WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND), a Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee member, and Senator Chris Coons (D-DE) introduced the Choice in Affordable Housing Act, a bipartisan bill to improve the federal government’s largest rental assistance program. The legislation would create the Herschel Lashkowitz Housing Partnership Fund, named after former state senator and Fargo Mayor Herschel Lashkowitz, a longtime advocate for affordable housing.

“Over the last year, housing uncertainty has reached unprecedented heights for millions of Americans, and there are ways Congress can act to strengthen existing housing programs without undue market interference,” said Senator Cramer. “The Choice in Affordable Housing Act seeks to increase landlord interest in affordable housing voucher programs by offering incentives and reducing burdensome bureaucratic guidance. It also increases funding for tribal programs and authorizes $500 million to create a Housing Partnership Fund named after former Fargo Mayor Herschel Lashkowitz, who dedicated much of his life to making affordable housing a reality for so many North Dakotans. I urge my colleagues to support our commonsense, bipartisan legislation.”

“I’m pleased to introduce this bipartisan bill with Senator Cramer that invests in and reforms a federal housing program that has successfully helped millions of Americans afford safe and decent housing in the private market,” said Senator Coons. “This is a commonsense solution that would open doors for low-income families – an important step toward addressing housing affordability issues across the country.”

The bill would provide $500 million to create the Herschel Lashkowitz Housing Partnership Fund, which would distribute money for encouraging landlords to participate in rental assistance programs and lower affordability hurdles facing potential tenants. North Dakotans expressed their appreciation for this effort led by Senator Cramer.

“We have found time and time again that creating opportunities to partner with landlords is a valuable part of effective strategies for ending homelessness,” said Cody Schuler, Executive Director of the Fargo-Moorhead Coalition to End Homelessness. “This legislation advances the ability for communities to strengthen and form these critical relationships. We are grateful for the work Senators Cramer and Coons did for this bill, and for their generous honoring of one of Fargo’s champions of public housing, because everyone deserves a home.”

“The JCRC strongly supports the prophetic reflection of the need to provide secure and affordable housing to all via the bipartisan legislation of Senators Kevin Cramer and Chris Coons—The Choice in Affordable Housing Act,” said Steve Hunegs, Executive Director, Jewish Community Relations Council of Minnesota and the Dakotas (JCRC). “The JCRC is deeply proud that the Housing Partnership Fund component of the legislation is named for Herschel Lashkowitz. The 20-year Mayor of Fargo, Mr. Lashkowitz was a scion of the 150-year history of the Jewish community dating to territorial times. Born, raised and ultimately graduated from Fargo Central High School, Mr. Lashkowitz practiced law in Fargo and served in city and state government from 1954-1989. Mayor Lashkowitz presided over two major urban renewal projects in Fargo resulting in a new public library, City Hall and auditorium and public works improvement and expansion. Joining these health, cultural and civic endeavors was the construction of apartments for senior citizens and the disabled. Given the expansive nature of the Cramer-Coons legislation and the broad community vision of Mayor Lashkowitz, it is deeply meaningful to honor his memory and accomplishments in providing housing opportunities throughout our nation.”

Senator Cramer advocated for this bill in a Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee hearing where U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Marcia Fudge was testifying. The Secretary told Senator Cramer she looks forward to reviewing the specifics of his legislation with her. Video of his remarks can be downloaded here, audio here, and the comments can be viewed on YouTube here.

Background

The bill would increase funding for and remove programmatic barriers in the Housing Choice Voucher program, often referred to as Section 8 vouchers. This would help attract and retain landlords, allowing low-income families who use vouchers to have more housing choices and improved access to high-opportunity neighborhoods. In addition to creating the $500 million Herschel Lashkowitz Housing Partnership Fund, the bill would: 

  • Increase funding to the Tribal HUD-VASH program to help renters on tribal land, the bill supports the Tribal HUD-VASH program for Native American Veterans who are homeless or at risk of homelessness.
  • Use neighborhood-specific data to set rents fairly by requiring HUD to expand its 2016 rule requiring the use of Small Area Fair Market Rents to calculate fair rents in certain metro areas.
  • Reduce inspection delays by allowing units in buildings financed by other federal housing programs to meet the voucher inspection if the unit has been inspected in the past year. New landlords could also request a pre-inspection from a PHA prior to selecting a voucher-holding tenant that would be good for 60 days.
  • Refocus HUD’s evaluation of housing agencies by encouraging HUD to reform its annual evaluation of PHAs to promote an increase in the diversity of neighborhoods where vouchers are used. The bill also requires HUD to report to Congress annually on the effects of the bill.

It is endorsed by the National Low Income Housing Coalition, National Housing Law Project, Poverty & Race Research Action Council, Habitat for Humanity, Enterprise Community Partners, National Apartment Association, National Multifamily Housing Council, National Association of Realtors, and National Association of Home Builders.

Learn more here.