Rep. Lee Joins Colleagues in Support of the Housing for All Act of 2022
Oakland – Representative Barbara Lee (CA-13) co-sponsored the Housing for All Act of 2022, which was introduced today by Representatives Ted W. Lieu (CA-33) and Salud Carbajal (CA-24).
This comprehensive legislation would invest in proven solutions to address critical affordable housing shortages in California and across the country. The bill would also provide a surge of funding for strategic, existing programs to reduce homelessness as well as invest in innovative, locally developed solutions to help those experiencing homelessness.
The National Low-Incoming Housing Coalition estimates that the US has a shortage of 6.8 million affordable homes available to low-income renters. In California, more than 1.4 million units are needed to address the affordable housing shortage, and more than 161,000 people experience homelessness in the state each night – including families with young children, veterans, and victims of domestic violence. Prior to the pandemic, one in four renters spent half of their monthly income on rent, and nearly one million tenants were evicted each year.
“Every person in this country deserves access to safe, affordable housing,” said Representative Barbara Lee. “We are in the midst of a historic affordable housing and homelessness crisis, as rent and home prices continue soaring throughout the country. I believe that housing is a basic human right, which is why I am proud to support this bill.”
The Housing for All Act of 2022 would invest in proven solutions by:
Addressing the affordable housing shortage by investing in the National Housing Trust Fund, the HOME Investment Partnerships program, the Section 202 Supportive Housing for the Elderly Program, and the Section 811 Supportive Housing for People with Disabilities.
- Addressing the homelessness crisis by investing in Housing Choice Vouchers, Project-Based Rental Assistance, the emergency solutions grant program (which helps with street outreach, rapid re-housing assistance, emergency shelter, and homelessness prevention), and Continuums of Care.
- Supporting innovative, locally developed approaches to these crises by investing in hotel and motel conversions to permanent supportive housing with supportive services; investing in the Eviction Protection Grant Program; investing in mobile crisis intervention teams to help those with medical or psychological needs avoid the criminal justice system; investing in libraries that support people experiencing homelessness; investing in programs that offer a safe place to park overnight and facilitate access to rehousing services and essential services; and investing in inclusive, transit-oriented development and infill development.
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Congresswoman Lee is a member of the House Appropriations Committee and Chair of the Subcommittee on State and Foreign Operations. She serves as Co-Chair of the Steering & Policy Committee, former Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus, Chair Emeritus of the Progressive Caucus, Co-Chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus Health Task Force, and Co-Chair of the Pro-Choice Caucus. She also serves as Chair of the Majority Leader’s Task Force on Poverty and Opportunity. As a member of the House Democratic Leadership, she is the highest ranking Black woman in the U.S. Congress.