NLIHC joined 39 national organizations in sending a letter to the Senate urging passage of the “Housing Opportunities Through Modernization Act” (H.R. 3700). The House passed H.R. 3700 unanimously on February 2, 2016 (see Memo, 2/8).
The letter states, “Our nation faces tremendous housing needs. This legislation is an important step forward to address a number of significant items that have enjoyed broad consensus over the years. There is more to be done to address housing and community development needs, but H.R. 3700 represents solid progress in the right direction. If enacted, this bipartisan bill would build on the effectiveness of federal rental assistance while achieving some modest savings.”
NLIHC and its partners urge advocates to meet with their Senators while Congress is in recess this week and ask that they pledge their support for passing H.R. 3700 by unanimous consent.
H.R. 3700 would make several important changes to the operation of housing assistance programs. It would:
- Improve the project-basing of vouchers to increase housing options while ensuring choice.
- Change income reviews to allow residents to hold onto 100% of increased earnings from income for longer periods.
- Impose housing assistance limits for households with incomes above 120% of the poverty level.
- Streamline income deductions while requiring hardship exemptions for negatively impacted families.
- Allow for expedited inspection processes for units to be rented with vouchers to quicken local efforts to house families and individuals.
- Update the Housing for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA) distribution formula.
Read the letter at: http://bit.ly/1YUjfri