Prior to their passage of the COVID-19 response legislation negotiated in the Senate, Democrats in the House of Representatives and other members of Congress introduced their own bills to address the impacts of the coronavirus pandemic on people experiencing homelessness and low-income renters.
House Democrats released the “Take Responsibility for Workers and Families Act,” (H.R.6379) on March 23, a counterproposal to the provisions outlined in Senate Republicans’ initial COVID-19 supplemental (see Memo, 3/23). The bill would have provided robust funding to protect low-income households and people experiencing homelessness during the COVID-19 outbreak. It was introduced by Representatives Nina Lowey (D-NY), Richard Neal (D-MA), Frank Pallone (D-NJ), Peter DeFazio (D-OR), Bobby Scott (D-VA), Nydia Velazquez (D-NY), Maxine Waters (D-CA), Carolyn Maloney (D-NY), and Zoe Lofgren (D-CA).
The bill included many of NLIHC and the NLIHC-led Disaster Housing Recovery Coalition’s (DHRC’s) recommendations, including $15.5 billion in additional funding for McKinney-Vento Emergency Solutions Grants (ESG) program, $100 billion in funding for rental assistance and eviction prevention, and a temporary national moratorium on evictions and foreclosures. The bill also proposed $1.5 billion for tenant-based rental assistance, $720 million for the Public Housing Operating Fund, $350 million for Tribal housing programs, and $15 billion in additional funding for the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program.
Other bills introduced by members of Congress:
Senator Kamala Harris (D-CA) introduced on March 19 the “Pandemic Assistance Disaster Act” (S.3534). The bill would clarify the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)’s ability to provide financial assistance directly to individuals during a pandemic, including the current coronavirus outbreak.
Representative Al Green (D-TX) introduced on March 24 a bill, H.R.6382, that would provide support for fair housing enforcement activities during the coronavirus pandemic.
Representative Steve Stivers (R-OH), ranking member of the House Financial Services Subcommittee on Housing, Community Development, and Insurance, introduced two bills March 19 to protect public housing residents. The “Protecting Our Elderly Residents Act” (H.R.6295) would require HUD to issue guidelines limiting the spread of COVID-19 in elderly housing properties and public housing. The “PHA Public Housing Flexible Funding Act” (H.R.6296) would allow public housing agencies to use operating and capital funds to address the ongoing public health emergency caused by COVID-19.
Representative Ted Budd (R-NC) introduced the “Informed Resident Notification Act” (H.R.6297) on March 19. The bill would require public housing agencies to notify all residents in public housing when a COVID-19 outbreak is detected.
Representative Denny Heck (D-WA) introduced on March 23 the “Emergency Rental Assistance Act of 2020” (H.R.6314), which would increase short-term rental assistance for most people by expanding the Emergency Solutions Grant Program.
Representatives Ayanna Pressley (D-MA) and Rashida Tlaib (D-MI) introduced on March 23 “The Public Health Emergency Shelter Act” (H.R.6362), a bill that would provide $15.5 billion in emergency grants for homeless assistance.
Representatives Jesus García (D-IL) and Barbara Lee (D-CA) introduced the “Rental Eviction Moratorium Act” (H.R.6347) on March 23. The bill proposes instituting a nationwide eviction ban that would sunset six months after the President’s Emergency Declaration is ended by FEMA.
Representative Nydia Veláquez (D-NY) introduced a bill, H.R.6374, on March 23 that would temporarily suspend rent contribution requirements during the coronavirus emergency for tenants living in public housing or for tenants receiving Housing Choice Vouchers.
The House Democrats’ proposal is at: https://bit.ly/2xuVfZW
NLIHC’s comparison of funding levels in the Senate bill, House bill, and final coronavirus bill is at: https://bit.ly/2UC9T9C
NLIHC’s analysis of the housing provisions in the final coronavirus bill is at: https://bit.ly/39krx78
NLIHC’s and DHRC’s recommendations for a comprehensive COVID-19 package is at: https://bit.ly/3dtbwz3