Bipartisan Package Advances to Address Housing Costs and Availability in New Hampshire

U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen's (D-NH) efforts to address the high cost of housing and increase affordable housing units in New Hampshire have taken a significant step forward. Three of her bills, leading a bipartisan package, have passed through the U.S. Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs. The bills aim to preserve housing units in rural areas, streamline rural housing regulations, and invest in manufactured housing communities.

Key Takeaways:

• The Strategy and Investment in Rural Housing Preservation Act would preserve housing units in rural areas, ensuring thousands of low-income tenants maintain access to safe and affordable housing.
• The Streamlining Rural Housing Act would simplify the process of building housing, lowering costs and shortening project timelines for developers.
• The Preservation and Reinvestment Initiative in Community Enhancement (PRICE) Act would invest in manufactured housing communities, providing funding for home improvements and neighborhood upgrades for thousands of Americans each year.
• The Renewing Opportunity in the American Dream (ROAD) to Housing Act would create a pilot program at HUD to offer grants and forgivable loans for home repair needs and health hazards.
• Shaheen's legislation also includes provisions to improve transparency for veteran homebuyers and provide funding for communities building more housing supply.
• The bills have been unanimously passed by the U.S. Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs and now head to the Senate floor for further consideration.
• As the Ranking Member of the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration and Related Agencies (Ag-FDA) Subcommittee, Shaheen has prioritized ensuring communities have the federal funding needed to tackle the housing affordability crisis.

Statistics:

• Thousands of low-income tenants in rural areas are at risk of losing rental assistance through the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) without Shaheen's bill to preserve access to affordable housing.
• Initial funding for home improvements and neighborhood upgrades under the PRICE Act would be necessary for thousands of Americans each year.
• The pilot program under the ROAD Act would offer grants and forgivable loans to low and moderate-income homeowners and small landlords to address home repair needs and health hazards.

Sources:

• United States Senator for New Hampshire Jeanne Shaheen
• U.S. Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs
• U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)
• U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)