Mayors and CEOs Unite to Advocate for Affordable Housing

A coalition of mayors from 14 major U.S. cities, alongside business leaders, is urging Congress to enhance federal funding for affordable housing and homelessness services. The group, known as “Mayors & CEOs for U.S. Housing Investment,” aims to promote public-private partnerships to address the nation’s housing crisis.

The coalition includes mayors from cities such as Los Angeles, Oakland, Sacramento, San Diego, San Francisco, Mesa, Phoenix, Little Rock, Aurora, Denver, Washington, D.C., and Philadelphia. Business leaders from companies like Airbnb, Sutter Health, and GHC Housing Partners have also joined the initiative.​

Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti emphasized the urgency of the situation, stating, “An affordable place to live should be within reach for everyone in America who dreams of making a better life for themselves and their family.” He highlighted the unprecedented housing crisis facing many cities and called on federal leaders to develop new revenue streams and incentives to build and preserve affordable housing.​

The coalition proposes several policy changes, including maximizing funding for existing federal programs like Section 8 Housing Vouchers and Community Development Block Grants. They also advocate for new competitive grants modeled after successful programs like the Department of Transportation’s TIGER grants, aiming to reward innovative, cross-sector projects that combat homelessness and affordable housing issues.​

Additionally, the group suggests building on the HUD-Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing model by pairing HUD vouchers with Health and Human Services programs to assist individuals experiencing homelessness with mental health issues. They also propose creating a Housing Stabilization Fund within HUD to provide short-term emergency housing assistance to households below 80% of the area median income.

Phoenix Mayor Greg Stanton highlighted the economic implications, noting that a lack of affordable housing can disadvantage local economies by making it more challenging to recruit and retain employees. He stated, “Affordable housing payments can significantly increase the residual income that households have at their disposal, which allows local businesses to gain from the increased buying power.”​

Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf added that mayors and business leaders have a unique understanding of community needs and economic barriers. She emphasized that investing in affordable housing and programs to prevent homelessness leads to economic growth, a better-trained workforce, and stronger, more resilient cities.​

The coalition’s efforts underscore the importance of collaborative approaches to tackle the affordable housing crisis, advocating for increased federal investment and innovative solutions to ensure stable and thriving communities across the nation.​

Mayors & CEOs for U.S. Housing Investment Official Website​Mayors & CEOs for Housing Investment

The Hill: Mayors Agree Congress Should Invest in Affordable Housing​

Affordable Housing Finance: Mayors, CEOs Launch Housing Coalition​Housing Finance

X (formerly Twitter): Mayors & CEOs for U.S. Housing Investment​X (formerly Twitter)

YouTube: Mayor Bowser, U.S. Mayors, and CEOs Launch U.S. Housing Investment Coalition