After years of advocacy, the VITAL Act (Visitable Inclusive Tax Credits for Accessible Living Act) has been reintroduced in both the House (H.R.10049) and Senate (S.5285) to increase the supply of affordable, accessible housing for people with disabilities and older adults.
U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) introduced the VITAL Act in the Senate, with Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Andy Kim (D-NJ), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), and Peter Welch (D-VT) joining as cosponsors. U.S. Representatives Dwight Evans (D-PA) and Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) introduced companion legislation in the House.
The VITAL Act would strengthen the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC)—the nation’s main tool for financing affordable housing—to help ensure that more affordable homes are accessible or adaptable. The legislation:
- Sets clear goals: Requires states to ensure at least 40% of newly built affordable homes are accessible or can be made accessible over a three-year period.
- Encourages walkable and rollable communities: Accessible homes built in walkable and rollable neighborhoods count twice toward the state’s goal.
- Offers financial incentives for more accessible units: Projects where at least half of the units are accessible, and projects located in rollable communities, receive additional funding.
- Supports independence, community living, and aging in place: An estimated 516,000 affordable, accessible, inclusive homes would be built over the next 10 years.
The VITAL Act is urgently needed. While approximately 26% of people in the United States have a disability, less than 6% of the nation’s housing supply is designed to be accessible at even a basic level. Expanding affordable housing without prioritizing accessibility leaves millions of people without housing that meets their needs or supports their ability to live independently in the communities they choose.
We’re proud to endorse the VITAL Act alongside a broad coalition of disability, aging, housing, and community organizations. Reintroducing the VITAL Act is an important step toward a future where all people with and without disabilities can access affordable, accessible, and inclusive homes.
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