Annual NAHT Conference in Washington, D.C

On behalf of the National Alliance of HUD Tenants Board of Directors, this note is to invite representatives of the Habitat International Coalition and/or International Union of Tenants board or membership to join the annual NAHT Conference in Washington, D.C. The Conference will be held June 2-5 at the Kellogg Conference Center hotel in Washington, D.C. Approximately 140 tenant leaders and organizers from throughout the USA are expected.

NAHT is a national tenant union representing tenants in housing subsidized for low income people by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). NAHT has been mobilizing tenants since 1992 to stop the privatization and conversion of 2.1 million apartments into unaffordable market rate housing. NAHT has been the North American board representative on HIC for the past few years, and was a board member of the IUT through 2005.

For the past several years, NAHT has been working to build solidarity with counterpart organizations from around the world, to strengthen global alliances against the forces of market globalization and privatization. This June, NAHT is planning a demonstration June 4 and/or 5 targeting AIMCO, the largest Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT) and owner of HUD housing in the US, and the Deutsche Bank (large stockholder in AIMCO) demanding that AIMCO stop forced evictions and destruction of affordable housing, at the same time as planned demonstrations in Rostok at the G-8 summit. There will be workshops on housing rights, globalization and privatization of housing, as well as plenary sessions with guest speakers.

As in prior years, NAHT would be extremely honored if one or more representatives from our sister organizations in the housing, tenants and land rights movements could join us at this Conference. We can waive registration fees and should be able to arrange a shared hotel room. Guests will be asked to speak at plenary sessions, at the rally/demonstration planned at AIMCO/DB, and participate in appropriate workshops.

Also, please note that the first US Social Forum is scheduled in Atlanta, Georgia, from June 27 through July 1. Visitors from other countries might want to arrange their visit to be able to attend and participate in both events. NAHT expects to participate in the Forum, although at a smaller level than at the June Conference. Both events offer opportunities to build ties and networking around global campaigns against privatization/globalization of housing and habitat.

NAHT can also help arrange contacts for local visits in selected other US cities for anyone traveling to the US in June.

Please respond to: michaelkane @saveourhomes.org