|
WASHINGTON
–
U.S.
Senators Tim
Scott
(R-S.C.),
Chair
of
the
Senate
Subcommittee
on
Housing,
Transportation,
and
Community
Development, Bob
Menendez
(D-N.J.), Ranking
Member
of
the
Senate
Subcommittee
on
Housing,
Transportation,
and
Community
Development,
Chris
Coons
(D-Del.)
and
Roy
Blunt
(R-Mo.)
today
introduced
the
Housing
Opportunity
Through
Modernization
Act
(HOTMA),
which
would
streamline
and
reform
federal
housing
programs
to
expand
affordable
housing
opportunities
for
low-income
families
in
high-opportunity
neighborhoods
with
lower
crime
and
better
schools,
improve
the
quality
of
life
for
public
housing
residents,
strengthen
work
incentives,
reduce
homelessness
and
cut
red
tape.
The
bill
is
a
Senate
companion
to
a
House
bill
that
passed
unanimously
in
February,
and
contains
provisions
that
have
been
considered
by
previous
Congresses
as
part
of
broader
housing
reform
legislation.
“Our
low-income
and
working
class
families
need
solutions,
not
political
bickering,
and
I
am
proud
to
help
introduce
this
bipartisan
legislation
to
address
challenges
with
our
nation’s
affordable
housing
programs,” Senator
Scott
said.
“This
is
a
win-win
–
we
are
strengthening
work
incentives,
improving
access
to
better
schools
and
working
to
reduce
homelessness
while
streamlining
programs
to
cut
costs
and
protect
taxpayers.
I
want
to
thank
Senators
Menendez,
Blunt
and
Coons
for
their
efforts,
and
to
the
House
of
Representatives
for
passing
this
important
bill
unanimously
earlier
this
year.”
“In
a
state
like
New
Jersey,
finding
an
affordable
place
to
call
home
can
be
terribly
difficult
–
especially
for
lower
income
families,” said
Sen.
Menendez.
“That’s
why
I’ve
fought
for
years
to
expand
affordable
housing
opportunities
especially
in
neighborhoods
with
quality
schools,
reliable
transportation
and
access
to
good
jobs.
I’m
pleased
that
we’ve
been
able
to
craft
a
bill
that
builds
on
what
works
in
our
federal
approach
to
affordable
housing,
and
makes
smart
changes
in
areas
that
need
improvement.
I’m
optimistic
we’ll
be
able
to
get
this
bi-partisan
legislation over
the
finish
line.”
“Our
nation’s
housing
programs
are
in
desperate
need
of
real
reform
to
protect
taxpayers
and
better
address
the
needs
of
low-income
families,
veterans,
and
seniors,”
said
Sen.
Blunt.
“This
bipartisan
bill
is
a
step
in
the
right
direction,
cutting
costs
while
ensuring
that
more
Americans
have
a
safe,
affordable
place
to
call
home.
I
urge
all
of
my
colleagues
to
support
it.”
“For
too
long,
I’ve
heard
from
housing
authorities,
tenant
advocacy
groups
and
housing
professionals
in
Delaware
about
the
pressing
need
to
update
and
improve
our
approach
to
affordable
housing,” said
Sen.
Coons. “That's
why
I
am
proud
to
support
this
critical
legislation
to
streamline
outdated
housing
regulations,
improve
the
popular
Section
8
rental
assistance
programs,
strengthen
work
incentives
and
address
homelessness.
It
is
about
time
that
my
colleagues
in
the
Senate
come
together
to
support
these
common-sense
proposals
that
will
provide
more
affordable
housing
options
for
people
in
Delaware
and
across
the
country.”
The
bill
aims
to:
- Expand
access
to
higher
opportunity
areas
through
“project-based”
vouchers.
These
vouchers
are
attached
to
specific
housing
units,
and
will
allow
families
to
rent
units
in
areas
with
lower
crime
and
poverty
and
with
higher-achieving
schools.
