During our most recent (August 30) national call on “HoUSed: Universal, Stable, Affordable Housing,” House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) spoke about Congress’s short- and long-term efforts to expand the availability of safe, stable, affordable housing. We discussed the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn the eviction moratorium and the actions the Biden-Harris administration is taking to prevent evictions. We also received updates on the impact of Hurricane Ida in Louisiana and heard the latest from Capitol Hill.
Speaker Pelosi discussed the path forward to enact the $3.5 trillion reconciliation package that would provide up to $339 billion in funding for affordable housing. Citing House Financial Services Committee Chair Maxine Waters’s (D-CA) “Housing is Infrastructure Act,” Speaker Pelosi urged advocates to keep shining “a bright light” on the bill to keep pressure on Congress to act.
Andreanecia Morris, president of HousingLOUISIANA, provided updates on the impact of Hurricane Ida in Louisiana and discussed the challenges to evacuation faced by many of the households in the storm’s path. NLIHC’s Sarah Saadian gave an update on the latest developments on Capitol Hill and summarized the policy priorities NLIHC and the HoUSed campaign are pushing for in the reconciliation package, including at least $180 billion to expand rental assistance to the lowest-income households; $70 billion to fully address the capital repair backlog in public housing; and $45 billion for the construction of deeply affordable housing through the national Housing Trust Fund.
American Rescue Plan Coordinator and Senior Advisor to the President Gene Sperling, along with the Treasury Department’s Deputy Assistant Secretary for Community Economic Development, Noel Poyo, spoke about the Biden administration’s efforts to prevent evictions and expedite the distribution of emergency rental assistance.
Our next national call will be on Tuesday, September 7 at 2:30 pm ET. Register at: https://tinyurl.com/ru73qan
Watch a recording of the August 30 call at: tinyurl.com/wcfu32ap
View presentation slides at: tinyurl.com/fd5aw5uh