NEWS: Senator Blunt Rochester Announces Comprehensive Housing Agenda, Charts a New Way Home for Housing Policy

"We need transformative, research-backed policies that unlock production, reimagine communities, and ensure permanent affordability. We need a New Way Home."

Wilmington, Del. - U.S. Senator Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.), a member of the Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee, today unveiled her new legislative agenda to combat the housing crisis, titled, "A New Way Home: A Federal Framework to Address America's Housing Crisis." At Imani Village in Wilmington, a community developed with a $50 million Choice Neighborhood Implementation Grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development under the Biden-Harris Administration, Blunt Rochester was joined by leaders impacted by the fight to lower the cost of housing.

The agenda contains five pillars covering Blunt Rochester's vision on how to get it done - "Breaking Ground: Expand Housing Supply," "Laying the Foundation: Build Stronger Communities," "Creating a New Blueprint: Make Housing Attainable," "Raising the Roof: Unlock Innovative Housing Models," and "Open New Doors: Invest in Smart Tax Policy." Throughout the agenda, Blunt Rochester outlines policy priorities that are backed up by data and input from stakeholders across the state of Delaware.

"A New Way Home: A Federal Framework to Address America's Housing Crisis" can be found in full HERE.

"For too many in Delaware and across our nation, homeownership - or even affordable rent - is out of reach. And for too long, the federal government has been missing in action," said Senator Blunt Rochester. "My comprehensive housing agenda is a blueprint for making housing more affordable, accessible, and attainable for all Americans. I am grateful to the critical stakeholders who stood with me today and look forward to their continued partnership. Together, we will chart a New Way Home."

"At The WRK Group, we know that housing is the starting point for opportunity," said Logan Herring, Chief Executive Officer of The WRK Group. "When families have stability, young people can dream bigger, neighbors can thrive together, and communities can truly flourish. This announcement represents more than policy; it's about creating real change for Wilmington's families and beyond."

"We are in a housing crisis. Rents are too high. Housing supply is too low," said Matthew Heckles, Director of the Delaware State Housing Authority. "Homelessness is rising. We need federal, state and local leaders to take action and work together to build mixed-use communities with housing that provides homes for people across the income spectrum. We applaud Sen. Lisa Blunt Rochester's housing agenda as part of the plan to solve this crisis."

"The Senator's agenda does not forget the necessity of bringing communities together to be part of the solution," said Susan Kent, Executive Director of Better Homes of Seaford. "A successful plan always starts with the needs and desires of the community itself. We now have in our hands an assignment for which we all have a role to play, and it begins with a unique partnership between the federal government and the community."

"This is truly a bipartisan issue, one that requires all levels of government and strong nonprofit and private partnerships," said Brandy Nauman, Director of Sussex County Community Development. "Senator Blunt Rochester's New Way Home framework gives us the tools to not only address today's housing needs but to prepare for the challenges ahead. Sussex County is proud to stand alongside her in this mission to keep housing attainable for all."

"It is time for a new way home and I applaud Senator Lisa Blunt Rochester for putting together a comprehensive housing agenda that includes unlocking innovative housing models such as community land trusts," said Karen Speakman, Executive Director of NeighborGood Partners. "NeighborGood Partners manages Diamond State Community Land Trust, which has created a total of 42 permanently affordable homes, serving 58 families, and preserving over $3 million in public investment. Such shared equity models only require a one-time public investment for the houses to remain affordable making them a good investment."

"Due to a lack of supply, our nation and state face a historic housing affordability crisis that negatively impacts the financial welfare and security of millions of individuals and families," said Kevin Kelly, Chairman & Managing Principal at Leon N. Weiner & Associates, Inc. "Recognizing the need to address this crisis, Senator Blunt Rochester has worked across the political aisle to co-sponsor innovative and impactful legislation that will help spur the production and lower the cost of building desperately needed homes and apartments in Delaware and across the country."

"Smart tax policy like the Housing Credit is helping create much needed affordable housing across our footprint, from Wilmington to small rural towns in the Midwest,"said Chris Neary, Senior Vice President for Policy, Research and Advocacy at Cinnaire. "These communities are united by the urgent need for solutions to address the housing crisis. At Cinnaire, we see that housing is a national problem that needs urgent attention - and we need the federal government to actively support this work. We are grateful to Senator Blunt Rochester for putting forward a bold, comprehensive plan to ensure that everyone has access to an affordable place to call home."

This agenda is the culmination of Blunt Rochester's dedication to cutting unnecessary red tape and empowering localities to increase housing supply and lower costs. The first bill she introduced in the Senate was the bipartisan Housing Supply Frameworks Act, which would help communities rehaul their zoning and land use regulations. Blunt Rochester also introduced the bipartisan Veterans Housing Stability Act to help keep veterans and servicemembers in their homes. Legislation based on the Veterans Housing Stability Act passed the Senate by voice vote on July 15. She also spearheaded the Choice Neighborhoods Initiative Act, legislation that permanently authorizes and expands the Choice Neighborhoods Program and the bipartisan Accelerating Home Building Act to streamline housing construction. In July, she joined her colleagues on the Banking Committee to advance the ROAD to Housing Act, a landmark bipartisan housing package that contained three of her bills and would spur the development of housing across the nation and bring down costs.

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Senator Lisa Blunt Rochester represents Delaware in the United States Senate where she serves on the Committees on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs; Commerce, Science, and Transportation; Environment and Public Works; and Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.