Cantwell and DelBene push for expanding Affordable Housing Tax Credit

"When you're on the streets, you're just surviving."

Searetha Simons went from surviving to thriving when she moved from homelessness into a Plymouth Housing apartment.

"A safe and secure place where you can lay down and go to sleep, don't have to worry about someone robbing you," Simons said.

On Thursday, she joined the mayors of Seattle, Tacoma and Everett as they supported Sen. Maria Cantwell and U.S. Rep. Suzan DelBene, both Democrats from Washington, in a push to expand the Affordable Housing Tax Credit.

"The Affordable Housing Tax Credit is the answer to the affordable housing crisis that we face in the United States of America," Cantwell said.

Cantwell said 90 % of the country's low-income housing is built because of the federal tax credit.

It goes to developers and investors who finance affordable housing.
Cantwell and DelBene propose increasing the amount of credits for each state by 50 %.

In Washington, that could mean 9,700 new low-income units over a decade.

Both Democrats have Republican co-sponsors.

They hope a modest, temporary expansion of the tax credits last year sets the stage for finding common ground on housing when Congress returns in September.

"It is bipartisan legislation, very bipartisan, that will address the clear need for affordable housing across our nation," DelBene said.

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