The pandemic has rendered thousands of Arkansans unable to pay the rent through no fault of their own. In January the federal government made available $173 million to DHS for rent assistance to Arkansans in 72 counties, and $27 million to Benton, Pulaski, and Washington counties, who have their own programs. As of last week …
An Open Letter to Government Officials Concerning Rent Assistance Read More »
Yesterday HB1563 passed the House Insurance and Commerce Committee by a vote of 11 to 7. The NO votes were from Reps. Lundstrom, Penzo, Wooten, Ray, Boyd, and Brown. If one of these if your Representative, contact them and ask them to change their vote when the bill comes up in the full House! The …
HB1563 Passes the House Insurance and Commerce Committee! Read More »
Answer: They shouldn’t! There are few statistics on this topic but two years ago a nationally researched study revealed that the poor pay disproportionately more for rent than more affluent tenants. “Renters in poor neighborhoods are excluded from both home ownership and apartments in middle-class communities on account of their poverty, poor credit, eviction, or …
Will Minimum Rental Housing Standards Raise Rent? Read More »
Contact your representative and urge them to vote for HB1563. Keep your communication short and respectful. Thank them for their service. Some talking points: Government regulates most businesses to ensure that consumers receive a product of value. Tenants rent housing in order to live in it, but Arkansas, alone of all the states, does not …
HB1563, sponsored by Rep. Jimmy Gazaway, has been introduced and referred to the House Committee on Insurance and Commerce. Go to this link for contact information of committee members. More detailed information about what you can do to help it become enacted will be posted tomorrow. This bill creates minimum standards for rental housing, remedies …
HB1563 is Introduced, Referred to House Insurance and Commerce Committee Read More »
Americans for Prosperity, one of our partners, is sponsoring a Facebook Live event to discuss why safer rental housing is good business for Arkansas! Join us Thursday at 4 pm!
Last week, Senator Greg Leding and Representative Jay Robinson introduced SJR11, a joint resolution to create an amendment to the Arkansas Constitution if approved by Arkansas voters in 2022. The resolution would repeal Arkansas’s criminal eviction statute, require landlords to maintain premises, allow tenants of noncomplying landlords to withhold rent, sue to enforce, repair and …
Do you support giving Arkansas tenants the same rights they have in every other state? If so, Like and follow us on Facebook: Arkansans for Stronger Communities Like and follow us on Twitter: @strongerAR Our proposed legislation will be out soon! Stay posted!
Yesterday President Biden directed the CDC to extend the eviction moratorium through at least March 31. This article is full of information about the December law under which Arkansas should receive $200M for rent assistance, the Biden administration’s plans for additional relief, and the difficulties of actually getting rent assistance to tenants.
Arkansas tenants have fewer rights than tenants in any other state. This session we are proposing legislation to end that and make tenants’ rights more fair. You can see a summary of the legislation we’re proposing by clicking on our Explore Issues-Evictions and Explore Issues-Habitable Rental Housing pages. When it’s introduced, it will be assigned …
