Congresswoman Maxine Waters
(D-CA), Chairwoman of the House Committee on
Financial Services, introduced a comprehensive and holistic legislative
housing package to
address our nation’s housing crises, holding the advancement of racial equity
as a leading objective. The three bills included in the housing package are:
·
The Housing is Infrastructure Act of 2021 provides a historic investment of over $600
billion in equitable, affordable, and accessible housing infrastructure. This
bill includes up to $70 billion that could be used to expand shared equity
homeownership.
·
The Downpayment Toward Equity Act of 2021 helps address the U.S. racial wealth and homeownership
gaps by providing $100 billion over a decade toward downpayment and other
financial assistance for first-generation homebuyers to purchase their first
home. While this bill was introduced as a standalone bill to garner endorsers
and Congressional sponsors, it is now included in the larger Housing is
Infrastructure Act and authorized for $10 billion. These funds can be used to
provide subsidies in shared equity homes.
·
The Ending Homelessness Act of 2021 would end homelessness and significantly reduce
poverty in America by transforming the Housing Choice Voucher program into a
federal entitlement, so that every household who qualifies for assistance would
receive it.
Chairwoman Waters has asked that all affordable housing industry leaders
and advocates work now to create a groundswell of political support and
pressure like never before, signaling to Congress and the Administration that
robust and comprehensive resources for housing cannot be cut from the
infrastructure package as it goes through the reconciliation process. Grounded Solutions Network
asks your organization to join us and endorse all three bills.