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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
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State
Rep. Peter J. Daley |
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Daley reintroduces Affordable Housing Trust Fund bill
HARRISBURG, Jan. 29 – House Commerce Committee Chairman Peter J. Daley, D-Washington/Fayette, announced today that he will reintroduce an affordable housing trust fund bill in the 2009-10 session.
House Bill 60 will be identical to the prior negotiated bill that passed the House of Representatives 159-41 in the previous session. The Commerce Committee's Republican chairman, Rep. Dick Hess, R-Bedford/Fulton/Huntingdon Counties, will be the first co-sponsor of the new bill.
The bill would allow the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency to build or rehabilitate and preserve housing for low-to-moderate-income individuals, the elderly and people with disabilities.
"We need to prepare for the future and I believe the creation of this fund will be a good vehicle for any federal stimulus funds related to housing development," Daley said.
The legislation would authorize PHFA to receive external funds from foundations, the federal government and other sources to expand its ability to respond to housing opportunities as they arise. The use of state funds is not proposed in the bill.
"This bill can become an important tool in putting our homebuilders and carpenters and plumbers and electricians and masons back to work," Daley said.
The measure has been endorsed by more than 300 organizations in the Commonwealth, including broad support from builders, unions, financial institutions and housing advocates across the state.
Thirty-eight other states have already established housing trust funds to stimulate production of affordable housing.
"We need to provide for the future by facilitating the development of more affordable housing throughout the Commonwealth," said Daley.
Daley said H.B. 60 will be offered for committee consideration next week.
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