D057 Advocate for Housing Solutions

Resolved, the House of Bishops concurring,

That the Episcopal Church reaffirm our call for Housing as a Human Right (2018-C041) by advocating for expansive solutions for the rising cost of housing in the United States; and be it further

Resolved, That The Episcopal Church, with the help of the Office of Government Relations and the Episcopal Public Policy Network, support policies at the local, state and national levels to decrease the unhoused population and increase affordable housing by:

  • Transforming voucher programs into federal entitlements, so that every household that qualifies would receive them;
  • Provide government funding for fair and affordable housing investments;
  • Create pathways for unhoused veterans, those returning from incarceration or those with mental health or substance use problems to obtain affordable housing;
  • Support, through funding and legislation, short term and transitional housing;
  • Eliminate housing discrimination on the basis of source of income;
  • Create a right to shelter, guaranteeing the unhoused the right to a shelter bed, if needed;

And be it further

Resolved, That the Episcopal Church encourage Dioceses and congregations to review their unused land and property as a potential pathway to more affordable housing units; and be it further

Resolved, That The Episcopal Church encourage congregations to assess the housing needs in their communities, collaborate with local organizations on the issues of homelessness and housing insecurity and advocate for affordable housing.

Explanation

Housing should be a basic human right. Just as food and clothing are needed to survive, so is a roof over your head. Unfortunately, housing is not seen as a basic human right. Many people in the United States are one paycheck away from being evicted. Studies have found that a median rent increase of $100 per month could increase homelessness in a city by 32%. It is cheaper to pay the rent for someone than to house them in a shelter. Once housed, someone has a community support system. That is not available in shelter, and is difficult, at best, when you are living on the streets or in a car.

Housing vouchers work. They have lifted more than one million people out of homelessness. A voucher will pay a percentage of the rent. The voucher is paid by government funds. The person takes the voucher, finds an apartment, and pays a small percentage of their rent themselves, allowing them to focus on food, clothing and staying housed. One of our largest voucher programs in Section 8.  Most people seeking Section 8 vouchers have been on waiting lists for years, sometimes decades. Some areas have closed their lists, and the lists have been closed for over ten years.

To combat homelessness, we need many strategies. First, we need the right for everyone to be able to have a shelter bed to sleep. No one should have to sleep outdoors and battle the elements or be arrested because they have no where to go. Then, we need more supportive housing, and more fair and affordable housing. We need to end the ability of landlords to reject rental applicants because their source of income is not what a landlord wants-such as income through public benefits or VA benefits. Finally, we need vouchers for those who can be housed to get housing, affordable housing.