Making housing more affordable for Ohio families

Dear friends and neighbors, As your U.S. Senator, my focus has been making life more affordable and removing unnecessary barriers that stand in the way of opportunity. That’s why I’m proud to share an important update from the Capitol that will have a real impact for Ohio families. The Senate passed the bipartisan 21st Century Road to Housing Act, a major step forward in addressing America’s housing affordability crisis. This is the largest housingpackage to move through Congress in more than a decade, and it is now law. This legislation focuses on tackling the root cause of rising home prices: overregulation, limited supply, and outdated federal processes, which all slow down construction and drive up prices for working Ohio families. What this means for Ohio For years, I’ve met with Ohioans who’ve shared with me how burdensome and costly it is to purchase a home—the median single-family home price in our state has increased by 62% since 2018 while the number of newly listed single-family homes for sale has decreased over the same period. And because Ohio is a top state to do business, more people are choosing to stay in Ohio, relocate to Ohio, and build their families here, and they want their community to be affordable for their children and grandchildren to stay nearby. By cutting red tape and expanding housing supply, this bill would drive down prices and help more Ohioans achieve their version of the American Dream. The 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act includes: Expanding community investment: Raises the cap on bank investments in community development from 15% to 20%, unlocking more capital for affordable housing, small business lending, and neighborhood revitalization. Increasing prefabricated housing supply: Updates FHA mortgage lending standards for manufactured and modular housing, alleviating financing barriers and encouraging the growth of the non-traditional home construction industry. Modernizing credit union role in housing: Updates outdated regulations and lessens compliance costs for credit unions and community banks, enabling local financial institutions to more actively engage in housing financing and capital lending. Supporting veterans: Makes sure veterans receive clear information about their VA home loan benefits when applying for government-backed mortgages. Improving federal coordination: Encourages increase U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the VA to work more closely together, reducing unnecessary delays and speeding up housing development. Boosting Opportunity Zones: Gives priority to housing and community projects in Opportunity Zones, helping attract investment to areas that need it most. Building on progress Last year, I had the opportunity to host HUD Secretary Scott Turner in Columbus, where we met with local housing leaders and saw firsthand how innovative development and public and private partnerships are helping expand housing access in Ohio. Those conversations helped shape and reinforce the priorities in this bill. I recently met with Ohio Realtors on their visit to our nation’s capital to discuss how we can expand housing opportunities and make homeownership more affordable. Looking ahead There is still more work to do, but this is one of the most significant steps taken in decades. Ohio families deserve a housing market that is accessible, affordable, and built for the future. I will continue working to ensure government is part of the solution when it comes to helping families achieve homeownership. Thank you for staying engaged and for continuing to share your priorities with my team and me. I will keep fighting to make sure Ohio’s voices are heard in Washington. We’re here to help Customer service is my top priority. My team and I have offices across Ohio to help our nearly 11.9 million neighbors. You can find the office locations here . As your U.S. Senator, my number one goal is to be a resource for you. If you’re having issues with federal agencies, you can fill out a form here for help. You can also call my Columbus office at (614) 369-4925 to speak with a dedicated member of my casework team. Stay in touch You can keep up with the work I’m doing on behalf of Ohioans by signing up for my newsletter and following me on X at @SenJonHusted , Facebook at www.facebook.com/SenJonHusted , YouTube at @SenJonHusted , and Instagram at @SenJonHusted . In your service, Jon Husted