Garamendi Housing Bill Finally Passes House of Representatives

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman John Garamendi (CA-08) issued the following statement after the House passed bipartisan housing legislation, sending the bill to the President’s desk. The bill includes Garamendi’s key provision, the HOME Investment Partnerships Reauthorization and Improvement Act, which will significantly increase the amount of federal funding available for affordable housing across the country: 

“After years of work, we are one signature away from increasing access to affordable housing for hardworking Californians. Tonight, the House of Representatives passed the bipartisan 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, which will increase the nation's housing supply and, in turn, help drive down the exorbitant cost of housing. 

“Minimum-wage workers in California must work an average of 88 hours per week just to afford a modest one-bedroom rental at fair market rates. That is unacceptable. With House passage of this important legislation, the HOME Investment Partnerships Program will, for the first time since 1994, be modernized and brought into the 21st century. The program will provide states and local governments with the funding needed to construct and rehabilitate affordable rental housing, as well as expand homeownership opportunities for working families. 

“I’d like to thank Representatives Waters and Hill, as well as Senators Scott and Warren, for working toward a suitable compromise. I’d also like to thank Senator Cortez Masto for introducing the HOME Act in the Senate and Representative Beatty for co-leading this bill with me in the House.” 

HOME Background 

The HOME Investment Partnerships Program (HOME) is the largest federal affordable housing block grant and HUD’s flagship affordable housing production program. Since 1990, HOME has helped state and local housing agencies address a wide variety of housing needs, from financing new construction and home repairs to providing down payment assistance and rental assistance. 

Since 1992, the HOME program in California has: 

The HOME program also provides additional funding to housing developments financed through the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit, helping serve more extremely low-income individuals, including seniors, veterans, people experiencing homelessness, and people with disabilities. 

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