March 04, 2010

On March 2, the Campaign for Housing and Community Development Funding (CHCDF) – a coalition of diverse organizations, including NCSHA, concerned with the housing needs of low- and moderate-income households and the community development needs of our nation – sent a letter (PDF) to the Chairmen and Ranking Members of the Senate and House Budget Committees. The letter urges the committees, as they develop their FY 2011 Budget Resolution, to provide increased funding, above the President’s request, for affordable housing and community development programs.

The letter describes how the recent economic downturn has highlighted the importance of affordable housing and how programs run by both HUD and USDA address the need for affordable housing while also creating much-needed jobs. The letter states that “CHCDF believes the Budget Resolution should set the discretionary spending cap at a level that will allow for not only continued funding for all of HUD’s programs, but increased funding to meet growing needs. A strong Budget Resolution would avoid cuts to effective HUD and USDA programs that have a high impact in communities across the country.”

In addition to NCSHA, the letter was signed by 39 national organizations.

The Budget Resolution establishes non-binding spending ceilings for discretionary programs and establishes limits for total government revenue and mandatory spending. The statutory deadline for Congress to pass the resolution is April 15.