[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 1 (Wednesday, January 23, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E13-E14]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          AFFORDABLE HOUSING SHORTAGE NEARS CRISIS PROPORTIONS

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. BARNEY FRANK

                            of massachusetts

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, January 23, 2002

  Mr. FRANK. Mr. Speaker, when I prepare an introductory paragraph for 
insertion into the Record, my very able assistant, Maria Giesta, often 
has to remind to compose a headline. But in this no such reminder is 
necessary, because the National Housing Conference, whose statement I 
am inserting, composed a perfectly appropriate headline which I have 
appropriated.
  The National Housing Conference is a broad based group of a variety 
of organizations concerned with our housing crisis. The statement which 
the NHC has issued, which I am inserting here, is very important both 
for its substance and precisely because it represents such a broad 
range of organizations.
  As the statement says, ``a significant increase in direct federal 
funding for affordable housing, coupled with a more responsive and 
progressive use of the nation's tax code, will be necessary in order to 
expand, and in some cases execute more effective affordable housing 
strategies at the state and local level.'' And as the NEC has made 
clear, such an increase in resources for affordable housing is 
necessary because ``in addition to homeless and very low income 
families who experience the most severe effects of an inadequate supply 
of affordable housing, today many teachers, police officers, fire 
fighters, retail sales clerks and nurses are also finding it 
increasingly difficult, if not impossible, to find decent affordable 
housing for their families.''

[[Page E14]]

  Mr. Speaker, it is morally unacceptable for the richest nation in the 
history of the world to tolerate this continued housing crisis which 
blights the lives of so many American families simply because of a mis-
allocation of resources. I applaud the National Housing Conference and 
its member organizations for this important statement and I hope that 
all of our colleagues will read and assimilate it so that we can act 
along the lines the Conference has recommended.

                  [From the United Voice for Housing]

          Affordable Housing Shortage Nears Crisis Proportions

       Washington, DC.--The following statement was released today 
     by the National Housing Conference (NHC):
       As we begin the new year, this nation continues to face a 
     serious affordable housing situation of near crisis 
     proportions. Based upon the most recent data, approximately 
     one out of every seven (13 million) American families has a 
     critical housing need, including some 4 million low- and 
     moderate-income working families. In addition to homeless and 
     very low-income families who experience the most severe 
     affects of an inadequate supply of affordable housing, today 
     many teachers, police officers, fire fighters, retail sales 
     clerks and nurses are also Ending it increasingly difficult, 
     if not impossible, to find decent affordable housing for 
     their families. According to a recent NHC study, janitors and 
     retail sales clerks, for example, are all but shut out of the 
     nation's largest housing markets,.
       While reports of the resilience of the housing industry 
     during the current economic slow-down provide hope and 
     support for the nation's economy as a whole, we should not be 
     lulled into a false sense of accomplishment when it comes to 
     the housing needs of low- and moderate-income families. 
     Today, there is an affordable housing shortage which is not 
     being addressed adequately. We have not budgeted the 
     necessary resources to address the current shortage of 
     affordable housing and there are barriers in far too many 
     communities across the nation which inhibit the development 
     of new affordable housing.
       To make lasting and meaningful progress on this issue in 
     the new year and beyond, there must be an immediate and 
     demonstrated public commitment at all levels to address the 
     full measure of the nation's affordable housing problem. At 
     present, there are simply not enough resources to support 
     affordable ongoing housing efforts. The lack of political 
     will to increase funding to encourage and provide incentives 
     to produce new affordable housing has and will continue to 
     force families to make unacceptable choices in order to find 
     adequate shelter.
       Our goal in the new year should be simple and 
     straightforward (to increase the overall supply of affordable 
     housing). To accomplish this goal, there must be vigorous 
     leadership at the federal level as well as concerted efforts 
     at the state and local level to break down barriers which 
     constrain efforts to increase the supply of affordable 
     housing.
       A significant increase in direct federal funding for 
     affordable housing, coupled with a more responsive and 
     progressive use of the nation's tax code, will be necessary 
     in order to expand, and in some cases execute more effective 
     affordable housing strategies at the state and local level. 
     Increased federal resources must, however, be coupled with 
     additional state and local resources, private sector 
     incentives and local housing policies which are designed 
     specifically to preserve existing and produce new affordable 
     housing opportunities.
       We have the tools, the know-how and the experience to meet 
     our nation's affordable housing needs. Our housing needs are 
     well documented and have been with us for many years. We know 
     that good housing is essential to support the health and 
     well-being of our families and our communities, and we also 
     know that our continuing failure to address the full measure 
     of our nation's affordable housing needs will have a direct 
     impact on other national concerns including the environment, 
     transportation, access to jobs and urban sprawl.
       In the year ahead, much will be made of the need to make 
     hard choices, the need to focus on larger national priorities 
     and of tight budgetary constraints. For those who have fought 
     for years to encourage necessary funding for responsible 
     housing policies, this will be nothing new. What must be made 
     clear, however, is that our collective failure to act to meet 
     the nation's affordable housing needs in a comprehensive 
     fashion over many years has only increased the need for new 
     affordable housing to near crisis proportions. Our failure to 
     address this situation again this year will hurt hard-working 
     families and will continue to leave behind those who need our 
     help the most.

     

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