Bill Overview
Title: Housing Temperature Safety Act of 2022
Description: This bill establishes a pilot program through which the Department of Housing and Urban Development must award grants to public housing agencies and owners of certain federally assisted rental housing to install in dwelling units (with the written permission of tenants) temperature sensors for purposes of ensuring that units comply with temperature-related requirements.
Sponsors: Rep. Torres, Ritchie [D-NY-15]
Target Audience
Population: Individuals living in public housing or federally assisted rental housing
Estimated Size: 5500000
- The bill targets public housing agencies and owners of certain federally assisted rental housing.
- The installation of temperature sensors aims to ensure compliance with temperature-related housing requirements, directly affecting residents.
- Federally assisted rental housing includes various programs such as Section 8, impacting the residents who benefit from such programs.
- Considering that these programs are prevalent in many countries, the reach of the bill's impact is significant.
- However, since the bill is proposed by the US Department of Housing and Urban Development, its primary focus is likely on the US population involved with these programs.
Reasoning
- Given the budget constraints, the policy will primarily impact individuals residing in public housing or federally assisted rental units due to the installation of temperature sensors.
- There are an estimated 5.5 million Americans within the target demographic, but not all will be impacted in the first year due to budget limits.
- Reasoning assumes varied awareness and perceived impact based on personal experiences with temperature control issues in housing.
- Size of benefit likely correlates with prior exposure to temperature-related housing issues.
- Interviews include different demographics to illustrate potential range of responses and importance of context (like regional climate influences).
Simulated Interviews
Office Manager (New York City, NY)
Age: 34 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Living in a city like New York, the winters get really cold. Consistent heating is a must.
- I've had trouble getting my landlord to maintain the heat properly.
- Knowing that there's a guarantee to have the apartment temperature monitored sounds reassuring.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Warehouse Worker (Houston, TX)
Age: 52 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Texas summers are brutal, and my electric bill is a worry every month.
- If this policy can help manage the temperature better, it could reduce my electric bills.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Teacher (Chicago, IL)
Age: 45 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The public housing units can get very cold in the winter.
- It would be great to have a reliable system to ensure warmth during harsh winters.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
Retail Worker (Phoenix, AZ)
Age: 29 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 3
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Summers in Phoenix are unbearable without AC.
- If the building can regulate temperatures better, it might lower the cooling costs significantly.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 3 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 3 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 3 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 4 |
Retired (Miami, FL)
Age: 68 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 8.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Miami gets excruciatingly hot, and it's hard to keep up with the cooling needs.
- Feeling safe in my home temperature-wise is very important to me.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 4 |
Student (Detroit, MI)
Age: 23 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I can manage with clothing during winter as a student, but cost savings would help.
- This policy could help avoid other expenses by making the home more comfortable year-round.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
Technical Support (San Francisco, CA)
Age: 40 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 1.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The climate here is moderate, so temperature swings aren't a major concern.
- However, knowing there's a safety net is nice, particularly when working from home and having stable temperature needs.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
Librarian (Seattle, WA)
Age: 55 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Seattle might not be extreme in temperature, but the dampness and cold seep in because of poor insulation.
- Ensuring proper heating will help me live more comfortably while financially supporting myself.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
Semi-retired Consultant (Atlanta, GA)
Age: 64 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 7.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Atlanta winters are not severe, but heating keeps the bill high.
- Assurance of stable temperatures through this policy would mean a lot, especially on a fixed income.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Healthcare Worker (Baltimore, MD)
Age: 38 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 6.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- As someone working unusual hours, coming home to a warm place is a necessity.
- I'm hoping the policy's implementation means fewer worries about the temperature in my unit.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $20000000 (Low: $15000000, High: $30000000)
Year 2: $18000000 (Low: $14500000, High: $27000000)
Year 3: $17000000 (Low: $14000000, High: $25000000)
Year 5: $17000000 (Low: $13500000, High: $25000000)
Year 10: $16000000 (Low: $13000000, High: $24000000)
Year 100: $15000000 (Low: $12000000, High: $23000000)
Key Considerations
- Ensuring tenant consent for sensor installations is crucial for compliance.
- Program scalability might depend on initial pilot results and participant feedback.
- Possible resistance or privacy concerns from tenants could affect sensor deployment success.