Act Now: Demand That the Senate Deliver for the American Public and Pass the Build Back Better Act NOW!

Loading....

Act Now: Demand That the Senate Deliver for the American Public and Pass the Build Back Better Act NOW!

The House of Representatives has done its part to pass the Build Back Better Act (BBBA), which includes nearly $170 billion for direct and tax-related housing and community development funding, the largest investment in equitable, affordable rental housing and homeownership assistance in U.S. history. However, the Senate has failed to secure enough votes to do its part and pass the BBBA.

Sen. Joe Manchin recently announced his decision to oppose the Build Back Better Act. Manchin’s action is extremely troubling as it is a missed opportunity to deliver upon election promises made to hardworking families in West Virginia and throughout the nation. It is a slap in the face to the honest, good-faith, diligent efforts of hundreds of community- and consumer-based organizations that have worked for a year with members of Congress and the White House to develop a comprehensive package to address some of the nation’s deepest challenges. These include a chronic lack of affordable housing, growing economic and housing inequality, increasing threats to the climate and environment, disinvestments in neighborhoods hit hardest by the Great Recession and COVID pandemic, inability of families to access affordable childcare, stagnant wages, and so much more.

Sen. Manchin’s announcement cannot thwart progress. The National Fair Housing Alliance strongly urges him to reconsider his position on this legislation. We also call on Republicans to support the bill. We urge Sen. Manchin to come back to the negotiating table, and we strongly encourage members of the GOP to work with the White House to pass the Build Back Better Act.

The housing investments in the Build Back Better Act would not only help victims of housing and lending discrimination, they would also make significant progress toward a more equitable society and create a more prosperous future for generations. We can no longer afford Manchin and the Republicans’ efforts to obstruct forward progress.

We need YOU to contact your U.S. Senators and demand that they pass the BBBA now! Scroll down to complete the contact form.

Tell your Senators that they must vote YES on the Build Back Better Act, which includes:

$800 Million for Local Fair Housing Enforcement

$700 million for the Fair Housing Initiatives Program (FHIP) to ensure that grassroots private fair housing enforcement organizations can better address ongoing and emerging forms of housing and lending discrimination in the housing market.
$100 million for the Fair Housing Assistance Program (FHAP) to ensure that local and state civil and human rights agencies can better assist HUD with handling filed complaints of housing discrimination.

$15 Billion for Targeted First-Generation Down Payment Assistance (DPA) and Other Homeownership Programs

$10 billion for first-generation down payment assistance to homebuyers, modeled after a proposal from NFHA and the Center for Responsible Lending which aims to take initial steps to close the racial homeownership and wealth gaps. This provision will enable over 170,000 Black and Latino consumers to become new homebuyers.
$5 billion to subsidize 20-year mortgages for first-generation homebuyers.

$35.6 Billion for New Construction and Property Rehabilitation

Nearly $5 billion for the Neighborhood Homes Investment Act (NHIA), which would create a tax credit to close the gap between development costs and sale prices for properties in need of rehabilitation in distressed neighborhoods and make affordable homes available to owner-occupants, resulting in the building or renovating of 125,000 affordable homes.
$25 billion for the development and rehabilitation of affordable housing through the HOME Investment Partnerships Program.
$2 billion for construction and rehab of rural rental housing.
$1.6 billion for the Revitalization of Distressed Multifamily Properties program to preserve and make safety improvements to properties receiving Section 8 Project-Based Rental Assistance.
$2 billion for new construction and rehabilitation for the Section 515 Rural Rental Housing Program.

$91 Billion for Public Housing and Affordable Rental Housing Assistance

$65 billion for public housing.
$24 billion for Housing Choice Vouchers with set asides for people at risk of or experiencing homelessness, as well as survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking.
$1 billion for Project-Based Rental Assistance.
$500 million for Section 202 Supportive Housing for the Elderly.
$500 million for Section 811 project-based rental assistance for people with disabilities.

$7.75 Billion for Community Planning and Development

$3 billion for a Community Restoration and Revitalization Fund for neighborhoods experiencing blight.
$3 billion for the Community Development Block Grant Program.
$1.75 billion for the Unlocking Possibilities Program, which would provide competitive grants to state and local governments and consortiums to improve and implement housing plans and strategies.

We just need few pieces of information to connect you with your senators.

I'd like to receive updates from this organization

Include your name at the bottom of the letter.

Take Action

Act Now: Demand That the Senate Deliver for the American Public and Pass the Build Back Better Act NOW!

U.S. Senate

Subject: Pass the Build Back Better Act As Is Now!

Message:

Dear Senator, I am contacting you to ask that you vote YES on the Build Back Better Act (BBBA). The BBBA is a transformational bill that will address the many housing needs throughout the nation by increasing access to stable, affordable housing free from discrimination. These investments will generate significant economic output that will strengthen our economy and help families prosper. In addition to the affordable housing and community development dollars in the bill, I urge you to fight for local fair housing enforcement ($800 million), targeted first-generation down payment assistance ($10 billion), and the Neighborhood Homes Investment Act ($5 billion). Taking the steps outlined above will help ensure that the funds in this bill are allocated in an equitable manner that benefits underserved communities and promotes overall economic growth. The public has spoken, and it is well past time to deliver the necessary housing infrastructure investments to the nation. To be clear, a vote against the BBBA is a vote against historic funding for fair, equitable, and affordable housing at a time when the nation needs it most. The housing investments in the BBBA would not only help victims of housing and lending discrimination, they would also make significant progress toward a more equitable society and create a more prosperous future for generations. We can no longer afford Manchin and the Republicans’ efforts to obstruct forward progress. For the sake of our communities and families, we call on every senator, including Republicans, to support the BBBA. Members who do not support this popular legislation may be doing so at their own political peril. Overwhelmingly, Americans across the political spectrum support key components of the BBBA. Americans believe that every child should have access to safe, decent, and affordable housing; that zip codes should not determine a person’s outcome in life; and that the nation should make significant investments to improve housing and strengthen communities. Pass the Build Back Better Act as is NOW! Sincerely, [Your Name]

Characters remaining:

Act Now: Demand That the Senate Deliver for the American Public and Pass the Build Back Better Act NOW!

Act Now: Demand That the Senate Deliver for the American Public and Pass the Build Back Better Act NOW!

Sorry, we cannot target any representatives in your district. But you can still help!

Thank you for supporting this action!