By NLIHC Policy Team
NLIHC Senior Policy Analyst Libby O’Neill spoke at a September 2 roundtable hosted by the New Democrat Coalition on the next steps Congress should take to address the affordable housing crisis. The roundtable was led by the Coalition’s Vice Chair for Outreach, Salud Carbajal (D-CA), Housing, Infrastructure, & Transportation Working Group Chair Norma Torres (D-CA), and Housing Task Force Chair Emilia Sykes (D-OH); fourteen additional members of the Coalition joined the event.
New Democrat Coalition members led many of the bills included in the “21st Century ROAD to Housing Act,” which became law on July 12, including the “Housing Supply Frameworks Act,” which NLIHC endorsed. Members expressed excitement for the accomplishments in ROAD, while acknowledging that much more needs to be done to address the nation’s housing challenges.
O’Neill recommended several of NLIHC’s priorities for inclusion in a future housing package, including the bipartisan “Family Stability and Opportunity Vouchers Act,” the “Rent Relief Act,” the “Eviction Crisis Act,” the “FEMA Act,” the “Affordable Housing Credit Improvement Act” (H.R.2725/S.1515), the National Tenants Bill of Rights, and reauthorization of the “Native American Housing and Self-Determination Act (NAHASDA).” O’Neill also emphasized the need for a focus on preservation, as much of the current housing conversation is about new supply.
In addition to NLIHC, roundtable guests included the National Association of Home Builders, National Apartment Association, Up for Growth, National Association of Realtors, Manufactured Housing Institute, Economic Innovation Group, and Terner Center at U.C. Berkeley. Stakeholders brought up a variety of issues for the Coalition to consider, followed by a brief time for questions and discussion.
NLIHC commends members of the New Democrat Coalition for continuing this important work on housing affordability. NLIHC will continue to work with members of Congress to ensure that future housing legislation includes policies that create and support affordable, accessible, and stable housing for renters with the lowest incomes.
Read the New Democrat Coalition’s Press Release on the event.
Read NLIHC’s “21st Century ROAD to Housing Act” explainer.