Housing is A Human Right

Floor Speech

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Ms. OMAR. Mr. Speaker, ``Mashallah,'' ``God has willed it,'' to Representative Jamal Bowman for that incredible speech and for giving a shout-out to my Homes for All Act.

I thank Representative Ramirez for yielding and for bringing all of us together to be able to advocate for housing.

Mr. Speaker, in the richest nation on Earth, it is a moral failure that we have a housing crisis, but moral victories are not won by words but by urgent actions and bold policies. Fortunately, our localities are stepping up with sensible housing reforms and creative development models.

In Minneapolis, our Public Housing Authority just unveiled its largest development in decades. The Minneapolis Public Housing Authority created 84 new units that are deeply affordable family housing across Minneapolis, using an innovative modular construction approach that cut development time by 30 percent.

In Montgomery County, local leaders created their own version of an affordable housing development by setting up a revolving loan fund to develop dense, mixed-income, municipally owned housing. Now, their public developer model is being replicated in other communities across the country.

These local initiatives are vital to strengthening housing affordability, but they need more support. The solution to our housing shortage cannot be piecemeal. It demands a combination of local innovation and bold Federal leadership.

Congress cannot sit on the sidelines. We have the responsibility and capacity to solve this crisis. We can start by authorizing significant Federal funding and public financing options for true public and social housing.

That is why I will be reintroducing the Homes for All Act, to transform what housing could look like in the United States, rooted in the right reforms and priorities. It repeals the Faircloth amendment allowing public housing authorities to build more housing on a massive scale, like we once did in times of great need.

To ensure Federal disinvestment and neglect does not happen again, the bill also converts public housing operating and capital expenses into mandatory spending.

It makes historic investments in our housing stock, building 8.5 million new public housing units and 3.5 million new private housing units for working-class families.

Finally, my bill would establish a fund to help localities develop pro-housing programs that can also prevent residential segregation and displacement.

Congress needs to play a more active and direct role in strengthening our housing supply. This includes making sure that public and private dollars for affordable housing are used effectively and equitably by supporting local zoning reform and robust tenant protections. Such policies can work together, if crafted carefully.

Last Congress, Senator Merkley and I introduced the Affordable HOME Act to provide that comprehensive approach to ensuring housing construction and acquisition efforts are fair, inclusive, and sustainable. For renters and first-time home buyers, this legislation provides robust funding for direct rental assistance and downpayment assistance. This bill also establishes programs for a national right of first refusal and right to counsel and bans source-of-income discrimination and no-cause evictions.

For people experiencing homelessness, the bill provides billions of dollars in funding for permanent supportive housing, not only covering capital costs but also expanding rental subsidies and wraparound services.

For communities, the bill invests in innovative housing models, such as resident-owned cooperatives and community land trusts.

My bills are only a couple of examples that could help guarantee housing as a human right.

I am proud to share this floor with my dedicated colleagues who have championed housing policies that are centered on the needs of our communities and advocates.

Mr. Speaker, I also want to shout-out Representative Esther Agbaje, Representative Aisha Gomez, Representative Mike Howard, and Representative Hodan Hassan, who are leading the charge in the State of Minnesota to make sure housing is available for all. Everyone deserves access to a safe and stable place to live.

I thank Representative Ramirez for her great partnership in this important fight.

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