-
A Tenant Advocate’s Journey: An Interview with Sandra Barksdale
Sandra Barksdale is a long-time resident of Reston, Virginia. She has been advocating for safe and healthy living conditions for tenants at the Bowman Towne Court apartment complex in Reston since 2019. She has advocated for repairs and maintenance throughout the complex amidst calls by local politicians, developers, and community groups to tear down Bowman Continue reading
-
Updated Database, New Report Hold Key Information for State and Local Affordable Housing Programs
With support from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP), NLIHC has released an update to the Rental Housing Programs Database (RHPD) and an accompanying report to give policymakers, researchers, and housing advocates greater insight into the growing number of state and local programs that promote affordable housing. The new resources are available here. Continue reading
-
What Is Lived Experience?
In a recent blog post, tenant advocate Tiffiny Graven discusses what she calls “the profound significance of lived experience.” As Tiffiny explains, when it comes to developing effective housing policies – or any policies, for that matter – lived experience is “the compass, the lighthouse, and the map. It has the power to decipher the Continue reading
-
Transcending the Textbook Approach: A Reflection on the Power of Lived Experience
By Tiffiny Graven In contemplating the prospect of collaboration, I find myself compelled to emphasize the profound significance of lived experience. As someone who has walked the difficult paths of domestic violence and homelessness, I recognize the intricate layers that comprise these struggles. This familiarity with the labyrinthine nature of public assistance systems, the intimate Continue reading
-
What Advocacy Can Do for You
Advocacy is about changing the world for the better – but it can change you for the better, too. Take it from Deanna Nagle, a tenant advocate and NLIHC member. In a recent blog post, Deanna recounts her experience at a city council budget meeting. When first asked by a local housing group to make Continue reading
On the Home Front 