The House and Senate are currently determining how to invest more than $330 billion in affordable housing as part of its $3.5 trillion infrastructure and economic recovery bill. Congress needs to hear from you NOW! This bill is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to begin to end homelessness and housing poverty in America, but ONLY if Congress includes the targeted investments called for by over 1,300 organizations in the HoUSed campaign: investing $45 billion in the national Housing Trust Fund; $180 billion to expand rental assistance for those most in need; and $70 billion to preserve public housing.
Background
The Senate Banking and Housing Committee and House Financial Services Committee are working to finish writing legislation to invest more than $330 billion in affordable housing through a $3.5 trillion infrastructure and economic recovery reconciliation bill, which could pass in the Senate with a simple majority rather than the 60 votes required for other legislation.
It is critical that Congress use this opportunity to prioritize investing in decent, accessible affordable housing for those with the greatest, clearest needs – people experiencing homelessness and people with the lowest incomes.
To ensure these investments are used to help end homelessness and housing poverty in America, advocates should urge their senators and representatives to include full funding for the HoUSed campaign’s top priorities: investing $180 billion to expand rental assistance for those most in need, providing $70 billion to preserve public housing, and investing $45 billion in the national Housing Trust Fund to build and operate rental homes for people with the lowest incomes.
The HoUSed campaign works to achieve the large-scale, sustained investments and anti-racist reforms necessary to ensure renters with the lowest incomes have stable, accessible, affordable homes. This infrastructure and economic recovery package is our first and best opportunity to advance our priorities, including expanding rental assistance, repairing public housing, and investing in the national Housing Trust Fund to build apartments affordable to the lowest-income people.
The House Financial Services Committee is scheduled to vote on the bill on September 13, before it is combined into a larger infrastructure and economic recovery package for a vote on the House floor by the end of the month. Democratic leaders expect the bill to be enacted and signed into law by mid-October.
Take Action TODAY!
We need advocates to take action:
- Contact your senators and representatives and urge them to include full funding for the HoUSed campaign’s priorities in the infrastructure and economic recovery package. Educate your members of Congress on why investments in rental assistance, public housing, and the Housing Trust Fund are critical to your community.
- Join more than 1,300 organizations nationwide by signing the HoUSed campaign letter. This letter is one of the most effective ways to show congressional leaders the broad support for the HoUSed campaign’s priorities for the infrastructure/economic recovery bill. Sign on to the letter here.
Thank you for your advocacy!