After a congressional hearing earlier this year, and after reviewing draft legislation, Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-CA), Chairwoman of the House Financial Services Committee, introduced H.R. 5187, the Housing is Infrastructure Act of 2019, on November 21, which would authorize funding for several housing infrastructure projects, including $70 billion for the Public Housing Capital Fund. According to Chairwoman Waters, “We are in the midst of a housing affordability crisis across the country, caused in part by the lack of affordable and available rental units, rising rents, gentrification, and dilapidated public housing...For example, 10,000 units of public housing are lost each year as a result of disinvestment, and it would take $70 billion to address the capital needs.” CLPHA strongly supported the draft legislation back in April, and is listed as an early supporter of the legislation introduced today. Highlights from the legislation include the following investments into housing infrastructure:
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H.R. 5187 also requires ten percent of nearly all funding authorized in the bill to be used for sustainable features such as energy efficiency retrofits, including those that reduce utility costs for residents. The bill also promotes diversity and inclusion by requiring that grantees conduct outreach to minority and women owned businesses to inform them of opportunities created through funds provided. |