June, 19 2009, 01:53pm EDT
Toolkit for Renters Facing Eviction Due to Foreclosure Now Available on NLIHC Website
WASHINGTON
The National Low
Income Housing Coalition (NLIHC) has collaborated with the National Housing Law
Project (NHLP) to create a new online toolkit providing a range of information
for renters facing foreclosure-related evictions, their advocates, and others,
including members of the media. The components of the toolkit explain the
implications of the recently passed Protecting Tenants in Foreclosure Act of
2009 (Public Law 111-22, Division A, Title VII), a bill that offers important
new rights to tenants living in properties
that have gone into
foreclosure.
The toolkit, part of the Special Topic: Renters in Foreclosure portion
of NLIHC's website, includes the following:
- A copy of the new law, Public Law 111-22, Division A, Title
VII. - A one-page explanation of the provisions included in the new
law. - A question and answer document for tenants.
- Sample letters for use by tenants, including Section 8 voucher
holders, to send to landlords, judges and public housing agencies. - A webinar, which provides viewers with a visual and audio
explanation of the new law.
"Under the law, these blameless victims of the foreclosure crisis
are now protected," said NLIHC President Sheila
Crowley. "The toolkit provides tenants and their
advocates with the information necessary to protect families from being evicted
unlawfully."
The new law is part of S. 896, the Helping Families Save Their Homes
Act, which passed the House and Senate on Tuesday, May 19. Signed by the
President on May 20 and effective immediately, the bill provides renters whose
landlords have lost their properties to foreclosure the right to stay in the
home for 90 days after the foreclosure or through the term of their lease
unless the property is sold to someone who will occupy the home. The bill also
provides additional protections to housing voucher holders.
NLIHC estimates that 40% of the households who lose their homes because
of foreclosure are renters. Before the passage of the law, renters in most
states received little or no notice to vacate their homes upon their
landlords' foreclosures. Advocates fear that many of the tenants to which
this new law applies will be unaware of their new rights and
could still be evicted prematurely.
"This law constitutes a key piece of the neighborhood
stabilization puzzle. It will help protect the market value of foreclosed
properties while it mitigates the trauma of forced relocation on
families," said Dave Rammler, NHLP Attorney and Director of Government
Relations. "These materials will help ensure that tenants, courts and the
real estate community are aware of the law and that tenants' rights are
upheld."
Special Topic: Renters in Foreclosure Toolkit is available at: https://www.nlihc.org/template/page.cfm?id=227
For more information:
National Housing Law Project, www.nhlp.org, https://www.nhlp.org/, 510-251-9400
National Law Center
on Homelessness and Poverty, www.nlchp.org,
https://www.nlchp.org/,
202-638-2535
The National Low Income Housing Coalition is dedicated solely to ending America's affordable housing crisis. Established in 1974 by Cushing N. Dolbeare, NLIHC educates, organizes and advocates to ensure decent, affordable housing within healthy neighborhoods for everyone. NLIHC provides up-to-date information, formulates policy and educates the public on housing needs and the strategies for solutions.
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