Advocates press Reading City Council for housing bill of rights

Two local advocacy groups are urging City Council to adopt a housing bill of rights, aimed at strengthening tenant protections, addressing homelessness and improving housing conditions in Reading.

Members of Berks Stands Up and Make the Road spoke at a recent council committee of the whole meeting.

The proposal outlines several rights, including a right to rest that would decriminalize homelessness-related activities, protections for personal property and expanded access to public space when shelter is unavailable, members of the groups explained.

It also calls for fair and predictable leases, including limits on rent increases, advance notice of hikes, and caps on application fees and security deposits.

The presenters said the proposal is based on legislation passed in other cities and proposed bills making their way through the state Legislature.

Cierra "Cece" Mayo of Berks Stands Up and other speakers wove personal accounts with policy proposals, saying the two are inseparable.

"We need a housing bill of rights so that people are protected and cared for and able to stay in the communities they call home," Mayo said. "I'm asking you to listen to people's stories and remember that it could be anyone, even someone like me, someone who tried to do everything the right way."

Mayo shared her experience of being priced out of her apartment after the building was sold.

The new owner nearly doubled her monthly rent to $1,000 from $577, she said.

Mayo struggled to make ends meet and, after a series of family and personal emergencies, she fell behind.

"The landlord filed for eviction as soon as legally possible," she said. "I was 10 days late. After years of being on time or early on payments, I was being put out."

Within days, Mayo said she was sleeping in her car with her dog.

"What I went through was dehumanizing. It was destabilizing and demoralizing," she said.

Safe and affordable housing is a fundamental need, said Maria Sosa, a member of Make the Road.

"Safe housing provides stability," she said. "It's not a luxury. It's a human right."

The plan, she said, includes measures to strengthen anti-discrimination protections and expand access to home repair programs.

Sosa also raised concerns about lead exposure and the safety of the city's aging housing stock. She called for stronger inspection requirements and enforcement.

The city recently intensified its code enforcement and blight remediation strategies by disqualifying habitual offenders from bidding at Berks County tax sales, reorganizing code enforcement staff into districts and resuming all-hands neighborhood sweeps in targeted areas.

Briana Rodriguez, regional organizing manager of Berks Stands Up, said the proposal is designed to address the concerns of the larger community.

"When we have people on the streets, that doesn't just impede their lives, it impedes the quality of life for everybody in the community," she said.

The proposal, she said, aims to address systemic gaps.

"The point of the entire package is to look at the system so that when people are on the streets, we're trying to make sure that the life-sustaining activities that they're participating in are not criminalized," she said. "We also want to make sure that there is capacity and adequate alternative indoor spaces."

Council members expressed support for the groups' goals but noted state laws limit what can be enacted locally.

Some of the proposals, such as rent control, fall under state authority, Councilman Jaime Baez Jr. noted.

"There are limits to what municipal government can do," he said. "We want to be able to provide solutions … but don't want to overpromise."

Council Solicitor Michael Gombar agreed, noting parts of the proposal are preempted by state or federal law. However, he identified potential areas for local action, including housing inspections and reviewing policies affecting people experiencing homelessness.

Managing Director Jack Gombach said the mayor supports the intent of the proposal but noted funding challenges, particularly amid federal cuts.

"The issue that I see from my vantage point is the fundings that we use to support these types of initiatives are largely federal," he said, "and under the current federal administration, they are actively seeking to cut the sources of funding. It forces the city to do more with less."

Council President Donna Reed encouraged the advocates to continue building support beyond the city.

"We appreciate all the time and effort you took and your willingness to come forward with your stories that's very, very important," she said.

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This story was originally published May 18, 2026 at 6:37 AM.