On July 16, NYC Congressional Representative Ritchie Torres joined the House Financial Services Committee Chair Representative Maxine Waters (DCA) and Representative Emanuel Cleaver (D-MO) to introduce the “Ending Homelessness Act (EHA) of 2021” (H.R. 4496).

The Ending Homelessness Act

The EHA looks to create a housing safety net through universal vouchers. Thus, fully funding public housing, expanding the National Housing Trust Fund, and reforming the Low Income Housing Tax Credit. The goal is to promote equal housing opportunities for all Americans, by ensuring that all eligible households qualify for universal rental assistance.

The EHA includes the following:

• Establishes a universal voucher program to ensure every eligible households can receive rental assistance;
• Provides $10.5 billion to build home affordable to people with the greatest needs;
• Bans source of income discrimination and provides funding for fair housing enforcement;
• Reduces segregation and expands opportunity by increasing housing choice;

The Process

This would be a phase in process, becoming a full entitlement in 2030. The New York Housing Conference did an analysis on the legislation and found that during the phase in process, 403,000 NY households would be eligible. Furthermore, 57% of eligible households include a person with a disability and 34% include a senior (65+).

Full entitlement for all eligible low-income households could benefit up to 1.3 million NY households, 60% of which are Black or Latinx and 53% of which are headed by women.

While it is difficult to say if this bill will advance in both houses, it lays out an important framework for how to move from a historically underfunded discretionary program to a mandatory budget entitlement.

Most importantly, passing this legislation would significantly reduce homelessness and housing poverty in America. Not to mention it gets us closer to realizing Housing as a Human Right! Click here to read the full analysis.