A national group has launched a blog-based petition drive to gather support for affordable housing.
The National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials, along with groups including the National Association of Realtors, Mortgage Bankers Association and National Association of Home Builders, among others, are supporting the Housing America 2007 petition.
The petition, at http://HousingAmerica.blogspot.com, seeks to gather support for the prioritization of affordable housing projects, and signatures will be collected through the fall and then presented to Congress and the Bush administration.
According to the petition description, “More than 70 years ago, this nation committed itself to providing a decent home and suitable living environment for all Americans. To date, this promise has not been fully realized. With renewed public support and enlightened leadership, we are committed to reestablishing this objective as a national priority.”
An estimated 15.6 million households pay more than half of their income for housing, the petition also states, and there are an estimated 750,000 homeless people in the country. “America is the best-housed nation on earth, yet for a growing and more economically diverse number of families, children, seniors and persons with disabilities, affordable housing in quality communities is illusionary.”
The petition states that federal, state and local governments, as well as the not-for-profit and private sectors, should share in the support for affordable housing-programs.
Petition signers are asked to leave a comment at the blog that includes a name, ZIP code and an address, with the option to enter an organization name. “The signers will eventually be compiled into hard-copy format and delivered to members of Congress,” according to the petition.
Other groups supporting the petition drive include the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees; Housing Assistance Council; Local Initiatives Support Corp.; National Association of Counties; National Council of State Housing Agencies; National Housing Conference; National League of Cities; National Low Income Housing Coalition; U.S. Conference of Mayors; American Association of Homes and Services for the Elderly; Council of Large Public Housing Authorities; Habitat for Humanity; Manufactured Housing Institute; National Affordable Housing Management Association; National Alliance of Community Economic Development Associations; National Community Development Association; National Housing Trust; National Leased Housing Association; Public Housing Authorities Directors Association; and The Campaign for Affordable Housing.
