Funding Freezes for Vital Housing Programs
February 26, 2010
We must object to proposed cuts to programs that produce housing for very low income seniors and people with disabilities, respectively, the Section 202 and 811 programs. Volunteers of America is the largest nonprofit provider of low income housing and as such it is important that our voice is heard when Congress is debating the budgets for the vital programs associated with housing for these populations.
Section 202 housing for seniors has been a lifeline for years in insuring that safe affordable housing is available, likewise for the Section 811 program. However, there have been some functional issues with the program. While we wholeheartedly support bills in Congress and initiatives to modernize this program, essentially shutting it down until the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the Congress decide how to revamp the program is foolhardy. We urge Congress to pass this legislation and fully fund these essential programs that serve some of the poorest and most vulnerable citizens.
The units that are not built during this Congressional budget session will never be built and will just add to the growing need for housing. One of the most challenging and complex issues for the senior and disabled populations is housing. While we appreciate the need to be good stewards with federal dollars, our track record has shown that we work efficiently to provide housing and other services to those in the most need.
Additionally, we are grateful that the HUD budget was spared the cuts to domestic discretionary programs that are included in the overall budget. Nonetheless, essentially flat funding for HUD this year is insufficient given the high demand for housing assistance as a result of the recession.
Let Congress and the Administration know that funding for these programs must be in the FY2011 budget.
