Bill Overview
Title: Tenants’ Right to Organize Act
Description: This bill provides for the right of tenants who receive certain rental assistance to establish, operate, and participate in a tenant organization. Specifically, tenants who participate in Housing Choice Voucher (i.e., Section 8 tenant-based housing assistance) or Low-Income Housing Tax Credit programs administered by the Department of Housing and Urban Development have the right to engage in a tenant organization to address issues related to their living environment and participate in community development activities. Public housing agencies and unit owners are required to recognize tenant organizations and allow tenants to conduct protected activities, including distributing leaflets, initiating tenant contact, and convening meetings in the building. A public housing agency or building owner may not require prior permission for any of these activities. Further, these entities may not retaliate against a tenant for participating in a tenant organization. The bill also provides grants for state and local organizations for training and outreach with respect to tenant organization capacity building and technical assistance.
Sponsors: Rep. Levin, Andy [D-MI-9]
Target Audience
Population: Recipients of housing assistance
Estimated Size: 5000000
- The bill targets tenants who receive rental assistance, including those in the Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8) and Low-Income Housing Tax Credit programs.
- Globally, similar programs exist in many countries, but the bill specifically mentions programs administered by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
- The target population consists of tenants within these housing assistance programs, which is a significant but specific segment of the population.
Reasoning
- The policy mainly affects individuals receiving government housing assistance, such as Section 8 or Tax Credit programs.
- The target population is primarily low-income, often with limited housing security and tenant rights.
- The policy is designed to empower tenants by fostering organization and advocacy, potentially alleviating some housing concerns through collective action.
- The Cantril Wellbeing Scale is used to estimate changes in perceived wellbeing, with scores between 0 (worst imaginable life) to 10 (best imaginable life).
- Potential long-term benefits include enhanced community cohesion and improved living conditions, but impacts may vary based on individual situations.
- The policy's budget constraints limit the extent and immediacy of these benefits in the initial years.
Simulated Interviews
Retail Worker (Los Angeles, CA)
Age: 34 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I hope this policy can help us address issues like maintenance delays.
- It would be great to have a say in how our building is managed.
- Organizing could create a stronger community network among tenants.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 5 |
Retired (Detroit, MI)
Age: 66 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Tenant organizing could help in making the building more accessible.
- Worried about possible retaliation despite the protections.
- Curious about the local organizations' role in supporting us.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 4 |
Nurse (New York, NY)
Age: 42 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 7.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Glad to see the government supporting our right to organize.
- Hope this will lead to safer and better-maintained living conditions.
- I plan to be very active in the new tenant organization.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
Construction Worker (Houston, TX)
Age: 29 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 14/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Not sure if this policy will impact me much, but it's good to know we have rights.
- I might not participate actively, but I support tenant organizing.
- Worried about possible rent increases down the line.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
Unemployed (Chicago, IL)
Age: 54 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 3
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy gives hope for improving housing conditions.
- I've experienced retaliation before, so I hope the protections work.
- Organizing is a good idea, but we need support to get started.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 4 | 3 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 3 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 3 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 3 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 3 |
Part-time Driver (Miami, FL)
Age: 60 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 7.0 years
Commonness: 13/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Organizing sounds good, but health issues might limit my participation.
- Important to address communal issues like safety and noise.
- Skeptical about real change happening.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 4 | 3 |
Teacher (Atlanta, GA)
Age: 50 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Organizing could really help us address recurring issues.
- Would like to ensure there's transparency in how building decisions are made.
- Hopeful but cautious about the outcome.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
Barista (Seattle, WA)
Age: 24 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 14/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This is a great step for tenant rights but not my main focus right now.
- Willing to support others who are more affected.
- Curious about how these groups will organize and operate.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
Retired Veteran (Phoenix, AZ)
Age: 70 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 6.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Glad to see some protection for tenants, this is a positive change.
- Concerned about possible political pushback against this policy.
- May not be actively involved but I support the idea.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
Healthcare Assistant (Boston, MA)
Age: 39 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 8.0 years
Commonness: 14/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Tenant organizations seem crucial for advocating safety and cleanliness.
- I'll participate to ensure our voices are heard in management decisions.
- Training and outreach grants sound promising.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 6 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $100000000 (Low: $80000000, High: $130000000)
Year 2: $97000000 (Low: $75000000, High: $125000000)
Year 3: $95000000 (Low: $70000000, High: $122000000)
Year 5: $90000000 (Low: $65000000, High: $115000000)
Year 10: $85000000 (Low: $60000000, High: $110000000)
Year 100: $85000000 (Low: $60000000, High: $110000000)
Key Considerations
- Ensuring robust oversight to prevent retaliation against tenants might require additional resources.
- The effectiveness of tenant organizations could improve living conditions, indirectly affecting local economies and governmental costs.
- Coordination among local organizations is crucial for effective implementation.