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Kaptur, Tlaib Promote Restoring Communities Left Behind Act
By Tricia Hall
Sojourner’s Truth Reporter
Congresswomen Marcy Kaptur (D-OH) and Rashida Tlaib (D-MI)
held a virtual press conference on Thursday, February 4 to
announce the pending legislation titled Restoring
Communities Left Behind Act. The legislation would
systemically address several housing related services for
individuals, nonprofit community development organizations
and neighborhoods.
Ohio Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur opened the press conference
that was streamed live and included over 50 elected
officials, community organizations and individuals from
Kaptur’s Ohio district cities and Tlaib’s Michigan district
cities.
“This legislation will restore $5 billion to local
communities through a competitive grant through Department
of Housing and Urban Development (HUD),” explained Kaptur.
“We hosted two committee field meetings and a bus tour in my
district to show my colleagues the impact of systemic racism
and what it looks like. They saw people putting tarp on
their roofs. This legislation is a step towards correcting
the wrongs, opening home ownership and tools to communities
to revitalize neighborhoods equitability,” explained Tlaib.
The Restoring Communities Left Behind Act was co-authored by
Kaptur and Tlaib and would provide $5 billion to local
communities through a grant program administered by the U.S.
Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to fund a
10-year program of neighborhood revitalization,
homeownership rehabilitation assistance, weatherization,
improved housing accessibility for seniors and people with
disabilities, housing-related counseling and refinancing.
The act will also support the purchasing and redevelopment
of vacant or abandoned residential or commercial properties,
fund park and sidewalk improvements, address street lighting
and provide property tax relief.
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Congresswomen Marcy Kaptur (D-OH)
Rashida Tlaib (D-MI) |
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“Thank you for your leadership to push this bill through
Congress. Our neighborhoods have become challenged and need
new tools,” said Toledo Mayor Wade Kapszukiewicz.
“Inkster is full of dedicated residents. Today these two
Congresswomen are introducing a vital resource that will
improve parks, lights, housing and key community development
projects. We need the funding in this bill for neighborhood
stabilization. Thank you and we stand with you,” said
Inkster, MI Mayor Patrick Wimberly.
The legislation has been endorsed by the National Community
Stabilization Trust, Center for Community Progress, Local
Initiatives Support Corporation, Grounded Solutions Network,
Habitat for Humanity, and National Community Action
Foundation.
“Funding provided through the Restoring Communities Left
Behind bill is critical for cities like Toledo experiencing
significant housing rehabilitation needs and depressed
markets. With this flexible funding we will be able to
successfully fund, and complete many housing projects that
would not normally be feasible,” shared Rosalyn Clemens,
City of Toledo Department of Neighborhoods Director.
“Our neighborhoods have been challenged for decades with job
loss, housing disinvestment and racial inequity. The
Restoring Communities Left Behind Act will change that, by
dedicating flexible federal funding to solutions designed by
local communities to meet crucial local needs,” shared David
Mann, Lucas County Landbank President and CEO.
“The devasting impact of distressed economies, high poverty
rates, and concentrations of abandoned properties keeps many
communities locked into a downward spiral they cannot easily
climb out of without concerted intervention and assistance.
The COVID-19 pandemic has only exacerbated this crisis.
Habitat works and builds in these communities. We understand
the incredible needs families face, and see firsthand the
effect underwater mortgages, abandoned properties, aging
housing stock, and infrastructure has on their health and
ability to thrive,” shared Jonathan Reckford, Habitat for
Humanity CEO
In addition to Kaptur and Tlaib, the legislation was
co-sponsored by these Congress members: Sheila Jackson Lee
of Texas, Bobby Rush of Illinois, Raul Grijalva of Arizona,
James Cooper of Tennessee, Mark Takano of California, Andre
Carson of Indiana, Eleanor Holmes Norton of Washing, D.C.,
Tim Ryan of Ohio, Ritchie Torres of New York, Don Jones of
Ohio, Ayanna Pressley of Massachusetts, Sylvia Garcia of
Texas, Andy Levin of Michigan, Jim McGovern of
Massachusetts, Stephen Ira Cohen of Tennessee, Lisa Blunt
Rochester of Delaware, Joyce Beatty of Ohio, Ed Perlmutter
of Colorado, Jahana Flemming Hayes of Connecticut, Betty
McCollum of Minnesota, Cori Bush of Missouri and Michael San
Nicolas of Guam. All are Democrats.
“In the last several decades, especially since the 2008
housing and financial crisis, many communities from the
smallest towns to the largest cities have struggled with
urban decay as jobs have moved overseas and economic
well-being has collapsed,” said Kaptur. “Through it all,
folks in these communities have tirelessly worked together
to rebuild and breath new life into our cities. Toledo and
Detroit are perfect examples. Unfortunately, COVID-19 and
the resulting economic fallout have made that important work
more difficult and more important than ever before. That is
why I am introducing the Restoring Communities Left Behind
Act, to provide a dedicated funding source for these
communities when they need it most. I am so thankful to have
my friend and colleague Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib’s
co-leadership in this effort. She knows as well as anybody
the importance of affordable, high quality housing and
resources to help home owners build equity in what often
times is their own physical asset.”
“Housing justice is economic justice and racial justice.
Communities across the country are suffering from government
disinvestment and systemic racism,” explained Tlaib. “The
Restoring Communities Left Behind Act is a major step in
reversing decades of discriminatory policy. This legislation
will turn homeownership from a possibility to a reality for
so many who have been left out, as well as ensures many
others have the ability to maintain and stay in their homes
in good condition. I’m proud to lead this bill with
Congresswoman Kaptur. This is only the beginning, we must
continue to make major federal investments in struggling
communities to allow everyone to live with a good roof over
their head. The pandemic has set many of our neighborhoods
back, and policies like the Restoring Communities Left
Behind Act are needed to help people not only recover from
the damage, but thrive and flourish like they deserve.”
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