[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 26 (Friday, February 7, 2020)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E155-E156]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          PATHWAY TO STABLE AND AFFORDALE HOUSING FOR ALL ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. GRACE MENG

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, February 7, 2020

  Ms. MENG. Madam Speaker, I rise today to highlight the human right of 
every person to have a safe and affordable home. As we know, our nation 
is faced with a staggering housing crisis. At least 600,000 Americans 
are experiencing homelessness in a given night--

[[Page E156]]

and this number can vary throughout the year. In the State of New York, 
we are faced with more than 90,000 New Yorkers without a home. 
Furthermore, nationwide, only 37 affordable and available homes exist 
for every 100 extremely low-income renter households. In my own Sixth 
Congressional District of New York, these numbers are even worse; only 
18 housing units are available for every I00 extremely low-income 
households.
  Madam Speaker, these are not just data points; these are 
heartbreaking numbers--especially when one considers the families, the 
children in these households. We know that children living in stable, 
affordable homes are more likely to thrive in school and have greater 
opportunities to learn inside and outside the classroom.
  And yet, low-income families continue to face the unjust and 
heartbreaking decision of choosing between paying rent or paying for 
necessary expenses such as groceries, childcare, or prescription drugs.
  Madam Speaker, this is a cruel and impossible decision.
  In September 2019, the Trump Administration took aim at individuals 
experiencing homelessness in the U.S. by releasing a report that 
targeted a handful of states and cities by offering policy responses 
that adopted an ``out of sight, out of mind' approach, such as rounding 
up and increasing the policing of vulnerable communities. Slashing HUD 
programs, tripling the rents for the lowest-income subsidized 
residents, allowing homeless shelters to discriminate against the LGBTQ 
community, and evicting thousands of people will only exacerbate the 
homelessness crisis in America.
  In addition, the Administration has repeatedly taken steps to 
increase the number of families and individuals living in unstable 
housing situations and those at risk of homelessness. While Congress 
has continued to push back against the Administration's every attempt 
to gut and dismantle our federal homelessness and affordable housing 
programs, Congress must--and can--do more.
  That is why I am introducing the Pathway to Stable and Affordable 
Housing for All Act. We need bold and robust solutions to address these 
housing challenges that every single congressional district faces. That 
is why, today, I am introducing the Pathway to Stable and Affordable 
Housing for All Act--a bill sets forth a 10-year investment plan based 
on estimates from frontline service providers and experts that focus on 
meeting the challenges our states and communities face every day.
  Specifically, this bill consists of four provisions: two of which 
would help states and organizations on the ground assist individuals 
experiencing homelessness into homeless shelters quickly and 
efficiently, and two focused on getting those in the shelter system 
into safe, affordable housing:
  $10 billion per year in additional funding for Emergency Solutions 
Grants;
  $10 billion per year in additional funding for Continuum of Care 
grants so organizations can move those experiencing homelessness into 
the shelter system and provide needed supports;
  $40 billion per year direct appropriation to the Housing Trust Fund--
on top of the existing funding provided by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac--
to begin to chip away at the deficit of units in our nation's 
affordable housing stock; and
  Fully funding tenant-based rental assistance to allow all eligible 
households to get into permanent, safe, affordable housing.
  The National Low Income Housing Coalition estimates, if enacted, this 
bill would effectively end homelessness and housing poverty.
  Madam Speaker, I urge all my colleagues to support this critical 
bill--the Pathway to Stable and Affordable Housing for All Act--to 
ensure housing justice for all Americans

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