Washington, DC - I am glad to see Congress is working quickly to approve critical resources, including paid sick leave and food assistance, to help households impacted by the Coronavirus outbreak. This emergency measure is an important first step, but far more is needed to provide for the housing and health needs of America’s lowest-income renters and people experiencing homelessness, who are at a greater risk of a Coronavirus outbreak. Congress must follow the lead of Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Senate Banking Committee Ranking Member Sherrod Brown and amend the emergency supplemental to include robust resources to help protect our homeless populations and allow low-income people to continue to keep a roof over their head during and after this crisis. Any Coronavirus response must include emergency rental and eviction prevention assistance and financial assistance directly to homelessness service providers, housing authorities, and housing assistance providers, among other recommendations from NLIHC’s Disaster Housing Recovery Coalition.
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About NLIHC: Established in 1974 by Cushing N. Dolbeare, the National Low Income Housing Coalition is dedicated solely to achieving socially just public policy that ensure people with the lowest income in the United States have affordable and decent homes.