On April 28th, the Trump administration published a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, proposing to rescind the Equal Access Rule, which protects access to HUD programs regardless of one's sexual orientation, gender identity, or marital status. The chilling proposal mandates the use of the archaic, dangerous concept of "biological sex" in place of gender and gender identity, and allows housing providers to require any applicant to HUD housing programs to "prove" their identity.

Titled "Equal Access to Housing in HUD Programs Revisions", the proposal mandates sex and gender based discrimination, and threatens ALL applicants to HUD housing programs, whether cisgender, transgender, or gender nonconforming.

NAHT and NAHT have submitted joint comments opposing the proposed rule. 

Following NAHT's January 23rd annual meeting, the newly elected board met for a 5-day training facilitated by the Mass Alliance of HUD Tenants. The training focused on the history of NAHT, ByLaws and Board roles, and NAHT's policy agenda. The NAHT board is comprised of elected tenant leaders from Voting Member Groups across the 10 HUD administrative regions. At the end of the training, the Board elected these Officers for 2026-2027:

President Yolanda Stokes, Zion Towers Tenant Association Newark NJ

Treasurer Stefen, Redwood Gardens Tenant Association Berkley CA

Secretary Carmen Allen, Forbes Building Tenant Association Boston MA

VP of the North Donna McGill, Brighton Towers Tenant Association Syracuse NY

VP of the East Venus Little, Tyler House Tenants Association Washington DC

VP of the South Teresa Dunn, Mechanicsville Senior Tenant Association Atlanta GA

VP of the West Mari Temmer, Big Thompson Manor II Tenants Union Loveland CO

Congratulations to the newly elected NAHT Board! 

            The newly elected NAHT Board has joined the Leaders and Organizers for Tenant Empowerment (LOFTE) to strongly oppose HUD’s proposal to allow owners to impose two year time limits and work requirements on HUD subsidized low income tenants.  The organizations filed comments to oppose the proposed Rule by HUD’s May 1, 2026 deadline. 

Commenting on HUD’s proposed Rule, newly-elected NAHT President Yolanda Stokes from Newark, New Jersey, and LOFTE Co-Chair Michael Kane wrote, “The rule will needlessly cause massive hardship, disruption and homelessness for millions of low income families.”

          Stokes and Kane wrote that HUD’s real goal is to put vulnerable people on the streets “to save funds to pay for further cut taxes for the rich and increased funding for the Pentagon.”                        

           “We urge HUD to withdraw this proposal now,’ they wrote.  “HUD should dedicate its efforts to policies and funding that strengthen, not undermine, the availability of housing assistance to all who need it.” 

          Click here to read the joint NAHT and LOFTE comments to HUD.  HUD is now reviewing thousands of comments opposing the proposed rule and will respond in the months ahead. 

In opposition to HUD's proposed changes to the Mixed Status Rule, comments were submitted on behalf of NAHT and LOFTE.

With immigrant communities already in fear of ICE, owners and PHAs will be forced to work with ICE bringing an unwanted ICE presence into communities across the US. Families will be separated and many children will become homeless. This is very disruptive and unnecessary especially at a time when homelessness is on the rise. 

You can read the full comments here.