File: 
2011_Appropriations Message_FINAL.pdf

Summary

  • The Message to Appropriations Committee Members

    When meeting with House and Senate Appropriations Committee members, especially HUD Subcommittee members: 

    • Stress the importance of and the state or district benefits of:
      • The HOME Investment Partnerships (HOME) program.
      • The Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher (voucher) program and Project-Based Section 8 rental assistance program.
      • The Housing Trust Fund. 
         
    • On HOME:
      • Tell them Congress has cut HOME funding 9 percent since FY 2004, despite its undisputed success.  Explain how HOME’s flexibility and leveraging capacity help address the unique housing needs in your state.
      • Tell them the President’s FY 2011 and FY 2012 Budgets propose to fund HOME at $1.65 billion, a 10 percent decrease from FY 2010 and an 18 percent decrease from its FY 2004 funding level. 
      • Urge them to:
        • Resist making further cuts to the HOME program.
        • Fund HOME at a minimum of $2 billion in FY 2012.
           
    • On Rental Assistance:
      • Tell them vouchers and project-based Section 8 provide an indispensable housing safety net to some of your state’s lowest income families.  Remind them that many more families are eligible for vouchers than get them. 
      • Urge them to:
        • Fund all authorized vouchers.
        • Fund as many new vouchers as possible to help families still waiting.
        • Provide enough funding to renew all expiring Section 8 project-based rental assistance contracts for a full year.
        • Allocate new flexible rental assistance to state HFAs.
           
    • On the Trust Fund:
      • Tell them these new production funds are needed to extend the reach of your current resources.
      • Urge them to:
        • Identify a dedicated funding source for the Trust Fund.
        • Provide state administrators funding to support the operation of the newly created affordable units.