Housers advocacy agenda focuses on basic protections for renters
Texas renters need rights. With a dwindling supply of affordable housing, add a global pandemic that has sparked a financialContinue Reading
Tag: Texas Legislature
Disaster survivors often faced double the financial toll when rebuilding their homes. A new law now ensures that won’t happen.
Following a natural disaster, a survivor’s road back to normal can be long and difficult. If they are lucky enoughContinue Reading
Late fees can destabilize renters struggling to get by. These punishing bills empowering landlords endanger them further.
Long-established Texas laws that have protected tenants for years from paying punitive and unreasonable late fees for overdue rent areContinue Reading
If this small fix to the Low Income Housing Tax Credit Program pushed further, it could reshape affordable housing
Building affordable housing can be a long journey with approval needed from many groups and individuals along the way. Unfortunately,Continue Reading
These bills strengthening Texas tenants’ rights and disaster recovery could reshape our future
Texans face a host of housing issues: an inadequate amount of quality affordable homes and the lingering effects of HurricaneContinue Reading
Texas Housers tells state lawmakers that neighborhoods across the state must meet basic standards that keep Texans safe
Texas Housers urged state lawmakers this afternoon to ensure that all neighborhoods where Texans make their homes meet the basicContinue Reading
Hurricane predicted to hit the Gulf Coast; Texas may not be prepared to recover
The National Hurricane Center projects that Tropical Storm Harvey is now expected to be a major hurricane by the timeContinue Reading
Austin City Council votes to sue state for prohibiting protections against voucher discrimination
Austin is finally fighting back against the state’s efforts to block a critical anti-discrimination protection. In 2014, the City ofContinue Reading
Beyond the bathroom bill, transgender Texans face housing discrimination and instability in dangerous political climate
This piece was written for Texas Housers by Michael Arria. The Texas Legislature has spent much of this summer’s specialContinue Reading
Proposed Texas constitutional amendment on home equity loans is “wolf in sheep’s clothing”
Texas dodged the worst of the foreclosure crisis that tanked much of the national economy a decade ago, thanks inContinue Reading
Governor’s cut of colonia oversight program will cost state and endanger residents
This piece originally ran as a column in The Monitor on June 25. For decades the State of Texas looked theContinue Reading
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May 30, 2017
Finding the bright spots at the Legislature: Enhanced land and home protections for low income residents
The regular session of the 2017 Texas Legislature ended on May 29, and most housing-related legislation failed to advance throughContinue Reading
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May 24, 2017
State bans another local affordable housing tool with anti-linkage fees legislation
Follow housing issues at the Texas Legislature and our full bill tracker here. Texas’ major cities face a housing affordability crisisContinue Reading
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May 17, 2017
Where housing legislation stands after key Texas House bill deadlines
Follow housing issues at the Texas Legislature and our full bill tracker here. We’ve reached a critical point in the stateContinue Reading
Legislators should be celebrating affordable housing, not fearmongering
I testified at a hearing of the Texas House of Representatives Urban Affairs Committee on May 2, speaking against HB 1792 by Rep.Continue Reading
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May 8, 2017
Update: Texas Senate approves expansion of innovative disaster recovery housing program
Follow housing issues at the Texas Legislature and our full bill tracker here. Update 5/8: SB 1673 by Sen. Eddie Lucio, Jr. has passedContinue Reading
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May 3, 2017
Texas House bills add hurdles to affordable housing in affluent neighborhoods
We cover committee hearings and votes on key bills related to housing at the Texas Legislature, which concludes its 2017 sessionContinue Reading
Bills expected to raise tenant late fees advance in Texas House and Senate
As the Texas Legislature swings into high gear, we’ll be covering committee hearings and votes on key bills related to housing.Continue Reading
Proposed legislation would protect LGBTQ+ Texans from housing discrimination
As the Texas Legislature swings into high gear, we’ll be covering committee hearings and votes on key bills related to housing.Continue Reading
State legislators consider ban on city linkage fees for affordable housing
As the Texas Legislature swings into high gear, we’ll be covering committee hearings and votes on key bills related to housing.Continue Reading
Texas House committee debates caps and increases on late fees for tenants, voucher holders
As the Texas Legislature swings into high gear, we’ll be covering committee hearings and votes on key bills related to housing.Continue Reading
Looking for a place to live without “bullets flying through the property”
A University of Texas law professor and community leaders recently spoke with tenants at an apartment complex in Sunnyside, a historicallyContinue Reading
Suit filed to overturn Texas prohibition on source of income protection for voucher holders
In Texas, there is a law formally protecting landlord discrimination against people with housing vouchers, most of whom are African-American. A lawsuit filed Thursday inContinue Reading
Houston area representative, pledging to ‘Stop Low-Income Government Housing,’ files bill
Elected on a pledge to “Stop Low-Income Government Housing” (see campaign ad above), Real Estate Broker and State Representative ValoreeContinue Reading
Texas Senate committee report addresses key fair housing issues
The Intergovernmental Relations Committee (IGR) is one of the most influential in the Texas Senate, dealing with the administration ofContinue Reading
Listen: Previewing housing issues at the Texas Legislature
The Texas Legislature kicked off its 2017 session on January 10, with plenty of housing-related bills already filed, proposed orContinue Reading
TDHCA details consequences of potential state budget cuts
The Texas Legislature opens next month under specific instructions to use a 4 percent reduction in general revenue as the starting point inContinue Reading
Join the Housing Working Group for the 2017 Texas Legislative Session
Each legislative session, Texas Housers hosts a bi-weekly Housing Working Group for advocates, providers, non-profit staff and others engaged in housing issues atContinue Reading
How state legislators can improve fair housing compliance in Texas
Texas Housers fair housing planner Charlie Duncan and University of Texas professor Heather Way were among the speakers at aContinue Reading
RAPIDO disaster recovery housing model to be exhibited at Smithsonian
RAPIDO, the innovative disaster recovery housing program recognized by the MacArthur Foundation, Public Radio International, SXSW and many others, has received another impressive honor. TheContinue Reading