July 9, 2019
Carson City, NV – Today, Nevada Attorney General Aaron D. Ford, joining a coalition of 23 states, submitted a comment letter to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) opposing a new rule that would deny housing assistance to mixed-status families that include any undocumented immigrants. The Rule would result in the eviction of thousands of families, including many children and lawful residents and citizens, who rely on housing assistance for their homes. If enacted, the Proposed Rule could leave more than 55,000 children homeless.
“This proposal is another cruel and unjustified assault on immigrant families in Nevada by the Trump Administration,” said AG Ford. “There is no reason to separate family members and evict children from their homes. Mixed-status immigration families are Nevada families. I’m proud to join this coalition to keep Nevada families together.”
For more than thirty years, laws governing public housing and HUD rules have prioritized family units. Accordingly, the law has for decades allowed families with mixed immigration status to receive public housing subsidies, so long as ineligible family members did not themselves receive any financial subsidies. The new proposal would prohibit family members who are undocumented from residing in their homes. In many cases, this would result in the effective eviction of entire families.
As the Department’s own analysis concludes, the Proposed Rule would eliminate housing assistance for more than 108,000 people, including at least 55,000 children, many of whom are U.S. citizens or otherwise eligible for housing assistance.
In the comment letter submitted today, the attorneys general argue that this substantial loss of housing benefits will also cause significant economic and social harms to the States, including greater homelessness, reduced productivity, and a higher incidence of significant health problems.
States will have to bear significant administrative and social benefit costs if the Rule goes into effect. Private housing providers will be far less likely to participate in subsidized housing programs, leaving States to find additional affordable housing options and plan for increased rates of evictions and homelessness.
Joining Attorney General Ford in submitting the comment letter are the Attorneys General of California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Hawaii, Illinois, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, and Washington.
Attached is the Comment Letter.
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