| As hardworking Florida families grapple with rising costs, Congresswoman Kathy Castor continues to lead the fight to lower those costs and create more affordable housing.
Building upon her record of working to make life more affordable for families and small businesses, Castor highlighted the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act — a key bipartisan law she voted for that will expand access to housing for hardworking families, seniors, and veterans.
See more about the Congresswoman’s efforts:
“Congresswoman Kathy Castor joined housing advocates…today to highlight the 21st Century Road to Housing Act. Supporters say this legislation would expand affordable housing and help first-time home buyers and veterans. It’s also expected to strengthen disaster recovery funding and make it easier to build more homes across Tampa Bay.”
Rep. Castor: “This is a good news day for communities really suffering the affordability squeeze, especially when it comes to housing. And these tools will be arriving right here across the Tampa Bay area to help make your life better and more affordable.”
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- The 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act has passed both the House and Senate and is now on the president’s desk. The legislation includes dozens of provisions addressing housing supply, disaster recovery, manufactured housing, mortgage financing, rural housing, community banking and veterans’ housing.
- For the Rev. Karen J. Sims, senior pastor of Mount Zion AME Church in Riverview, the need for housing reform became personal after seeing older adults seeking shelter outside her church.
- “When we saw seniors sleeping in cars and seniors sleeping underneath the church awning and on the street, we knew that we had to step in and do whatever we could,” Sims said.
- Rep. Kathy Castor said the legislation includes provisions intended to improve access to housing for veterans.
- “When a veteran goes to apply for veterans housing aid, their disability benefits are not going to be thrown into their income calculation,” Castor said. “That should open the door to more affordable housing opportunities.”
- Castor also said the bill includes provisions aimed at addressing the impact of large institutional investors on the housing market.
- “Housing affordability really became a squeeze after the pandemic,” she said. “Then when you add on hurricanes Helene and Milton, and the cost of everything has gone up … rather than cast blame, I really urge the president to sign this bill. He could really help a lot of folks going forward.”
- Supporters say the legislation could help make homeownership more attainable for future generations.
“Congresswoman Kathy Castor joined others to tout the benefits of the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, which passed last month with bipartisan support. The bill aims to reduce federal regulations and expand local control for housing regulations. It also bans corporate investors from buying single-family homes.”
“A St. Petersburg high school student who worked with Castor’s office on that bill: ‘There’s always been a recurring thought in the back of my mind that maybe I won’t be able to live here when I’m older,’ said Anderson Dell, a student at St. Petersburg High School. ‘It’s getting really expensive, and watching the divide between wages and housing grow makes that a reality every single day.’”
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