Two federal stories today deal with the legal and tax side of housing: a court fight over fair housing funding and a new bill that would give renters a tax credit.
- Senators Back Ruling Blocking HUD Cut to $46 Million in Fair Housing Funds: Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand of New York and 20 Senate colleagues filed an amicus brief supporting a federal judge’s ruling that HUD unlawfully restricted funding to groups that investigate and enforce laws against housing discrimination. Gillibrand is the ranking member of the Senate THUD Subcommittee.
- Tran Bill Would Create Refundable Tax Credit of Up to $4,000 a Year for Renters: In California, Rep. Derek Tran introduced the COST Act, which offers a refundable credit at a base rate of 8% to households with total income of $150,000 or less. Maximum support would be $333 per month, or $4,000 per year, and his office said more than 75,000 households in his district could benefit.
The court case is ongoing, and the COST Act is a proposal that has not become law.
