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My name is Jenay Manley and I am a tenant living in Kansas City, MO. I am a member of the Homes Guarantee Campaign.

I was forced out of my apartment in, Parvin Estates, that gets tax credits because they do not take Section Vouchers. I lost my home of 5 years and the only place my kids has ever called home. In the 4 years since then, we have bounced around, almost been homeless, had to move my abuser in with us and much more. The rent at my old apartment has gone up $300/ month/ I have friends who still live there who are currently being priced out because there is not rent restrictions.

The rent is too damn high. The Federal Housing Finance Agency should protect tenants by limiting annual rent hikes to 1.5 times the Consumer Price Index or 3%, whichever is lower, in properties with federally backed mortgages. These limits should be applied universally as a requirement to all federally backed mortgage programs.

In addition to limits on rent hikes, the FHFA should prohibit evictions without good cause, ban source of income discrimination, enforce and expand existing protections against discrimination, require safe and accessible housing conditions, create a landlord registry, require fair and standardized leases, ensure tenants have the right to organize, and create an Office of Tenant Protections to enforce these rights in all properties with federally backed mortgages.

Sincerely,
Jenay Manley