The Opportunity Starts at Home (OSAH) campaign released an updated version of its national policy agenda, “Within Reach: Ambitious Federal Solutions to Meet the Housing Needs of People with Low Incomes.” Written in collaboration with the OSAH campaign’s Steering Committee, Within Reach identifies short- and long-term policy strategies essential for Congress to act on to address the affordable housing crisis. These strategies include expanding rental assistance, increasing the supply of deeply affordable housing, and providing emergency financial assistance for households experiencing unforeseen economic shocks. The report features research demonstrating that housing is a critical driver of outcomes in many other areas of life, such as health, education, economic mobility, food security, poverty reduction. The updated policy agenda also maintains its emphasis on advancing racial equity, stating that “Affordable housing (and housing broadly) has a long history rooted in racial and social injustice that must be remedied if we want to grow the economy, care for our seniors and people with disabilities, create safe communities and neighborhoods for everyone, improve food security, meet veterans’ needs, end homelessness, strengthen youth, support local businesses, and more.”
Read the policy agenda here.