The COVID-19 pandemic brought to the forefront that thousands of North Carolinians reside in motels as their primary residence due to the state's ongoing affordable housing crisis. The proposed legislation would remove tenant protections for motel renters, protections that have been the law in North Carolina for 30 years. If passed, HB 352 will only worsen the housing crisis for families struggling to find housing by increasing our homeless population and straining public resources.  

Ask Gov. Cooper to veto legislation that will eliminate tenant protections for those living in motels.

HB 352 would automatically reclassify all those staying in motels as "transient guests" for the first three months of their stay. This will allow motel owners and managers to treat tenants who complain about living conditions or are late with their rent as trespassers and forcibly remove them or have them arrested. 

In short, by removing decades-long recognized tenant protections the bill will force vulnerable community members into homelessness.