Earlier today, Arizona Senator Ruben Gallego put forth his plan to bolster the Middle Class by expanding affordable housing opportunities.
Called “The Path Home: Rebuilding the American Dream and Restoring Housing Affordability,” Senator Gallego described the key components of his homeowner and middle-class expansion plan in the below social media post, saying:
“Housing basically is the building block of you being able to say you are middle class.
If you can’t afford to buy a home or you can’t have affordable housing, you’re not going to be able to do much of anything else.”
You can’t build generational wealth.
You don’t have any stability.
So, in order for us to really improve the opportunity for middle-class people to actually exist. For real. To make sure that they actually have affordable housing.
So, look, it starts by building more. More types of housing for every type of American. As we build these homes, we have to actually make sure people can actually afford them, even if they’re not rich…At the same time, we have to make sure that the people who are building it can actually live in those houses themselves.
We can’t just build more. We also have to build fast…so we can catch up. We have to look at these old and restrictive laws, whether they’re local or federal, that are stopping people in the middle from being able to grow and build faster.
Lastly, when we build houses, we have to make sure that they’re built to last. If you notice, property insurance is going through the roof. Why. Because of floods. Because of fire. So when we make those houses, we’re going to make them efficient and we’re going to make sure they last so that way your insurance rates don’t go up every year.”
“This plan will create eight million new homes for our middle class in this country.”
In the press release announcing the plan, the Senator wrote:
“Growing up, my single mom worked tirelessly to afford a two-bedroom apartment for me and my three sisters. By the time I graduated high school, I was able to help her buy a house thanks to a government-backed loan. Today, though, owning a home is out of reach for most Americans, and just affording rent is a stretch. A safe, affordable place to call home is the foundation of success in this country. It’s the cornerstone of the American dream. We owe it to the young people of this country to make that achievable again, and that’s exactly what this plan sets out to do.”
Please click here to review the plan.
In the plans introduction, the Senator noted several troubling trends including:
- The median age for first time homeowners is now 40.
- The median monthly price for a home mortgage is now $2570.
- Home sales fell to a 30 year low in 2024.
- A person on minimum wage would have to work 97 hours a week to be able to afford renting an average-priced one-bedroom apartment.
The framework Gallego highlighted in his plan, which could result in the construction of 8.5 million new homes and expand the middle class, is:
- “Build More Homes for All Americans: Build more homes of all types, in all communities, by boosting supply, modernizing federal housing programs, and investing in growing and retaining a residential construction workforce. A housing construction boom can also create millions of good-paying jobs for construction workers that do not require a college degree.
- Clear the Path to Smarter, Faster Homebuilding: Clear the path to smarter, faster homebuilding by reforming outdated zoning and permitting systems that slow development and drive up costs. This requires state and local buy-in which the federal government can help incentivize. We need partners in the fight to solve the crisis.
- Lower Housing Costs and Keep Americans Housed: Take direct action to lower housing costs and keep Americans housed, through expanded assistance, robust fair lending enforcement, and meaningful tenant protections.
- Future-Proof Our Homes and Communities: Future-proof our homes and communities — making them more resilient to extreme weather, rising insurance costs, and aging infrastructure.”
Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs heaped praise on Gallego’s plan, offering:
“Housing affordability is central to the Arizona Promise, and I’m thankful for Senator Gallego for putting forward this comprehensive plan for renters and homebuyers across the country. I welcome continued federal attention on the urgent need to lower housing costs. Arizona has already taken decisive action to address housing affordability, including expanding homebuyer assistance through the Arizona is Home program, cutting red tape so more housing can be built, investing in weatherization and energy-efficient home upgrades, and helping more veterans out of homelessness. Building on this momentum will require partnership at every level of government to increase supply and bring costs down for families.”
So has Tucson Mayor Regina Romero who conveyed:
“Housing affordability is the top issue for Tucson families, and we need partners in Washington who understand what cities are facing. I commend Senator Ruben Gallego for putting forward a plan that meets this moment and recognizes the leadership of communities that are taking action. This proposal helps cities like Tucson move faster to create stable and affordable homes for the people who make our communities work.”
Flagstaff Mayor Becky Daggett stated:
“In Flagstaff, affordable housing is one of the most pressing issues for our city and residents. Senator Gallego’s housing plan addresses some of the critical challenges that Flagstaff and so many communities are confronting to ensure that housing is available and affordable. It takes aim at some of the specific issues we face in Flagstaff from ensuring our homes can weather disasters such as catastrophic wildfire to streamlining and strengthening key federal housing programs. All of these elements are critical for tackling this important challenge, and I thank Senator Gallego for his leadership on this issue.”
Titus Mathew, Housing Director for the City of Phoenix, wrote:
“I support Senator Gallego’s The Path Home: Rebuilding the American Dream and Restoring Housing Affordability plan. The included framework will provide the opportunity to increase the number of housing units and expand homeownership opportunities for all.”
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