SE Kansas City News

Rep. Emanuel Cleaver, Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Housing and Insurance and U.S. Representative for Missouri’s 5th district, has used social media to advocate for affordable housing reforms and voting rights protections for individuals facing housing instability.

On August 8, 2025, Cleaver stated his ongoing commitment to housing policy reform: "As the Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Housing and Insurance, I’m fighting every day to reform and revitalize federal housing programs in a way that will allow us to build more affordable housing in communities across the country."

In another post on the same day, he highlighted a recent project as a model for addressing affordability: "The new Villa View complex created by @GCI1919 is a great example of how we can lower housing costs by strengthening public-private partnerships, utilizing federal tax policy and private construction to build more affordable housing."

Later that afternoon, Cleaver addressed voting rights for unhoused citizens: "Every citizen has a right to make their voice heard in our democracy—and there must be no exceptions for those who are temporarily unhoused. That’s why I introduced a bill to protect the voting rights of those facing housing instability with @RepNikema."

Cleaver has served in Congress since 2005, representing Missouri's 5th District after succeeding Karen McCarthy. He was born in Waxahachie, Texas in 1944 and currently resides in Kansas City. Cleaver holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Prairie View A&M University.