(1888PressRelease)
June 14, 2006 - (Philadelphia, June 13, 2006) National Renters Rights and Homelessness Awareness Week, June 13-June 18, intends to be just a symbolic gesture this week. There are no events planned and no national unity of message is slated. As home prices have more than doubled in value in the past five-years, renters are experiencing the flip-side of the housing boom, with drastically increased rents, condominium conversions and forced no-fault evictions, creating unplanned and costly—usually uncompensated— relocations and fears of homelessness. Civic-activist and life-long renter, Crystal Haidl decided that giving something a name can be all the difference in launching a national focus or losing its opportunity. Announcing the week as a “pre-inaugural” soft-launch, NRRHA Week’s timing coincides with President Bush’s designation of June as National Homeownership Month, not to deflect from homeownership, but to include renters and the homeless within the national dialogue of the importance to have the right to a “stable home,” be it rented or transitional.
The week also was selected for the June 14th’s Flag Day “liberty and justice for all” symbolism and the June 15th commemoration of the original signing of the Magna Carta, the western world’s first document addressing individual rights, ironically between that of landlords and the King.
Except for FHEO federal anti-discrimination laws, renters and the homeless are entirely governed by state and municipal legislation. Advocates across America agree that more national media and political dialogue would help give attention to their work, from lobbying for fair legislation to assisting tenants and the homeless with already established rights. But the state and local jurisdictions for these laws are the very reason why there is little movement or ability toward national unity among advocates across the country. And why perception about renters and the homeless among the American public is either negative or not discussed at all. The laws and their impact are too varied to have an easy one-size fits all message.
About a dozen national and state advocates have agreed to talk to media about their work during NRRHA Week, though none wants to be directly aligned with the just-named week due to board approval wait-times, concerns about the differences of needs between advocate groups, or non-profit funding requirements that might prohibit political visibility.
Comprising just 30% of all American households, renters are a minority, though most homeowners were once renters and most cities have 50% and higher percentages of renters. Homelessness has become a media focus with many of our cities, but few Americans understand that the majority of homeless are families with children. And few renters and landlords actually understand the laws they are governed by, as most states do not require the laws to be available upon rental agreement.
Says Haidl, “The issues aren’t about penalizing good landlords or approving of bad tenants, nor is it wanting to restrict landowner’s or state’s rights. It’s about establishing, maintaining and educating for fair consumer laws so that abuse on both sides is limited. The real estate and landlord associations exert money and political strength to sway laws, while the homeless and renters are underpowered because of their lack of funding and unity to effect change or even to have their voices heard. ”
Haidl hopes NRRHA Week will be the kindling to get the media and the general public to hear the diverse voices of renters and the homeless, and for the many advocacy groups to form a national association for better understanding of each other’s campaigns.
For media:
For contact with national and state advocacy groups who have agreed to interviews during NRRHA Week,
please contact Crystal Haidl at (310) 926 5323 or crystalhpa ( @ ) aol dot com
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