Bipartisan legislation recently introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives would address a lack of affordable housing.
The Facilitating Accelerated Supply of Targeted Housing Act would direct the secretary of Housing and Urban Development to launch a new pilot demonstration program that will award 15 geographically diverse communities facing significant housing shortages with grants. The communities will help inform the department on proven, evidence-based reforms that can accelerate housing production nationwide. The program would identify what works and build on proven successes. The communities also would work toward solutions that cut regulatory red tape.
The bill also direct the secretary to, within one year, encourage public and private partners to build more work force and lower-income housing in communities that are growing because of recent federal investments through bipartisan infrastructure legislation.
U.S. Reps. Juan Ciscomani (R-AZ) and Mike Quigley (D-IL) introduced the bill. It has the support of Bipartisan Policy Center Action, the Council of Large Public Housing Authorities, Inclusive Abundance Action, the National Housing Conference, and the Southern Arizona Home Builders Association.
“For years, the U.S. has failed to build enough housing to keep up with today’s demand,” Ciscomani said. “We see a common theme: costs are higher, making it more difficult for families to enter the marketplace.”