APARTMENT ADVOCATE
NATIONAL APARTMENT ASSOCIATION
Multifamily Industry Speaks with
One Voice on Lobby Day
L
obby Day participants broke records with
more advocates than ever before helping
their members of Congress understand
the industry and its issues.
Four hundred industry members met with
hundreds of members of the U.S. Senate and House
of Representatives, or their staffers, on March 18,
telling them that they represent a strong $1.3 trillion industry that helps today’s 37 million renters
live in a home that’s right for them.
Advocates discussed three critical issues – restructuring immigration policy, enhancing the
Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program and
reforming the tax code. By their accounts, their
messages were understood and well received.
According to Robert Chesson of Landlord
Law Firm, “NAA Lobby Day was amazing! We
learned so much from NAA and appreciate all of
the support. We look forward to taking this experience back to Connecticut and becoming industry advocates.”
38 | TRENDS • MAY 2015
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HOUSE LIFTS SECTION 8
ADMINISTRATIVE BURDENS
The House has approved the “Tenant Income
Verification Relief Act of 2015,” which would
streamline the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher and Project-Based programs. The legislation
would significantly reduce administrative burdens
by allowing for the recertification of income every
three years, instead of annually, for residents on
fixed incomes.
In spite of their overall success, the programs
have suffered under the weight of too many inefficient and duplicative requirements. NAA/NMHC
advocated for passage of the Act in a letter to the
U.S. House of Representatives.
The Housing Choice Voucher program provides rental subsidies to approximately two million
low income households in the private rental market. The Project-Based Rental Assistance programs
provide homes for nearly 1.3 million families and
elderly households in privately owned housing.
Approved March 23, the bill heads to the
Senate for consideration.
MORE STATES LOOKING
AT SERVICE ANIMAL
ACCOMMODATIONS
A House bill that revises and clarifies definitions of service animals and public accommodations cleared the State Affairs Committee March
19 by a unanimous vote. Federal laws require
certain accommodations for persons with disabilities. Even properties with no-pets policies
may be found guilty of a fair housing violation
should they refuse to rent to an individual with a
service animal.
HB 71 expands and updates the definition of
disability beyond obvious physical disabilities, but
www.aamdhq.org
5/14/15 6:47 AM