'This Should Not Be A Choice For Our Families': Angela Alsobrooks Urges Grants For Home Repairs

During a Senate Banking Committee hearing on Tuesday, Sen. Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD) spoke about the affordability of housing in America.

Transcript

00:00Thank you Senator Britt. Senator also Brooks. Thank you so much Ranking

00:04Member Warren. I want to thank you and as well thank Chair Scott for your

00:09tremendous leadership. So excited to be a part of this bipartisan effort. We all

00:15recognize that homeownership is a part of the American Dream. It creates

00:19prosperity and allows so many of our families to develop generational wealth.

00:24And so this bill has been really important in making sure that we're

00:28creating a pathway for more and more families to experience that

00:31generational wealth. I want to highlight just a few pieces of this

00:35package in particular that I was really proud to champion and that I believe will

00:40benefit Marylanders. Section 205 the Community Investment and Prosperity Act is

00:45one that will contribute to our ability to increase the supply. It makes it easier

00:50for banks to invest in affordable housing projects and these important investments

00:55make for example the low-income housing tax credit more accessible. There is also

01:00section 204 the whole Home Repairs Act which is the one that is personal to me.

01:05You know my parents, my father retired as a car salesman. It was my mother who

01:11retired as a receptionist. They married at 21 and 22 years old and within five years

01:17of their marriage they were able to afford a modest home. This is no longer the

01:22case we're hearing now that the average age is 38. My parents were eventually able to

01:28buy a single-family home together and they have this year they are celebrating

01:33their 57th year of marriage and like so many families however they have more love

01:39than they have money. And so the whole Home Repairs Act which creates grants to

01:45address home repair and health hazards will allow vulnerable members of our

01:50community to not have to move out their homes as my mother's memory begins to

01:55fade. Like so many other families who are dealing with these sorts of health

01:59crises it's safer for her to be at a home that she is familiar with and my

02:04parents like so many other families are facing the decision about moving out of

02:08the home that will make my mother safe and comfortable or being able to afford

02:12the repairs that are necessary to keep the home in good repair. This should not be a

02:17choice for our families and so the whole Home Repairs Act will create these grants

02:21and allow people to age with dignity in their homes and allow others who are

02:26vulnerable and who have more love in their home than money to be able to make

02:30the repairs to stay in their home. So thank you again for your leadership on this

02:34and look forward to to having it pass. Thank you Senator Alsabrook. Senator Van

02:39Holland.