Published: July 2020

Millions of struggling families need housing counseling now

In the economic fallout of the current pandemic, more than 20 million Americans are out of work. Black and Latino workers are experiencing disproportionate economic challenges, including an unemployment rate of 16.8 percent and 17.6 percent, respectively. American households are expected to face a wave of evictions and foreclosures even worse than they experienced in the last financial crisis. Coalition advocates wrote to Congress in support of the Coronavirus Housing Counseling Improvement Act, which expands access to housing counseling so that these individuals and families can get help in finding affordable ways to stay in their homes.

Millions of families across our country – already suffering through job and income loss — are now living in fear that in a matter of weeks, they will be facing down foreclosure, eviction and even homelessness. Coalition advocates wrote to Congressional leadership in support of the Coronavirus Housing Counseling Improvement Act. The bill would provide $700 million to support housing counseling services to help homeowners, renters, people experiencing homelessness, and people at risk of homelessness navigate their housing options and rights during the COVID-19 crisis, including protections and resources provided through COVID-19 relief legislation. Providing vital funding to housing counselors will ensure that homeowners and renters – especially Black and brown homeowners and renters who have been hardest hit by this pandemic – have the tools and support they need to navigate our nation’s complex housing system.

Lead Organization

UnidosUS

Other Organizations

California Reinvestment Coalition | Center for Responsible Lending | Center for New York City Neighborhoods | Chicanos Por La Causa | Consumer Action | HomeFree-USA | Housing Action Illinois | Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) | Minnesota Homeownership Center | NAACP | National Association for Latino Community Asset Builders (NALCAB) | National Coalition for Asian Pacific American Community Development (National CAPACD) | National Consumer Law Center (on behalf of its low-income clients) | National Fair Housing Alliance | National Rural Housing Coalition | National Association of Real Estate Brokers (NAREB) | National Urban League | New Jersey Citizen Action | Northwest Side Housing Center | Poverty & Race Research Action Council | Prosperity Now | UnidosUS

More Information

For more information, please visit Unidos.

Download PDF

Millions of struggling families need housing counseling now   (Housing_Counseling_Sign-On_Letter_Final.pdf)