The last day to submit comments opposing HUD’s anti-transgender rule is tomorrow, September 22. The rule has been open to a 60-day public comment period since HUD published its proposed changes to the Equal Access Rule in the Federal Register on July 24 (see Memo, 07/27). Tuesday will be the last day for the public to submit comments urging HUD to rescind its anti-transgender proposal. Once the public comment period closes, HUD must review all public comments and consider concerns and contradictory evidence about the proposal before publishing its final rule.
HUD’s harmful proposal would remove protections against discrimination for transgender and gender-nonconforming people experiencing homelessness, severely limiting their ability to access shelters and emergency housing services. It is especially egregious that the administration seeks to move forward with this proposed rule change in the midst of a global pandemic when 30 million to 40 million renters are at risk of eviction by the end of the year and when people experiencing homelessness face significant health risks due to the virus. By limiting access to safe and healthy shelters for the transgender population, HUD is creating additional barriers that prevent transgender people from socially distancing and self-isolating.
NLIHC, True Colors United, National LGBTQ Task Force, National Housing Law Project, and other organizations launched the Housing Saves Lives campaign to encourage advocates to submit their comments opposing this anti-transgender proposal. We are calling for individuals and organizations to submit public comments opposing this rule before Tuesday 11:59 PM. These comments are an essential advocacy tool. Resources to help craft your comment and a direct portal to submit your comment are available at HousingSavesLives.org.
Read the proposed rule at: https://bit.ly/33ILKT1
You can find a FAQ on HUD’s proposed changes to the Equal Access here: https://bit.ly/2ZOOxsS
A template to help construct your public comment is available at: https://bit.ly/2FGP4X1
Read the joint press statement from NLIHC and other Housing Saves Lives partners on HUD’s announcement of the proposed rule at: https://bit.ly/2CWWWBS
Submit public comments by 11:59 PM on Tuesday, September 22 at: www.housingsaveslives.org