Affordable Housing Can’t Be Held Hostage to GSE Stalemate

January 30, 2015 - February 2, 2015

By Andre F. Shashaty

Americans in search of affordable rental housing received a glimmer of hope this monthwhen Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac began dedicating a portion of their revenue to the National Housing Trust Fund — years after Congress first authorized the action. Now two leading Republican legislators want to take away that much-needed assistance.

The lawmakers in question are House Financial Services Committee Chairman Jeb Hensarling and Sen. Bob Corker, a member of the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs. Both object to the idea that a small percentage of the revenue generated by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac is to be used to help low-income families put a roof over their heads, rather than going to the Treasury for general use.

Read the full article: Affordable Housing Can’t Be Held Hostage to GSE Stalemate