During our recent Health and Housing Solutions Summit, network members met with the offices of eight key lawmakers, including Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA), the Senate Appropriations Committee chair; Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) and Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC), the chair and ranking Republican of the Senate Banking Committee; and members of the House Appropriations Subcommittee with jurisdiction over housing funding.
Network members reiterated key housing priorities for their communities related to accessibility and affordability. These priorities include providing adequate funding to expand affordable housing in communities, incentivizing faith-based land conversions, increasing options for aligning housing and services, improving rural housing programs, and increasing the availability of the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit.
Next steps have included a formal endorsement of the Rural Housing Service Reform Act (S. 1389), bipartisan legislation that would improve federal rural housing programs, and network members will be inviting these key lawmakers and their home state lawmakers on site visits to learn more about their work and needs in their communities.
For more information, contact Sarah.
Sarah Dobson is Senior Director of Advocacy and Public Policy at Lutheran Services in America.
