H.R. 1461

The nation needs an additional 1.6 million units of low-income housing for use by its workforce.

The 2003 American Housing Survey reports that 7.5 million households spend more than half of their income on rent or mortgage payments making them "severely burdened" by definition (see "Hope for Affordable Housing," by David S. Broder, The Washington Post, Thursday, June 2, 2005).

Looking for something you can do right now to help improve the affordable housing situation in the United States?

Read on.

The U. S. House of Representatives is considering a bill (H. R. 1461) that would designate 5% of after-tax profits earned by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac (GSEs or government sponsored enterprises) to an Affordable Housing Fund.

The fund could generate between $400 million and $1 billion annually for preserving, rehabilitating and developing affordable, workforce housing.

Such a fund would mean the development of between 4,000 and 14,000 units each year.

Lawmakers will vote on the Affordable Housing Fund very soon.

I am supporting this measure because of the overwhelming need for affordable housing among my low-income friends and neighbors here in inner city Dallas, Texas. But the need is national and this measure will affect every area of the country.

You can help today by contacting your member of Congress and your two Senators (there will eventually be a companion bill in the Senate) expressing your support for the legislation, H. R. 1461.

Your action today could help make an incredible difference in the lives of thousands of low-income families, as well as in the quality of inner city neighborhoods.

Please act.

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Helpful addresses:

U. S. Representative (you provide his/her name here)
House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20515

Senator (you provide his/her name here--you have two!)
U. S. Senate
Washington, DC 20510
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