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  • Comment Detail

  • Date: 07/20/23
    First Name: Carelen
    Last Name: Camero
    Email: hapabruja@gmail.com
    Organization Type: other
    Organization: Shelter WF

  • Comment

    I am a mother, army spouse, volunteer, and homeowner in the Flathead Valley of Northwest Montana outside of Glacier National Park. I have been a renter my whole life and hope to rent my own property out in the future when I invariably have to leave for school or work. As a homeowner myself, I am urging you to support Tenant Protections in all forms, especially as it currently applies to requiring landowners who receive federal funding to agree to certain tenant protections in order to continue to receive their federal aid. This is federal money that should go to landowners that agree to protect the rights of taxpayers systemically kept out of home ownership - these are not extreme requests, they are basic standards to set against exploitation, and the only people who would refuse to grant their tenants these protections, or dedicate a great deal of money to fighting those protections on a mass scale, are those who are seeking to profit from exploiting real individuals and families.

    When deciding what tenant protections to require, as a community organizer I recommend following these few principles:
    1. Tenant Leadership: The FHFA should continue to engage with and follow the leadership of tenants and people directly impacted by the rental market by seeking input from community organizations, tenants' unions, individual renters, and individuals currently experiencing homelessness.
    2. Equity: Racial and social equity (social equity referring to groups systemically marginalized by our society, including veterans, the unhoused, disabled people, etc.) must be explicitly stated goals of all regulations.
    3. Mandatory Requirements: Tenant protections should be applied to all landlords with a federally backed mortgage and all rental properties, including larger multifamily properties, smaller one-to-four unit properties, and short-term rentals. Tenant protections should not be incentivized or opt-in.
    4. Enforcement: Landlords who violate FHFA's tenant protections should be found in technical default and should remain ineligible for any future loans.