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Reps Jeffries, Clarke Unveil $70B Proposal to Help Fix Public Housing

The five-year investment plan would allocate funds for repairs at public housing complexes, as well as job training and improvements to surrounding communities.
NYCHA, Grant Houses
NYCHA Grant Houses Photo: Wikimedia

New York Congressional Democrats, led by U.S. Reps. Hakeem Jeffries (NY-08), Yvette Clarke (NY-09), Nydia Velazquez (NY-07), Carolyn Maloney (NY-12), Greg Meeks (NY-05) and Adriano Espaillat (NY-13), unveiled on Tuesday a $70 billion-proposal for mold and lead remediation, building repairs, new lighting and improved security mechanisms in public housing developments across America.

Photo credit: Office of Rep. Hakeem Jeffries

"Public housing residents have been forced to live in conditions that are inhumane, unacceptable and immoral in a civilized society," said Jeffries. "Every American deserves to live in housing that is safe, decent and affordable, with heat, hot water, functional electricity, elevators that work and buildings that do not subject children to lead poisoning."

In the aftermath of the lead scandal in NYCHA buildings across the city, the Democratic members of Congress unveiled their proposal titled 'A Better Deal for Public Housing & Ladders of Opportunity for American Families.'

The Democrats call the plan "a bold and comprehensive solution that would provide over $70 billion in critical investments over the next five years while also creating jobs and increasing the economic and health outcomes of public housing residents and surrounding neighborhoods." The plan is part of an overall $1 trillion allocated to make necessary repairs to infrastructure projects nationwide.

Photo credit: Rep Yvette Clarke (Twitter)

"Public housing is a critical part of our nation's social safety net, providing safe, decent, and affordable housing for approximately 1.1 million families nation-wide and nearly 60,000 units in Brooklyn alone," said Clarke. "Donald Trump and Republicans in Congress have refused to provide the resources these developments need so that they remain safe, accessible and available for American families. Democrats have proposed a plan that takes a comprehensive approach to fund public housing developments and revitalizing neighborhoods."

More details on A Better Deal for Public Housing & Ladders of Opportunity for American Families can be found here.




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