The Organization is a national housing and legal advocacy center. Its mission is to advance housing justice for poor people by: increasing and preserving the supply of decent, affordable housing; improving existing housing conditions, including physical conditions and management practices; expanding and enforcing low-income tenantsb
The principal programs of the Organization are: Policy Analysis and AdvocacyPolicy advocacy is a core component of NHLPs work. NHLP policy advocacy efforts include monitoring proposed and existing policies and programs at the federal, state and local levels and preparing and disseminating analyses of proposed policies. The Organization makes direct presentations to legislative and administrative bodies and also helps advocates in appearances before these bodies.Policymakers at all levels of government often request NHLPs assistance in evaluating the impact of proposals and programs on the poor. Additionally, NHLP provides policymakers with strategies to more effectively respond to the housing challenges of low income households, people of color, immigrants, domestic violence survivors and people with criminal records.Co-counsel and Other Litigation AssistanceOn select cases that bear a potentially high impact in the development of housing law or affect large numbers of low-income households, NHLP participates in litigation with local attorneys as co-counsel, amicus curiae, or in an advisory capacity.PublicationsNHLP provides an array of publications and resources for housing advocates. NHLP is author of HUD Housing Programs: Tenants Rights, a comprehensive legal manual on the rights of residents of federally assisted housing programs, and numerous field manuals that educate legal advocates on the laws governing housing issues that affect poor people and special needs groups and which provide practical client representation strategies. NHLP distributes a monthly newsletter updating its working partners, supporters, and others in the field on innovative ideas and new developments in the low-income housing sector, including new cases, legislation and agency activities. In addition, NHLP periodically releases fact sheets and analyses of emerging issues within its initiative areas.Housing Justice NetworkNHLP sponsors the Housing Justice Network (HJN), an informal network