Sens. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) have introduced a bill that seeks to expand accessible housing for older adults and people with disabilities.
The Visitable Inclusive Tax Credits for Accessible Living (VITAL) Act (S. 5285) would increase state low-income housing tax credit allocations and provide an enhanced tax credit for qualifying affordable housing developments that include accessible units for people with disabilities in walkable communities, and incentivize state housing finance agencies to prioritize the development of more accessible housing.
“For far too many Americans living with disabilities and older adults with mobility issues, safe housing is out of reach due to a lack of affordable and accessible options,” said Klobuchar. “This legislation would increase the number of new homes that are located in walkable or wheelchair-friendly communities to increase access to housing for all.”
The lawmakers note that approximately 26% of people in the United States have a disability, yet less than 6% of the national housing supply is designed to be even rudimentarily accessible.
The VITAL Act adds incentives for the LIHTC program to increase the number of accessible homes for older adults and people with disabilities, including providing a basis boost for qualifying developments.
Along with Klobuchar and Gillibrand, the VITAL Act is cosponsored Sens. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Andy Kim (D-N.J.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), and Peter Welch (D-Vt.).
Reps. Dwight Evans (D-Pa.) and Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.) introduced companion legislation in the House.