Press Release

Gillibrand Joins Hirono And Booker To Introduce New Legislation To Help Combat Homelessness And Expand Access To Safe And Affordable Housing

Nov 25, 2019

Washington, DC – U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), along with U.S. Senator Mazie Hirono (D-HI) and U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ), today introduced new legislation that would help end homelessness and housing poverty by expanding access to safe and affordable housing. The Pathway to Stable and Affordable Housing for All Act would create a new, 10-year investment plan in programs that have been successful in combating homelessness and housing poverty across the country. These programs would help states and organizations move people experiencing homelessness into shelters and help people in the shelter system find permanent, safe, and affordable housing.

“No one should ever be without a place to call home, but there are far too many families in New York and across the country facing homelessness,” said Senator Gillibrand. “Access to safe and affordable housing should be a basic human right in the United States, and that’s why I’m proud to support the Pathway to Stable and Affordable Housing for All Act. This bill would help end homelessness by investing in programs that would help people access shelters and safe and affordable housing. I urge my colleagues to support this legislation and help end the affordable housing crisis.”

The National Low Income Housing Coalition estimates that under this bill, New York would see an additional $4.441 billion in federal funding, and the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities estimated that New York would see 810,000 additional households assisted under a fully-funded, fully-phased-in housing choice voucher program.

Specifically, the Pathway to Stable and Affordable Housing for All Act would do the following:

  • Allocate $10 billion per year in additional funding for Emergency Solutions Grants;
  • Administer $10 billion per year in additional funding for Continuum of Care grants so organizations can move those experiencing homelessness into the shelter system and provide them critical support services;
  • Allot $40 billion per year in direct appropriations to the Housing Trust Fund in addition to the dedicated funding provided by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. This level of investment will expand affordable rental housing stock and help lower rents in the long-run;
  • Fully fund tenant-based rental assistance (vouchers) to allow as many families as possible to get access to permanent, safe, and affordable housing.

The full text of Pathway to Stable and Affordable Housing for All Act may be found here. This bill is endorsed by the National Low Income Housing Coalition and the National Alliance to End Homelessness.