* Warning: This is an unofficial, introductory copy of the bill.
The official copy considered by the City Council is the first reader copy.
Introductory*
City of Baltimore
Council Bill R
(Resolution)
Introduced by: Councilmember Scott
A Resolution Entitled
A Council Resolution concerning
title
Supporting a National Agenda for U.S. Housing Investment and Opportunity
For the purpose of urging the President and Congress to work with city leaders, nationwide, to end homelessness and to ensure that the lowest-income and most vulnerable households have the opportunity for safe, decent, affordable housing.
body
Whereas, America’s cities are the strength of our nation - communities of neighborhoods where people live, work, learn, and play; and
Whereas, Every American deserves a decent home in a suitable living environment with adequate financial stability to maintain it; and
Whereas, Affordable housing contributes to the economic vitality of our communities and local economic regions as a vehicle for creating jobs and increasing municipal tax bases; and
Whereas, There is an irreplaceable role for the federal government in addressing our nation’s housing needs; and
Whereas, Research demonstrates that inadequate housing is linked to issues including unemployment, rising health care costs, public safety challenges, and poor academic performance; and
Whereas, The demand for affordable housing far outpaces the supply in the United States, as wages have not kept pace with rising home values over the period following the subprime mortgage crisis; and
Whereas, In no state, metropolitan area, or county can a worker earning the federal minimum wage or prevailing state minimum wage afford a two-bedroom rental home at fair market rent by working a standard 40-hour week; and
Whereas, 3 out of 4 households eligible for federal housing assistance receive none; and
Whereas, On any given night, there are an average of 560,000 Americans, including over 120,000 children and 39,000 veterans, experiencing homelessness, meaning that they are sleeping on the streets, in an emergency shelter, or in a transitional housing program; and
Whereas, The Baltimore City Council supports the bipartisan coalition “Mayors and CEOs for U.S. Housing Investment” and welcomes all city leaders and CEOs to consider joining the coalition as common stakeholders in expanding housing opportunities and ending homelessness; and
Whereas, The Baltimore City Council supports the national multi-sector housing campaign “Opportunity Starts at Home”, a long-term , multi-sector campaign to meet the rental housing needs of the nation’s lowest income people.
Now, therefore, be it resolved by the City Council of Baltimore, That the Baltimore City Council urges the President and Congress to work with city leaders, nationwide, to end homelessness and ensure that the lowest-income and most vulnerable households have the opportunity for safe, decent, affordable housing.
And be it further resolved, That the Baltimore City Council urges Congress to bridge the funding gap between rents and income for extremely low-income households through rental assistance programs, including supporting a mechanism to address the acceptance of rental assistance vouchers.
And be it further resolved, That the Baltimore City Council urges the federal government to work with local governments to expand the stock of affordable housing and workforce housing.
And be it further resolved, That the Baltimore City Council urges Congress to restore and improve funding for neighborhood and household stabilization to provide emergency assistance to avert housing instability, homelessness, and neighborhood decline.
And be it further resolved, That a copy of this Resolution be sent to Senator Benjamin Cardin, Senator Chris Van Hollen Jr., Congressman Elijah Cummings, Congressman John Sarbanes, Congressman Charles “Dutch” Ruppersberger, the Baltimore City Department of Housing and Community Development, United States Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Benjamin Carson, and the Mayor’s Legislative Liaison to the Baltimore City Council.