Peacemaking is concerned that both the Iowa senate and the house have passed SF 252 which bans city ordinances preventing landlords from rejecting federal housing vouchers.  We are concerned because this allows landlords to reject tenants who need federal assistance with their rent, increasing the difficulty for the poor to find safe and adequate housing, perpetuating discrimination against them.

We regret that no help was passed in the legislature for manufactured home owners who rent the land their homes are on.  Out of state companies purchases these lands and raise the rent exorbitantly on home owners who no longer have what once was an affordable place to live.  The property they own, the house, becomes essentially worthless as rents and/or “fees” rise and they cannot move the house.  Manufactured home parks in North Liberty and Dubuque have recently caught national attention for this predatory land speculation that squeezes low income, veterans, and disabled folk out of the housing they have long lived in and own.

We are also concerned that the Iowa House and Senate have both passed HF 228 which undermines the ability of school districts to remedy inequities in education outcomes for their students by diversifying the student bodies of their city schools.  We are concerned this will perpetuate inequalities in education that disadvantage the poor and people of color.

We are glad to see the legislation for tracking the sexual assault evidence kits, which have too often been left in limbo.  HF 426 would establish permanent funding for a program established by the Iowa Attorney General’s Office last year with federal funding.