Before Anyone Had Heard Of COVID-19, Texas Already Had A Hou ✓ Solved

Before Anyone Had Heard Of Covid 19 Texas Already Had A Housing

Before anyone had heard of COVID-19, Texas already had a housing affordability problem. The cost of housing has risen steady over the past three decades while wages for low-skill and unskilled workers have been largely stagnant. When the coronavirus pandemic derailed the economy in March, 2020, many Texans found themselves out of work, especially service workers in nail salons, restaurants, bars, hotels and other "non-essential" businesses that were forced to close or greatly cut back on their operations. Many Texans, living paycheck-to-paycheck already, quickly found themselves unable to pay rent. The Texas Supreme Court quickly imposed a moratorium on residential evictions through the end of May.

Congress passed the CARES Act, which suspended evictions on "covered properties" through the end of July, and made the process more lengthy after the end of the moratorium. Local cities and counties created various rental assistance programs, the funding for which was exhausted as quickly as each program could open for applications. Now, Texas is looking at a resumption of evictions, even as many Texans are unemployed and unemployment compensation is running out. At the same time, housing providers are struggling to pay their bills and keep utilities turned on at thousands of apartment properties, even with many residents not paying rent. As if this weren't enough, the downturn in the energy industry may last far longer than the virus, and cause further economic problems that impact the job and housing markets.

In June, Houston and Harris County appointed a Housing Stability Task Force to make policy recommendations, which began meeting a few weeks before this class started. For this assignment, write our standard 2 - 5 page essay as if you were serving on the Housing Policy Task Force. What would you recommend and why? If your recommendation costs money, make sure your recommendation includes a source for the funding.

Paper For Above Instructions

The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated the pre-existing housing affordability crisis in Texas. Many low-income families were already on the brink of financial collapse before the pandemic hit, with a significant lack of affordable housing options and stagnant wages complicating the situation further. As members of the Housing Stability Task Force, we must confront this urgent social issue head-on. This essay proposes a multi-faceted approach to improve housing stability in Texas, focusing on immediate rental assistance, long-term affordable housing development, and job retraining programs. These strategies aim to provide immediate relief while fostering a more sustainable housing market in Texas.

Immediate Rental Assistance

One of the most pressing actions we can take is to provide immediate rental assistance to families who are facing eviction due to the financial fallout from COVID-19. Studies indicate that rental assistance programs can prevent evictions and stabilize housing (Fischer, 2020). We propose creating a state-funded rental assistance program that provides direct financial support to tenants who were financially impacted by the pandemic. This program could be funded through a combination of federal CARES Act resources and state funds.

Additionally, rental assistance programs should be accessible, meaning that they need to be easy to comprehend and apply for. Agencies processing applications should prioritize speed and efficiency to ensure that funds reach tenants quickly. Such a program can provide immediate stabilization to our housing markets.

Long-term Affordable Housing Development

While immediate assistance is crucial, it is equally important to address the longstanding issue of affordable housing shortages in Texas. We recommend the implementation of incentives for developers to build affordable housing units. This could be achieved through tax credits, zoning law adjustments, and streamlined permitting processes. According to the National Low Income Housing Coalition, the housing crisis in America is largely a result of a mismatch between wages and housing costs (NLIHC, 2020). By incentivizing the construction of affordable units, we can lay the groundwork for long-term recovery.

Furthermore, we suggest investing in community land trusts (CLTs) as a means to ensure long-term affordability and community control over housing resources. CLTs allow for the ownership of land to be separated from the ownership of buildings, enabling lower income residents to purchase homes at affordable rates while securing the land as a community asset. This can prevent displacement and create a sustainable model of affordable housing (Davis, 2010).

Job Retraining Programs

The loss of jobs in the wake of the pandemic cannot be overlooked as a factor driving housing instability. The unemployment rate has risen sharply, especially among low-wage workers, which threatens their ability to pay rent. We recommend the establishment of job retraining programs that target industries hit hardest by the pandemic, such as hospitality and retail. Partnering with workforce development boards, we can create pathways to higher-paying jobs in emerging industries, such as technology and sustainable energy.

These retraining programs can be funded through federal workforce development grants, along with partnerships with local businesses willing to invest in their employees’ future. Efforts should focus on including vulnerable populations, such as the previously unemployed and those facing eviction, providing them with new skills to enhance their employability (Bivens, 2020). A workforce equipped for a changing economy ensures that more Texans can meet their housing expenses.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the challenges facing the Texas housing market are significant but not insurmountable. By adopting immediate rental assistance, investing in long-term affordable housing development, and implementing job retraining programs, we can mitigate the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on our communities. These recommendations not only address the immediate needs of struggling families but also lay the foundation for a more sustainable housing framework in Texas. As members of the Housing Stability Task Force, we have a responsibility to advocate for these strategies, ensuring that every Texan has access to safe and affordable housing.

References

• Bivens, J. (2020). The Pandemic and the Economy: The Bridge to Recovery. Economic Policy Institute.
• Davis, J. E. (2010). The Community Land Trust Handbook. Shelburne, VT.
• Fischer, W. (2020). The Importance of Rental Assistance During the COVID-19 Pandemic. Center on Budget and Policy Priorities.
• NLIHC. (2020). The Gap: A Shortage of Affordable Homes. National Low Income Housing Coalition.
• Texas Supreme Court. (2020). Order Regarding Residential Evictions. Retrieved from [https://www.txcourts.gov](https://www.txcourts.gov)
• U.S. Congress. (2020). The CARES Act. Retrieved from [https://www.congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov)
• Houston Housing Stability Task Force. (2020). Housing Stability Report.
• January Advisors. (2020). Eviction Dashboard: Tracking Eviction Cases in Harris County.
• Economic Policy Institute. (2021). COVID-19 and the Labor Market: The Importance of Support.
• Texas Workforce Commission. (2020). Workforce Development Programs and Assistance. Retrieved from [https://www.twc.state.tx.us](https://www.twc.state.tx.us)