Brian Higgins: “The United States is experiencing an affordable housing crisis, and western New York is not immune. Older communities…”

“The United States is experiencing an affordable housing crisis, and western New York is not immune. Older communities like Buffalo and Niagara Falls have aging houses with good bones, but the high cost to rehab these properties, compared to their value, causes them to fall into disrepair. As a result, neighborhoods are plagued by blighted homes and vacant lots. That is why we introduced the Neighborhood Homes Investment Act, which closes the value gap these neighborhoods face with a tax credit to encourage investing in single-family homes to revitalize these communities. Over the next 10 years, this bill could help build or rehabilitate 500,000 homes and create more than 700,000 construction jobs. For the families whose dreams of homeownership feel unattainable, this can be a game changer. Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join Representative Mike Kelly and me in supporting this legislation for communities across the Nation and the families who want to see them thrive long into the future. ____________________”