For decades, public housing has faced intentional disinvestment in order to further a narrative that public housing is an unsuccessful program. This is a narrative that is based in racist motivation and when public housing is adequately funded it has proved to be successful in this country and in other countries. While we need increased Federal funding, we also need increased State funding to make up for the historic shortfalls that exist.

The state has historically invested in private developers in an attempt to solve the housing crisis. After decades of this approach, it is clear that this strategy has only exacerbated the housing crisis. The solution to the housing crisis is investment in social housing mechanisms such as laid out in the Tenant Opportunity to Purchase Act (TOPA) which provides funding for tenants to have the right of first purchase when their buildings are up for sale, as well as the creation of a social housing authority that funds other mechanisms such as co-ops, land trusts, land banks, and other options.

This policy would create a state agency that empowers and enforces tenant rights in regards to the formation of tenant association, the right to bargaining around rents and living conditions, and protection against retaliatory actions on the part of landlords. This bill provides rights to tenant associations that are akin to unions, and also provides state funding to further the formation other these tenant associations.

This policy would create a state agency that empowers and enforces tenant rights in regards to the formation of tenant association, the right to bargaining around rents and living conditions, and protection against retaliatory actions on the part of landlords. This bill provides rights to tenant associations that are akin to unions, and also provides state funding to further the formation other these tenant associations.