CURRENCY Housing and Community Opportunity Subcommittee
Rick Lazio, Chairman
For Immediate Release:	Contact: Sean Cassidy
October 20, 1999	(202) 225-6634

President Clinton today signed into law legislation aimed at preventing seniors, individuals with disabilities, and low-income families from losing their homes as part of the FY2000 VA, HUD and Independent Agencies Appropriations Act. The legislation, "Preserving Affordable Housing for Seniors and Families into the 21^st Century," which was originally introduced in January by Representative James A. Leach (R-IA), Representative Rick Lazio (R-NY), and Representative James T. Walsh (R-NY), is included as a separate title in the Act. The House passed the Leach/Lazio/Walsh legislation as a free-standing bill on September 27^th by a vote of 405-5.

"This legislation is one of the most important housing bills in recent years, and would affect the lives of millions of low-income families across the country," Rep. Leach, chairman of the House Committee on Banking and Financial Services, stated during the bill’s consideration on the House floor. Without it, hundreds of thousands of affordable housing units would have been at risk of being lost over the next several years to 'opt-outs' as rental assistance contracts with the Federal government expire in increasing numbers.

"The loss of affordable housing in my home state of Iowa first generated national attention to the critical nature of the problem," Rep. Leach stated. "More than 15,000 families in Iowa, and more than 500,000 across the country would potentially have been at risk of losing their homes if we didn’t act."

"Working together, Republicans and Democrats and the Administration have developed a strategy for addressing one of the most pressing social needs in recent years-the need for safe, secure, affordable housing. Our work together on this legislation is one of the most significant efforts of truly bipartisan cooperation of the 106^th Congress. Above all, let me recognize the Chairman of the Housing Subcommittee and author of the bill, Representative Lazio, for his leadership and tireless dedication to provide affordable housing and community development opportunities to those least able to provide for themselves ."

"Today we put an end to the fear so many seniors and vulnerable families have suffered not knowing if they would be forced from their homes," Rep. Lazio, chairman of the House Subcommittee on Housing and Community Opportunity, stated during debate on the House floor.

The legislation will allow existing residents of "Section 8" project-based affordable housing to continue living in their homes even if the project owner "opts-out," or chooses to leave the Section 8 program. The Section 8 project-based program assists almost a million and a half low-income families, the overwhelming majority of which are seniors or individuals with disabilities.

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Andrew Cuomo stated "Working together in a spirit of bipartisan cooperation, Congress and the Clinton Administration have produced important legislation that will protect housing for people in need. I would especially like to thank Chairman Leach for his leadership and his tireless efforts on behalf of this important legislation."

Jim Cain, Executive Director of the Iowa Coalition for Housing and the Homeless stated, "Congressman Leach has shown great leadership in shepherding the passage of this critical piece of housing legislation. No longer will low-income seniors and persons with disabilities in Iowa have looming over their heads the threat of overwhelming rent increases and emotional trauma as owners exercise their option to leave the Section 8 housing program. We applaud Congressman Leach's consistent support of efforts to preserve and increase Iowa's affordable housing stock."

Nancy Hooks, Director of Housing Policy of the New York Association of Homes and Services for the Aging (NYAHSA) stated "NYAHSA, which represents over 550 New York State providers of housing and continuing care services, commends New York Representatives Lazio, Walsh and others for recognizing the potential in senior housing and for protecting vulnerable citizens facing the very real threat of homelessness, due to their inability to pay market rents."

The legislation also establishes a "Commission on Affordable Housing and Health Care Facility Needs in the 21^st Century," developed by Rep. Lazio over the last several years. The Commission is to examine future affordable housing and health care facilities needs in light of the growing senior citizen population, with particular emphasis on encouraging public-private partnerships, investment and capital formation, as well as strengthening coordination between shelter and supportive services through HUD and the Department of Health and Human Services. The Commission reports back to Congress by December 31, 2001, with its findings for program recommendations and reforms.

Regarding the Commission, Ms. Hooks stated "NYAHSA believes that the future of safe, affordable senior and disabled housing relies on a bold rethinking of the type of housing, with a supportive service infrastructure, that will accommodate anticipated needs and that we have the ability to finance. NYAHSA recognizes the "Commission on Affordable Housing and Health Care Facility Needs in the 21^st Century" as the premiere national campaign to raise public awareness of the impending affordable housing crisis and to deal with the issue proactively."

"Preserving Affordable Housing for Seniors and Families into the 21^st Century" is contained in Title V of the FY2000 VA, HUD and Independent Agencies Appropriations Act. A section-by-section summary of Title V is available from the Committee internet site at www.house.gov/banking under "Reports."

###