Rep. Jimmy Gomez has introduced legislation aimed at tackling America’s housing affordability crisis by redirecting significant funding previously allocated for immigration enforcement programs under President Trump.
The proposed bill, which would take funds from initiatives including border militarization and detention facilities, seeks to address rising costs nationwide through enhanced affordable-housing programs. This includes lowering rents, promoting homeownership among first-time buyers with financial incentives, and boosting the development of starter homes using redirected resources. A notable part of the measure involves creating a monthly renter tax credit for households spending over 30% of their income on housing costs.
In his statement introducing the bill, Gomez highlighted the stark contrast: “I’m introducing this bill because families across the country are being crushed by housing costs while Trump uses $175 billion to terrorize families with his own national police force.”
The legislation specifically targets funds set aside for immigration enforcement under what critics have termed an “anti-immigrant slush fund.” It calls for a starter-home construction credit, expands homeownership assistance through direct down payment support ranging from at least $25,000 up to $50,000, and offers tax credits for converting vacant offices into affordable housing.
Gomez’s efforts draw on the momentum generated from recent National Summit on the Housing Affordability Crisis that he convened. He emphasized his commitment during the summit by stating, “At the summit, I said this crisis demands a New Deal-level housing movement, and I meant it.”
“This bill restores the simple promise that if you work hard, you can afford a home,” Gomez noted in the statement, addressing both renters and aspiring homeowners.
The proposed measure represents a unique approach to the multi-billion dollar issue by directly reallocating government spending from border security initiatives towards domestic affordable housing programs.
