Resolving the Housing Crisis: Strengthening America Through Housing with Solutions for Crisis and Recovery

Economy
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Policy Proposal: Resolving the Housing Crisis - Strengthening America Through Housing with Solutions for Crisis and Recovery

[*Draft Work in Progress]

Executive Summary

This policy proposal is about securing the American Dream and provides a framework for Fair Housing that:

  • Affirms housing as a fundamental right aligned with constitutional values.
  • Address the housing crisis by promoting access and affordability.
  • Protect property rights while considering market dynamics and economic freedom.
  • Combat homelessness with dignity, focusing on veterans, disaster victims, and hard-working Americans denied loans.
  • Foster innovation and enhance financing options in housing.
  • Integrate health services to address the intersection of housing and health, particularly for those with mental health issues or addiction.

Historical Context

  • Legislative Background: Building on the U.S. Housing Act of 1937, this proposal acknowledges ongoing issues with housing affordability, homelessness, and property rights.123

In Light of These Observations

The escalating housing crisis in America demands a systemic overhaul to ensure that housing is recognized and treated as an essential requirement for the pursuit of life, liberty, and happiness. This proposal outlines actionable steps to address affordability, homelessness, exploitative market practices, and the housing needs of those displaced by natural disasters like fires, floods, hurricanes, and earthquakes, as well as the plight of hard-working Americans denied home buyer loans. It also challenges the unjust systems in place by the government for property seizure due to unpaid taxes, which many argue violates our Bill of Rights. All these actions are aimed at honoring the principles of our constitutional republic. It is particularly poignant when we see our veterans, those who have served and defended our country, families uprooted by natural disasters, and those denied the right to homeownership, struggling with housing issues; this is a terrible injustice that must be rectified.

Policy Aims

1. Affirm Housing as a Fundamental Liberty

  • Legislation: Propose amendments or new laws explicitly recognizing housing as an extension of the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. This does not imply government-provided housing but rather ensures access through market reforms and support structures, aligning with [Article 25.1 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights]1 and [Article 5(e)(iii) of ICERD]2. This policy supports the dignity of all Americans, including veterans, disaster victims, and those denied home loans, and mitigates the problems inherent in not addressing the mentally ill, and those with addiction problems who plague city streets. The framework to address these issues must be in line with our founding values as Americans and a healthy constitutional republic that seeks for the common welfare of the populace.

  • Enforcement: Establish a minimal federal housing authority with oversight powers to ensure compliance with housing rights across states, modeled after the U.S. Housing Authority established by the [U.S. Housing Act of 1937]3, but with a focus on local control and self-governance.

2. Promote Economic Freedom through Affordability

  • Income-Based Rent Caps:

    • Pilot Programs: Implement income-based rent caps in select regions as pilot programs to test viability without widespread market disruption:
      • Subsidies: Provide subsidies to landlords to cover the gap between the capped rent and operational costs, possibly funded by reallocating from existing housing programs or through new tax incentives.
      • Cost Controls: Introduce controls on costs like maintenance, insurance, and taxes in these areas, with government subsidies or tax reliefs to mitigate landlord financial burdens.
      • Inflation Adjustment: Regularly adjust the cap based on inflation to avoid disadvantaging landlords financially over time.
    • Acknowledging Inflation: Include a policy section calling for a review or reform of monetary policies to manage inflation, highlighting how housing policies must integrate with broader economic strategies.

  • Expand Cooperative Housing:

    • Non-Profit Housing Cooperatives: Encourage the formation of housing cooperatives where residents, including those displaced by disasters or denied traditional loans, collectively own and manage their housing, promoting community-led solutions and local governance, incentivized through tax breaks or grants.

    • Public Housing Development: Increase funding for public housing, focusing on mixed-income developments to avoid concentrated poverty, fostering environments where all can thrive, including veterans, disaster survivors, and those denied homeownership, reducing dependency on government assistance, and promoting economic diversity.

3. Combat Homelessness with Dignity and Responsibility

  • Reform Penalties for Homelessness: Advocate for the decriminalization of homelessness, focusing on solutions that respect individual dignity and personal responsibility, especially for veterans, disaster victims, and hardworking Americans.

