With thanks to the National Low Income Housing Coalition (NLIHC) for this update:
On March 12, The U.S. Senate passed the “21st Century ROAD to Housing Act,” a unified, bipartisan housing supply package, by a vote of 89-10. If enacted, it would be the largest, bipartisan housing supply bill passed by Congress in decades.
The unified package includes some of NLIHC’s top priorities, including:
- The “Reforming Disaster Recovery Act,” which would help ensure the federal government’s disaster recovery programs better serve disaster survivors and disaster-impacted communities with the lowest incomes.
- The “Rural Housing Service Reform Act,” which would help preserve affordable rental and homeownership opportunities for low-income people and families living in rural areas, and maintain housing access for 400,000 rural families.
- Two provisions from the “Choice in Affordable Housing Act” related to streamlining inspections for the Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) program to make it faster and easier for HCV recipients to access housing in communities of their choice.
Additionally, the bill includes the:
- “Incentivizing Local Solutions to Homelessness Act,” which would allow for greater flexibility in how communities can use Emergency Solutions Grant funding to address the needs of people experiencing unsheltered homelessness; and the
- “Housing Unhoused Disabled Veterans Act,” which would help more veterans experiencing homelessness access housing opportunities through the HUD-Veteran Affairs Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) program.
We are extending our immense gratitude to Senator Elizabeth Warren, a lead sponsor of the bill and fierce champion for affordable housing in Massachusetts and across the nation.
Next steps: The bill will now be considered in the House, where it faces potential challenges to enactment. We will continue to share advocacy opportunities. For now, please don’t hesitate to reach out to Senator Warren to share your thanks for her leadership. You can contact her office here.
