NLIHC, CBPP, and NAEH Submit Proposal to Foster Economic Growth

NLIHC, the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP), and the National Alliance to End Homelessness (NAEH) submitted a proposal on fostering economic growth to the Senate Banking Committee on April 14 in response to Chairman Mike Crapo (R-ID) and Ranking Member Sherrod Brown’s (D-OH) public request. The proposal argues that the key to economic growth is increasing the availability of affordable rental housing.

Affordable homes provide stability that makes it easier for adults to keep jobs and contributes to children’s health, success in school, and opportunity for long-term success. Access to an affordable home also reduces family stress and frees up resources for parents to spend on nutritious food, health care, and enriching activities and materials that promote their children’s healthy and successful development. By building affordable homes in high-opportunity areas, families are better able to live in healthy neighborhoods with quality schools and good jobs. Moreover, affordable housing investments provide an economic boost in communities with weak economies.

Despite the benefits of affordable housing, our nation invests far too little in housing solutions for those most in need. Many renters—particularly those with extremely low incomes—cannot access an affordable place to call home. To address this need and to spur economic growth, the proposal recommends a comprehensive set of solutions, including an expansion of rental assistance, emergency homeless assistance, and capital to build and preserve affordable housing for the lowest income people through the national Housing Trust Fund, among others.

Read the joint proposal at: http://bit.ly/2pgKvZP