ICYMI: Rep. Sykes Brings Northeast Ohio Housing Leaders Together to Advance Solutions to Housing Crisis

ICYMI: Rep. Sykes Brings Northeast Ohio Housing Leaders Together to Advance Solutions to Housing Crisis

AKRON, OHIO - U.S. Representative Emilia Sykes (OH-13) hosted her second Housing Together: A Roundtable with Rep. Sykes at the Akron Urban League Thursday. Building on the first event in March, participants discussed the challenges driving housing costs across Ohio's 13th Congressional District and identified solutions to make housing more affordable for families.

Panelists identified rising property taxes and increased rent prices as the top issues and pointed to long-term investment in properties and a ban on corporations controlling the single-family home market as potential ways to address the housing affordability crisis.

"Housing affordability is one of the biggest challenges facing families in Northeast Ohio and across the country," said Rep. Sykes. "Solving the issue requires everyone at the table, lenders, realtors, advocates, and community leaders working together, and I'm proud the roundtable presented real solutions."

Rep. Sykes was joined by 717 Credit Union President and CEO John Demmler, Akron Cleveland Association of REALTORS Vice President of Advocacy Jamie McMillen, Fair Housing Advocates Association Executive Director Vincent Curry, and Ohio Housing Finance Agency Legislative Liaison Grant Miller. The group focused on housing shortages, expanding affordable housing, increasing homeownership, strengthening consumer protections, and fighting discrimination in the housing market.

"Homeownership remains the American Dream, and every Ohio family deserves the opportunity to achieve it. Conversations like today's housing roundtable keep the momentum moving toward practical solutions that address housing affordability and supply," said McMillen. "We appreciate Congresswoman Emilia Sykes' leadership and support of the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, which provides communities with important tools to expand housing opportunities. Now the work turns to implementation, and the Akron Cleveland Association of REALTORS® is committed to partnering with policymakers and local communities to help more Ohioans achieve the dream of homeownership."

"This country is experiencing both a housing and an affordable housing crisis and people and communities are suffering," said Curry. "The 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, which recently became law, is the first step to addressing those needs. I appreciate Rep. Sykes, who supported the law, for being proactive in highlighting the problems and bringing together community stakeholders to continue to develop strategies and ideas to help this community and this country to meet its housing needs. My office looks forward to continuing to work with her office."

"We appreciate the opportunity to participate in Congresswoman Sykes' housing roundtable, and the opportunity to discuss the various ways we can work together to address housing affordability, which is the foundation for a strong quality of life for Ohioans," said Ohio Housing Finance Agency Director of Public Affairs Penny Martin.

The roundtable builds on Rep. Sykes' continued housing leadership. A couple weeks ago, the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act became law after she and her congressional colleagues passed the landmark bipartisan bill. The legislation expands housing affordability and supply nationwide by incorporating priorities championed in Rep. Sykes' Homes Over Massive Investors in Neighborhoods (HOMES) Act, including efforts to address the role of large-scale institutional investors in local housing markets.

Following the passage of the bill, she hosted a telephone town hall with federal and local leaders so constituents could hear directly from experts and receive guidance on their housing concerns.

Rep. Sykes also serves as Chair of the New Democrat Coalition's Housing Task Force and Co-Convener of the House Democrats' Housing Working Group.

The New Dems released an Affordability Agenda earlier this year that focuses on:

• Cutting red tape and updating permitting and zoning to build four million homes in the next decade.

• Leveling the playing field by eliminating unfair tax breaks for private equity and large investors.

• Utilizing innovative construction technologies to accelerate home production.

• Building more affordable homes by increasing Low-Income Housing Tax Credit allocations and community benefits.

In June, Rep. Sykes was tasked by House Minority Leader U.S. Representative Hakeem Jeffries (NY-08) with co-leading the Housing Working Group to create a policy agenda that lowers the cost of living for working families. So far, the group has held a stakeholder roundtable with more than 20 national groups and several meetings with Members of Congress to hear about their districts' housing priorities.