Fair Distribution of Affordable Housing Funds Act
On July 14, Representative Bill Foster (D-IL) introduced the Fair Distribution of Affordable Housing Funds Act of 2016 (H.R.5835). Under this bill, the minimum funding level given to every state by the National Housing Trust Fund (HTF) would be repealed and replaced with a formula based on population and need.
In a press release posted to his website, Representative Foster outlined that this legislation aims to correct federal spending formulas that “discriminate against states with large populations.” He cited Illinois as an example of a “payer state” or a state that pays far more in federal taxes than it receives back in federal funding. To combat this trend, Representative Foster has introduced legislation in the past which would require all federal agencies to assess the net economic effect of all federal spending programs on individual states.
Fair Distribution of Affordable Housing Funds Act has been referred to the House Financial Services Committee. It has not gained any cosponsors so far, and NAHMA does not anticipate that this bill will advance past the Committee level.
Fair Housing for Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Survivors Act
Also on July 14, Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) introduced the Fair Housing for Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Survivors Act of 2016 (S.3220), a bill which would provide additional legal protections to ensure that victims of domestic violence and sexual assault have access to safe housing.
Building upon provisions included in the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), Senator Shaheen’s bill would establish a nationwide standard that victims of domestic violence and sexual assault cannot be evicted or otherwise penalized solely for being victims of those crimes. VAWA was limited to federally funded public housing and federally subsidized housing programs – S.3220 will apply to all housing in the United States.
In a press release, the Senator cited that more than 10% of all evictions and more than 25% of housing denials were based on a victim’s experience with domestic violence. It was also noted that as many as 50% of all homeless women and children are fleeing domestic violence.
In a statement, Senator Shaheen said “Domestic violence and sexual assault survivors have so many obstacles to overcome – it’s unconscionable that women are removed from their homes and face repeated discrimination simply because of the heinous crimes committed against them.”
S.3220 has been referred to the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs; it currently does not have any cosponsors.