With CREDO funding, National Low Income Housing Coalition continues to advance affordable housing solutions for those most in need

The National Low Income Housing Coalition works to achieve socially just public policy to ensure the lowest-income people – seniors, people with disabilities, families with children, people experiencing homelessness, and disproportionately people of color – have decent, accessible, affordable homes.

Since 1987, CREDO members have helped us distribute $183,627 in donations to NLIHC, and the organization received a $49,005 grant in November 2020. Here are some recent victories achieved by NLIHC for those most in need, helped in part by CREDO and our members:

• In December 2020, with robust advocacy thousands of partners and low income housing allies, NLIHC helped to achieve a bipartisan compromise COVID-19 relief package with $25B for emergency rental assistance (ERA) and an extension of the CDC moratorium; another extension of the moratorium by the new administration to June 2021 (eventually extended to July 2021 and then reinstated as a targeted moratorium through October 3, 2021); and nearly $50B in additional ERA and other housing and homelessness resources in the “American Rescue Plan Act” in March 2021!
• NLIHC also urged the administration to take immediate action to address several emerging and troubling roadblocks in ERA programs identified by NLIHC through its ERA tracking and analysis. On May 7, 2021, the Treasury Department and the White House responded, publishing new ERA program guidance and summary with major program improvements recommended by NLIHC to ensure these critical resources reach the lowest-income and most marginalized people in need. See NLIHC’s side-by-side comparison of the previous roadblocks in ERA programs, NLIHC’s recommendations, and how the Treasury and White House’s revised guidance addresses each.
• NLIHC also succeeded in getting the administration to include an unprecedented $318 billion for affordable housing in the president’s “American Jobs Plan,” including two priorities in NLIHC’s HoUSed campaign for universal, stable, affordable housing for people with the lowest incomes: $45 billion for the national Housing Trust Fund and major investments in public housing. Then, on August 11, the Senate voted 50-49 to approve a budget resolution that sets the stage for a $3.5 trillion infrastructure and economic recovery package, including investments up to $332 billion for housing and transportation, meaning the ultimate bill may match or exceed the president’s request for affordable housing.
• NLIHC’s ability to mobilize the affordable housing community was demonstrated during our response to the pandemic and through our HoUSed campaign for long-term affordable housing and homelessness solutions, engaging thousands of advocates on many calls/webinars, campaigns, and calls-to-action. The organization leveraged that strength and high-quality research and policy analysis to have a strong, ongoing impact on members of Congress and the new administration, directly influencing many policy initiatives. Decision makers have relied on NLIHC for its advice and guidance, often incorporating our policy recommendations virtually verbatim into their solutions. The bold pandemic housing and homelessness resources and protections enacted have been historic, as have the administration’s and Congress’s proposals for long-term housing solutions – in all cases strongly influenced by NLIHC policy recommendations.

NLIHC thanks CREDO and our members for the generous donation and the added attention these critical issues received, especially at a time when those needing rental assistance needed it the most.

If you’d like to learn more about the National Low Income Housing Coalition, please visit their website, or follow them on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.

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