> 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 .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% (1 million). There is a well-documented

> backlog of more than 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 .56 billion. However,

> .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% (6 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 (9 million) for Homeless

> Assistance Grants.

>

> • Support the proposed 9.1% increase (0 million) for the HOME program.

>

> • Support the proposed 4.9% increase ( million) for HOPWA.

>

>

> Housing for the Elderly, Housing for Persons with Disabilities,

> Fair Housing, Lead Paint

>

> • Oppose the proposed 26% cut (0 million) to the Section 202

> housing for the elderly program.

>

> • Oppose the proposed 50% cut (8 million) to the Section 811

> housing for people with disabilities program.

>

> • Oppose the proposed 2% cut ( million) to fair housing programs.

>

> • Oppose the proposed 23% cut ( 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 http://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@nlihc.org. Find your Member of

> Congress atwww.nlihc.org by entering your zip code in the Contact

> Congress box.