NLIHC

The National Low Income Housing Coalition and the United for Homes Campaign applaud Congressman Keith Ellison (D-MN) for his Common Sense Housing Investment Act of 2015, H.R. 1662, which he introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives today

The National Housing Law Project (NHLP), the National Law Center on Homelessness & Poverty (NLCHP), and the National Low Income Housing Coalition (NLIHC) applaud Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Representative Keith Ellison (D-MN) for introducing legislation to permanently extend the Protecting Tenants at Foreclosure Act (PTFA).

A new report shows that the lowest income households in the U.S. are struggling to find affordable rental housing in every state across the country, as well as in the 50 most populous metropolitan areas. This situation is not likely to improve in the coming year because rental vacancy rates are at historic lows, and the bulk of new multifamily units are only affordable to middle or high income households.

At the National Low Income Housing Coalition’s (NLIHC) Annual Housing Leadership Reception on March 3, NLIHC honored Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director and former U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Shaun Donovan with the Edward W. Brooke Housing Leadership Award. NLIHC also honored former Federal Housing Administration (FHA) Commissioner and current NLIHC Board Member Dr. William Apgar with the Cushing Niles Dolbeare Lifetime Service Award

WASHINGTON, D.C. - March 3, 2015 - (RealEstateRama) -- The National Low Income Housing Coalition, a nonprofit research and advocacy organization, presented their annual Media, State and Local Organizing, and Resident Organizing awards yesterday as part of their 2015 Housing Legislative Forum.

Washington, DC - February 18, 2015 - (RealEstateRama) -- Today, NLIHC joined NDD United and more than 2,100 organizations, more than 800 of which are from the housing and community development sector, to urge Congress and President Obama to work together to end sequestration. The letter emphasizes (1) the importance of nondefense discretionary (NDD) programs

WASHINGTON, D.C. - December 22, 2014 - (RealEstateRama) -- A report from the National Low Income Housing Coalition (NLIHC) highlights research findings on the extent to which existing federal rental housing production programs serve the lowest income households. NLIHC found that properties funded through the Low Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) program rarely serve extremely low income (ELI) households, those with incomes at or below 30% of area median income (AMI) without relying on Housing Choice Vouchers (vouchers).

WASHINGTON, D.C. - December 11, 2014 - (RealEstateRama) -- Congressional appropriators released a proposed $1.01 trillion spending bill the evening of December 9 that will fund most of the federal government through September 2015. The legislation provides full year funding for 11 of the 12 appropriations bills Congress is required to pass each year, including the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development (THUD) bill. Congress is expected to approve the bill and send it to the President to sign in the coming days.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - October 13, 2014 - (RealEstateRama) -- While we are disappointed in Judge Marcia G. Cooke’s ruling on Monday on our lawsuit against the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) to require the agency to lift its suspension on funding for the National Housing Trust Fund (NHTF), we will continue our advocacy for the affordable housing that the NHTF would provide. The need for this housing has never been more urgent. Consistent with statutory provisions, FHFA, through its Director Mel Watt, should lift the suspension and direct Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to provide funding for the NHTF now

WASHINGTON, D.C. - August 25, 2014 - (RealEstateRama) -- There are more renters today than in previous decades, but there are not enough units renting at affordable prices to meet the needs of the lowest income households. According to Housing Spotlight: The Affordable Rental Housing Gap Persists, released today by the National Low Income Housing Coalition (NLIHC), there is a deficit of 7.1 million rental units affordable and available to extremely low income households, those with income at or below 30% of area median income. Nationwide, there are only 31 affordable and available units for every 100 extremely low income renters. Extremely low income renters make up 25% of the total renter population, but just 7% of all rental units were affordable and available to this population. This report is based on 2012 data, the latest available

WASHINGTON, D.C. - May 7, 2014 - (RealEstateRama) -- Today, 33 national organizations and 163 state and local organizations send a letter to six U.S. Senators on the Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee urging them to keep working on the Housing Finance Reform and Taxpayer Protection Act of 2014, the “Johnson-Crapo” bill, to get the bill to the point that they can support it and thus provide the $3.75 billion a year through the National Housing Trust Fund to address the acute shortage of affordable rental housing for the lowest income Americans

WASHINGTON, D.C. - April 28, 2014 - (RealEstateRama) -- Next Tuesday, the Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee will consider housing finance reform legislation that has the potential to benefit millions of extremely low income Americans who are at the greatest risk of being or becoming homeless. The draft Housing Finance Reform and Taxpayer Protection Act of 2014, commonly referred to as the “Johnson-Crapo” bill, would provide an estimated $3.75 billion for the National Housing Trust Fund each year. NLIHC urges the Committee to preserve the funding provided for the National Housing Trust Fund as the bill moves forward

WASHINGTON - March 25, 2014 - (RealEstateRama) -- According to Out of Reach 2014, a report released today by the National Low Income Housing Coalition, an individual needs to earn $18.92 an hour to afford a two-bedroom rental until at Fair Market Rent. This figure is referred to as the “Housing Wage.” Today’s national average Housing Wage is more than two-and-a-half times the federal minimum wage, and 52% higher than it was in 2000

WASHINGTON, D.C. - March 17, 2014 - (RealEstateRama) -- Today, Senate Banking Committee Chair Tim Johnson (D-SD) and Ranking Member Mike Crapo (R-ID) released the legislative text of their bipartisan housing finance reform proposal. The bill as drafted would provide the most significant new investment in rental housing affordable to America’s neediest families in forty years. It could provide over $3.5 billion a year for the National Housing Trust Fund.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - March 4, 2014 - (RealEstateRama) -- Congressman Dave Camp (R-MI), Chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, made public his proposal to reform the federal tax code, in which he calls for changes to the mortgage interest deduction. He would lower the cap on the size of mortgage for which interest can be deducted from $1 million to $500,000. Mr. Camp’s willingness to change the mortgage interest deduction indicates that it is no longer the untouchable third rail of tax policy and is ripening for reform

WASHINGTON, D.C. - January 7, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Today the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) gained new leadership as Mel Watt was sworn in as the new director. Mr. Watt brings deep knowledge of and a fresh set of eyes on some of the most complicated housing policy questions facing our country. I am confident that he will give all issues before him a thorough and objective analysis, backed by his values that are rooted in social and economic justice

WASHINGTON, D.C. - December 11, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Today, the U.S. Senate confirmed Representative Mel Watt (D-NC) as the new director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, marking a great day for the millions of low income Americans in need of decent, affordable homes

WASHINGTON, D.C. - November 12, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- According to Housing Instability Among Our Nation’s Veterans, a report released today by the National Low Income Housing Coalition, 1.5 million veteran households suffered from severe housing cost burden in 2011, spending more than 50% of their income on housing. There were also significant disparities among veteran households, with veteran households headed by a racial minority, females, and those with a disability more likely to be cost burdened than their counterparts.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - November 1, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Today, a minority of U.S. Senators prevented the full Senate from voting on the nomination of Representative Mel Watt (D-NC) to be the director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency. Once again, the threat of a filibuster by Republicans has prevented an up or down vote in the Senate on a matter of great national importance. Because Mr. Watt’s nomination was not allowed to go forward, an acting director will remain in charge of this vital federal agency.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - October 17, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- The United for Homes campaign has released a two-minute video titled “The Solution.” The animated video explains the nationwide shortage of affordable housing, and how the campaign proposal to fund the National Housing Trust Fund through modifications to the mortgage interest deduction would help end homelessness in America.