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I have been both a homeowner and a renter over the past 30 years. Renting has gotten so much harder than it used to be. Every time I drive anywhere, I see homeless people trying to stay alive on the streets. Landlords of all political leanings are a HUGE problem and have contributed more to our homelessness problem than any other structural challenges. I paid rent on time every month for two years, made significant improvements to the large yard, and my landlord still moved to evict my family because they did not like my autistic child's support dog. I moved out to avoid an eviction lawsuit and was lucky to be in a position to buy a home, but because I was forced to move so quickly, I had to take on a mortgage with a very high interest rate in a high cost area of the country for a smaller home less desirable neighborhood that is higher than my rent was. This move put extreme stress on my family, including my three children with disabilities who were trying to complete the school year. I work at a university and would never plan to move this time of year due to my work commitments, which I need to meet to be able to pay for my family's housing. The landlord refused to negotiate for a short lease extension. When I asked for one, they moved to evict instead of working with me. They are now trying to charge me illegal damages and extra fees, claiming these illegal charges are in my lease. Because they have more resources than me, they will likely get away with this unless I go to court and then they can certainly afford more legal support. These landlords bought a house and are renting it as part of their retirement investment. This is the second set of landlords I have dealt with like this. They are ignorant of the law and do not behave ethically or professionally. Citizens of this country need our government to act like a government. All of the support goes to big business and wealthy people. The middle class is almost gone, poor people can no longer afford homes at all, and the government still drags its feet. I'm tired of hearing each political party blame the other. You are all complicit. Pass renter protections and put compassion in policy. Landlords are responsible for one of our basic rights: shelter. They have failed in their responsibility and now the government must act.

All of these policies could have helped me and others like me:
Good cause eviction: Prohibit evictions without good cause, ensuring every tenant has the right to a lease renewal. Good cause is defined as serious and repeated lease violations provable in a court of law.
Freedom from discrimination: Enforce existing laws that prohibit landlords from denying a tenant rental housing based on race, physical or mental ability, and family make-up, and expand protections to prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender expression or identity, immigration status, conviction and/or arrest history, bankruptcy history, eviction history, or credit score.
Safe, quality, accessible housing standards: Require all landlords to keep their properties in good condition, and to ensure homes are accessible for people with disabilities. No renter should have to live in an inaccessible home or in housing conditions that put their health and safety at risk.
Landlord registry: Tenants should have access to information about their landlord including their name and phone number.
Tenant right to organize: Tenants have the right to form tenants’ unions or resident councils free from fear of retaliation from the landlord or managing agent. Ownership and management representatives must not interfere with the creation or actions of tenant organizations.
Fair leases: Landlords must use standardized and clearly defined leases free of abusive terms.
Office of Tenant Protections: A team charged with protecting tenants and enforcing their rights in properties with federally backed mortgages.