Affordable Housing

Affordable housing is a prioritized issue in New York's 15th Congressional District, which is mostly comprised of high-rise residential buildings. Throughout our community, tenants face an uphill battle with higher rents, fewer services, and negligence or harassment by landlords. Perhaps more importantly, the lack of affordable housing in the area presents a severe threat to our local economy. As such, I have fought to ensure that tenants and prospective New York City residents are provided with proper support needed to finance affordable housing, while strengthening the quality and accessibility of our housing market.

I introduced the Public Housing Tenants Respect Act of 2011 to remove the barriers that limit access to public housing for our most vulnerable citizens. In these challenging times, we need to protect the unemployed as they strive to rejoin the workforce. Finding a job alone is increasingly difficult for those at risk of losing their homes.

To protect working families across America from foreclosures and to make purchasing homes more affordable, President Barack Obama has created several key initiatives for Americans to keep their homes, such as the Home Affordable Modification Program and the Second Lien Modification Program (Fannie Mae) and the Home Affordable Refinance Program (HARP).  In February of 2012, the Obama Administration announced a $26 billion dollar mortgage settlement with the nation's five largest mortgage lenders. This will help states that were the hardest hit by the economic downturn.

I am strongly committed to help rebuild America’s housing market. In Congress, we are continuously trying to expand affordable housing opportunities for working families at risk of losing their homes. Furthermore, we are strengthening protections against predatory lending practices, which contributed to the fall of the housing market.

Accomplishments:

Low Income Housing Tax Credit
Spearheaded program that generates investments in low- and moderate-income housing construction and rehabilitation. This permanent program is responsible for most affordable housing construction nationwide in the last decade, including more than 5,000 apartment units in Upper Manhattan.

Cooperative Housing Tax Relief
Enacted legislation that holds down rents for thousands of low- and moderate-income residents of cooperative (Mitchell-Lama) apartments by providing tax exemptions for earnings by the cooperative. At Riverbend and Esplanade Gardens, the Congressman assisted renters and owners by reversing Internal Revenue Service claims.

Public Housing Work Requirement
Enacted legislation placing a moratorium on the mandatory work requirement for residents of public housing.

Taino Towers Rehabilitation
Secured $9 million in federal funding  for a major  rehabilitation  of the 650-unit Taino Towers complex in East Harlem.

Relief for the Homeless
Secured the moratorium that prevented the federal government from cutting off AFDC funds for housing the homeless in welfare hotels.

Congressman Rangel's Legislation:

Public Housing Tenants Respect Act of 2011, H.R. 3564 - (Sponsor)
Status: Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services
The bill repeals the requirements mandated under the United States Housing Act of 1937 for residents of public housing to engage in community service and to complete economic self-sufficiency programs. The bill also exempts residents making rent payments on time from the mandated Economic Self-Sufficiency program for eight hours a month and community service for eight hours a month. 

Urban Revitalization and Livable Communities Act of 2011, H.R. 709 - (Co-sponsor)
Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Insurance, Housing and Community Opportunity
Requires the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to promulgate regulations establishing an urban revitalization and livable communities program to provide federal grants to eligible local governments for various park and recreation purposes, including grants for rehabilitation and construction, innovation, at-risk youth recreation, and recovery action programs.

Helping Homeless Heroes Act of 2011, H.R.2559 - (Co-sponsor)
Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health
Allows grants made by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA) for homeless veterans' comprehensive services programs (outreach, rehabilitation, vocational counseling, and transitional housing assistance) to be used for the construction of new facilities. Prohibits the Secretary from denying applications for such grants solely on the basis that the grant entity proposes to use funding from other private or public sources, as long as such entity demonstrates that a private nonprofit organization will provide project oversight and site control.

Video:

View Press Releases On Affordable Housing

Rangel Appreciated For Contribution To Sugar Hill Project Completion

Rangel Introduces Bill To Extend Relief To Americans Losing Their Homes

Rangel Calls For Justice For Underwater Mortgage Holders

Rangel Applauds Raise In Vets Mortgage Insurance