Federal Action Agenda: Housing
Our nation’s cities, towns and villages face a housing crisis. Across the country, subsidized and affordably priced homes for rental and homeownership are disappearing as a result of the strong forces within the housing market. New affordable units are not being built fast enough to meet current or projected needs. A widening gap between wages and rents is accelerating the loss – and fueling an increase in homelessness.
Cities cannot solve the crisis of lost housing alone. In fast-growing cities, wages are not keeping up with housing costs, leading to a dearth of affordable housing. We must create additional units of affordable housing. In slower growth legacy cities, there is a persistent high rate of vacant and blighted housing that is aging beyond repair due to general economic disruption and the aftereffects of the foreclosure crisis.
NLC calls on Congress to help communities reverse the loss of affordable and workforce housing by modernizing policies and increasing investment in federal housing programs.
Action and Legislation
- Support S. 3030 to Stem the Rate of Evictions
NLC calls on the Senate to cosponsor S. 3030, the Eviction Crisis Act, introduced by Senator Michael Bennet (D-CO). The bill would create several grant programs to prevent at-risk tenants from being evicted and establish consumer protections.
- Support S. 3083 to Help End Homelessness Among Families with Young Children
NLC calls on the Senate to cosponsor S. 3083, the Family Stability and Opportunity Vouchers Act, introduced by Senator Todd Young (R-IN). The bipartisan bill would create an additional 500,000 housing vouchers specifically designed for low-income families with young children to expand their access to neighborhoods of opportunity with high-performing schools, strong job prospects, and other resources.
Cities Improving Healthy Housing: Take the Local Action Challenge!
Permanent Housing is the Goal – But it Won’t Address Homelessness Now
How To Make Housing Infrastructure Resilient
- Abygail C. Mangar
- Kyle Funk
- Julia Bauer
Creating Housing Affordability Through Policy Design
How Your Community Can Address the Housing Crisis
- Clarence E. Anthony
- Anthony Love
