It’s been nearly five years since the Public Housing Emergency Response Act was first introduced, without progress. But some see renewed hope in Tuesday’s election, should it bring new leadership in the White House and Congress. 

In October 2019, the estimated backlog of capital repair needs for public housing authorities nationwide was $70 billion.

Developments across the country—especially those within the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA), which has the largest share of public housing properties—were, and still are, grappling with a number of issues, from aging infrastructure to health hazards in units such as mold, leaks and lead.

New York Congresswoman Nydia Velázquez saw an urgent need for public housing tenants to have “more livable” conditions, she said. So she introduced the Public Housing Emergency Response Act, also known as H.R. 307, in November 2019, confident that it could help bring the country’s public housing developments to a state of good repair.

“We have to address the conditions once and for all,” Velázquez told City Limits. “It cannot be Band Aids, it has to be a big investment.”

Read More: City Limits