PRRAC — Connecting Research to Advocacy

Poverty & Race Research Action Council

Advocacy Guides

Public or Community Control of Rental Housing Policy Brief No. 1: Right of First Refusal – Tenant Opportunity to Purchase Acts (PRRAC, October 2020)

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The District of Columbia’s Tenant Opportunity to Purchase Act (TOPA) was enacted in 1980 and is designed to help tenants stay in their homes if an owner decides to sell their rental property. Under TOPA, tenants in multi-family buildings with 5 or more units have the right of first refusal. Under this provision, the owner of a rental property must offer tenants the option to … [Read more...] about Public or Community Control of Rental Housing Policy Brief No. 1: Right of First Refusal – Tenant Opportunity to Purchase Acts (PRRAC, October 2020)

How to Advocate for Higher Voucher Caps with your Local Housing Authority (PRRAC, October 2020)

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Basics of Section 8 Housing Vouchers The Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) program is the major rental assistance program funded by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and administered by local Public Housing Authorities (PHAs). Those eligible for the program find their own housing, so long as the unit meets the program’s standards and the … [Read more...] about How to Advocate for Higher Voucher Caps with your Local Housing Authority (PRRAC, October 2020)

Crafting a Strong and Effective Source of Income Discrimination Law (PRRAC, March 2020)

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Excerpt: "Source of Income (SOI) laws have the potential to increase voucher success and utilization rates, support geographic mobility for families with vouchers, and reduce the concentration of vouchers in low rent neighborhoods, freeing up lower-cost units for non-subsidized families. However, all SOI laws are not created equal; there is a wide range in strength and … [Read more...] about Crafting a Strong and Effective Source of Income Discrimination Law (PRRAC, March 2020)

Advocates Guide to Voluntary Adoption of Small Area FMRs (PRRAC & NLHP, July 2018)

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Excerpt: "Small Area Fair Market Rents (SAFMRs) are the Department of Housing and Urban Development's (HUD) calculation of fair market rents for zip codes. Normally, HUD sets one fair market rent (FMR) for a large geographic region, resulting in a subsidy level that often does not match local rents. HUD's use of large geographic areas to set FMRs makes it harder for families to … [Read more...] about Advocates Guide to Voluntary Adoption of Small Area FMRs (PRRAC & NLHP, July 2018)