On May 15, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the “Health and Economic Recovery Omnibus Emergency Solutions (HEROES) Act”. This legislation builds on the successes advocates achieved in the “Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act”. This HEROES Act includes the following provisions:
- $11.5 billion in Emergency Services Grants to expand access to emergency shelter, short-term rental assistance, and housing stabilization services
- The “Emergency Rental Assistance and Rental Market Stabilization Act” to provide $100 billion in emergency rental assistance to help keep the lowest-income and most marginalized renters stably housed
- A national, uniform moratorium on evictions for nearly all renters for one year
- Nearly $13 billion in additional funding for HUD and USDA housing providers and the residents they serve, including $1 billion in new, emergency housing vouchers
Now more than ever, housing is health care, and the HEROES ACT will save lives and assist individuals and families across the country. It will address the urgent needs of people who are experiencing homelessness and individuals on the brink of homelessness.
We must urge our legislators to take action to support the HEROES Act. It is not only a moral imperative, but also an urgent public health necessity.
We all benefit when we prioritize the needs of the lowest-income and most marginalized people in our country. It slows the trajectory and speed of the pandemic, improves the health of the entire country, and ensures an equitable and just recovery.
Take Action Today
We’ve made it simple for you to contact your senators and legislators through several different platforms. We’ve even included a suggested script:
Urge your senators to support the HEROES Act by sending an email, calling them, Tweeting them directly or sending them a Facebook message. Amplify the need on social media by using #Heroesact
We must continue to advocate for affordable housing for all people!
