LSA Public Policy Priorities
Affordable Housing
All people should live in safe, affordable, and decent housing. Investment in the development of affordable housing should be shared by government, nonprofit developers, and for-profit developers. It is important for affordable housing to be available in rural, suburban and urban communities. Different types of housing units should be available so that the diverse housing needs of people are appropriately met, including single-family housing, multi-family residences and in some cases, small group or community-living housing.
LSA Affordable Housing Priorities for the 111th Congress
- Inclusion of $1 billion in mandatory funding for the National Housing Trust Fund in the FY2011 budget
- Passage of Section 202 Supportive Housing for the Elderly Act (S. 118)
- Passage of the Frank Melville Supportive Housing Investment Act of 2009 (H.R. 1675)
Implementation of and Funding for the National Housing Trust Fund
The National Housing Trust Fund was created as a part of the Housing Economic Recovery Act, signed into law on July 30, 2008. LSA has been and continues to be a part of the National Housing Trust Fund Campaign to ensure proper implementation and sufficient funding for the Trust Fund. The goal of the National Housing Trust Fund is to provide for the housing needs of very low income families, primarily families with incomes of less than 30 percent of area median income.
The main source of funding for the National Housing Trust Fund was to come from a percentage of new business of government-sponsored entities Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, but other sources of funding need to be generated. LSA was pleased with President Obama’s request for $1 billion in capital funding for the National Housing Trust Fund in the FY2010 budget, and continues to work with the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and other affordable housing partners to search for sufficient, sustainable funding for this important program.
LSA and its members are also in conversation with HUD and local housing authorities to ensure smooth, effective implementation of the National Housing Trust Fund. State and local housing entities will be integral in the dissemination of Trust Fund dollars, and LSA members interested in the Trust Fund are encouraged to connect with their state and local housing authorities.
Passage of Section 202 Reform Legislation
For every ten people over the age of 62 who are waiting for affordable, assisted housing, only one unit is available. Many nonprofit organizations are interested in providing affordable, assisted housing through the Section 202 Supportive Housing for the Elderly Program, but reforms are needed to the application process and funding is required for rehabilitation of existing Section 202 units and new Section 202 units. Senator Herb Kohl (D-WI) introduced S. 118, the Supportive Housing for the Elderly Act of 2009, on the first day of the 111th Congress. The text of the Senate bill is included in proposed legislation in the House that covers several areas of housing preservation, which is expected to be introduced yet this year. LSA supports passage of this legislation, as well as increased funding in the FY2011 budget for this important program. Click here to learn more about the Section 202 Supportive Housing for the Elderly Act of 2009.
Passage of Section 811 Reform Legislation
In FY2008, the Section 811 Supportive Housing for Persons with Disabilities program funded the creation of only 930 housing units. It has been estimated that as many as 2.4 million non-elderly adult disabled households have the most urgent housing needs. Reforms are needed to ensure that people with disabilities have access to adequate, affordable supportive housing that will allow them to live in and be active members of their communities.
On March 23, 2009, Representative Christopher Murphy (D-CT) introduced H.R 1675, the Frank Melville Supportive Housing Investment Act of 2009. This legislation would implement reforms to the current program that would streamline Section 811 processing and eliminate unnecessary bureaucratic requirements. The legislation also provides for a demonstration program that uses only the project rental assistance contracts to leverage housing units in developments financed with low income housing tax credits or other sources of state or local government controlled capital. The House passed H.R. 1675 on July 22 by a vote of 376-51. The legislation was introduced in the Senate on July 21 by Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ) and Senator Mike Johanns (R-NE). LSA supports passage of this legislation, and it is a key public policy priority of the Lutheran Services in America Disability Network. Click here to learn more about the Frank Melville Supportive Housing Investment Act of 2009.
Additional Resources
For more information contact Lisa Hassenstab, Director of Advocacy and Policy via email or at 202-626-7932.