  • Supportive Housing Programs:

    • Health-Focused Housing Policies: Propose housing initiatives specifically for those with mental health issues or addiction, integrating health services directly into housing solutions like supportive housing programs. These should include:
      • On-site Health Services: Incorporate community health centers or partnerships with local health providers for immediate access to care.
      • Data and Research: Highlight studies showing the correlation between housing stability and health outcomes to resonate with HHS audiences.
      • Pilot Programs: Implement pilot programs where housing policy intersects with health policy, measuring success via health metrics like hospital readmission rates, mental health stability, or addiction recovery rates.

  • Emergency Housing: Establish more emergency shelters with pathways to permanent housing, not as handouts but as investments in human capital, promoting self-sufficiency and community integration, ensuring no one is left without shelter. See: Proposal for Waiving Building Codes for Tiny Homes, Sheds and Recreational Vehicles (RV) as Emergency Shelters

4. Protect Property Rights and Market Integrity

  • Limit Corporate and Private Equity Influence: Introduce regulations or taxes on large-scale investors to prevent the commoditization of housing, protecting the American dream of homeownership as an individual right, not just a corporate asset.

  • Anti-Predatory Practices: Strengthen laws against predatory lending and address the issue of hard-working Americans being denied home buyer loans. Also, reform property tax systems to prevent unjust seizures, which many see as violations of our Bill of Rights. Consider exemptions for medically disabled individuals, the elderly, and others disproportionately affected by these taxes.

5. Foster Innovation within Free Market Principles

  • Simplify Permitting: Streamline the zoning and permitting processes for innovative and affordable housing solutions, reducing bureaucracy while promoting individual initiative, local innovation, and resilience against future disasters.

  • Funding for Renovation: Provide grants or low-interest loans for renovating existing properties, including those damaged by natural disasters, encouraging the American ethos of self-reliance and ingenuity.

6. Enhance Access to Financing

  • Non-Traditional Housing Loans: Develop or incentivize financial institutions to provide loans for non-traditional housing types or for those with stable income but non-standard credit profiles, reinforcing the principle that opportunity should be available to all, especially those who have served, been displaced, or denied loans.

  • Credit Union and Community Bank Support: Support local financial institutions that understand and serve community needs better, aligning with the federalist idea of local governance, particularly aiding in recovery efforts post-disaster and ensuring loan accessibility.

7. Community Engagement and Policy Implementation

  • Local and State Partnerships: Foster partnerships with local governments to tailor solutions to specific community needs, including disaster recovery and loan access, while ensuring federal guidelines are met, respecting states’ rights.

  • Public Participation: Engage communities in planning processes, reinforcing democratic values and ensuring housing policies serve community interests, including those of veterans, disaster victims, and those seeking homeownership, not just government agendas.

8. Impact on Homeowners Relying on Property Value for Retirement
  • Protecting Retirement Funds:
    • No Immediate Impact: Implement policies in a way that does not immediately affect current property values, focusing on new developments or areas not yet built out.
    • Alternative Retirement Solutions: Advocate for or develop alternative investment vehicles or incentives for homeowners to diversify retirement planning beyond home value increases.
    • Gradual Implementation: Roll out the policy in stages, allowing for market adjustments and giving homeowners time to adapt their retirement strategies.
9. Legal Framework
  • Universal Declaration of Human Rights: Article 17.2, 25.1
  • [U.S. Housing Act, Section 9](http://www.hud.gov/offices/pih/programs/ph/phecc/noteworthy/ housingact1937adds.pdf) Created the U.S. Housing Authority (USHA) within and reporting to U.S. Department of the Interior Housing
  • Community Development Act, 42 U.S.C. Chapter 69 § 5301 (1974) reporting to Assistant Secretary of Community Planning and Development
  • International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (ICERD)
    • Article 5(e)(iii) • “(e) Economic, social and cultural rights, in particular: (iii) The Right to housing;”
    • 3/27/14: U.N. Human Rights Committee Concluding Observations on U.S. report on enforcement of ICCPR Articles 2, 7, 9, 17, and 26, at ¶19:
    • • U.S. “should engage with state and local authorities to:
      • (a) abolish criminalization of homelessness laws and policies at state and local levels
      • (b) ensure close cooperation between all relevant stakeholders…social, health, law enforcement and justice professionals to intensify efforts to find solutions for the homeless in accordance with human rights standards
    • (c) offer incentives for decriminalization and implementation of such solutions,…by providing continued financial support to local authorities implementing alternatives… to criminalization and withdrawing funding for local authorities criminalizing the homeless.”
  • 3/7/08: U.N. Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) Concluding Observations on enforcement of Article 1(1)) • ¶16: The U.S. should “intensify its efforts” to end “racial segregation,…its negative consequences for the affected individuals and groups…(i) support the development of public housing complexes outside poor racially segregated areas; • (ii) eliminate the obstacles that limit affordable housing choice and mobility for beneficiaries of Section 8, Housing,…; and (iii) ensure the effective implementation of legislation adopted at the federal and state levels to combat discrimination in housing… “by private actors.”

