Housing

Housing is a human need and should be seen as a human right. As a neighborhood advocate in Shelby Park, I have seen firsthand how our communities suffer when subjected to runaway rents, predatory flippers, and a lack of access to affordable housing. The landlord and developer lobbies know that the more we see housing as a human right, the less they will be able to squeeze profits from our communities. That’s why I’m refusing donations from real estate developers and large landlords—and why, when elected, I’ll work to keep people in their homes and our neighborhoods strong.

As a State Representative I will fight for:

• Repeal state preemptions that prohibit local governments from using tools like rent stabilization or rent control to protect tenants from excessive rent increases.

• Adequately funded statewide right to counsel for tenants in eviction courts.

• Measures that will lead to universal rent control and permanently affordable, quality housing for all Kentuckians.

• A Special Tax for Career House Flippers. 

• A Cease and Desist Zone in “hot” markets, which would make it illegal for developers to solicit and harass small property owners via mail, phone, and text and will fine them for each violation.

• A Tenant Opportunity to Purchase Act (TOPA), which will require property owners to offer tenants the chance to purchase a property at fair market value before it is sold on the open market.

• Increased support for democratically controlled housing on community land trusts.

• A Housing First approach to homelessness.

• Renewed investments in public housing.

• New revenue streams to fund the development of quality social housing in Kentucky’s urban centers.