The National Low Income Housing Coalition (NLIHC) advocates for increased government spending on housing programs. 1 The group asserts that housing policy should address purported ongoing systemic racism that it claims deprives ethnic minorities of equal opportunities to access housing. 2
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, NLIHC advocated for rent forgiveness and a ban on evictions. 3 NLIHC also argued in its 2021 annual report that government subsidies for low-income housing are solely a short-term solution that speculators use to purchase discounted real estate. 4
Background
The National Low Income Housing Coalition was founded in 1974 by Cushing N. Dolbeare. It is a nonprofit organization that advocates for left-of-center policy that would increase funding for housing programs. 1
NLIHC researches government spending and policy, arguing that the government should spend as much as possible on the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the USDA Rural Housing Service. 5 It also uses identity politics to support its advocacy, arguing that ongoing systemic racism prevents ethnic minorities from equal opportunities and access to fair housing. 6
Advocacy
The National Housing Trust Fund is a program under the Department of Housing and Urban Development that supports housing for those determined to be of “extremely low income.” The National Low Income Housing Coalition campaigned for more than twenty years for the creation of the program and advocates for legislation that would increase its funding. The fund had over $693 million in funding for 2021 that the HUD distributes to states. 78
In its 2021 annual report, National Low Income Housing Coalition argues that tax credits and subsidies for the development of low-income housing are used to make expensive property more affordable in the short term, but such properties generally return to the market price once the subsidy ends. 4
End Rental Arrears to Stop Evictions (ERASE) is a campaign led by NLIHC that advocates for legislation to government funding that would eliminate rental indebtedness that is allegedly caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. It also campaigns for legislation that would end evictions as well as create a long-term plan for the government to fund housing for all homeless people. 9
Financials
For 2019, the National Low Income Housing Project reported $4.1 million in contributions, $5.0 million in total revenue, and $9.9 million in total assets. 1010 It also reported giving $1.2 million in grants, spending $2.4 million on salaries and compensation, and having total expenses of $5.5 million. 10
Leadership
Marla Newman is the chair for the board of directors for the National Low Income Housing Coalition. 11 She currently serves as the community development director for the city of Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Under her role as community development director, Newman has increased government funding for low-income housing projects. 12
MacKenzie Scott made an unrestricted grant of $15 million to National Low Income Housing Coalition. The National Low Income Housing Coalition is dedicated to achieving racially and socially equitable public policy that ensures people with the lowest incomes have quality homes that are accessible and affordable in communities of their choice.
To provide emergency assistance in response to the COVID-19 pandemic in America.
$1,500,000
2020
Oak Foundation
To increase the provision of decent, accessible, affordable homes for extremely low-income households in the US, including those experiencing homelessness. The NLIHC is a national membership organisation that educates, organises, and advocates for affordable housing for the lowest-income households and homeless people in America.
To sustain gains made by subgrantees of the End Rental Arrears to Stop Evictions program and scale them to meet the needs of BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) and low-income renters by (1) leveraging American Rescue Plan Act funding; (2) promoting the implementation of vital renter protections; and (3) working with state and local emergency rental assistance programs to ensure that funds reach low-income and marginalized renters.
To support equitable implementation of emergency rental assistance by (1) informing program design and administration; (2) sharing best practices across communities; (3) monitoring and reporting on implementation; and (4) conducting field organizing and outreach.
To increase the capacity of NLIHC and our state and local partners to respond to the growing and urgent needs of the lowest-income and most vulnerable people from coronavirus, both the illness and the financial fallout that will result.
To support two closely coordinated national collaborative campaigns on housing and homelessness that align 1) advocacy organizations from non-housing sectors and 2) existing housing and homelessness advocates.
