Lower Bucks Today

Representatives Brian Fitzpatrick, Lisa Blunt Rochester, and Joyce Beatty, along with Senators Amy Klobuchar and Tim Kaine, have introduced the bipartisan Housing Supply and Affordability Act. The bill aims to address the shortage of affordable housing in the United States by creating a new grant program to support local efforts to increase housing supply.

According to Congressman Fitzpatrick, "Housing supply shortages and rising costs are placing the American Dream out of reach for far too many families." He emphasizes the need to reverse this trend and states that the bipartisan bill will provide state and local governments with the resources they need to effectively increase housing development and availability.

Congresswoman Blunt Rochester highlights the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the shortage of affordable housing and the need for additional resources to increase housing supply and lower costs. She states, "It’s not enough to create more housing – we also need to ensure that it’s affordable." The Housing Supply and Affordability Act aims to achieve this goal by creating more available and affordable housing.

Congresswoman Beatty acknowledges the negative effects of outdated policies that have left homeownership out of reach for many families. She believes that the bipartisan bill will address the root causes of the housing shortage by incentivizing state and local governments to enact policies that increase housing inventory and lower costs.

Senator Klobuchar emphasizes the importance of stable and quality housing for expanding economic opportunities. She states, "This legislation will give state and local governments critical resources to improve affordability and expand access to quality housing where it’s needed the most."

Senator Kaine, as a former fair housing attorney, understands the difference that affordable housing can make for families. He urges his colleagues to support the bill and make affordable housing more accessible for all.

The Housing Supply and Affordability Act creates a $300 million competitive grant program each year over 5 years to support state and local governments in developing housing plans that increase housing supply. The bill ensures that at least 10% of funds are awarded to rural areas and prioritizes grants for housing plans that increase affordable housing access for individuals of every race and income level.

The bill also requires the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to issue guidance with recommended policies, strategies, and reforms to encourage the development of more housing. This includes repurposing land for housing development, allowing for a greater variety of housing types, revising land use policies, streamlining the approval process, providing financial incentives for affordable housing development, and supporting inclusive engagement of community members.

The Housing Supply and Affordability Act has received endorsements from various organizations, including the National Apartment Association (NAA), National Multifamily Housing Council (NMHC), American Planning Association (APA), and Habitat for Humanity, among others. These organizations recognize the importance of increasing housing supply to address the affordability crisis.

In conclusion, the bipartisan Housing Supply and Affordability Act aims to increase the availability of affordable housing by providing resources to state and local governments. By addressing the barriers to housing supply and promoting affordable housing development, the bill seeks to make the American Dream of homeownership more attainable for families across the country.