Why You Are Receiving This ALERT

When the House of Representatives returns from its summer recess (September 7) they will face two housing issues: Funding low income housing for 2005 and a Discharge Petition on the National Affordable Housing Trust Fund.

Background

Fiscal Year 2005 Appropriations

The House Appropriators provided the Section 8 voucher program with nearly enough money ($1.49 billion) to renew existing vouchers. (The shortfall was roughly $1.6 billion.) Unfortunately, the funds for the voucher program come at the expense of every other HUD program which would be cut by about 4% if this appropriation bill is passed.

Homeless assistance programs: cut $ 53,525,000

Section 202 program (Elderly Housing): cut $ 32,728,000

Section 811 program (Disabled Housing): cut $ 11,092,000

Public Housing Capital Fund: cut $116,253,000

Public Housing Operating Fund: cut $153,769,000

Native American Housing Block Grants: cut $ 28,241,000

Housing Opportunities for People With AIDS: cut $ 12,751,000

Rural Housing and Economic Development programs: cut $ 853,000

Community Development Block Grants: cut $209,795,000

HOME Program: cut $ 85,597,000

HOPE VI: cut $ 6,115,000

Fair Housing programs: cut $ 1,717,000

Lead Hazard programs: cut $ 6,968,000

National Affordable Housing Trust Fund

The National Housing Trust Fund bill, with 214 co-sponsors in the House of Representatives, would serve as a source of revenue for the production of new housing, and the preservation or rehabilitation of existing housing that is affordable for low income people. But the committee of jurisdiction (Financial Services) has yet to take up the bill. A few Members who support the trust fund have filed a petition to "discharge" the committee of its responsibility and force the full House to consider the bill. If a majority of Members (218) sign the petition, the bill can come directly to the House floor for a vote.

USCCB POSITION

Catholic Social Teaching has long recognized housing as a basic human right. The Catholic community--through its parishes, diocesan structures, and Catholic Charities agencies--is one of the largest providers of shelter in the nation. Since the late 1960's, the federal government through the Department of Housing and Urban Development has solicited, encouraged, and funded a variety of Church sponsored housing-particularly senior housing, transitional housing, homeless shelters, and some family units.

"The Lack of safe, affordable housing is a national crisis. We support a recommitment to the national pledge of 'safe and affordable housing' for all and effective policies that will increase the supply of quality housing and preserve, maintain, and improve existing housing." Administrative Committee of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Faithful Citizenship, A Catholic Call to Political Responsibility. Washington, D.C.: United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, 2003.

TAKE ACTION

* * Call the Capitol switchboard at 1 888 818 6641 (toll free). Ask to speak to your Member of Congress. Tell your Representative (or the Housing aid) that cuts to housing programs are unacceptable. Ask your Member to:

* Fully fund all housing vouchers based on their actual cost according to the latest available data.

* Maintain funding for other housing programs that assist poor people and their families.

* Sign the Discharge Petition if they are a co-sponsor, or if they are not a co-sponsor to become a co-sponsor and sign the petition. Congress should vote on the National Housing Trust Fund, a dependable source of revenue for affordable housing.