Ohio US Reps. introduce bipartisan legislation aimed at college student housing insecurity

Bipartisan lawmakers from Ohio and Iowa have introduced legislation to the U.S. House of Representatives aimed at increasing housing access and affordability for college students.

U.S. Reps. Greg Landsman, D-Ohio, Joyce Beatty, D-Ohio, and Zach Nunn, R-Iowa, brought forward the “Campus Housing Affordability Act” last Tuesday, Landsman announced in a press release.

Nearly 50% of all college students face housing insecurity, the release said. Landsman said the bill would make college more affordable.

“In fact, this will be transformative for students who have been historically left out and marginalized,” he said in the release. “Campus housing is an enormous expense for students, and our bill eliminates that expense for students who are eligible for a housing vouchers.”

If passed, the legislation would amend current law to allow certain students enrolled in higher education to apply federal housing assistance to their university dwellings.

“College should be about learning and earning a degree, not worrying about where you’re going to sleep at night,” Nunn said in a release. “Housing insecurity undermines academic success, increases the risk of dropping out, and puts a higher education out of reach for too many students. This bipartisan bill gives every student a fair shot at success—regardless of their background or ZIP code.”

According to the release, the bill would let students with Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers use them for campus housing and bar vouchers offered through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development from being counted as income.

This will stop students from “being disqualified from additional forms of financial aid,” the release stated.

These changes would also “expand access” to the communities and support systems found on college campuses, which have been shown to strengthen retention and graduation rates.

The release stated that 81% of those impacted by housing insecurity report “they would perform better academically if they had access to safe, reliable housing.”

“Low-income students are less likely to attend college and graduate as it stands. This critical legislation makes it easier for students across all economic backgrounds to secure campus housing, live among their fellow students, and forge their own academic future,” Beatty said in the release. “Education is a pillar of the American Dream – yet, there are far too many hurdles that keep students from achieving academic success.”

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