Bill Overview
Title: Housing Temperature Safety Act of 2022
Description: This bill requires owners of certain federally assisted rental dwelling units to install temperature sensors in those units within a year after the bill is enacted. The bill also requires those owners to record the temperature in those units at least six times each day and to report that information to the Department of Housing and Urban Development.
Sponsors: Sen. Gillibrand, Kirsten E. [D-NY]
Target Audience
Population: People living in federally assisted rental housing in the United States.
Estimated Size: 12000000
- The bill targets federally assisted rental housing, which includes public housing, the Housing Choice Voucher program, and project-based rental assistance.
- Based on data from the HUD, there are around 4.6 million households that receive federal rental assistance in the United States.
- Globally, the specific housing programs mentioned are unique to the United States and do not directly apply to other countries.
- However, given the inspiration or legislative models, housing standards globally might consider similar acts, but those are not directly impacted by this legislation.
Reasoning
- The bill specifically targets individuals in federally assisted rental housing, which are generally low-income households. The primary benefits will likely be for those in extreme temperature climates, as it ensures safety and comfort.
- The policy is not expected to directly impact those who are not in federally assisted housing, as it does not apply to them. However, indirect effects could be felt in the rental market due to changes in housing standards.
- Given a budget of $3.174 billion over 10 years, it is expected some units might not receive immediate improvements, considering ongoing costs and technology installation logistics.
- Cantril wellbeing scores will vary greatly depending on individuals' previous living conditions and environmental awareness.
- Federally assisted housing typically serves vulnerable populations, meaning that successful policy implementation could potentially raise their current living standards substantially.
Simulated Interviews
Retail Worker (New York City, NY)
Age: 32 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I think it's a good idea. Sometimes, it gets really cold in winter and hot in summer, and it can get uncomfortable or even dangerous.
- I'm a bit worried about privacy with all this tracking. Who will see this data?
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 5 |
Retired (Chicago, IL)
Age: 78 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 18/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy will help keep me safe, especially during the cold Chicago winters.
- I hope it also helps reduce my heating bill in some way.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 3 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 3 |
Nurse (Los Angeles, CA)
Age: 45 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- In LA, weather is mostly nice, but knowing that my rent is federally assisted means I might see some cost benefits from this monitoring.
- It's good for the overall system but won't change things much for me immediately.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
Construction Worker (Phoenix, AZ)
Age: 50 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 14/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Having the temperature monitored means we'll know right away if something is wrong. That should make summers more bearable.
- I hope they also upgrade our air conditioning units to something more efficient.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Part-Time Retail Associate (Miami, FL)
Age: 60 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- It's reassuring to know that temperatures will be monitored, especially if there are power outages during storms.
- Privacy is a little bit of a concern, but safety is more important.
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 | 8 | 6 |
Manufacturing Worker (Detroit, MI)
Age: 40 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 13/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm not sure how much this will really affect us unless they improve insulation or heating systems too.
- Having that data might help advocate for better living conditions.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Daycare Worker (Houston, TX)
Age: 28 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 17/20
Statement of Opinion:
- With kids in the house, it's so important to stay on top of things if there's an issue.
- I'm hoping there will be emergency protocols if it gets too hot or cold.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 4 |
Artist (Seattle, WA)
Age: 55 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Seattle weather is pretty moderate, so I don't see this changing much in my daily life.
- It's more of a peace of mind thing.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
Student (Newark, NJ)
Age: 23 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I think monitoring is good, but I hope it goes hand in hand with energy-saving measures/rules.
- Interested in seeing the data, as it could help push for more sustainable practices.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 6 |
Retired (Atlanta, GA)
Age: 64 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 20/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm grateful for anything that will help keep my apartment comfortable and safe.
- I hope they will be prompt in fixing any discovered issues.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 5 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $690000000 (Low: $510000000, High: $920000000)
Year 2: $276000000 (Low: $253000000, High: $299000000)
Year 3: $276000000 (Low: $253000000, High: $299000000)
Year 5: $276000000 (Low: $253000000, High: $299000000)
Year 10: $276000000 (Low: $253000000, High: $299000000)
Year 100: $276000000 (Low: $253000000, High: $299000000)
Key Considerations
- There may be resistance from some property owners due to the upfront costs associated with the installation of temperature sensors.
- Data privacy concerns could arise from the mandatory reporting of temperature data to federal agencies.