On the Home Front

By Carlton Taylor

On March 12, 2026, NLIHC will honor our 2026 Organizing Awards recipients. Held on the second day of the NLIHC Housing Policy Forum 2026, NLIHC’s Organizing Awards recognize outstanding achievements in statewide, regional, citywide, neighborhood, or resident organizing that further NLIHC’s mission of ensuring that people with the lowest incomes have quality homes that are accessible and affordable in communities of their choice. 

In 2025, NLIHC recognized Memphis Tenants Union and Michigan Coalition Against Homelessness for their exceptional organizing efforts to advance housing justice and tenant protections at the local and statewide levels. 

Memphis Tenants Union received the 2025 Local Organizing Award for its resident‑led campaigns that empowered low‑income tenants to organize for safer, healthier housing conditions in Memphis. Through sustained, multi‑year organizing, the union helped tenants win critical improvements, including restored essential services, enhanced building security, and increased accountability from property owners. Their work exemplifies the power of grassroots, tenant‑driven organizing to improve living conditions and protect residents’ rights. 

The Michigan Coalition Against Homelessness (MCAH) was honored with the 2025 Statewide Organizing Award for leading a successful statewide campaign to secure source‑of‑income protections for renters using housing assistance. MCAH’s advocacy helped advance policies that prohibit discrimination against households relying on public benefits, greatly expanding access to stable housing for people with the lowest incomes across Michigan. The coalition’s work reflects the impact of coordinated statewide organizing to promote equitable housing policies. 

An Organizing Awards Committee composed of NLIHC board members and previous award recipients will select the 2026 honorees based on nominations (now closed). NLIHC will present the awards during the 2026 Housing Policy Forum, taking place March 10–13, 2026, at the Washington Hilton Hotel in Washington, DC. 

Each honored organization will receive complimentary Forum registration and lodging for two representatives. 

Read about previous award winners here.