Some of the housing supply gains achieved in recent years remain alive despite a slew of repeal-focused bills that were introduced months ago, as the New Hampshire Legislature gets close to finishing up business.
The Housing Champions program, which provides grants to cities and towns as incentives to build affordable housing, will continue after the New Hampshire Senate did not approve a House-endorsed repeal.
The Housing Champions program, seemingly doomed after a New Hampshire House vote to repeal in February, may now survive after the Senate Commerce Committee voted against going forward with the appeal Tuesday.
Leaders from organizations on the front lines of New Hampshire’s housing crisis urged the state Senate Commerce Committee Thursday to keep the Housing Champions program.
A program recently touted by the state as critical to building more housing, yet not funded in the current state budget, took another step toward being scrapped, with a New Hampshire House vote in favor of repealing it Thursday.
Repeal of a program that’s been touted as instrumental in helping the state inch toward closing the gap on its housing needs – including supporting 65 new housing units in Manchester – is scheduled for a vote Thursday in the New Hampshire House.
Ending Housing Champions would pull support from communities that have already done the work and planned projects around it. It would slow housing. It would raise costs. It would break trust between the state and local governments.