WASHINGTON, D.C. – This week, Congressman Andrew R. Garbarino (R-NY-02) introduced the Volunteer First Responder Housing Act, legislation to expand eligibility for qualified volunteer emergency responders to participate in certain federal housing assistance programs. Original cosponsors of the legislation include Representatives Elissa Slotkin (D-MI-7), Mike Lawler (R-NY-17), Dan Kildee (D-MI-08), Frank Lucas (R-OK-03), Derek Kilmer (D-AW-06), and Claudia Tenney (R-NY-24).
“Long Island relies almost entirely on volunteer firefighters to prevent, combat, and extinguish fires while also providing other emergency services and, according to the National Fire Protection Association’s 2017 U.S. Fire Department Profile, 65 percent of firefighters nationwide are volunteers,” said Rep. Garbarino. “Recruiting and retaining volunteer firefighters is critical for thousands of communities, yet local volunteer fire departments continue to find it difficult to meet staffing needs. With a high cost of living making it more difficult than ever to buy a home, the Volunteer First Responder Housing Act would provide a helping hand to those who give their time, at great personal risk, to safeguarding our communities.
Specifically, this bill would expand eligibility for the Single Family Housing Guaranteed Loan Program through the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development and the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Good Neighbor Next Door Sales Program. The Single Family Housing Guaranteed Loan Program assists approved lenders in providing loans to low and moderate income households to build, rehabilitate or improve a home in eligible rural areas. The income limit for the program is no more than 115% of the median household income. The Volunteer First Responder Housing Act would allow volunteers to participate in the loan program even if their income exceeds the maximum allowable income level by up to $18,000. The Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Good Neighbor Next Door Sales Program is an existing program that gives law enforcement officers, teachers, firefighters and emergency medical technicians a 50 percent discount from the list price of a home located in a revitalization area.
“Our brave volunteer first responders, including the volunteer firefighters that consist of so much of the Hudson Valley’s firefighting operation, have to contend with the absurd cost-of-living in New York State,” said Rep. Lawler. “That’s why I’m proud to be introducing, with Congressman Garbarino, the Volunteer First Responder Housing Act, a critical piece of legislation that provides an $18,000 tax credit to help volunteer first responders offset housing costs. I was thrilled to pass a true 10% property tax cut for our volunteer first responders in the State Assembly in 2022,” concluded Congressman Lawler (NY-17). “With our firefighters and EMTs giving so much of themselves in service of our communities, this federal tax credit is a small token of our thanks, one that will go a long way towards keeping our first responders in New York.”
“Fire departments across mid-Michigan rely on local volunteers to serve as firefighters and emergency first responders. These brave men and women, like all Michiganders, deserve a safe and affordable place to call home,” said Congressman Kildee. “I'm proud to introduce this bipartisan legislation, alongside Democrats and Republicans, to help provide more affordable housing for Michigan first responders.”
“Rural communities across New York’s 24th District and the country rely on volunteer first responders to keep our communities safe,” said Rep. Tenney. “The Volunteer First Responder Housing Act will expand federal housing assistance to these dedicated individuals in the communities they serve to reduce response times by enabling volunteer fire-fighters and EMTs to live closer to their stations. This bill provides much-needed and well-deserved housing incentives and benefits to our next generation of volunteer firefighters and EMTs so they can continue their brave work serving our communities.”
“I’d like to thank Rep. Garbarino for his leadership on this important bill,” said National Volunteer Fire Council Chair Steve Hirsch. “Many fire, EMS, and rescue departments are finding it increasingly difficult to recruit and retain volunteer personnel. Helping volunteer emergency responders buy or renovate homes is a fantastic retention incentive that makes it easier for volunteers to continue living in the communities they serve.”
“I thank Representative Garbarino for introducing the Volunteer First Responder Housing Act. This legislation recognizes the important service that volunteer firefighters provide to their communities. Today, fire departments are facing recruitment and retention challenges. This bill provides an especially important incentive for interested volunteers at a time when mortgage rates are historically high. We ask the U.S. Senate to pass this legislation soon so that we may assist those individuals in our communities who are protecting our infrastructure and citizens,” said Chief Donna Black, CFO, EFO, the president and board chair of the International Association of Fire Chiefs.
The full text of the bill can be found here.
