House Committee examines affordable housing as infrastructure
This week, the House Financial Services Committee heard testimony on the affordable housing crisis as part of the nation’s broader infrastructure needs. Throughout the hearing, lawmakers and witnesses examined efforts to preserve the portfolio and develop new affordable housing, including by aligning housing and transportation infrastructure, streamlining parts of the housing development process, and increasing congressional investments in affordable housing programs. The witnesses also discussed the need for emphasizing approaches to housing that “lift up residents,” such as place-based after-school programs and housing growth that targets opportunities.
The hearing, which was titled “Housing America: Assessing the Infrastructure Needs of America’s Housing Stock,” centered on draft legislation introduced by Committee Chairwoman Maxine Waters that would significantly increase investments in housing infrastructure. In particular, the draft bill includes:
- $1 billion to fund the backlog of capital needs for the Section 515 and 514 rural housing stock;
- $5 billion to support mitigation efforts that can protect communities from future disasters and reduce post-disaster federal spending;
- $5 billion for the Housing Trust Fund to support the creation of hundreds of thousands of new units of housing that would be affordable to the lowest income households;
- $100 million to help low income elderly households in rural areas age in place;
- $1 billion for the Native American Housing Block Grant Program to address substandard housing conditions on tribal lands;
- $10 billion for a CDBG set-aside to incentivize states and cities to eliminate impact fees and responsibly streamline the process for development of affordable housing; and
- $70 billion to address the public housing capital backlog.
Witnesses for the hearing included Diane Yentel of the National Low Income Housing Coalition (NLIHC); Adrianne Todman of the National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials (NAHRO); Steven Lawson on behalf of the National Association of Home Builders; and Daryl Carter on behalf of the National Multifamily Housing Council (NMHC) and the National Apartment Association (NAA).
To view a recording of the hearing and to view the draft legislation, please click here.
USDA Rural Development announces leadership change
This week, USDA announced that Justin Domer has been appointed Chief of Staff for Rural Development’s Rural Housing Service. Most recently, Domer ran a family-owned business specializing in residential and water infrastructure services. Prior to this, he was a regional representative for former Florida Gov. Rick Scott. Curtis Anderson, who had served as RHS Chief of Staff, has moved to the same position at RD’s Rural Utilities Service.
NAHMA members promote housing as a platform for success
To help NAHMA succeed in promoting adult literacy and demonstrating that housing is a platform for success, NAHMA members continue to spread the word about a free literacy app, available for download until August 31, 2019.
To join the effort, simply distribute our English and Spanish fliers throughout your companies, communities, and to on-site staff. Residents can download the free app at https://abc.xprize.org/ac5588 using Community Referral Code 5588. For more info, please visit our webpage here.