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The Clinic’s clients and partners are working to tackle pressing housing challenges through law and policy reform, with a focus on advancing low-income persons’ access to affordable, just, and secure housing. Clients include housing advocacy organizations, government officials, and community organizations. Over the course of the semester, students complete a number of written deliverables for their clients, such as policy briefs, research reports, know your rights materials, model laws, and regulatory guidance. Students also have the opportunity to hone their oral advocacy skills, such as through delivering testimony to legislative and regulatory bodies.
Examples of recent HPC Projects:
- Tackling Junk Fees in Rental Housing: In Fall 2023, HPC students represented the tenant organizing group, BASTA, to rein in excessive and hidden fees charged to tenants in the apartment industry. Students’ work included preparing a policy report, drafting regulatory changes, and submitting regulatory comments to the Federal Trade Commission.
- Improving Housing Conditions: In Fall 2023, HPC students represented the statewide housing organization, Texas Housers, to pinpoint legal reforms that would help eradicate substandard living conditions in apartments.
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Students are assigned to work in teams of two to three students on one or two discrete policy projects. In addition to their assigned policy projects, students will have the opportunity to contribute to all of the clinic’s policy projects through class discussions.
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Students should expect to spend a total of 16-18 hours per week in this Clinic, including project work, class time, and class assignments.
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The clinic class meets three times a week. In the classroom, HPC students discuss current and emerging housing law and policy issues and hear from guest speakers actively working in the housing policy space. We also focus on skill development through hands-on exercises to support the Clinic’s housing policy projects. Classes include time to work in teams on clinic projects, although students should expect to spend additional time on their projects outside of the classroom.