Last night, the U.S. Senate passed the Housing Opportunity Through Modernization Act (HOTMA) which will
make substantial improvements to affordable housing programs throughout the
country! This success comes after months of calls, advocacy engagement, and
fostering bipartisan support for commonsense reforms. The bill is now heading to the President's desk to be signed into law.
Your advocacy action has made a real difference
for many who are often faced with the threat of eviction. Lack of affordable
housing continues to be a major driver of hunger, poverty, and homelessness in
our communities. Our housing programs are essential to people paying excessive
amounts of their income on housing, but assistance is largely underfunded and
leaves many out
in the cold.
Once signed into law, HOTMA will help expand the
reach and access of U.S. housing programs to extremely low-income families in
the most need of assistance. The bill will also authorize Rural Housing
Services for single families, encourage higher economic mobility for assisted
families, and increase the safety of housing units. Ensuring greater and more direct
access of our housing programs and the safety of a secure home will give many
families the opportunities they need to rise out of poverty.
ELCA Advocacy applauds the significant bipartisan effort
that led to the passage of this bill, and all the faith advocates like you who
made this possible. Still, more must be done to address the affordable housing
crisis in our country. As Lutheran shelter ministries and services agencies continue
to work and provide much needed assistance to those in need, stay alert for
ways you can take action through advocacy!
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