Senator Alex Padilla (D-CA) and Representatives Ted Lieu (D-CA) and Salud Carbajal (D-CA) on April 21 announced the reintroduction of the Housing for All Act, a sweeping bill to increase funding authorization levels for affordable housing programs.

The bill (S. 1477 and H.R.2945) would increase funding for a variety of programs and has an ultimate goal of providing housing for all. It would authorize funding increases for the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) Section 202 Supportive Housing for the Elderly program, the National Housing Trust Fund, the HOME Investment Partnerships program, the Section 811 Supportive Housing for People with Disabilities, Housing Choice Vouchers, Project-Based Rental Assistance, the emergency solutions grant program, and Continuums of Care.

“The Housing for All Act is a common sense, critically needed response to our country’s shortage of affordable homes—particularly for low-income older adults,” said Katie Smith Sloan, president and CEO, LeadingAge, said in Senator Padilla’s statement upon the introduction of the bill.

“Our nonprofit members have years-long waiting lists—which means that many low-income older adults die before receiving relief in the form of an available, federally assisted house. The programs and policies supported by Senator Padilla’s bill will reverse course on record levels of housing unaffordability: for example, its authorization of $2.5 billion for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Section 202 Supportive Housing for the Elderly program would build new, service-connected affordable homes for older adults with average annual incomes below $17,000 a year. For these older adults, the private market alone has not, cannot, and will not solve the affordable housing shortage. As Senator Padilla makes clear, public resources are critically needed. LeadingAge enthusiastically supports the Housing for All Act,” Ms. Smith Sloan said.