This resolution expresses the House's sense that the U.S. must take urgent, coordinated action to address the national housing crisis through the preservation and production of affordable housing.
Shontel Brown
Representative
OH-11
This resolution declares the severe lack of affordable housing a national crisis requiring urgent, coordinated action. It calls upon federal, state, and local governments, alongside private and nonprofit partners, to prioritize the production of new affordable units and the preservation of existing ones. The bill emphasizes the need for smart policies that encourage building, protect tenants, and ensure housing stability for all Americans.
Congress Declares Housing Shortage a 'National Emergency,' Urges Action on 7 Million Missing Affordable Homes
This resolution from the House of Representatives is essentially Congress hitting the emergency brake and yelling, "Stop! We have a crisis." It officially declares the national housing situation a full-blown emergency, arguing that the lack of affordable places to live is destabilizing communities and the economy.
The document lays out the brutal math: the U.S. is short over 7 million rental homes that extremely low-income families can actually afford. Because of this gap, more than 12 million households—your neighbors, your coworkers—are spending over half their income just to keep a roof over their heads. When rent eats 50% of your paycheck, there’s no room left for savings, healthcare, or even groceries. This isn't just a tough market; it’s a failure of supply that disproportionately hits low-wage workers, single parents, and older adults.
The Rent vs. Income Race
The resolution highlights a key disconnect that affects anyone trying to budget: since 2020, rental prices have jumped by more than 35%, while the typical household income only grew by 22%. That’s a 13-point gap where income is losing ground to housing costs. For someone working in retail or construction trying to save for a down payment or just cover childcare, this gap means constant financial stress. The resolution notes that current federal rental assistance only reaches about one in four eligible families, leaving millions to fend for themselves in this lopsided market.
The Fix: Build, Preserve, and Coordinate
Since this is a resolution, it doesn't create new laws or allocate funds directly; instead, it acts as a strong political signal, setting the stage for future legislation. It calls for a coordinated effort involving Federal, State, and local governments, plus private and non-profit groups. The focus is twofold: production (building more truly affordable homes) and preservation (making sure existing subsidized housing doesn't fall apart or get converted into market-rate units).
It specifically urges Congress to prioritize funding for rental assistance and support local governments in aligning their policies. Think about local zoning—the rules that dictate what can be built where. The resolution encourages local leaders to make sure their zoning, infrastructure plans (like roads and utilities), and housing policies actually work together to promote affordability, rather than creating bureaucratic hurdles that only slow down construction and drive up costs.
What This Means for Everyday People
While this resolution is mostly a statement of intent, it’s a crucial first step because it forces the conversation. If Congress follows through on this urgency, it could mean more funding for programs that help renters directly, or incentives for developers to build smaller, more affordable multi-family units in areas currently restricted by outdated zoning laws. For the 12 million households currently struggling, this resolution is a formal acknowledgment that their financial squeeze is a national priority, not just a personal problem. The challenge, as always with these broad calls to action, is making sure the follow-up legislation actually delivers concrete, measurable results instead of just good intentions.