On Monday, August 24, from 10-4 p.m., the National Housing Conference will host a roundtable discussion with industry leaders at the Capitol Visitor Center focused on re-envisioning employer-assisted housing (EAH) with the goal of drafting a federal policy that will positively impact our communities and workforce.
NHC has been working with partners on H.R. 1850, “Housing America’s Workforce Act of 2008,” which would implement a federal tax credit program for employers who provide housing assistance to their employees entering homeownership or rental housing.
Legislation focused on EAH was first introduced in the 109th Congress by Senator Clinton. Since that time, there have been dramatic changes in the housing landscape. Thus, it is time to revisit this bill and to re-envision what federal EAH policy should look like. With new Administration priorities around sustainable development and livable communities, now is the time to create a policy that will be an effective tool in helping employees, employers and communities to thrive.
To learn more about the need for policies that provide housing for workers near centers of employment, make sure to read “Quantifying the Value Proposition of Employer-Assisted Housing: A Case Study of Aurora Health Care,” a report from NHC’s research affiliate, the Center for Housing Policy. The report examines the Aurora Health Care system, which has a long-standing EAH program and details the return on investment of the program. The report finds that EAH participants are proving to be better performing employees who choose to stay with the organization longer. It also found that turnover is reduced for Aurora employees participating in the EAH program, which correlates to increased workplace stability, productivity, and morale.