Conclusion

This proposal not only seeks to rectify immediate housing crises but also aims to establish a sustainable framework where housing is accessible, affordable, and a recognized necessity for all Americans. By integrating human rights obligations with practical solutions in a way that promotes liberty, personal responsibility, and local governance, we can move towards a society where everyone has a home, thereby strengthening our constitutional republic. The policy is designed as a thoughtful experiment, with mechanisms for evaluation, adjustment, and scaling based on real-world outcomes, particularly in how housing policies can directly improve health outcomes.

Footnotes

[1] Universal Declaration of Human Rights
[2] International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination
[3] U.S. Housing Act of 1937

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Explain your poll answer in the comments to further refine the policy proposal and improve concensus.

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Absolutely WONDERFUL policy proposal! I have seen countless posts across p4p forums arguing these same fundamental issues within America – posts are pretty heated (like stirred up hornets even). This proposal goes a long way in addressing these individual arguments surrounding the issue of property taxation, its discriminatory nature against property owners, and its adverse effects on our older and disabled population. Nice cohesive approach to a problem plaguing our wealth-constrained society. I love it! :face_with_monocle:

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Thank you @SueK,

Any additions to make it even better, or stronger, are welcome. I was also thinking of incorporating state examples as case studies and going more into the laws being violated and why it’s imperative to address them. There may be other areas that haven’t been touched upon, either, so I certainly want to improve upon this draft wherever possible.

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Please consider:

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OK, thank you @FastFred

I’ve incorporated your proposal into the In Light of These Observations section. Have a nice weekend!

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Thanks MUCH! We need to inform as many Citizens as possible. Citizens hopefully will become aware of the Root Cause of Our tax problems. Thank you so much for your help. Have a Blessed Day Fred Walker

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I have to disagree with sections of the proposal. Let me know if I’m misunderstanding something.

While it could be argued this way, it doesn’t mean people would be entitled to own a home or have the governments’ help obtaining one. Another example is the right to bear arms: just because it’s a right doesnt mean the government has to give you one, or help you buy one.

Income based rent caps - would the government be covering the difference between market rate and income rate? The only way rent caps can work effectively is if the government also caps the cost of everything else that is involved with real estate, such as the costs of anything that could break in a house, including the cost of insurance and skilled trades.

Otherewise, the landlord will not make enough money and will abandon the property in one way or another.

These costs are all tied to inflation - which is nearly 100% the federal governments’ fault. I’d like to see more punishments for this in every proposal on here.

Speaking to inflation, there’s a large number of people who are unfortunately relying on inflation of their home value as their retirement fund. How would this affect them?

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Proposal for Waiving Building Codes for Tiny Homes, Sheds and Recreational Vehicles (RV) as Emergency Shelters

Introduction

In the aftermath of natural disasters, the urgent need for safe, economical, and efficient housing solutions becomes paramount. This paper proposes waiving standard building codes for connecting tiny homes and sheds used as emergency shelters to essential services such as electricity, water, and sewage lines. By allowing the onsite construction or installation of these shelters, we can facilitate faster recovery and improve resilience in disaster-affected areas. While this approach emphasizes expediency and accessibility, it also necessitates certain fire safety considerations to ensure the well-being of occupants. Following Hurricane Helene there were several teams of people who entered the affected areas and erected shelters and tiny home for people who had lost their homes which the local government wouldn’t allow to be occupied or used while rebuilding their homes.

Rationale for Waiving Building Codes

1. Accelerated Recovery Process

Natural disasters often displace large populations and overwhelm existing housing resources. By permitting the rapid deployment of tiny homes, sheds and allowing RV use , communities can quickly provide shelter to those in need. The flexibility to bypass standard building codes allows for:

  • Rapid Installation: Onsite construction or assembly can significantly reduce the time required to provide emergency housing.
  • Cost-Effective Solutions: Lower regulatory hurdles can decrease costs associated with permitting and inspections, enabling more funds to be directed towards recovery efforts.

