Campaign for Housing and Community Development Funding
Working to ensure maximum federal resources for housing and community development.
June 19, 2012
The Honorable Harold Rogers
Chair
Committee on Appropriations
U.S. House of Representatives
Washington, D.C. 20515
The Honorable Norm Dicks
Ranking Members
Committee on Appropriations
U.S. House of Representatives
Washington, D.C. 20515
Dear Chair Rogers and Ranking Member Dicks:
The undersigned members of the Campaign for Housing and Community Development
Developmen Funding
(CHCDF), a group of more than70 national organizations representing all 50 states and
territories, call on you to protect low
low-income Americans by preserving
g funding for programs in
the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). We are deeply troubled by the
FY2013 bill that was marked up in the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and
Related Agencies (THUD) Subcommittee on June 7, which wo
would
uld fund HUD at just $33.6
billion, nearly $4 billion (10%) below the FY2012 level and more than $9 billion (22%) below
the FY2010 level. The HUD title of the House bill would also fall well short of the Senate level
of $35.0 billion. We urge you to protec
protect HUD
UD programs from further cuts in FY2013, especially
since HUD programs were already cut deeply in FY2012.
CHCDF members applaud the Subcommittee Chair and Ranking Member’s efforts to minimize
damage to low-income
income housing programs given a tight 302(b) allocation. However, as a result of
the House’s low 302(a) allocation, the THUD allocation left insufficient fu
funding
nding available for
HUD programs in FY2013.
Underfunding HUD programs harms vulnerable households at a time when they can least afford
it and would not solve our long-term
term fiscal problems. This increases costs for federal, state and
local governments in both the long and short term. Cost increases will result from evicting
households from federally supported housing who will then be forced to access emergency
shelter and other services. Underfunding HUD programs would also allow affordable housing
hou
to
deteriorate and halt economic growth of neighborhoods
neighborhoods, thereby eliminating employment
opportunities for low income households
households. Education, public safety and other related public
expenditures would also be impacted by reduced HUD funding.
In contrast, investment in safe, decent, and affordable housing and more vibrant communities
improves child well-being,
being, enhances educational achievement, improves health, lowers crime,
and increases employment access and stability. HUD’s programs are crucial in preventing
hardship and fostering economic recovery, as they address the basic needs of our nation’s
residents. Therefore, CHCDF members urge you to increase resources for HUD programs in the
THUD bill for FY2013 as the bill moves forward.
Members of CHCDF stand ready to work with you to find responsible ways to continue to
address our nation’s housing and community development needs. CHCHF members represent a
full continuum of national affordable housing and community development organizations,
including faith-based, private and public sector, financial intermediary, civil rights, developer,
and advocacy groups. These groups work to meet the needs of low and moderate income renters
and homeowners in urban, suburban, rural and tribal communities, including the elderly, people
with disabilities, and people experiencing homelessness. Thank you for your time and
consideration.
Sincerely,
Coalition on Human Needs
Community Action Partnership
Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities Housing Task Force
Council of State Community Development Agencies
Enterprise Community Partners, Inc.
Jewish Council for Public Affairs
LeadingAge
Local Initiatives Support Corporation
Lutheran Services in America
Mercy Housing
National AIDS Housing Coalition
National Alliance of Community Economic Development Associations
National Alliance to End Homelessness
National American Indian Housing Council
National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials
National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors
National Council of State Housing Agencies
National Fair Housing Alliance
National Housing Conference
National Housing Trust
National Law Center on Homelessness & Poverty
National Leased Housing Association
National Low Income Housing Coalition
NETWORK, A National Catholic Social Justice Lobby
Stewards of Affordable Housing for the Future
The National Center on Family Homelessness
Travelers Aid International
cc:
Hon. Harry Reid
Hon. Mitch McConnell
Hon. John Boehner
Hon. Nancy Pelosi
Hon. Tom Latham
Hon. John Olver