Spring 2020 US Poverty Laser Talk: Emergency Rental Assistance and a Renters' Credit

Engage: We have an affordable housing crisis – that is now acute in the current pandemic – which is hitting families in our community hard.

Problem: According to Harvard researchers, since 1960 renters’ median earnings have gone up 5 percent while cost of rent went up 61 percent.

Illustrate or Inform: Right now, millions of American families are struggling to pay rent and put food on the table as layoffs skyrocket. Congress has moved legislation to help address the immediate crisis – including resources for people experiencing homelessness, but given the scale we need a national moratorium on evictions and $100 billion in emergency rental assistance  (building on the bipartisan Eviction Crisis Act, S. 3030). 

Longer term, we must do more to support low-income renters. There have been bipartisan proposals to create a refundable renters’ credit, which Columbia University researchers estimate could lift over 9 million Americans above the poverty line.

Call to Action: Will you tell leadership to include an eviction moratorium and billions in emergency rental assistance for families facing evictions in upcoming economic recovery legislation?

And, will you go on the record in support of a renters’ credit?

How can I follow up with you on this?