House Approves Additional COVID-19 Relief for Housing Programs, Again

On June 29, the House took another step to provide additional emergency relief to housing programs impacted by the coronavirus by voting 232-180 to pass the Emergency Housing Protections and Relief Act of 2020 (H.R. 7301). The legislation is identical to language included in the Health and Economic Recovery Omnibus Emergency Solutions Act (H.R. 6800), referred to as the HEROES Act.

NAHRO and its members fought for the inclusion of affordable housing programs in the HEROES Act and supports the passage of the Emergency Housing Protections and Relief Act. NAHRO appreciates the focus this legislation puts on the additional resources public housing agencies (PHAs) require and on the dire housing needs of Americans throughout the COVID-19 crisis.

An attempt to put additional pressure on the Senate to take action on emergency relief, this is duplicate legislation and is seen as a messaging bill with little chance of being approved in the Senate. Since the passage of the HEROES Act on May 15, the Senate has not taken any steps to consider additional emergency relief for COVID-19 and the associated economic crisis. Put pressure on Congress and the White House to act now on additional resources for PHAs: visit NAHRO’s Advocacy Action Center now.

“The money we are providing today would allow public housing authorities (PHAs) to continue taking necessary steps to protect residents from the coronavirus,” said Rep. Nydia Velazquez (D-N.Y.). Information on the housing resources provided by the HEROES Act and the Emergency Housing Protections and Relief Act is available here (members only).