Support Grows for Young’s Housing Affordability Task Force

WASHINGTON– U.S. Senator Todd Young’s (R-Ind.) Task Force on the Impact of the Affordable Housing Crisis Act continues to receive widespread support from the affordable housing community. The legislation aims to better understand and respond to America’s housing affordability crisis by creating a bipartisan task force to provide recommendations to Congress. 

“We must act now to understand what is causing this affordable housing crisis and then take steps to solve it,” Senator Young wrote in an op-ed for the Indianapolis Star earlier this month. “I’m glad to have the support of leaders in the affordable housing community as we work to address the profound and lasting consequences of a lack of affordable housing.” 

The legislation was introduced by Senator Young in July with Senators Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), and Angus King (I-Maine), as well as Senators Dean Heller (R-Nev.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Doug Jones (D-Ala.), Cory Gardner (R-Colo.), Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), and Chris Coons (D-Del.). Since introduction, Senators John Kennedy (R-La.), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), and Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) have also joined as cosponsors. 

What they are saying: 

Jessica Fraser, Director, Indiana Institute for Working Families said, “Stable and affordable housing is a cornerstone of economic self-sufficiency. With so many Hoosier families struggling to fit housing costs within their budget, it is critical that we begin to address this crisis. We commend Senator Young for his attention to this issue and for working in Congress to develop solutions that make housing more affordable for Hoosiers.” 

Lesli Gooch, Executive Vice President for Government Affairs, The Manufactured Housing Institute said, “The Manufactured Housing Institute commends Senator Young for seeking ways to address our nation’s affordable housing shortage. A robust manufactured housing market is critical to not only strengthening homeownership opportunities but it can also offer alternatives to consumers who are hurt by unaffordable rents or the shortage of adequate housing. Because manufactured homes are the most affordable homeownership option in the market today and the largest form of unsubsidized housing in the country, we look forward to working with the task force to ensure this housing option is included in this important dialogue.”

Kris Cook, Executive Director, National Affordable Housing Management Association (NAHMA) said,“NAHMA supports the Task Force on the Impact of the Affordable Housing Crisis Act (S.3231), introduced by Senator Young, Senator Cantwell, and Senator King to quantify the multi-sector impacts of the affordable housing crisis. Across the country, teachers, firefighters, police, restaurant staff, retail workers, landscapers, laborers, retirees, and many others—all core members of a healthy, vibrant community—can’t afford to live in the cities they have served. For many, more than half of their income goes to pay the rent, leaving little left over for food, utilities, transportation, health care, day care, and other vital needs. This growing financial burden for housing challenges the social and economic well-being of communities large and small. NAHMA applauds this group of bipartisan Senators for their leadership in establishing an affordable housing task force to further study the impacts of the affordable housing crisis on other life outcomes and to make recommendations for improvement.”

Adrianne Todman, National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials (NAHRO) Chief Executive Officersaid,“The Task Force on the Impact of Affordable Housing Crisis Actwill enable Congress to provide additional evidence of what housers and community development professionals have always known – that access to decent, long-term affordable housing can alleviate a wide range of poverty-related issues. I commend Senator Young, Senator King and Senator Cantwell for their leadership on this vital issue.”  

Katie Smith Sloan, President and CEO, LeadingAgesaid,“LeadingAge welcomes legislation from Senators Todd Young, Angus King, and Maria Cantwell to establish a task force to evaluate and quantify both the impact affordable housing has on other government programs and the costs incurred by governments because of the lack of affordable housing. For older adults, the connection between an affordable place to call home and wellness is undeniable. Equally undeniable is the need for more affordable housing to meet the significant current and future needs of a rapidly aging population.”  

Up for Growth National Coalitionsaid,“S.3231, the Task Force on the Impact of the Affordable Housing Crisis Actis the type of innovative approach to housing policy making that has long been lacking in Washington. We salute Senators Young, Cantwell, King and the other co-sponsors for taking the housing affordability crisis seriously and beginning the process to better understand its impact on other government programs and the quality of life of Americans from coast to coast. We believe this task force has the potential to lead to positive changes in how the federal government approaches housing policy. Up for Growth National Coalition is proud to support this legislation and looks forward to working with its co-sponsors to develop policies that address the national housing affordability crisis.” 

Jonathan Reckford, CEO of Habitat for Humanity Internationalsaid,“Families across America are being forced to spend far too much of their paychecks on housing, leaving less money for food, health care and other vital needs. The affordable housing challenge requires responses at the national, state and local level. The proposed Task Force on the Impact of the Affordable Housing Crisis Act demonstrates a real commitment from Congress to finding solutions that will help the nearly 19 million families in the United States who are paying more than half their income on housing. We thank Senators King and Young for championing this cause. Habitat for Humanity strongly supports passage of this bill, and stands ready to contribute our expertise and experience to the Task Force so we can help more families secure a decent and affordable place to live.” 

Randy Noel, chairman of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) and a custom home builder from LaPlace, Louisiana said, “The nation’s home builders commend legislation introduced by a bipartisan group of senators to establish a task force focused on addressing the nation’s affordable housing crisis. Builders stand on the front lines of this issue every day and are acutely aware of the challenges to provide safe and affordable homes to hard-working American families. NAHB looks forward to providing its expertise in this worthwhile endeavor and finding workable solutions such as reducing burdensome regulations that will help to resolve the nation’s housing affordability woes.”

Supporters of the Task Force on the Impact of the Affordable Housing Crisis Act include:

• Affordable Housing Association of Indiana (AHAIN)
• AHEPA Management Company (AMC)
• American Association of Retired Persons (AARP)
• American Bankers Association
• American Heart Association (AHA)
• BPC Action
• CareSource
• Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP)
• Coalition for Homelessness Intervention and Prevention (CHIP)
• Council for Affordable and Rural Housing
• Enterprise Community Partners
• Fair Housing Center of Central Indiana
• Habitat for Humanity
• Indiana Association of Area Agencies on Aging
• Indiana Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials
• Indiana Institute for Working Families
• Indiana Manufactured Housing Association
• Indianapolis Urban League
• LeadingAge
• Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC)
• Maine Affordable Housing Coalition
• Manufactured Housing Institute
• Martindale Brightwood Community Development Corporation
• Mayors and CEOs for U.S. Housing Investment
• National Affordable Housing Management Association (NAHMA)
• National Alliance to End Homelessness
• National Apartment Association
• National Association of Home Builders (NAHB)
• National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials (NAHRO)
• National Association of Housing Cooperatives (NAHC)
• National Council of State Housing Agencies (NCSHA)
• National Low Income Housing Coalition (NLIHC)
• National Multifamily Housing Council (NMHC)
• National NeighborWorks Association
• National Rural Housing Coalition
• Opportunity Starts at Home
• Prosperity Indiana
• Public Housing Authorities Directors Association (PHADA)
• Up for Growth
• Urban Homesteading Assistance Board