ADDRESS HOMELESSNESS, FORECLOSURES AND EVICTIONS

WHEREAS, the federal eviction moratorium expired in August 2021, and by March 2022 the percentage of American renters facing eviction compared with the historical average doubled, and whereas the number of American homeowners facing foreclosure increased by nearly 200 percent between April 2021 and April 2022; and

WHEREAS, nearly 1.5 million school-age children are houseless in a typical school year, not to mention those in danger of becoming houseless; and

WHEREAS, educator unions are increasingly recognizing their power to bargain for the common good, and push the boundaries of what is considered appropriate for collective bargaining in order to contribute to dismantling systems of oppression and addressing the needs of students, their families and their school communities:

RESOLVED, that the American Federation of Teachers will provide resources and support for locals to bargain for enforceable contract language that attempts to address and alleviate houselessness among the students they serve; and

RESOLVED, that the AFT will provide resources and support for locals to advocate for students and public employees experiencing houselessness to voice their needs and contribute to decisions around their education; and

RESOLVED, that the AFT will lobby for and support efforts to provide affordable housing to all pre-K through 12th-grade students, public employees and families that need it.

(July 17, 2022)