How U.S. cities are using federal American Rescue Plan Act funds to tackle housing affordability
June 11, 2024 by The Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (SLFRF) program, under the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), has provided significant investment in affordable housing, rental assistance, and eviction prevention. Large cities and counties have allocated $6.7 billion of SLFRF funds towards housing projects, focusing on homelessness services and affordable housing developments. Despite strong commitments, the expenditure of funds for affordable housing development has been slow, with challenges in timely deployment affecting communities in need. Local governments play a crucial role in housing affordability and can leverage federal funds and policy reforms to ensure access to safe and affordable housing for all residents.