NAHT affiliates in several cities are planning actions during October to raise tenant issues during the 2008 Elections.   Since 2003, NAHT has coordinated fall local actions in the US with groups around the globe as part of International Housing Rights Day, called by the Habitat International Coalition (HIC) to coincide with the UN’s World Habitat Day, held the first Monday of October each year.  The Day is also recognized by the International Union of Tenants as International Tenants Day.   NAHT is a member of HIC and the IUT.

 New York City.  The Real Rent Reform Campaign in New York City held a citywide tenant demonstration on October 1 at the Harlem State Office Building Plaza to protest huge rent hikes approved this summer by the City Rent Guidelines Board.    The rally called on city and state officials to protest the rent hikes, reform the Board, and win state legislation in New York to protect tenants from displacement.    Contact:   Joe Catron at the Metropolitan Council on Housing (212-979-6238) or Andres at New York Tenants and Neighbors (212-608-4320x316).

 Chicago, Illinois.   The Lakeview Action Coalition will hold a citywide press conference and rally at 10:30 a.m. CST on Monday, October 6 with Chicago tenant leaders at the Federal Building on 230 S. Dearborn.  Section 8 tenants from around the city will protest the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) failure to fully fund the project-based Section 8 program, which houses 1.3 million low income families in the US.  Tenants will charge HUD with deliberately shortchanging the Section 8 program by $2.8 billion, leaving tenants and owners at risk.   Tenants have invited representatives of Illinois Senators Obama and Durbin and Representative Emanuel to speak at the rally. Contact: Jennifer Gonzalez, LAC (773-593-1296 (c)). 

 Minneapolis, Minnesota.  Tenant leaders and activists from the Minnesota Tenants Alliance and HOMELINE will be testifying on Monday, October 6 at 10:00 a.m. CST before the State House of Representatives Housing Policy Finance Committee on the impacts of the recently adopted federal Housing and Economic Recovery Act.   Tenants will highlight the Section 8 funding shortfall and how Minnesota has had a disportionately high number of owners opting to end federal subsidy contracts and convert to high market rent housing, reducing housing for the poor.    Contact:   Eric Hauge, HOMELINE, 612-728-4771x119.

 Dallas, Texas.  Tenants from the Texas Tenants Union will hold a press conference on Thursday, October 16 following a meeting with Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison’s Regional Office Director regarding the Section 8 budget shortfall.   Tenants will ask Sen. Hutchison to commit to supporting sufficient funds for Section 8, Public Housing and other HUD programs, and to support a National Right to Purchase to stop the loss of affordable housing to market rate conversions.   Contact:  Sandy Rollins, Texas Tenants Union, 214-823-2999.

 New York City.  Harlem Tenants Against Tahl-Propp, a coalition of tenants in buildings owned by predatory investor Tahl-Propp Equities, will hold a press conference and rally on Thursday, October 23, at 10:30am EST.  in conjunction with New York Tenants & Neighbors and the Urban Homesteading Assistance Board Tenants will protest a pending transfer of vacant land to Tahl-Propp from the City of New York for $1.00.  Tenants will expose the company’s patterns of poor conditions, tenant harassment, and un-supportable purchases of affordable housing.  This action highlights the growing problem of predatory equity investment in New York and around the country. Contact: Mary Kolar, NY Tenants & Neighbors (212-608-4320)

  Boston, Massachusetts.  The Mass Alliance of HUD Tenants will deliver NAHT’s Save Our Homes Platform on Saturday, October 18 at 11:00 a.m. EST to local presidential campaign offices (gather at Park Street Station on the Boston Common) to demand full funding for Section 8 and Public Housing, end predatory investment in affordable housing, and ratify the Treaty on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, including the Right to Adequate Housing.   The action will follow up on June’s delivery of the Platform to the Republican National Committee and Obama Campaign representatives by the National Alliance of HUD Tenants (NAHT).   Contact:  Michael Kane, MAHT, 617-233-1885.

 Miami, Florida.   Power U in Miami will deliver the Save Our Homes Platform to the Obama and McCain Headquarters offices in Miami the week of October 20.   Contact:  Keith Ivory, Power U, 786-277-7770.