Bill Overview
Title: Expand Housing Opportunities Act
Description: This bill establishes new, and expands existing, grants for increasing the availability of affordable housing. Specifically, the bill sets up grant programs that support (1) construction, preservation, or rehabilitation of owner-occupied, affordable housing; and (2) implementation and administration of landlord-tenant mediation programs. Further, the bill allows states to apply for additional funding through a block grant that supports affordable housing activities that benefit low-income individuals (the HOME Investment Partnership Program) to cover certain costs associated with affordable housing incurred during the COVID-19 emergency.
Sponsors: Sen. Hassan, Margaret Wood [D-NH]
Target Audience
Population: people in need of affordable housing
Estimated Size: 45000000
- The primary target population is low-income individuals who require affordable housing options.
- Affordable housing initiatives typically benefit low-income families, single parents, seniors on fixed incomes, and homeless individuals transitioning into stable housing.
- The inclusion of programs for rehabilitation of housing may impact current homeowners in need of assistance to maintain their homes.
- Landlord-tenant mediation programs may impact both tenants and landlords by improving dispute resolution practices, which can enhance housing stability.
- The legislation may indirectly benefit other groups, such as those providing services related to construction and rehabilitation, including local small businesses involved in these sectors.
Reasoning
- The policy targets low-income individuals and families who are struggling with housing costs. This includes populations who are homeless, at risk of losing their homes, or living in substandard conditions.
- Given the budget constraints, the policy will likely be rolled out in phases, focusing on high-density, low-income areas first to maximize the reach and impact.
- The inclusion of landlord-tenant mediation programs means the policy also addresses housing stability issues for renters, not just homeowners.
- Landlord-tenant mediation programs might significantly benefit renters struggling with conflict or communication issues with landlords, providing a non-legal route to resolve disputes.
- Seniors on fixed incomes are also likely to benefit, potentially through renovations that help them age in place sustainably.
- Construction and rehabilitation components will gradually enhance the housing stock over time, but immediate effects may be limited due to time needed for planning and building.
Simulated Interviews
Construction Worker (Detroit, MI)
Age: 34 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I think any help towards making housing more affordable is good. We’re stretching every dollar, and rent keeps going up.
- Hoping for more jobs in construction with new housing projects.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 3 |
Freelance Graphic Designer (San Francisco, CA)
Age: 29 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Affordable housing feels like just a buzzword, rents are insane here.
- I wish these policies would also cap rent increases.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 3 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 2 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 2 |
Elementary School Teacher (Rural Kentucky)
Age: 45 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- If my home needs bigger repairs, I worry because it’s expensive.
- Programs to help with home repairs would be a blessing.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 4 |
Landlord (Houston, TX)
Age: 50 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I’m worried about rent control, but mediation sounds better than going straight to court.
- It's important that tenants and landlords can talk and mediate.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 3 |
Social Worker (Los Angeles, CA)
Age: 36 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- We desperately need more affordable housing for the people I work with.
- Programs that focus on rehabilitation and new construction are crucial.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 3 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 2 |
Retired (Phoenix, AZ)
Age: 65 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I hope these programs help with making homes safer and more accessible for aging people.
- Not sure if this really affects me directly otherwise.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 3 |
Chef (New York, NY)
Age: 41 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- We need way better standards in low-income housing, it’s sometimes unbearable.
- Mediation should make it easier to get landlords to listen.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 3 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 3 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 2 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 1 |
College Student (Atlanta, GA)
Age: 22 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Affordable housing is a major worry when I graduate, so more options would be amazing.
- I'm not directly affected yet, but it's a concern for the future.
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 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 4 |
Caregiver (Chicago, IL)
Age: 55 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Rent always feels like it’s going up, affordable housing could really ease stress.
- I hope the changes are applied as soon as possible.
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 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 2 |
Homeless (New Orleans, LA)
Age: 43 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 3
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Finding stable housing has been tough, and most places are just too expensive.
- Any policy that helps people like me get a place to live is crucial.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 3 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 3 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 2 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 2 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 2 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 2 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $4500000000 (Low: $3000000000, High: $5500000000)
Year 2: $4700000000 (Low: $3100000000, High: $5700000000)
Year 3: $4800000000 (Low: $3200000000, High: $5800000000)
Year 5: $5000000000 (Low: $3500000000, High: $6000000000)
Year 10: $6000000000 (Low: $4000000000, High: $7000000000)
Year 100: $7000000000 (Low: $5000000000, High: $8000000000)
Key Considerations
- This program needs careful implementation oversight to ensure efficient allocation and use of funds, minimizing opportunities for inefficiencies or misuse.
- Sustainable funding mechanisms must be in place to support the ongoing costs of housing maintenance and mediation programs.
- Coordination with existing federal and state housing programs is crucial to amplify effectiveness and prevent duplication of efforts.
- Outreach is necessary to ensure eligible populations are aware and can benefit from the grants and programs.
- Evaluation metrics must be established to monitor the long-term impacts on housing stability, public health, and economic participation.