Congressman Dan Goldman Works to Boost Supply of Affordable Housing, Address Root Causes of Housing Crisis

The ‘Community Housing Act’ Would Invest More Than $500 Billion into Increasing Affordable Housing Stock, Fund Emergency Rental Assistance Programs

Legislation Would Also Empower Anti-Trust Enforcers to Better Prosecute Landlords Who Use Price Fixing Software

Read the Bill Here

Washington, DC – Congressman Dan Goldman (NY-10) joined Congresswoman Becca Balint (VT-AL) in introducing the ‘Community Housing Act’ to invest more than $500 billion into federal programs that will provide a much-need increase in the supply of affordable housing. This legislation would also address the root causes of the housing crisis by embracing community land trusts, funding emergency rental assistance programs, and addressing exclusionary zoning practices.

In light of recent reporting that companies such as RealPage are potentially using software to engage in anti-competitive business practices, the ‘Community Housing Act’ would also give antitrust enforcers the information they need to prosecute digital price fixing by landlords.

“The current cost of housing facing our working families in New York and across the country is simply untenable,” Congressman Goldman said. “Band-aid solutions are not enough. We need comprehensive, decisive action to lower the cost of housing across the board. With New York City at the center of the housing crisis, I will continue to look for creative ways to increase housing supply so that everyone has access to high-quality, stable, and affordable housing.”

The ‘Community Housing Act’ is a direct response to the spreading housing crisis that has grown into a nationwide emergency. In New York City, nearly half of renters pay 30 percent of their income or more on rent alone. Furthermore, for a 700 square foot unit, the average monthly rent is $4,768 and $3,558 in Manhattan and Brooklyn respectively.

More specifically, the ‘Community Housing Act’ would:

• Invest over $500 billion in federal programs that fund the construction of affordable and deeply affordable housing. In many cases, that funding equals the amounts that were in the original Build Back Better proposal.
• Ensure that affordable housing stays affordable by embracing perpetual affordable housing through a community land trust or shared equity model. A community land trust is a nonprofit organization of residents that jointly stewards community assets, guaranteeing that housing on that land stays affordable and inclusive.
• Give renters the support they need to stay in their homes by funding and permanently reauthorizing emergency rental assistance programs and provides free legal resources for people facing eviction.
• Encourage revamping zoning codes to eliminate barriers to more affordable housing construction.
• The ‘Community Housing Act’ designates a new federal office to address exclusionary zoning practices and funds a new grant program to encourage state and local communities to modify their zoning rules.
• Give antitrust enforcers the information they need to prosecute digital price fixing by landlords. This legislation would require large landlords to report their use of such software and require an annual report to antitrust enforcers about consolidation in the rental markets.
• Strengthen and preserve pathways to homeownership by authorizing and funding programs designed to support homeownership through downpayment assistance.
• Support affordable homes and apartments for rural residents.

Congressman Dan Goldman is committed to supporting legislation that would alleviate the housing crisis in New York City and across the country.

In June, Congressman Dan Goldman (NY-10) cosponsored the 'Affordable Housing Credit Improvement Act' (AHCIA) to expand and strengthen the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit and spur collaboration between private-sector resources and state-level government administration to build and rehabilitate millions of affordable homes across the country.

In November, Congressman Dan Goldman urged New York Attorney General Leticia James to investigate potential rental Market manipulation and price gouging by the multinational, multi-billion dollar company, Realpage, Inc.

Additionally, he cosponsored the ‘End Junk Fees for Renters Act’ to end the growing number of excessive and predatory junk fees that increase costs for renters nationwide. Unnecessary fees like exorbitant application fees, screening fees, credit check fees, and late fees threaten families’ ability to obtain affordable housing.

Congressman Goldman is a founding member of the Congressional Renters Caucus.

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