Two Democrats in the Florida delegation are championing a proposal to have the U.S. Housing and Urban Department (HUD) crack down on federally assisted housing properties that do not comply with federal laws.
At the end of last week, U.S. Rep. Al Lawson, D-Fla., U.S. Rep. Val Demings, D-Fla., and U.S. Rep. Alma Adams, D-NC, brought out the “HUD Inspection Act.”
Lawson introduced the bill on Friday and weighed in on why he had introduced it.
“It is my firm belief that everyone should have access to decent, safe and affordable housing regardless of their income or zip code,” Lawson said. “We’ve seen HUD properties in dilapidated conditions pass inspection, and this is absolutely unacceptable. This bill will provide much-needed transparency in the inspection process and strengthen enforcement actions against properties owners who fail to maintain their properties.”
Lawson noted to reports that that the number of properties that failed federal investigations rose by more than 30 percent last year and properties often take months to respond and rectify the problems.
“Every American should have the right to live in a safe home,” Demings said. “This important new legislation will crack down on property managers who receive federal money while allowing their buildings to fall apart. As chief of police, I joined residents in fighting substandard management that left behind leaking water that made kids sick, unsafe electrical systems, and piles of garbage. No apartment in the greatest country in the world should ever have to get to that point before action is taken. I commend Rep. Lawson for his leadership on this important legislation.”
“Access to safe, affordable housing should be a right for everyone,” Adams said. “More than 10 million people rely on federal rental assistance for housing, and too many of them are living in HUD properties that have passed inspection, despite being unsafe or in disrepair. I’m proud to co-sponsor this bill to hold HUD, its inspectors and property managers accountable for maintaining and improving living conditions in federally assisted housing.”
Earlier this year, Lawson, Dawson and Adams wrote HUD Inspector General Rae Oliver Davis about inspection of HUD-assisted housing, calling for a full audit on “HUD’s physical inspection process including how many units have been inspected, the pass/fail rates for each facility, and the amount of time HUD and participating landlords take to resolve and alleviate issues that result in unsafe environments for tenants.”
The bill has the backing of the National Housing Law Project, National Low-Income Housing Coalition, Community Economic Development Assistance Corporation and the Coalition on Homelessness and Housing in Ohio.
Lawson rounded up a dozen other cosponsors including U.S. Rep. Charlie Crist, D-Fla.
The bill was sent to the U.S. House Financial Services Committee. So far, there is no counterpart over in the U.S. Senate.
