WABASH VALLEY, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV) — A new bill has been introduced by U.S. Senator Jim Banks of Indiana in an attempt to turn old buildings into new housing.
On July 24th, Senator Banks introduced the Revitalizing Empty Structures into Desirable Environment Act or RESIDE. In a press release the next week, he stated that the bill would set aside funding within the Home Investment Partnerships Program.
Mayors from around the state gave their support for the bill, including Terre Haute Mayor Brandon Sakbun.
“This type of bill, the RESIDE Act, goes right in line with the city’s commitment to addressing blight and reducing blight across our city”, Sakbun said. “We’ve got 27 residential properties that have been condemned for far too long that are going to come down later this month. In September we are going to try again for 33 more and then in October we are going to have another demolition hearing to address the blight in and around town.”
Mayor Sakbun also highlighted the act wouldn’t require extra funding.
“It uses funds that the federal government has already appropriated, so it does not add to the federal spending”, Sakbun said.
The new pilot program would aim to help communities turn abandoned or run-down buildings, like warehouses, factories, hotels, and strip malls, into new housing.
Vincennes Mayor Joe Yochum also gave his support to the bill stating that the city is currently developing hundreds of housing units.
“Anything that we can get that would take blighted or dilapidated properties and fix them back up, get them into workforce housing would be a tremendous help”, Yochum said. “We have individuals that work here but live elsewhere because they couldn’t find housing. We’re working really hard at correcting that.”
The bipartisan bill will have to be passed through the Senate and House, but Mayor Sakbun is hopeful housing is something leaders at all levels can come together on.
“Let’s take this one to President Trump’s desk”, Sakbun said. “This is the type of win that I think the community and country needs right now to unite this nation instead of divide this nation.”
Senator Banks is attempting to get the bill passed by the end of the year, so those funds are appropriated in the 2026 budget and then passed down to state and local governments.
