December 22, 2009 - The House passed a $75 billion job creation bill on December 16 - the Jobs for Main Street Act of 2010 - that includes $1 billion for the National Housing Trust Fund (NHTF), $65 million for project-based vouchers in NHTF developments, and $1 billion for the Public Housing Capital Fund.  Recent analysis by the National Low Income Housing Coalition found that for every $1 billion invested in the NHTF, Connecticut would receive approximately $11 million, which would create about 168 jobs during construction, and enable 42 jobs ongoing.

The Jobs for Main Street Act uses TARP funds to spur a variety of sectors, including housing, public works and infrastructure, teachers, police and clean water.

The public housing funds would prioritize investments that leverage private funding or financing for renovation or energy efficiency retrofits.  The funds must be obligated within 60 days of the bill's passage, and housing authorities must award contracts within 120 days of receiving the funds.

The National Housing Trust Fund, already established but not funded, would help create affordable housing for low income households, with an emphasis on rental housing for extremely-low income people.  Recent analysis by the National Low Income Housing Coalition found that for every $1 billion invested in the NHTF, Connecticut would receive approximately $11 million, which would create about 168 jobs during construction, and enable 42 jobs ongoing.

The Senate almost included money for the National Housing Trust Fund (NHTF) in its Department of Defense appropriations bill.  The DoD bill, being sure to pass, became a vehicle for many other non-defense issues, including the NHTF.  But the Senate has now decided to strip the NHTF and other jobs measures and move them in a separate jobs bill, expected to be taken up in January.