As Housing Costs Continue to Soar, Duckworth Convenes Metro East Housing Authorities to Discuss Solutions

ALTON — U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today met with local housing authorities, municipal leaders and service providers to discuss the ongoing housing affordability crisis and how to expand stable, affordable housing opportunities. As the cost of housing continues to consistently faster than the rate of wages, Duckworth underscored the urgent need to address issues preventing homes from being built and ensuring the homes we do build meet the needs of Veterans, the disability community and all Americans. Duckworth met with the CEO of The Wedge, Col. Scot Heathman, Alton Mayor David Goins, Executive Director of St. Clair County Housing Authority Vera Jones, Executive Director of Madison County Housing Authority Jameca Chapman, Peter Hough with Alton Mission and Overnight Warming Location, CEO of Centerstone Anne Tyree and other local leaders.

“The cost of rent and mortgages have been growing further and further out of reach for middle-class Americans for far too long and we need to invest in new pathways for communities facing severe housing shortages,” said Duckworth. “As costs have continued to rise with little relief—and with Donald Trump telling Americans he wants housing prices to skyrocket even more—I’m proud to work alongside our local leaders in the Metro East to help create more affordable housing to help American families.”

Duckworth has been an outspoken advocate working to expand affordable housing opportunities and decrease homelessness rates. This week, Duckworth along with U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Representative Bill Foster (D-IL-11) introduced the Advancing Better Options for Dwellings Everywhere (ABODE) Act, which would mitigate barriers to home ownership and incentivize builders to construct resilient and affordable homes through a competition for 21st-century single-family home designs focused on cost, energy efficiency and scalability. Last month, she joined U.S. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-HI) at the Center for American Progress (CAP) for a policy summit where theydiscussed common-sense solutions to address our nation’s housing shortage and lower housing costs for middle-class families and Veterans. The Senator recently helped introduce legislation to protect Veterans and low-income families from housing discrimination.

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