TRANSCRIPT: Quentin Savwoir's testimony to the NV Legislature in support of AB141
I’m Quentin Savwoir, Deputy Director at Make It Work Nevada - part of the Nevada Housing Justice Alliance.
At my organization, specifically, we work alongside Black women and Black families to change public policy in the areas of economic, racial and reproductive justice. AB141 is a measure that meets the intersection of each of these fights and demands our urgent attention.
When the current protections expire at the end of March, hundreds of thousands of Nevadans will be threatened with eviction. We know that, statewide, women of color lead the households that will make-up these evictions. The same women that have been counted amongst the 5.4 million jobs (according to Center for American Progress) that have been lost due to the pandemic.
when a Black mother with an eviction on her record moves it is often to a neighborhood that is significantly further away from basic amenities like a park, grocery store or healthcare clinic.
Nationally, women of color - Black women specifically - are evicted at exceptionally higher rates than any other group of people. When Black women are evicted, it drives them further into neighborhoods that lack adequate resources to raise their families - that is IF they are able to find housing that is affordable because Black women are still paid significantly less than their colleagues for doing the exact same work. According to sociologist Matthew Desmond, when a Black mother with an eviction on her record moves it is often to a neighborhood that is significantly further away from basic amenities like a park, grocery store or healthcare clinic.
All these things layered on top of the other proves this is more than a housing issue. It’s an economic justice issue. It’s a racial justice issue. It’s a reproductive justice issue.
At its core, AB141 is about giving families a little wiggle room as we all navigate the landscape of these uncertain times.
We don’t seek to villainize or devastate the industry for landlords or property managers, we just ask for policy that considers the full humanity of our community members and shakes the ironclad grip that this industry has on our public policy in this state.
We urge bi-partisan support for AB141 to protect Nevadan families.
Thank you.