Senator Van Hollen Introduces Bipartisan Legislation to Lease Underutilized Postal Land for Affordable Housing
Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) has introduced bipartisan legislation, the Delivering Americans Affordable Homes Act, alongside Senator John Curtis (R-UT). This bill aims to allow the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) to lease its underutilized properties for affordable housing development. Crucially, this initiative would not require the sale of federal assets, instead providing a new revenue stream for the USPS. Maryland's Department of Housing and Community Development Secretary Jake Day has lauded this as an "innovative solution" to the national housing shortage. In addition to this legislative effort, Senator Van Hollen also secured over $800,000 in federal funding for AfriThrive Inc.'s community food center in Essex, Maryland, which serves African diaspora, immigrant, and low-income families. This funding, secured with Senator Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD), will be used to upgrade the center's kitchen, cold storage, and food pantry infrastructure. Furthermore, Van Hollen continues to advocate for his Power for t...