WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Pat Roberts today announced that late Saturday, the Senate approved a bill to address the nation’s housing troubles containing a provision he authored to help Kansas military families facing a housing shortage near Ft. Riley. The bill now goes to the President’s desk to be signed into law.

"I am pleased we were finally able to pass this bill for Kansans in need of housing around Ft. Riley. We will increase the supply of safe, affordable housing for Military families."Roberts’ housing legislation changes Low Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) guidelines to ensure Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) does not count against servicemembers when applying to live in affordable rental housing.

Roberts’ housing legislation changes Low Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) guidelines to ensure Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) does not count against servicemembers when applying to live in affordable rental housing.

The issue is especially troubling in Geary County where affordable housing is in high demand as more and more families are redeployed to Ft. Riley. Under the recent base realignment process, thousands of troops and their families will be posted to Ft. Riley over the next several years.

The Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) was created by the Tax Reform Act of 1986 as an alternative method to finance housing for low and moderate income households in private developments. It is managed by the states and has been one of the most successful housing programs ever created by Congress.

Unfortunately, LIHTC guidelines are inconsistent and often harm the families of some enlisted military personnel whose basic allowance for housing makes their income too high to be eligible for LIHTC homes.

"The basic allowance is not true, disposable income," Senator Roberts said, "It is not counted as income when soldiers file their income taxes and, therefore, it should not be counted as income when they apply for housing built using tax credits. My legislation takes the basic allowance out of the formula for eligibility for LIHTC housing."

Senator Roberts, a former Marine, is a member of the Senate Committee on Finance and is an outspoken advocate for men and women in uniform and their families.

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