stressors Impact on Mental Health and Well-Being Study, the authors found that medical debt is associated with a significant increase in housing instability in the subsequent year.
The study reveals that adults who incur medical debt are 5-9% more likely to experience housing instability the following year compared with those without medical debt. These findings demonstrate the substantial toll of medical debt, which can undermine financial security and compromise future housing stability, highlighting the need for policy interventions to address medical debt. Additionally, the authors found that adults who incur medical debt are more likely to have larger households, including children, compared to those without medical debt. This dynamic may contribute to the prevalence of housing instability experienced by children and families. The article also points to evidence suggesting that government housing assistance can help offset the impacts of medical-related financial hardship. |
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Disparities in Housing Stability for Parents with Disabilities
Disparities in Housing Stability for Parents with Disabilities
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| Housing and Society, the journal of the Housing Education and Research Association (HERA) recently published an article,“Housing stability for disabled parents in the United States: estimates from the American Community Survey,” which examines disparities in housing stability for parents with disabilities. Using data from more than 11 million respondents to the American Community Survey between 2017 and 2021, the authors find that parents with disabilities are more likely to live in unaffordable housing compared to nonparents with disabilities, parents without disabilities, and nondisabled nonparents. These findings underscore the need to promote affordable, stable, and accessible housing for parents with disabilities to support parent, child, and family well-being. |
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| Are you a part of a national organization interested in cross-sector partnership? Join representatives from over 130 multi-sector organizations, including housing, education, healthcare, civil rights, anti-poverty, seniors, faith-based, anti-hunger, veterans, LGBTQIA+, and more on the campaign’s Roundtable. If you are interested in the Roundtable, please fill out our interest form and and feel free to share it with other national organizations that may want to get involved. |
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