Representative Jim Himes (D-CT), chair of the U.S. House Select Committee on Economic Disparity and Fairness in Growth, held a hearing on March 1, “Promoting Economic Prosperity and Fair Growth through Access to Affordable and Stable Housing.” Witnesses discussed economically efficient policy solutions to attaining affordable, safe, and stable housing. View a recording of the hearing here.
The witnesses included Shaun Donovan, former HUD secretary and former director of the Office of Management and Budget; Nikitra Bailey, senior vice president of public policy at the National Fair Housing Alliance; Jacqueline Waggoner, president of the Solutions Division at Enterprise Community Partners; Kevin Nowak, executive director of CHN Housing; and Dr. Salim Furth, senior research fellow at the Mercatus Center at George Mason University.
“Housing isn’t just about ensuring a roof over one’s head. It’s the vital link between one’s dignity and ability to prosper in our society,” said Chair Himes in his opening remarks. Representative Pramila Jayapal (D-WA) echoed the chair’s sentiments, asserting that “housing is at the center of everything else.”
Kevin Nowak, whose organization is based in Cuyahoga County, Ohio, discussed how adopting a Housing First strategy for addressing homelessness has helped people experiencing chronic homelessness find and maintain stable housing. “[The Housing First] approach allows people to have that safe, decent, affordable place to live in, with low barriers to get there,” said Nowak. “Once we have people within our Housing First units, we see them staying in the units…We’re seeing a housing stability rate of 95 percent.” Nowak also estimated that his county had saved more than $9.2 million since implementing a Housing First approach.
Watch a recording of the hearing here.
Read the hearing memo here.