100,000 signatures reached
To: Local and state elected officials
Make it easier to repurpose office buildings into affordable housing!
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Nearly one billion square feet of office space is currently sitting vacant across the United States, meanwhile we have a housing shortage affecting millions of people. We call on local and state elected officials to swiftly pass legislation to make it easier to repurpose office buildings into affordable housing!
Why is this important?
The United States is in a housing crisis, leaving 7.3 million low-income renters nationwide without access to affordable housing, according to the National Low Income Housing Coalition. This crisis disproportionately affects marginalized communities of Black, Indigenous, and Latinx renters, as well as women, LGBTQ+ people, and people with disabilities. Addressing this crisis is a matter of justice and equity.
Why repurpose empty office buildings? It isn’t just about convenience, it’s also about sustainability. Construction accounts for 11% of global carbon emissions. By repurposing office buildings into affordable housing, we can ensure millions of Americans access the housing they need while reducing the strain construction puts on the environment.
The power of change lies in legislative action! Cities and states can pass legislation to reduce the barriers to converting office buildings into affordable housing, including streamlining permitting processes, revising zoning laws, establishing tax exemptions and abatements, and creating funding and grants to drive and incentivize conversions.