On Thursday, President Biden signed his $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan (ARP) into law, finalizing a new round of financial relief for millions of American families.

According to Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton and Mayor Muriel Bowser, their District of Columbia priorities were included in the bill, including a retroactive payment of $755 million that was shortchanged in last year’s Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. The bill also provides D.C. an additional $2.2 billion in fiscal relief.

In aid across the country, the ARP allocates $27.4 billion for emergency rental assistance with $2.5 billion distributed to high-need communities. It also includes $5 billion for housing vouchers and another $5 billion for homelessness assistance. These investments will help prevent millions from losing their homes during the pandemic, and it will provide states with the resources they need to help people experiencing homelessness.

In addition to the passage of ARP, the Department of Housing and Urban Development confirmed Marcia L. Fudge as its 18th Secretary this week, who noted that “our country has an immense responsibility – and profound opportunity – to address the housing crisis facing so many people.”

Under Secretary Fudge’s leadership, the Department of Housing and Urban Development said they will work to eradicate homelessness, end discriminatory practices in the housing market, and ensure that our fair housing rules are working: opening the door for families who have been systematically locked out for generations to have a fair shot.

Housing Up agrees with Secretary Fudge, Congresswoman Norton, and Mayor Bowser and applauds the efforts of President Biden, Members of Congress, and advocates who made this bill possible, providing much needed relief to D.C. families.

“Since March 27, [2020], when the CARES Act was enacted, over 40,000 D.C. residents have tested positive for COVID-19, and over 1,000 have died.” Norton said. “The American Rescue Plan Act arms the District with the tools to fight the coronavirus. It will save lives by increasing the breadth of D.C.’s coronavirus response efforts, it will save jobs by increasing the number of small businesses that will survive this pandemic.”

Read more from the National Low-Income Housing Coalition about how the ARP will help low-income families here.