FAIR HOUSING FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES
House Bill 1167 (Talton)
Position: OPPOSE
Outcome: DID NOT PASS
Background and Purpose: House Bill 1167 would have substantially changed the way the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA) addresses the housing needs of people with disabilities and people of low incomes.
The proposed bill:
• Removes TDHCA’s ability to develop rules to implement Federal fair housing and accessibility laws.
• Removes the requirement of housing developers to report the number of accessible units available for rent by people with disabilities.
• Removes the department mandate to set aside funds to serve extremely low-income families by changing the wording of the department’s purpose from serving “those of low, very low and extremely low incomes” to “those of modest means.” (This would be extremely damaging to those who are living on Social Security benefits)
• Removes the ability of TDHCA to provide tenant-based rental assistance for people with disabilities in rural and urban areas of Texas.
• Removes additional set-asides of Federal HOME funds for non-profits, and directs funds for rental housing development by for-profit developers prioritizing rental housing development, which would limit the availability of funds for down-payment and home modifications.
During the last two legislative sessions, advocates for people with disabilities, housing advocates and most developers (non-profit and for-profit) worked together through TDHCA’s sunset process for legislation that provided balanced assistance. This legislation would dismantle those agreed upon policies.
NATIONAL MS SOCIETY Action:
1. Initiated calls to action in House Urban Affairs Committee and House Calendars
2. Staff visited with key calendars committee member to block floor vote