Weber Times

On September 19, 2024, Congressman Blake Moore (R-UT) introduced the Low Income Housing for Defense Communities Act of 2024, a bipartisan legislation aimed at addressing military housing affordability by diversifying housing options for servicemembers in high-cost areas. Congresswoman Marilyn Strickland (D-WA) joined Moore in introducing the bill.

“When I got onto the Ways and Means Committee, Clearfield Mayor Mark Shepherd approached me with an idea to address the housing affordability challenges burdening our lower-enlisted servicemembers. Since then, my team and I ran with his idea and drafted legislation that we are introducing today. The Low Income Housing for Defense Communities Act will bring much-needed relief and productivity to military families serving near major bases. I am so grateful Mayor Shepherd approached me with this idea, and I’m proud of the work we’ve done advancing it to this point,” said Congressman Blake Moore. “Housing has become a national security issue, as it impacts the readiness of Hill Air Force Base (HAFB) in Utah’s First District. As hundreds of lower-enlisted servicemembers are struggling to afford housing near the base and officers are being forced to turn down assignments in Utah because of the difficult real estate market, this bill will spur development interest for Low-Income Housing Tax Credit construction near large installations like HAFB. I thank Congresswoman Marilyn Strickland (WA-10) for her partnership in introducing this bill, and I look forward to seeing this bill make a meaningful impact in the lives of our servicemembers in Utah and across the nation.”

“Servicemembers and their families should be able to afford to live where they are stationed. This is important for their quality of life, and affects readiness,” said Congresswoman Marilyn Strickland. “This credit encourages the building of more affordable housing near large military installations.”

The legislation aims to diversify housing options available to lower-enlisted servicemembers serving in high-cost areas while also creating an increased Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) for buildings located within 15 miles of large military installations. Representatives Moore and Strickland have partnered with local stakeholders to create an additional arm of the LIHTC program to stimulate developer interest in building affordable housing near military installations.

“Across the nation, our military members continue to struggle with housing. Their Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) continues to fall short of the rents in surrounding communities, and as such, two, three, and even four Airmen are forced to share an apartment so they can afford rent. While there may be low-income housing in areas surrounding the installations, the list of applicants for these units is long and military members either won’t qualify because their BAH is included in their income calculations or they are so far down the list that they have been relocated before making it to the top,” said Clearfield Mayor Mark Shepherd. “This bill will allow developers using Low Income Housing Tax Credits to build high-quality rental units where military members can have priority for units. It also allows those military members to qualify for existing housing by changing income calculation methods to exclude their housing allowance.”

“We appreciate Congressman Moore’s attention to the growing affordable housing crisis and his commitment to finding a solution based on what we know works – the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit,” said Emily Cadik, CEO of Affordable Housing Tax Credit Coalition. “Military families are experiencing similar challenges finding affordable housing faced by millions of Americans; expanding affordable housing supply through this proven program would provide sorely needed relief.”

The bill excludes BAH from income calculations for LIHTC purposes while providing any development within 15 miles of qualifying military installations with a 30% "basis boost" under Section 42D of the Internal Revenue Code.

The full text of the bill can be found here.

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