Gallego, Kelly Praise Affordable Housing Grants, Urge Continued Release of Future Funds

Senators Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) and Mark Kelly (D-AZ) are celebrating the recent investment of grants into nonprofits expanding housing in rural Arizona.

Specifically, NeighborWorks America, a Congressionally chartered nonprofit, has issued $1.45 million in NeighborWorks Flexible Impact Grants to four Arizona groups, Chicanos Por La Causa, Comite de Bien Estar, the Primavera Foundation, and Trellis to expand affordable housing in Arizona.

The delivery of these funds coincides with the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) transitioning from a lump sum system to monthly installments, which could potentially delay funding and pose challenges for smaller NeighborWorks affiliates.

"The organizations working hard to make affordable housing a reality for everyday Arizonans deserve our full support," said Sen. Gallego in his press release, adding, "These grants will help them expand their services, reach more families, and put more Arizonans into homes."

Similarly, Sen. Kelly said, "Every Arizonan needs a safe and affordable place to call home. These grants will support local organizations that are making real progress—whether it's keeping rent affordable for families or helping them buy their first home."

Sen. Gallego, in particular, has made housing a major policy issue since assuming office, with April marking a significant step forward as he signaled support for the formation of a task force to explore the possibility of opening federal lands to housing development, thereby addressing the housing crisis.

That same month, the Arizona Senator helped introduce the bipartisan Housing Affordability Act, which amends the National Housing Act's statutory loan limits and brings the inflationary adjustment index, part of the Consumer Price Index (CPI), more in line with the Price Deflator Index of Multifamily Residential Units Under Construction, thereby making construction costs more accurate.

Later in May, Gallego introduced another housing-related bill, the Appraisal Industry Improvement Act, addressing the shortage of home appraisers by adding state-credentialed trainees to the National Appraiser Registry, which is part of the Appraisal Subcommittee (ASC) of the Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council.