Housing

Homeownership helps to form the foundation of the American Dream. Throughout my service in Congress, I have fought to help Valley residents have access to affordable housing by fighting federal regulators to bring relief, tackling the homelessness crisis, and helping avoid potential foreclosures from affecting Valley families.

During the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, we saw how Americans struggled to pay the rent and keep a roof over their head. I immediately got to work in Congress by passing significant COVID-19 relief to help Americans pay the bills and get the help they need during the crisis. I’ve also secured millions to help homeless veterans, establish homeless shelters, and expand housing affordability. I will continue working in Congress to make housing more affordable and address housing insecurity in the Valley and across California.

You can find more information about how I can help by clicking here.

Latest Efforts

• Secured $1 million through the Fiscal Year 2023 budget bill to address homelessness in the City of Fresno by immediately helping dozens of formerly homeless residents move out of motel shelters and into permanent affordable housing. This bill awaits approval from the Senate.

• Passed the American Rescue Plan, which provided $26 Billion for emergency rental assistance, to help ensure struggling families continue to have a safe place to live during this pandemic. It also provided $10 Billion to help homeowners struggling to afford their housing because of the coronavirus pandemic

• Created the California Mortgage Relief Program through the American Rescue Planto help homeowners get caught up on past-due housing payments and property taxes.

• Created Project Homekey through the American Rescue Plan and CARES Act to help local governments convert hotels, motels, and vacant apartment buildings into permanent housing. Costa helped secure funding for the City of Fresno to invest in our community and help those who are homeless.  

• Delivered American Rescue Plan funding for the City of Merced, of which some were used to expand access to affordable housing by building new projects that will create pathways for residents to purchase and own a home.

• Passed a continuing resolution, which authorizes funding for reintegration programs through 2024 to help homeless veterans with job training, treatment, and rehabilitation. It also extends nursing home care for veterans with service-connected disabilities, and VA’s home modification assistance for veterans with disabilities.

Legislation

Costa co-sponsored the following legislation:

• H.R. 4464 - Fighting Homelessness Through Services and Housing Act, requires the Health Resources and Services Administration to award grants to local and tribal government entities to plan and implement programs to address homelessness.

• H.R. 2126 – Housing Supply and Affordability Act, allows the Department of Housing and Urban Development to award grants to states, local governments, Indian tribes, and Native Hawaiian organizations to develop and implement housing policy plans.

• H.R. 68 – Housing Fairness Act, expands federal efforts to detect, address, and prevent housing discrimination nationwide.

• H.R.3172 - HELPER Act would create a new home loan assistance program for first responders, including law enforcement officers, firefighters, EMTs, paramedics, and teachers. This program would eliminate specific costly barriers like down payments and monthly mortgage insurance premiums.