Search
 |
Rep. Todd Young introduces legislation to help dislocated families impacted by East Chicago lead contamination
09/28/16 As many as 1,100 Hoosiers are being forced to relocate from their homes in the West Calumet Housing Complex in East Chicago, Indiana due to lead and arsenic contamination in the land.
Congressman Todd Young (R-IN), who serves on the chief tax writing committee in the House of Representatives, introduced legislation on Monday to address the affordable housing shortage in East Chicago by targeting additional low-income housing tax credits to the impacted area. His legislation would give dislocated families who cannot find housing, the opportunity to return to their community in the near future.
“Entire lives are being uprooted,” said Congressman Todd Young. “It is bad enough having families forced from their homes, but it is a tragedy to learn so many will end up leaving the community altogether in search of an affordable place to live. Whether it be to their extended family, schools, churches, or neighbors, many of these families have deep ties to East Chicago. Making sure they have the ability to return to their community is an important prospect, and I look forward to continuing to work with Senator Randolph on this legislative effort to see the community made whole.”
“Too many of the Hoosiers I represent from the West Calumet Housing Complex will be forced to leave the area because of a lack of affordable housing,” said Indiana State Senator Lonnie Randolph, who represents the impacted areas. “Congressman Young and I met earlier this month to discuss the federal government’s response and I am pleased those conversations gave rise to this legislation. It will provide housing for so many displaced residents here in East Chicago, and I would strongly encourage the Indiana delegation to join Todd and support this important bill.”
Additional Background:
- Rep. Young’s legislation [H.R. 6166] would create an incentive to speed the development of new affordable properties which could come online as early as 2018 or 2019.
- The East Chicago Housing Authority indicates “all 332 families will not likely find housing options within the ECHA jurisdiction for relocation”given the limited number of affordable units available.
- This bill will provide Indiana with $8.5 million in additional low-income housing tax credits to help address the loss of the West Calumet Complex in East Chicago. To ensure development begins quickly, the state will only have calendar years 2017 and 2018 to allocate the additional tax credits.
- With the closing of the West Calumet Complex, the county is losing approximately 340 units of affordable housing. The Indiana Housing & Community Development Authority estimates these additional housing credits could translate into seven (7) new developments, which would provide just over 300 new units.
xxx