House Democrats call for more action on US housing crisis

As the economic situation for many Americans continues to evolve due in part to the cost of housing, one Democratic member of the House of Representatives used her time on the floor Tuesday to call for more action to address rising housing expenses.

Rep. Shontel Brown (D-Ohio) on Tuesday introduced a House Resolution calling for “urgent, coordinated federal action to address the nation’s worsening housing crisis by preserving and expanding access to affordable housing,” according to a statement from her office.

The resolution is co-sponsored by fellow Ohio Rep. Joyce Beatty (D), who currently serves as a senior member on the House Financial Services Committee.

“In Northeast Ohio and across America, our housing crisis is pricing families out of stability,” Brown said in a statement. “It’s harder than ever to find a place to live, pay the bills, keep our families safe and secure and build wealth.

“Housing isn’t just having a roof over your head —  it is the foundation for safety, security, and opportunity.”

The housing crisis — felt with varying levels of severity in localities from Washington state to Vermont — serves to widen “the wealth and racial gaps we’ve been trying to close for generations,” Brown added.

“I am proud to introduce this resolution with Congresswoman Beatty because it is time that we put the House of Representatives on record on this important issue.”

The accelerated need for action, Brown said, stems from the idea that housing issues permeate congressional districts nationwide. A coordinated federal response is the only way that Congress and the federal government can adequately address it, she said.

But the issues stemming from affordability challenges disproportionately strike those in lower-income economic brackets and people of color, Brown said. This makes it “virtually impossible for millions of families to stay healthy, pursue higher education, maintain steady employment or achieve financial stability,” she added.

“This resolution recognizes the urgency of addressing the housing crisis in America and affirms a commitment to advancing federal legislation to support rental assistance and housing development so that every American family has a safe, affordable place to call home,” Brown said.

Data from the National Low Income Housing Coalition (NLIHC) shows that the U.S. currently faces an affordable housing shortage of roughly 7 million units for “extremely low-income renters.” Three-quarters of these people spend more than 50% of their income on housing alone, well above the recommended standard of 30% or less.

The racial homeownership gap also remains wide, according to recent data published by the National Association of Realtors (NAR) and cited by the lawmakers.

While the homeownership rate for white Americans stands at 72%, the rate falls to 44% among Black Americans. Data from the Urban Institute illustrates that the homeownership rate among Blacks is lower than it was in the year 2000.