IV 

115TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. RES. 475 

Expressing support for the designation of the month of September 2017 

as ‘‘National Month for Renters’’. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

JULY 25, 2017 

Mr. POLIQUIN (for himself and Mr. HECK) submitted the following resolution; 

which was referred to the Committee on Financial Services 

RESOLUTION 

Expressing support for the designation of the month of 

September 2017 as ‘‘National Month for Renters’’. 

Whereas rental housing is a vital component of the United 

States housing market, providing a place to live for nearly 44 million households and more than 111 million 

Americans; 

Whereas the number of households renting their homes increased by 9 million over the past decade, the largest 10- 

year gain on record; 

Whereas the demand for rental housing is expected to intensify over the coming decade as members of the 78-million-millennial generation form households for the first 

time, and many of the 75-million-baby-boomer generation 

transition from home ownership to rental housing; 


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•HRES 475 IH 

Whereas the annual median income of renters is less than 

half that of homeowners; 

Whereas over the past 15 years, rents have grown faster than 

household incomes; 

Whereas more than 11 million households in communities 

across the country pay in excess of 50 percent of their 

income on rent and utilities, making them severely costburdened under Federal standards; 

Whereas these 11 million severely cost-burdened households 

include 14 million women, 8 million children, 9 million 

millennials, 2 million senior citizens, and nearly 800,000 

veterans; 

Whereas severely cost-burdened renters are more likely to experience poor health outcomes, educational setbacks, loss 

of jobs and productivity, and greater food instability; 

Whereas nearly 13 million renters work jobs that are the engine of the Nation’s economy (e.g., office and administrative, food service, transportation, building and grounds 

maintenance, construction, production, personal care, 

managers, education, and cashiers), and yet devote more 

than 30 percent of their income just to rent; and 

Whereas the Nation’s lowest income renters face a shortage 

of affordable and available rental homes: Now, therefore, 

be it 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 

2 (1) supports the designation of ‘‘National 

3 Month for Renters’’ to draw attention to the rental 

4 affordability crisis in the United States; 


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•HRES 475 IH 

1 (2) urges a truly national effort involving all 

2 levels of government, the private sector, and the 

3 philanthropic community to expand the supply of af4 fordable rental homes to meet current and expected 

5 demand; 

6 (3) recognizes the considerable adverse eco7 nomic and social impact that unaffordable rents 

8 have on families and communities; and 

9 (4) recognizes that expanding access to afford10 able rental homes will help stabilize families and 

11 communities, promote equality of opportunity, and 

12 support greater economic growth and prosperity. 

Æ 


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