> IN BRIEF
>
>
>
> Whom to call: Your Representative and Senators
>
>
>
> When to call: Monday, March 13, 2006
>
>
>
> The number to call: 877-322-5742 (note new number)
>
>
>
> The message: Provide full funding for
> housing in the FY07 appropriations. Reject the President’s proposed
> HUD cuts.
>
>
>
> It’s that time of year again, when Congress begins to plan program
> funding levels for Fiscal Year 2007. Last month, the President
> released his proposed FY07 budget to Congress. His funding proposal
> is not good news for people who need affordable housing: The
> President requested $33.6 billion for HUD, 1.8% below the current-
> year funding level. This includes a 10% cut to the public housing
> capital fund, a 20% cut to the CDBG program, a 26% cut to the
> Section 202 housing for the elderly program, and a 50% cut to the
> Section 811 housing for people with disabilities program.
>
>
> Now, using the President’s request as a starting point, the House
> and Senate must each approve their own HUD funding levels, and then
> reach agreement on them. The House Appropriations Subcommittee
> that deals with housing will hold a hearing on the HUD budget on
> Tuesday, March 14, which makes this week a great time to make your
> first calls on FY07 appropriations to your Congressional delegation.
>
>
> Call the DC offices of your Representative and Senators this week,
> and ask to speak to the staff person in each who deals with housing
> issues.
>
>
>
> The Message:
>
> I know the House and Senate have begun the process of determining
> appropriations for the 2007 fiscal year. There is a great need for
> housing that people with low incomes can afford, especially in the
> wake of last year’s hurricanes. (Describe briefly the need for
> housing in your community.) Please reject the President’s request
> to cut overall HUD funding by nearly 2%. It is crucial that we not
> cut programs that invest in our communities and help our most
> vulnerable citizens. We are calling for full funding for all
> housing programs that benefit low income people, as well as funding
> for 100,000 additional housing vouchers.
>
>
> Specifically, for each of the following programs, we ask that Congress:
>
> (While all of the following programs are crucial, you may not have
> enough time on the phone to go through each program. You may want
> to pick one or two programs to talk about, and send the rest of
> these talking points to your Congressional delegation in a letter.)
>
> Tenant Based Rental Assistance / Vouchers
>
> • Provide adequate funding to renew all authorized vouchers.
>
> • Base the voucher funding distribution system on the most recent
> 12-months of HUD data and ensure adequate appeals processes for
> unforeseen costs. The Administration’s proposal continues to tie a
> housing authority’s voucher funding to increasingly unreliable
> data, guaranteeing a loss of voucher units in FY07 for many housing
> authorities.
>
> • Oppose the Administration’s proposal to only provide tenant
> protection vouchers to units currently under lease. This new
> proposal will result in the loss of critical housing subsidies
> locally as not all units lost have current leases.
>
> • Appropriate funding for 100,000 new, incremental vouchers.
> After ensuring that all currently authorized vouchers are funded,
> funding for new vouchers is necessary to begin to meet the nation’s
> housing needs.
>
>
> Project-Based Housing
>
> • Adequate funding is necessary to renew all project-based contracts.
>
>
> Public Housing
>
> • Oppose the Administration’s proposal to cut the public housing
> capital fund by 10.7% ($261 million). There is a well-documented
> backlog of more than $20 billion in capital needs for the nation’s
> public housing stock.
>
> • Additional funding is necessary for the public housing operating
> fund. The request seeks level-funding at $3.56 billion. However,
> $4.3 billion is necessary for the operation of public housing under
> the new asset-based management system.
>
>
> Community Development Block Grants
>
> • Oppose the Administration’s proposal to cut CDBG formula grants
> by 20% ($736 million). Approximately 24% of CDBG funds are used
> for affordable housing.
>
>
> Homeless Assistance Grants, HOME and Housing Opportunities for
> Persons with AIDS
>
> • Support the proposed 15.7% increase ($209 million) for Homeless
> Assistance Grants.
>
> • Support the proposed 9.1% increase ($160 million) for the HOME program.
>
> • Support the proposed 4.9% increase ($14 million) for HOPWA.
>
>
> Housing for the Elderly, Housing for Persons with Disabilities,
> Fair Housing, Lead Paint
>
> • Oppose the proposed 26% cut ($190 million) to the Section 202
> housing for the elderly program.
>
> • Oppose the proposed 50% cut ($118 million) to the Section 811
> housing for people with disabilities program.
>
> • Oppose the proposed 2% cut ($1 million) to fair housing programs.
>
> • Oppose the proposed 23% cut ($35 million) to the lead-based
> paint hazard reduction program.
>
>
> For More Information:
>
> · An overview of the President’s proposal
> for FY07 HUD funding is available at
> www.nlihc.org/news/020906.html.
>
> · Want to learn more about the
> Congressional budget and appropriations process? Check out
> www.nlihc.org/news/2007timeline.pdf.
>
> · The Center on Budget and Policy
> Priorities has an in-depth analysis of the President’s housing
> voucher proposal at www.cbpp.org/3-13-06hous.htm.
>
>
>
> Write a Letter to the Editor:
>
> Find a sample letter at capwiz.com/nlihc/issues/alert/?
> alertid=8570921&type=ME.
>
>
> Questions? Call Kim Schaffer at 202-662-1530 x232. Please report
> the results of your calls to kim-AT-nlihc.org. Find your Member of
> Congress atwww.nlihc.org by entering your zip code in the Contact
> Congress box.