The Biden administration could strengthen tenant protections on a national scale by leveraging federally backed mortgages to mandate rent stabilization and bar discrimination in rental housing.

Tenant advocates want the government to take stronger action against landlords whose properties are backed by federal mortgages, reports Mike Ludwig in Truthout, accusing landlords of price gouging.
As Ludwig explains, “About 12 million rental units are in properties backed by Fannie Mae and Freddy Mac in a federal program created by Congress and managed by the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) that backs mortgages and home loans across the country.” This amounts to 25 percent of the nation’s multifamily housing.
Now, the Biden administration is weighing a proposal to attach rent control regulations to federally financed rental properties, part of the administration’s effort to create a ‘Renters Bill of Rights.’
According to the article, “The FHFA is wrapping up a public comment period on the proposal to enforce renter protections at federally financed properties, and tenants and members of Congress are also calling for ‘good cause’ eviction protections, the right to safe and habitable living conditions, the right to organize among tenants, and access to a national database of landlords who operate federally backed properties.” Activists also want to see protections for voucher recipients, who are often discriminated against.
FULL STORY: Priced Out and Fed Up, Tenants Demand a National Renters Bill of Rights

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

Chicago’s Ghost Rails
Just beneath the surface of the modern city lie the remnants of its expansive early 20th-century streetcar system.

Amtrak Cutting Jobs, Funding to High-Speed Rail
The agency plans to cut 10 percent of its workforce and has confirmed it will not fund new high-speed rail projects.

Ohio Forces Data Centers to Prepay for Power
Utilities are calling on states to hold data center operators responsible for new energy demands to prevent leaving consumers on the hook for their bills.

MARTA CEO Steps Down Amid Citizenship Concerns
MARTA’s board announced Thursday that its chief, who is from Canada, is resigning due to questions about his immigration status.

Silicon Valley ‘Bike Superhighway’ Awarded $14M State Grant
A Caltrans grant brings the 10-mile Central Bikeway project connecting Santa Clara and East San Jose closer to fruition.
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