The
owners
of
these
housing
units
contract
with
public
housing
agencies
to
rent
to
low-income
families,
allowing
the
families
to
live
in
low-poverty
neighborhoods,
which
has
been
shown
to
improve
children’s
rate
of
college
attendance
and
long-term
earnings.
- Help
address
homelessness.
The
bill
would
allow
housing
agencies
to
use
more
project-based
vouchers
to
help
veterans,
the
elderly
and
the
homeless.
In
addition,
the
bill
updates
the
rules
for
inspecting
units
that
vulnerable
families
with
tenant-based
vouchers
wish
to
rent,
which
would
allow
families
to
move
into
units
more
quickly,
as
well
as
protecting
them
from
an
eviction
if
the
agency
found
the
units
to
violate
housing-quality
regulations
and
suspended
payments
to
the
owners. The
bill
also
strengthens
voucher
assistance
for
former
foster
children,
who
face
a
high
risk
of
homelessness.
- Strengthen
work
incentives.
The
bill
encourages
work
by
delaying
rent
increases
for
tenants
who
start
employment
or
whose
earnings
rise
because
they
get
better-paying
jobs
or
boost
their
hours.
- Preserve
public
housing
and
improve
residents’
quality
of
life.
Agencies
would
be
given
more
flexibility
in
using
funds
for
needed
renovations
in
public
housing.
- Reduce
administrative
burdens
for
housing
agencies
and
private
owners
of
housing
units.
The
bill
streamlines
the
rules
for
determining
tenants’
rents,
allowing
agencies
and
owners
to
direct
their
energies
elsewhere,
in
areas
that
would
benefit
tenants
more,
such
as
providing
supportive
services.
- Update
the
Housing
Opportunities
for
Persons
with
AIDS
(HOPWA)
program,
through
better
matching
funding
for
areas
to
their
current
level
of
need.
- Streamline
Federal
Housing
Administration
(FHA)
mortgage
insurance
for
condominiums.
The
bill
would
make
more
condominiums
eligible
for
FHA
insurance
and
would
consolidate
FHA
recertification
standards.
- Bolster
rural
housing
programs.
Through
an
expedited
loan
process
for
the
USDA’s
single
family
guaranteed
loan
program,
the
bill
would
increase
access
to
homeownership
for
low-income
families
in
rural
areas.
The
following
organizations
have
announced
support
for
the
bill:
Catholic
Charities
USA
Center
on
Budget
and
Policy
Priorities
Consortium
for
Citizens
with
Disabilities
Housing
Task
Force
Corporation
for
Enterprise
Development
Corporation
for
Supportive
Housing
Council
for
Affordable
and
Rural
Housing
Council
of
Large
Public
Housing
Authorities
Enterprise
Community
Partners
Housing
Assistance
Council
Housing
Partnership
Network
Institute
of
Real
Estate
Management
Jesuit
Conference
of
Canada
and
the
United
States
LeadingAge
Local
Initiatives
Support
Corporation
National
Affordable
Housing
Management
Association
National
AIDS
Housing
Coalition
National
Alliance
on
Mental
Illness
National
Alliance
to
End
Homelessness
National
Apartment
Association
National
Association
of
Affordable
Housing
Lenders
National
Association
of
Home
Builders
National
Association
of
Housing
and
Redevelopment
Officials
National
Association
of
Housing
Cooperatives
National
Association
of
REALTORS
National
Council
of
State
Housing
Agencies
National
Development
Council
National
Disability
Rights
Network
National
Housing
Conference
National
Housing
Law
Project
National
Housing
Trust
National
Leased
Housing
Association
National
Low
Income
Housing
Coalition
National
Multifamily
Housing
Council
NETWORK,
a
National
Catholic
Social
Justice
Lobby
Public
Housing
Authorities
Directors
Association
Stewards
of
Affordable
Housing
for
the
Future
Technical
Assistance
Collaborative
The
Salvation
Army,
National
Headquarters
### |