Booker Introduces Bill to Repurpose Vacant Housing for Unhoused Individuals

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) introduced legislation that would establish a new U.S. Housing and Urban Development (HUD) grant program to provide community land trusts (CLTs) an incentive to convert vacant housing into readily available housing for unhoused individuals.

CLTs are nonprofit, community-based organizations that acquire, own, and manage land for the common good. CLTs provide long-term affordable housing on land held by the non-profit organization-offering permanent shelter to members of the community while providing families opportunities to build wealth through homeownership.

The newly proposed HUD grant program will prioritize CLTs operating in areas with high rates of homelessness and those offering critical "wrap around" services such as job training, health care, and education. The program will also favor CLTs with strong representation from unhoused individuals and community members. Grant funds will support the acquisition and maintenance of affordable housing, including the conversion of vacant residential properties and funding for property upgrades and long-term upkeep. This legislation aims to leverage CLTs as a vital tool in addressing homelessness and housing insecurity across the country.

"CLTs have proven to be powerful tools for creating affordable housing for many communities across the country," said Senator Booker. "This legislation would create a grant program to incentivize CLTs to transform vacant properties into safe, affordable housing while also ensuring that these organizations have the resources they need to connect residents to services like job training, health care, and education. We must approach our nation's housing crisis with innovative solutions that leverage the tools in front of us to ensure everyone has access to a long term, stable place they call home."

"Community land trusts are a powerful and proven tool for creating the permanently affordable housing our country urgently needs. The Vacant Property for the Unhoused Act is an important step in addressing homelessness, empowering communities to repurpose vacant properties into long-term, stable homes," said Rasheedah Phillips, Director of Housing at PolicyLink. "This legislation not only prioritizes the needs of unhoused and low-income communities, but also provides critical funding for the conversion of vacant residential properties and the upgrades and maintenance needed to ensure their long-term habitability. We look forward to advancing this effort to create sustainable, community-led housing solutions for those most in need."

"Grounded Solutions Network congratulates Sen. Booker for his legislation to fund a grant program to help develop and expand community land trusts. Through the bill's focus on CLTs that are committed to stable housing for unhoused community members, the proposed program would strengthen local housing organizations in their missions to advance lasting and affordable homeownership for low- and moderate-income families. We look forward to working with the Senator to move this important bill forward," said Doug Ryan, Vice President, Housing Policy, Grounded Solutions Network.

HUD estimates that over 650,000 people experienced homelessness in 2023. This total number of people experiencing unsheltered homelessness in 2023 has reached the highest count observed since reporting began in 2007. Additionally, about 3.7 million people reported experiencing a form of housing insecurity in 2021.

At the same time, the US currently has over 15 million vacant housing units, many of which could be repurposed to provide much-needed housing for individuals and families experiencing homelessness and housing insecurity. In some regions of the country this presents an opportunity to empower community members to restore and repurpose currently vacant properties as affordable housing for those most in need.

This legislation is also endorsed by the National Housing Law Project.

To read the full text of the bill, click here.