By Tori Bourrett, NLIHC housing advocacy organizer

This week NLIHC is thanking its members for being part of our advocacy efforts that ensure the lowest income renters have their basic needs met. Our members, as part of our coalition, were a critical piece in the permanent extension of the “Protecting Tenants at Foreclosure Act,” which President Trump signed into law May 24, 2018. This act enables renters whose homes are in foreclosure to remain for at least 90 days or for the term of their lease, whichever is greater.

The PTFA was in existence from 2009 until 2014. Once it expired, renters had to rely on a patchwork of state and local laws to shield them from foreclosure-related displacement. In many instances, tenants could find themselves evicted within days of a foreclosure sale.

ptfa-map
The insufficient patchwork of statewide policy solutions for renters in foreclosure, reflected in the map above, will no longer be necessary now that PTFA is permanent.

For several years, NLIHC’s membership network advocated for the revival of the PTFA through face-to-face meetings with members of Congress, letters and comments on pending bills. NLIHC’s strong coalition of members saw their efforts pay off when PTFA went back into effect in June 2018. The National Housing Law Project, represented on NLIHC’s board of directors, has long been a key leader and partner on this effort.

NLIHC’s efforts regarding PTFA were successful because NLIHC is made up of national, local and stateside partners that together, create a strong force to be reckoned with. Consider being part of this force today by joining here.

This blog is part of a series of blogs highlighting NLIHC member-driven advocacy successes for Membership Month. Find out more about Membership Month at: https://bit.ly/2f16bCh