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  • Comment Detail

  • Date: 10/17/22
    First Name: Micaela
    Last Name: Shapiro-Shellaby
    Organization: PUSH Buffalo
    City: N/A
    State: N/A
    Attachment: N/A
    Number: RIN-2590-AB21

  • Comment

    Dear Director Thompson and FHFA team,

    My name is Micaela and I live in Buffalo, NY. I’m writing in response to the FHFA Multifamily Enterprise Housing Goals Proposed Rule Comment Request: ‘Community Support Requirements, (No. 2022–N–11) Multifamily Enterprise Housing Goals Proposed Rule.

    My rent went up over $250 a month over the course of 30 days. I either had to come up with that money or attempt to find another apartment in the middle of winter. This required me to rebudget and for my partner to find a new job. Leaving would have meant leaving the neighborhood that I am familiar with and love, neighbors that I rely on and lenghtening my commute. My rent is way too expensive for what it is, but I my alternatives were worse. I don't want to have other people in positons like this where they might have to uproot their lives because a landlord makes decision based on their own bottom line over what should be a human right.

    The rent is too damn high and I’m counting on FHFA to take every possible action to regulate rents for all properties with federally backed mortgages. If our public money is financing the business of making money on our homes, the least that you can do as a regulator is attach conditions to these resources that benefit the people. FHFA has successfully taken bold action in the past to help protect tenants during COVID-19 and to look out for residents of manufactured housing, and I am counting on FHFA to take similar action to help tenants like me during this time of intense economic hardship.

    I am a member of PUSH Buffalo and work with the Homes Guarantee campaign. The Homes Guarantee campaign is led by over 52 tenant-led organizations from all corners of the country. We have a long term vision for a world where everyone has access to safe, sustainable and TRULY affordable housing. In the short term we are organizing to win an executive order on rent regulation from the President— see more here: https://damnhighrent.com

    Thank you for your attention to this matter. If you would like to get in touch with me, please contact Grace White, the Homes Guarantee Organizer at g.white@peoplesaction.org.
    Sincerely,
    Micaela