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100 signatures reached
To: Petition to the Alabama State Legislature, Governor, Birmingham City Council, and appropriate housing officials
PETITION FOR THE ALABAMA END-OF-LIFE CAREGIVER HOUSING PROTECTION ACT
nitiated by: Kim Thomas
Purpose: To protect families from housing instability when they lose income while caring for a terminally ill loved one.
Purpose: To protect families from housing instability when they lose income while caring for a terminally ill loved one.
Our Request
We, the undersigned residents and supporters, respectfully request that Alabama lawmakers develop and introduce legislation establishing temporary housing protections for eligible tenants who experience a documented financial hardship while caring for a terminally ill parent, child, spouse, or other qualifying family member.
What We Are Asking Alabama to Do
We respectfully ask lawmakers to consider:
- A temporary rent-payment extension: Establish a reasonable extension, such as up to 30 days, for eligible tenants who demonstrate qualifying financial hardship caused by end-of-life caregiving.
- Temporary eviction protections: Establish clear rules that prevent or pause eviction proceedings during an approved extension, subject to defined eligibility requirements and safeguards for landlords.
- Emergency rental assistance: Create or expand a state-funded program to help qualifying caregivers pay overdue rent and prevent housing loss.
- A fair application process: Allow caregivers to submit appropriate documentation from a hospice provider, healthcare professional, employer, or other authorized source without unnecessary barriers.
- Protection for working families: Ensure that hourly employees, low-income workers, and caregivers without substantial paid leave can access the program if they qualify.
- Clear rules for tenants and landlords: Establish application deadlines, decision timelines, notification requirements, and a fair process for resolving disputes.
- Public reporting and accountability: Require the responsible agency to report on program use, outcomes, and funding needs.
Our Request to Public Officials
We request a meeting with state legislators and appropriate local officials to discuss this proposal, review possible funding options, and identify a path toward drafting and introducing legislation.
We ask our elected officials to recognize that end-of-life caregiving can create sudden financial hardship and that reasonable, carefully designed protections could help prevent avoidable housing loss.
Please support the development of the Alabama End-of-Life Caregiver Housing Protection Act.
Why is this important?
Why This Matters
Caring for a dying family member is one of the most difficult experiences a person can face. Many caregivers must miss work, reduce their hours, or leave employment entirely to provide care during hospice or end-of-life treatment.
When a caregiver loses income, rent and other essential bills do not stop. Even when families seek nonprofit or emergency rental assistance, funding may be delayed, denied, or unavailable.
No family should have to face the loss of a loved one while also facing the loss of their home simply because they were providing necessary end-of-life care.