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In an important bi-partisan move, Sen. John Kerry (D-MA) and Sen. Kit Bond (R-MO) sent their top staff to National People's Action's National Housing Trust Fund workshop to confirm their commitment to working together and with NPA to pass the most significant affordable housing production and preservation legislation in 20 years.

"This is historic," announced workshop chairperson Mary Lou Symmes of Greenfield, Massachusetts. "We have a Republican Senator and Democratic Senator who want to work together to get billions of dollars for affordable housing for our neighborhoods. Now let's see you shake hands."

A laughing John Phillips from Kerry's staff and Cheh Kim from Bond's office shook hands and agreed to work on language for the bill together.

Neighborhood leaders from eight states shared stories about how the National Housing Trust Fund could save families in their neighborhoods from homelessness, how it could lead to tenant buyouts, and how tens of thousands of affordable units could be preserved or constructed. As each speaker described the most immediate housing needs in their community and committed to working with Senator Kerry to get the National Housing Trust Fund legislation passed, they added a puzzle piece to help complete the Housing Trust Fund puzzle.

At a legislative briefing the following day, Susan Brandt of the Pittsburgh Community Reinvestment Group announced to a 300-plus capacity audience of Senate staff and neighborhood leaders at the Hart Senate Building that putting more money into housing production and preservation is the single greatest boost the American economy could hope for.

"This Trust Fund is what the nation's economy needs, its what our neighborhoods need, and it is what working families around the country need," Brandt explained. "It is bi-partisan, and we need to work together to make sure that the National Housing Trust Fund passes this year."

Sen. Kerry introduced the National Housing Trust Fund bill in May.