“Expanding vouchers to all those eligible will need to be matched with a strong, national measure to include ‘source of income’ as a protected class under fair housing law,” says Miriam Axel-Lute, editor of Shelterforce, a nonprofit publication published by the National Housing Institute. Some 2 million households receive Section 8 vouchers, but that’s not enough to meet demand. Biden would make Section 8 an entitlement, thus ensuring vouchers to all eligible people.Ĭurrently, only 1 in 5 eligible households receive assistance, with waiting times pushing two years in some places. The plan also calls to expand the Section 8 housing choice voucher program, the largest federal housing program for low-income renters. Biden’s Plans Would Boost Section 8 Availability “These funds will be directed toward communities that are suffering from an affordability crisis and are willing to implement new zoning laws that encourage more affordable housing,” according to Biden’s plan. The Biden plan would put $100 billion into an “Affordable Housing Fund,” the bulk of which ($65 billion) would provide incentives to develop and rehabilitate low-cost housing where there’s a shortage. All in all, Biden’s housing policy proposals would cost $640 billion over 10 years, although he has not detailed where any of this funding would come from. Reinstate an Obama-era rule requiring communities to create a plan to mitigate discriminatory housing practicesīiden Housing Overview: Expand Affordable Housingīiden’s plans earmark billions of dollars to provide fair and affordable housing for middle-class families and the poorest Americans.Require states receiving government money to plan for affordable housing units.Expand the housing choice voucher program.This article is based on known Biden proposals to: If the Republicans keep control, Congress will remain divided, which will make it harder for Biden to push through his housing agenda. Senate control comes down to two Georgia runoff elections on Jan. Some commentators have called it a “comprehensive plan” for housing, while others say Biden is throwing big money at real problems without offering practical solutions.Įither way, Biden’s housing plan is likely just a wish list unless the Democrats can wrangle control of the Senate. The sweeping $640 billion, 10-year plan addresses everything from affordable housing to anti-discrimination policies. Housing was not a major talking point in the 2020 election, but President-elect Joe Biden devised a blueprint to tackle major housing issues nonetheless.