04.12.16

Cantwell earns ‘Legislator of the Year’ honors from affordable housing group

NAHRO applauds Cantwell for her support of Low-Income Housing Tax Credit

WASHINGTON, D.C.  – Today, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) was awarded the Legislator of the Year Award from the National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials (NAHRO).  The award recognizes Cantwell’s leadership in expanding the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC).

The LIHTC has developed 75,400 affordable housing units in Washington state.  Cantwell’s expansion would have a dramatic effect on low-income families, financing 35,000 more units in Washington and 400,000 nationwide.

“Thank you for honoring me with the Legislator of the Year award, and for the important work you do to help provide a home for those in need,” said Senator Cantwell in a letter to the NAHRO. “There is more work to be done, and we are counting on organizations like NAHRO to help make the case not only to protect the Low Incoming Housing Tax Credit, but to expand it to meet the growing need for affordable housing across the country. “

Thankful for Cantwell’s dedication to the cause of affordable housing, NAHRO executives and housing authority officials from across Washington state met with the Senator to present the award.  

“NAHRO, representing the nation’s housing and redevelopment authorities, applauds and thanks Senator Cantwell for her successful effort to make the 9% LIHTC rate permanent. This would not have happened without her. We look forward to working with Senator Cantwell on other improvements to the LIHTC including making the 4% credit permanent and expanding the volume of the 9% tax credit by 50%,” said Steve Merritt, President of the NAHRO.

Last December, Cantwell championed the LIHTC and secured a critical fix to the program by permanently extending the credit rates to 9 percent of eligible costs on new construction. This ended an era when variable rates made financing of affordable housing less predictable.

In March, Cantwell launched an ambitious campaign in support of growing the LIHTC.  At events in Seattle, Tacoma, Spokane and Bremerton, the Senator led a chorus of local elected officials and housing advocates, all calling for the LIHTC to be expanded. 

Congressman Pat Tiberi was also a recipient of this year’s award.

The NAHRO is the leading housing and community development advocate for the provision of adequate and affordable housing and strong, viable communities for all Americans—particularly those with low- and moderate-incomes.

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