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August Advocacy Week 3: Rental Assistance and Increase Housing Supply

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As a member of the National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials (NAHRO), I have witnessed the current affordable housing crisis take root in our community for years, which is now playing out catastrophically for many families. I urge you to immediately respond to this crisis by coming back to Washington to vote to give families direct rental assistance. I also implore you, as we look to recover from this economic crisis, to address a fundamental flaw in our economy: a lack of affordable housing units across the country. 
America is experiencing a housing crisis that did not have to be this severe. A severe lack of affordable housing in nearly every community in the country combined with decades of low wages have pushed many families to the brink financially. The Aspen Institute estimates that 30 million – 40 million families may be at risk of eviction in the coming months. As the country’s most experienced rental assistance system, Public Housing Agencies (PHAs) should be looked to work with families and landlords to administer this assistance. Congress alone can prevent mass homelessness in America; come back to Washington immediately to help families.

The persistent shortfall in new housing supply is compounding housing affordability pressure across the country. The Urban Land Institute estimates the current production of new affordable multifamily units, 100,000 annually, is not enough to meet existing needs. Since 1999, almost 300,000 permanently affordable units were removed from the inventory of public housing units. 
At the core of recovery from the pandemic and the economic fallout should be a commitment to dramatically scale up production of affordable housing, creating quality jobs while giving Americans housing options. NAHRO recommends Congress fund the construction of 300,000 new units of permanently affordable housing across the country. NAHRO recommends that Congress provide $54 billion for new housing construction so that PHAs can construct these desperately needed housing units.

Additionally, tools provided by Congress to create affordable housing should be made permanently and more widely available. Since 1986, the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (Housing Credit) has financed the development of over 3 million apartments, providing affordable homes to more than 7 million low-income families. The development of these apartments has supported 3.6 million jobs, generated $344 billion in local income, and $135 billion in federal, state, and local tax revenues. The Affordable Housing Credit Improvement Act must be enacted into law as it increases the Housing Credit allocation by 50 percent, permanently sets the four percent Housing Credit rate, and further strengthens and streamlines the program.

I urge you to help American families by coming back to Washington today and to help families in the future by creating more affordable housing units.

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August Advocacy Week 3: Rental Assistance and Increase Housing Supply

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