2011 ANNUAL REPORT - National Low Income Housing Coalition

Dear Friend of NLIHC,
There is no doubt in my mind that the most important event of 2011 actually occurred in 2010. That
event was the mid-term Congressional election, which changed the advocacy landscape for many
issues, including housing.
Simply put, 2011 was the most challenging year imaginable for those who advocate for housing
affordable to low income people. The House of Representatives had new members who at best needed
significant education about affordable housing, and at worst saw no role for the federal government in
meeting Americans’ housing needs. Simultaneously, the rental market was tightening, unemployment
remained stubbornly high, and it was harder than ever for extremely low income people to afford a
decent place to live.
The National Low Income Housing Coalition met the challenges of 2011 with renewed strength and
determination. We quickly adapted to the new political reality of the 112 th Congress by building more
coalitions, honing our strategies, and stepping up our defense of the effective, long-standing programs
that are the one thing standing between the lowest income Americans and homelessness.
At the same time, we did not, and will not, back down from our priorities. We supported the
introduction of an important new bill to protect tenants, and worked steadfastly to ensure existing
bills and regulations would truly serve the needs of low income people. And as always, we pushed for
capitalizing the National Housing Trust Fund, seeking new avenues for funding and advocating both
publicly and behind the scenes for the $1 billion allocated to the National Housing Trust Fund in
President Obama’s FY11 budget.
leadership | 4
$18.46
NATIONAL
HOUSING
WAGE
153
PRESS
MENTIONS
analysis | 12
empowerment | 8
32
CALLS TO
ACTION
Throughout it all, we called on you, our members, supporters and allies, for your help. Whether
through your donations, your responses to our Calls to Action, your participation in our conference,
or keeping up with the news by reading Memo to Members each week, you have been an essential,
inspirational presence in our work.
collaboration | 16
Thank you for your dedication. Together, we will continue to advance socially just public policy that
assures people with the lowest incomes in the United States have affordable and decent homes.
With deep gratitude,
Sheila Crowley, President and CEO
National Low Income Housing Coalition
1,109
MEMBERS
thank you | 20
73
SPEAKING
EVENTS