Last night, Democrats in the House of Representatives unveiled a new $2.2 trillion legislative package targeted at relief from the COVID-19 pandemic. The bill, among other provisions, includes a portion for NALHFA-backed emergency rental assistance. NALHFA sent an updated letter to Congress just last week urging them to find agreement on critical affordable housing programs, including emergency rental assistance, the Affordable Housing Credit Improvement Act, and others.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin indicated that they have spoken about restarting negotiations over another COVID relief bill, and that the House could vote on this proposal later this week, pending negotiations between the White House and Democrats.
Below are the key provisions contained in the proposal:
- $50 billion for Emergency Rental Assistance
- $750 million for Project-Based Rental Assistance (PBRA)
- $5 billion for Emergency Solutions Grants (ESG)
- $4 billion for Tenant-Based Rental Assistance (TBRA)
- $2 billion for the Public Housing Operating Fund
- $500 million for Section 202 Supportive Housing for the Elderly
- $45 million for Section 811 Supportive Housing for Persons with Disabilities
- $309 million for Rural Housing
- $400 million for Tribal housing programs
- $65 million for Housing Opportunities for Persons With AIDS (HOPWA)
- $5 billion for Community Development Block Grants (CDBG)
- $100 million for housing counseling
- $21 billion for Homeowner Assistance Fund
- $40 million for DV transitional housing assistance grants
- $14 million for Fair Housing.
NALHFA has been lobbying the House and Senate for weeks, urging them to reach an agreement to fund another COVID-relief bill and support critical housing programs. NALHFA is continuing to make the case for these programs, especially in the Senate where a relief bill has a challenging road to passage.
