On our most recent (September 28) call on “HoUSed: Universal, Stable, Affordable Housing,” we welcomed Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee Chair Sherrod Brown (D-OH). The senators each discussed their efforts to secure bold investments in housing assistance, construction, and preservation in the “Build Back Better Act,” the $3.5 trillion reconciliation package being debated in Congress.
Thanks to the leadership of congressional champions and the work of advocates across the country, the bill currently contains an historic $327 billion investment in affordable housing, including significant funding for NLIHC’s HoUSed campaign’s top policy priorities:
- $90 billion to expand housing vouchers
- $80 billion to repair and preserve public housing
- $37 billion for the national Housing Trust Fund to construct deeply affordable housing
NLIHC’s Sarah Saadian provided updates from Capitol Hill, including on discussions between moderate and progressive democrats on the bipartisan infrastructure bill, the continuing resolution to keep the federal government funded, and the “Build Back Better Act.” Negotiations on the “Build Back Better Act” – including a final top-line funding number – are ongoing, so advocates should continue taking action and urge congress to maintain the targeted affordable housing investments currently in the bill.
Gene Sperling, senior advisor to President Biden, discussed eviction data and prevention at the federal level and encouraged emergency rental assistance (ERA) grantees to adopt the flexibilities in Treasury’s guidance, including self-attestation and court diversion, to speed up the distribution of ERA funds and keep renters stably housed.
NLIHC’s Emma Foley presented updated ERA spending numbers, and NLIHC’s Sarah Gallagher discussed the ERA best practices found in highest performing states. Willie “JR” Fleming, executive director of the Chicago Anti-Eviction Campaign and ERASE Project grantee, joined to discuss the Campaign’s success working with other advocates in Chicago to prevent evictions using ERA funds. Angelica Moran, a policy specialist from Idaho Voices for Children, discussed the organization’s advocacy toolkit and day of action webinar with the goal of giving every Idahoan a stable and affordable home.
Our next national call will be on Monday, October 4 at 2:30 pm ET. We will hear about new research on universal housing vouchers from the University of Pennsylvania, highlight HUD’s House America initiative, provide updates from Capitol Hill, hear the latest from the field, and more. Register for the upcoming call at: tinyurl.com/ru73qan
View presentation slides at: tinyurl.com/m9fnzbhc
Watch the recording at: tinyurl.com/ypkbrhps