A massive “Renter Power” movement is arising in California and elsewhere in response to skyrocketing rents for millions of Americans. It has won some spectacular gains, like the recent triumph of tenant protections and rent control in San Jose. In the middle of these victories, however, comes the news that Los Angeles and Oakland just experienced 25% increases in homelessness last year even though both cities have tenant protections and rent control.
Tenants won the right to not be evicted when they pay the rent on time, which is important, but they are still losing ground. Limiting rent increases does not solve the problem when incomes fall or even disappear. The real right to housing means more than rent control. It means the right to stay in your home even when you cannot afford to pay rent at all. The real right to housing means a law guaranteeing that no one should ever have to pay more rent than is affordable, no matter how low the renter’s income.
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