Number: RL32062
Title: Housing Issues in the 108th Congress
Authors: E. Richard Bourdon, Domestic Social Policy Division 
Abstract: Housing issues in the second session of the 108th Congress centered around the Administrations proposed FY2005 budget for the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the congressional response. The budget included efforts by the Administration to restructure and limit spending on the Section 8 housing voucher program, to defund the HOPE VI program, and initiatives to increase homeownership for lower-income households. Other congressional interests included (1) legislation to combat predatory lending, (2) proposals to establish a National Affordable Housing Trust Fund, (3) concerns that landlords could raise rents rapidly on more than 100,000 affordable housing units in the years ahead as HUD subsidized mortgages are paid off, (4) a Samaritan Initiative to help end long-term homelessness, (5) legislation to create a new more vigilant supervisor for Government-Sponsored Enterprises, and (6) and omnibus tax bills that would repeal the Ten-Year Rule in the Mortgage Revenue Bond program for first-time home buyers.
Pages: 25
Date: January 24, 2005