MAHT brings more than 20 leaders to the National Alliance of HUD Tenants Save Our Homes Conference each year in Washington DC. This year, NAHT tenants met with Rep. Maxine Waters (D-CA), who pledged support for NAHT’s Tenant Empowerment legislation. Tenants also won a new Memo from HUD clarifying that tenants have the right to receive and appeal HUD inspection reports, and to get 24 hours notice from management before entering tenants’ apartments.

NAHT has proposed a comprehensive Tenant Empowerment Bill to allow tenants to participate in HUD inspections, and provide accountability tools such as rent withholding to pressure owners for repairs. In November, NAHT Board President Geraldine Collins and tenant lead-er Shalonda Rivers testified at a hearing of the Housing Subcommittee of Waters’ House Financial Services Committee regarding NAHT’s bill.

At the hearing, Waters commended NAHT for effective efforts to empower tenants. Waters has also convened a Roundtable with NAHT board leaders and housing industry representatives on December 5 and is expected to co-sponsor NAHT’s bill with Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D-MA) and Rashida Tlaib (D-MI) in the coming weeks.