Episode 74: How aging Texans face issues with affordable housing
On this episode, Kathy Green from AARP Texas joins the show to talk about how affordable and low-income housing issues are an underreported problem for older Texans. We discuss how older Texans factor into many critical programs to aid with housing, food, and eliminating poverty and dispel myths about this growing population. We also talk about what AARP Texas has on their legislative agenda, and housing is at the top of the list!
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Episode 73: Breaking down HB 32 and SB 38 aka the Eviction Bills
Texas Housers is tracking several housing bills at the 2025 Texas Legislature, some good and some bad. However, one piece of proposed legislation, HB 32 and its companion SB 38, seeks to dramatically expidite and overhaul the eviction process as we know it.To learn more on how these bills would restrict tenants' ability to defend themselves, remain safely housed, or even have a fair day in court, Mark Melton from the Dallas Eviction Advocacy Center joins A Little Louder to detail exactly what this bill proposes. We also get into how this bill was erronously marketed as a "squatter" bill, and how everyday people can learn more about active legislation and act accordingly.Visit Who represents me? Texas Legislature Online to identify your elected officials.
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Episode 72: Diving into the massive eviction hub of Houston
Houston is a cross-section of so many factors when it comes to low-income housing. It is the fourth-largest city in the nation, is famously home to relaxed zoning laws, and hosts one of the highest eviction case filinings in the entire nation, outpacing several states.With this in mind, Taylor Laredo joins A Little Louder to talk about his deep dive into H-Town's eviction problem – the Harris County Eviction Mapping Tool – and his takeaways from the project, including what we can do to vastly improve the issue.
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Episode 71: Back to the Capitol for the 89th Texas Legislature
Our first episode of 2025 is a running start right into the 89th Session of the Texas Legislature and there is much ground to cover.
On this episode, research director Ben Martin joins the show to talk about Texas Housers' major focuses for housing this session, what bills are grabbing our attention right away, and how you can get involved as well.
For more information on what Texas Housers is tracking, you can visit texashousers.org/lege25 for everything on housing at the 89th Texas Legislature.
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Episode 70: Our biggest stories (and some you might have missed) from 2024
In a supersized episode, we leave 2024 with a bang. Michael Depland speaks with the staff of Texas Housers to reflect on this past year, to talk about what we were most proud of this year, and a brief look forward into the new year.
Thank you to Sidney Beaty, Erin Hahn, Ben Martin, Suzanne Baker, Julia Orduña, and Riley Metcalfe for joining the show. We've got big things planned for 2025, so stay tuned listeners!
A Little Louder is a podcast by Texas Housers, hosted by John Henneberger. We talk about fair housing, community development and community efforts to work toward just cities and inclusive neighborhoods.
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