Advocates have sent nearly 1,300 letters to members of Congress through the Opportunity Starts at Home multi-sector affordable homes campaign over the past six weeks. The letters advocate inclusion of vital housing and homelessness resources in the next COVID-19 relief package. Last week, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) unveiled a Democratic proposal for the next relief package, called the "HEROES Act,” which passed in the House of Representatives on May 15. The bill includes the campaign's most urgent priorities: $100 billion for emergency rental assistance; a uniform evictions moratorium; $11.5 billion for homeless assistance; and $4 billion for Housing Choice Vouchers. These priorities have been endorsed by leading national organizations in the areas of health, education, civil rights, environmental protection, hunger, faith, and domestic violence.
The “HEROES Act” is an important step forward, but we must keep the momentum going to ensure these housing resources are included in any final negotiated package. To act now, please send this letter to your senators and representative. Simply type in your street address, click submit, and the letter automatically goes to your senators and representative.
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