On September 10, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) awarded $10 million in grants to expand tenant education opportunities and resources for low-income residents of certain HUD-assisted multifamily properties.

The funding will support capacity building efforts that enable thousands of tenants who live in HUD’s project based rental assistance housing to more effectively engage with property managers and owners to help sustain safe, decent, and affordable housing.

According to HUD’s press release, “tenant capacity building is the process of developing and strengthening the skills, abilities, processes, and resources that tenants and tenant organizations need to be active partners in the preservation and improvement of their housing communities. HUD is committed to bolstering tenant participation among low-income renters as a critical effort to maintain sustainable projects and communities.”

Funds awarded to the tenant advocacy organizations are available through HUD’s Tenant Education Outreach (TEO) Program and will enable the AIDS Healthcare Foundation—in partnership with the Massachusetts Alliance of HUD Tenants—to strengthen tenant organizing groups. These organizations will make funds available over the next two years to approximately 30 eligible tenant advocacy organizations on a first come, first served basis, to build the capacity of tenants as active partners in the preservation of affordable rental housing for low-income residents.

The TEO program will help tenants in their efforts to work productively with property management, hold management accountable for property conditions, improve management and oversight of these multifamily properties, and advocate to preserve affordability.

Funds from the TEO program can also be used for training, technical assistance, staffing, supplies, and other operational costs for tenant organizations to preserve decent, safe, and sanitary housing. The TEO program builds on the successes of previous program models to empower tenants to advocate for their concerns and engage collaboratively with assisted housing providers.

LeadingAge affordable housing providers often promote and collaborate with resident councils, and our members welcome funding opportunities and other support for tenant engagement and capacity building.