2. Adaptability and Community Resilience

Tiny homes, sheds and RVs can be tailored to meet the specific needs of displaced individuals and families. Their adaptability makes them suitable for various environments and conditions, fostering community resilience. Additionally, these structures can support:

  • Diverse Living Arrangements: Families can choose configurations that best suit their needs, whether single-room shelters or multi-functional spaces.
  • Local Resource Utilization: By allowing onsite construction, communities can utilize local materials and labor, further promoting economic recovery.

Essential Connections for Tiny Homes, Sheds and RVs

1. Connecting to the Electrical Grid

While waiving standard building codes, it is essential to address electrical safety. Key considerations include:

  • Heavy-Duty Wiring: Ensuring all electrical wiring is sufficiently robust to handle heating loads, particularly if electric heating systems are installed.
  • Fire Safety: Establishing guidelines for the safe installation of heating appliances, including adequate separation from combustible materials to prevent fire hazards.

2. Water Supply and Backflow Prevention

Access to clean water is crucial for any shelter. The proposal includes:

  • Connection to Water Lines: Allowing direct connections to municipal water supplies to ensure availability of potable water.
  • Backflow Prevention: Mandating the installation of backflow valves to prevent contamination of the municipal water supply, safeguarding public health.

3. Sewage Disposal

Efficient waste management is vital for maintaining hygiene and public health. The proposal advocates for:

  • Connection to Sewage Lines: Enabling tiny homes, sheds and RVs to connect to existing sewage systems to facilitate proper waste disposal.
  • Alternative Waste Solutions: In locations where sewage connections are not feasible, promoting the use of composting toilets or other environmentally friendly waste management systems and grey water systems.

Fire Safety Considerations

While waiving certain building codes, it is imperative to incorporate fire safety measures to protect occupants. Proposed safety measures include:

  • Heat Stove Regulations: Establishing guidelines for the installation of wood stoves and other heating devices, ensuring adequate clearance from flammable materials.
  • Smoke Detectors: Recommending the installation of smoke detectors and carbon monoxide alarms in all shelters to enhance occupant safety.
  • Emergency Exits: Ensuring tiny homes, sheds and RVs have clear and accessible emergency exits to facilitate safe evacuation in case of fire.

Conclusion

Waiving traditional building codes for tiny homes, sheds and R Vs used as emergency shelters can significantly enhance the recovery process following disasters. By allowing rapid and cost-effective solutions for housing, communities can better support displaced individuals while ensuring essential services are connected safely. With appropriate fire safety considerations and guidelines for electrical, water, and sewage connections, we can create a framework that prioritizes both speed and safety in rebuilding efforts. This approach not only addresses immediate shelter needs but also fosters long-term resilience in disaster-prone areas.

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Added to section 3, thank you, @DiveMaster

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The Department of Veterans Affairs can absolutely stop veteran homelessness. They give VA grants to various businesses worth $500,000.00 for rental and financial assistance, which compromises veteran’s privacy and medical records. These businesses will get that VA grant money and request record releases from the veteran. They want to know everything about the veteran from financial history to VA medical records and service records when their records should be protected by the VA. The VA has to start protecting veterans from this invasion of privacy by paying veterans housing assistance, like The Department of Defense pays active duty military. This is called Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) and it’s paid monthly based on the rental market rate. Many veterans used to get it, but no longer get it because they’re not on active duty. The Department of Veterans Affairs can start turning those VA grants into BAH instead of sending Millions of dollars to random businesses that they don’t thoroughly check. The VA doesn’t know if these businesses are safeguarding records, if computers settings protect users from identity theft gaining unauthorized access to downloaded DD214s, records, and financial records, whether interview processing rooms meet privacy requirements so people waiting in the hallways or waiting room don’t hear HIPAA protected information. Once the VA issues that money to a business, the VA has no idea what they’re doing. The VA has to protect veterans better. BAH, will end veteran homelessness. We don’t see homeless in active duty military because of BAH and Base housing. They need to give veterans BAH and create veterans base affordable housing connected to the VA installations for veterans wanting to live on or near the VA hospital. Connecting veterans housing to the VA hospital will allow veterans with transportation concerns to easily access the VA hospital. This should be done all over the United States. Not all veterans want to live on the VA, so BAH should help them with their housing needs while preserving their privacy. No business has any business in veteran’s VA records for the purposes of rental assistance.

