Ahead of Third Annual Housing Expo, Brown Announces Safe and Affordable Housing Agenda

Cleveland, OH – Congresswoman Shontel Brown (OH-11) today announced her Safe and Affordable Housing Agenda, a new comprehensive legislative package to strengthen lead paint and pipe abatement, build more affordable housing to lower costs, and renovate and improve existing HUD-assisted housing. 

At a time when too many families are being squeezed by rising housing costs and forced to live with aging, unsafe homes, Brown’s Safe and Affordable Housing Agenda takes aim at both affordability and safety. 

This summer, Congresswoman Brown will introduce four new bills as part of the Safe and Affordable Housing Agenda: The Housing Supply Fund Act, the Affordable Housing Preservation and Protection Act, the GET THE LEAD Out Act, and the Removing Existing Pipes with Lead and Advancing Clean Environments (REPLACE) Act. These bills follow January introduction of the Yes in God’s Backyard Act, legislation co-led by Brown that incentivizes faith-based institutions and institutions of higher-education to build affordable housing on underused land they already own. 

In addition to forward-looking legislation, Congresswoman Brown’s Safe and Affordable Housing Agenda also includes connecting continents with existing services and resources. This week, Brown will hold her 3^rdAnnual OH-11 Housing Expo featuring government agencies, financial institutions, and community organizations. The OH-11 Housing Expo will take place at Tri-C Corporate College East in Warrensville Heights on Saturday June 6. Constituents can register for the free event here.  

“Housing is a huge issue in Northeast Ohio. It’s a constant topic when people call our office and it comes up in nearly every meeting. Families are worried about the cost of buying a home, the rising cost of rent, access to affordable housing, and the safety of the homes they live in — from the pipes underground to the paint on the walls,” said Congresswoman Brown. 

In Brown’s e-newsletter this month, constituents were asked “How do you feel about housing costs in Northeast Ohio?” Of the hundreds of responses to the survey to date, 83% answered that “Housing Costs are Too High”. Only 4% answered that “Housing is Affordable.”

Brown added, “I want the people of Northeast Ohio to know that they have been heard, and my office is laser-focused on tackling this problem in Cleveland and in Washington. Everyone deserves a safe and affordable home, and that requires a stronger federal partnership to support and expand local efforts. My Safe and Affordable Housing Agenda includes four bills to lower costs, improve and expand affordable housing options, and remove the toxic lead that is making people sick. I look forward to rolling out these bills this summer, and connecting people with real resources and support at our annual Housing Expo this weekend.”

Congresswoman Brown’s Safe and Affordable Housing Agenda

The Housing Supply Fund Act (HSF): The Housing Supply Fund Act is legislation to encourage the building of more affordable housing by filling financing gaps that are holding back construction. The legislation would establish a competitive program within Treasury’s Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI) Fund to address financing gaps that prevent otherwise viable housing projects from moving forward. The bill authorizes flexible financing tools including loan loss reserves, revolving loan funds, guarantees, risk-sharing loans, and affordable housing mortgage funds to support the development, preservation, rehabilitation, financing, or purchase of housing while leveraging private and local capital.

The Affordable Housing Preservation and Protection Act (AHPP): The Affordable Housing Preservation and Protection Act is legislation to maintain and preserve existing HUD-assisted housing. This legislation establishes a new HUD preservation authority to provide targeted financing and intervention tools for distressed HUD-assisted multifamily properties at risk of deterioration, foreclosure, or loss of affordability. The bill is designed to help preserve affordable housing, facilitate responsible ownership transitions, and protect existing federal housing investments serving seniors, working families, and vulnerable residents.

The GET THE LEAD OUT Act of 2026: The GET THE LEAD OUT Act of 2026 would create a new federal grant program to replace lead pipes, fixtures, and taps. The legislation would create a broad federal framework to address lead in drinking water and housing by funding removal of lead-based pipe and tap hazards, establishing training and certification requirements, directing federal standards and state programs, and integrating lead plumbing remediation into major housing programs. Brown’s legislation creates new authorities and financing mechanisms to drive national action on residential lead plumbing hazards.

The Removing Existing Pipes with Lead and Advancing Clean Environments (REPLACE) Act: The REPLACE Act improves existing lead paint and lead pipe removal programs within the federal government. This legislation would amend existing HUD and Safe Drinking Water Act authorities to strengthen lead-paint hazard remediation in housing, improve local implementation capacity, and better coordinate paint and pipe removal efforts. 

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