Rep. Balint Reintroduces Sweeping Legislation to Take on the Affordable Housing Crisis Nationwide

More photos from the announcement event in Burlington can be found here.

Rep. Balint's remarks at the event can be viewed here.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Rep. Becca Balint (VT-AL) has re-introduced the Community Housing Act, her sweeping legislation to address our nation's housing crisis. The legislation would invest $500 billion in federal programs, fund the construction of affordable housing, provide new financing to build affordable units, center inclusive zoning and land use, and provide more pathways to homeownership. The ambitious package embraces perpetually affordable housing through community land trusts and would empower nonprofits across the country to help get people into homes that are affordable and stay affordable.

On June 15, Rep. Balint announced the reintroduction of the Community Housing Act at an event in Burlington. She was joined by local Vermont housing advocates at the event. Rep. Balint also introduced and led this legislation in the 118th Congress.

"Today, I'm proud to have reintroduced my Community Housing Act," said Rep. Balint. "Confronting our affordable housing crisis is one of my top priorities in Congress because it's a top priority for Vermonters. This sweeping legislation is about creative solutions, major investments, and concrete actions that we can take to address this crisis and make a real difference in people's lives. I'm grateful for all the partners who've played a role in making this legislation a reality and I look forward to working with my colleagues to get shovels in the ground, increase the supply of housing, and lower costs for folks across the country. Let's get this bill done."

According to the Vermont Housing Needs Assessment, half of all Vermont renters are cost-burdened, and one in four pay more than 50% of their income on housing costs. Vermont also has a rental vacancy rate of 3%, which is one of the lowest in the country. In Chittenden County, it'sbeen estimated to be just 1%. Additionally, Vermont has the second-highest homelessness rate per capita in the country: 51 per 10,000 people. In 2021, 32% of Vermont renters had the income needed to buy a median-priced home, but by 2023, that rate had fallen to 6%. Lastly, per 2022 data, about 20,000 homes across Vermont have signs of housing quality concerns.

To address these issues, the Community Housing Act would:

• Increase the supply of affordable and deeply affordable housing.

• Ensure that affordable housing stays affordable for the long run.

• Encourage revamping zoning codes to eliminate barriers to affordable housing construction.

• Open more low-cost financing to affordable housing developers.

• Support affordable homes and apartments for rural residents.

The Community Housing Act is endorsed by the National Low Income Housing Coalition (NLIHC), the National NeighborWorks Association, and Grounded Solutions Network.

"Across the nation, households with the lowest incomes continue to face rising cost burdens and housing instability," said Renee M. Willis, President and CEO, National Low Income Housing Coalition. "To address this crisis, we need sustained investments in programs that provide deep affordability and stability for these families. Representative Balint's legislation would increase rental supply where it is needed most by making historic investments in the National Housing Trust Fund, provide funding for legal assistance for renters at risk of eviction through the Eviction Protection Grant program, and fund and reform programs to preserve affordable rental housing in rural areas. I thank Representative Balint for focusing on the needs of low-income renters in this bold legislation."

A one pager on the bill can be found here. A section-by-section summary can be found here. The full bill text can be found here.

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