SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION

No. 70

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

220th LEGISLATURE

 

INTRODUCED MARCH 3, 2022

 


 

Sponsored by:

Senator  NELLIE POU

District 35 (Bergen and Passaic)

Senator  VIN GOPAL

District 11 (Monmouth)

Assemblywoman  BRITNEE N. TIMBERLAKE

District 34 (Essex and Passaic)

Assemblywoman  ANGELA V. MCKNIGHT

District 31 (Hudson)

Assemblywoman  YVONNE LOPEZ

District 19 (Middlesex)

 

Co-Sponsored by:

Senators Diegnan, Ruiz, Singleton, Stack, Turner, Zwicker, Cruz-Perez, Johnson, Assemblymen Karabinchak, Mukherji, Assemblywomen Jasey, Reynolds-Jackson, Carter, Assemblymen Spearman, Stanley and Wimberly

 

 

 

 

SYNOPSIS

     Urges Congress to include funding for affordable housing in “Build Back Better” legislation.

 

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

     As introduced.

  


A Joint Resolution urging Congress to include funding for affordable housing in federal “Build Back Better” legislation.

 

Whereas, Housing insecurity has long been a substantial threat to the public’s health and safety, and the COVID-19 pandemic has served to highlight and heighten the dangers associated with this housing crisis; and

Whereas, The pandemic has caused untold economic hardship for New Jersey residents and communities, who, through no fault of their own, have been faced with the threat of foreclosures and evictions; and

Whereas, Many people have suffered and struggled due to the physical, emotional and economic impacts of the coronavirus pandemic; however, people of color, especially women of color and other marginalized renters, have been disproportionately impacted by the virus and its effect on the housing crisis; and

Whereas, In New Jersey, in order to afford a modest, two-bedroom apartment, on average, a renter would need an income of $31.96 per hour; however, this is often far above the income of many working families, seniors, and people with disabilities in this State; and

Whereas, Only a small percentage of households eligible for rental assistance receive such assistance due in large part to decades of chronic underfunding; and

Whereas, Addressing the housing crisis and bridging the gap between incomes and housing costs through the expansion of rental assistance programs is of utmost importance; and

Whereas, On September 27, 2021, the United States House of Representatives introduced H.R. 5376, commonly referred to as the “Build Back Better Act,” which would provide funding and establish programs relating to a broad array of areas, including among others, housing, education, labor, childcare, health care, taxes, immigration, and the environment; and

Whereas, This legislation was passed by the U.S. House of Representatives on November 19, 2021; and

Whereas, Congress is currently considering the Build Back Better agenda which could provide a once-in-a-lifetime investment in housing affordability, stability and security and lay the foundation to help make New Jersey a more affordable place to live for generations to come; and

Whereas, By including mechanisms in the Build Back Better economic recovery package to expand rental assistance programs and address the severe shortage of affordable housing for people with the lowest incomes, Congress could help bridge the gap between wages and housing costs for America’s lowest-income and most marginalized households; and

Whereas, It is therefore critical that Congress make a robust investment in housing affordability in any budget reconciliation bill similar to what was passed by the U.S. House of Representatives in the “Build Back Better Act,” including: an expansion of rental assistance by $25 billion to serve 300,000 additional households; $65 billion to repair public housing, which is home to 2.5 million residents; and $15 billion in the national Housing Trust Fund to build and preserve 150,000 homes affordable to people with the greatest needs; now, therefore,

 

     Be It Resolved by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

 

     1.    The Senate and the General Assembly urge the United States Congress to include in the Build Back Better economic recovery package funding to expand rental assistance programs, and build, repair, and preserve affordable homes in order to reach and provide greater assistance to more people in need of affordable housing.

 

     2.    Copies of this resolution, as filed with the Secretary of State, shall be transmitted by the Secretary of the Senate or the Clerk of the General Assembly to the Majority and Minority Leaders of the United States Senate, the Speaker and the Minority Leader of the United States House of Representatives, and to each member of the United States Congress elected from this State.

 

     3.    This joint resolution shall take effect immediately.

 

 

STATEMENT

 

     This joint resolution urges the United States Congress to include within the federal “Build Back Better” legislation funding to expand rental assistance programs, and build, repair and preserve affordable homes in order to reach and provide greater assistance to more people in need of affordable housing.  Housing insecurity has long been a threat to the public’s health and safety, and the COVID-19 pandemic has served to highlight and heighten awareness of the dangers associated with this housing crisis.  A substantial number of New Jersey residents do not have sufficient income to afford even modest, decent housing, but often only a small percentage of those who are eligible to receive housing assistance actually receive it, as these programs are often substantially underfunded.  Due to the pandemic, many New Jersey residents incurred economic hardships and faced the threat of homelessness and foreclosure because they could no longer afford to pay for housing.  Moreover, people of color, specifically women of color and other marginalized renters, have been disproportionately impacted by these hardships. 

     In an effort to provide relief to many of the people struggling as a result of the pandemic, the U.S. House of Representatives introduced  H.R. 5376, better known as the “Build Back Better Act.”  This legislation provides Congress a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to invest in housing affordability, stability and security.  Including mechanisms to expand rental assistance programs and address the severe shortage of affordable housing for people with the lowest incomes, Congress could help bridge the gap between wages and housing costs for America’s lowest-income and most marginalized households.  It is therefore critical that Congress make a robust investment in housing affordability in any budget reconciliation bill similar to what was passed by the U.S. House of Representatives in the “Build Back Better Act.”  The New Jersey Legislature urges Congress to include the following in this legislation:

·      an expansion of rental assistance by $25 billion to serve 300,000 additional households;

·      $65 billion to repair public housing, which is home to 2.5 million residents; and

·      $15 billion in the national Housing Trust Fund to build and preserve 150,000 homes affordable to people with the greatest needs.