Statement on HUD/Public Housing Restrictions

As an organization dedicated to serving all people of the East Bay, regardless of their immigration status, EBALDC fiercely opposes a proposed rule by the Department of Housing and Urban Development that would use immigration status to deny access to public housing assistance. The proposed rule would require expanded use of the Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) program, which is used to verify individuals’ immigration and citizenship status. In doing so, the Trump administration is sowing fear among all of our immigrant communities.

If implemented, this rule could lead to thousands of families being evicted from their homes. Access to housing and housing stability is necessary for our communities’ overall health and well-being. In the Bay Area in particular, federal housing assistance is a vital support for families dealing with ever-rising rents in one of the priciest real estate markets in the world.

We work each day to build healthy neighborhoods that provide opportunities that enable people to live long, healthy lives, regardless of income, ethnic background or immigration status. Immigrants are at the core of our communities in every way, as friends, family members, neighbors, and partners. We stand with our immigrant communities in the face of another deplorable attack by this administration and will continue to do all we can to protect families by pushing back against this new rule.

We urge you to take immediate action to help protect our immigrant communities. Submit your comment to demand that The Department of Housing and Urban Development stop this rule today.

Please visit the federal register to submit a public comment today, or visit the National Low Income Housing Coalition online to learn more about the proposed rule.