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@ljsadf Thank you for your feedback. The act has been adjusted in light of your perspective. Perhaps this newly revised remedy is more amenable.

12 
 FHA has a large portfolio of properties that they are setting on because the loan recipient died.  The heir must pay all at once, or the property remains unoccupied.  FHA is never getting that money back.  Take the loss, revert the property to the heirs, or issue it to a homeless vet if there are no heirs.  FHA should have no properties in their inventory vacant for more than 36 months.
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I have an idea that probably should be added to this proposal rather then created from scratch, but this one got so detailed I didn’t read it all. In a nutshell, my idea is something already allowed in some areas, called “opt-out” building that allows landowners to build without the obstables of restrictive codes enforced by many municipalities. Grok helped and the link to that is here
https://x.com/i/grok/share/j1ysErizPMYtLstNW0S8HWYrx

I may also submit as a separate policy as I prefer clean, simple, to the point language

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OK, I read some more and see the section on waiving building codes. Similar thinking in mine - I’m in an area with aerated septic systems for individual homes so waste disposal (human, pet, and food) needs to be properly treated either through composting, different standards of “grey” & “black” water and potential requirements such as swales to combat any erosion. It’s also a coastal community and many old boats could be utilized as tiny homes with minimal expense aside from trucking them & depositing on a property. Not as an eyesore like looking at a boat yard, but largely hidden from view and blended into natural landscapes

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What I actually want to try and do is to create a “grid-adjacent” hub to facilitate learning the needed skills to become self-sufficient using a 5 acre parcel that currently part of an HOA in a gated community. It would exist very close to multi-million dollar homes, but the parcel would only have a single main residence and scattered outbuildings that are actually works of art. I envision a burgeoning community forming around this idea, which can be enhanced tremendously by employing blockchain technology to track all assets shared by the participants as well as the “track record” of all participants. Contribution gets rewarded, antisocial behavior gets penalized or booted altogether.

I think the first major obstacle would be the millionaires who own the homes nearby who would be upset if they were aware of what was actually being manifested with my vision. But if I operate slowly, deliberately, with that vision becoming clearer and clearer, I see it being a game changer for this area.

The locals are typical working at the various eateries, shops, and bars on the island or tradespeople who live on the mainland because of the land prices for beach & beach access propertiues. Some do wind up purchasing a house but will typically rent it often to offset the cost.

But what’s happening is that millionaires are developing tracts for clusters of expensive dwellings and then renting them like apartments and condos in order to turn a profit (which is quite easy to do).

I don’t want to try and make money on my property, I want to convert it’s value into something that will add value to people’s lives without monetary ties, but through a blockchain community.

I’d like to hear anyone’s feedback - good or bad, as it will help bring the vision into clearer focus.

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There are a lot of great suggestions on this site with a fatal flaw— the change needed is in the purview of local and state governments.

The Tenth Amendment to the United States Constitution states:

“The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.”

This amendment is a cornerstone of federalism, emphasizing the principle that any powers not explicitly granted to the federal government in the Constitution remain with the states or the people. It forms the legal basis for the states’ primary control over areas like zoning and land use.

Unless the HOA or local zoning rule violates something at the federal or Constitutional level, the Supremes have sided with local and state authority.

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Agreed there are many issues to address, which housing cost is a big influence of this. We are addressing the building supply chain by inventing a more efficient prefabricated panelized building method integrated with Circular Economy output and repurposed and natural materials. Currently only able to import at this stage; but our big mission is to bring these manufacturing practices and equipment to USA. We also have pricing for Manufacturing Recycling Facililities, Organics Recycling Facilities (can capture Methane Gas), Wheat Stalk Pulp Mills to replace virgin wood pulp, paper and packaging with added by products such as fiber bricks used for erosion prevention, living roofs and final by product of fertilizer. National programs are needed to ensure we have symbiotic supply chains for a stronger economy and United States of America. Many of these can re-invigorate jobs, especially in rural communities with ESOP. We have experts ready to help with implementation, training and investment if needed.

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www.AAinternationalinc.US is a main website highlighting some of these opportunities.