NAHRO: President's Proposed Budget Underfunds Housing and CDBGs

[Wordie]

NAHRO: President's Proposed Budget Underfunds Housing and Community Development Programs
Tue Feb 7, 6:16 PM ET
To: National Desk

Contact: Mary Barron of the National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials, 202-289-3500 ext. 280 or [e-mail]

WASHINGTON, Feb. 7 /U.S. Newswire/ -- Don Cameron, President of the National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials (NAHRO), had the following comments regarding the President's proposed Fiscal Year 2007 budget:

Following last week's State of the Union address, NAHRO expressed concern that housing and community development needs were not evident among the President's priorities. The release of the proposed Fiscal Year 2007 budget confirms our fears. The 1.8 percent reduction in overall funding for the
Department of Housing and Urban Development, which will result in 10-20 percent reductions in individual programs, will have a huge impact on those in need of adequate and affordable housing.

When taken together, a $1 billion cut in funding for CDBG formula grants; elimination of key community development programs with proven track records, such as the Brownfields Redevelopment Program; reduced funding for public housing capital grants, which maintain the physical integrity of our more than 70 year investment in public housing; elimination of the HOPE VI program; and zero funding for repair and replacement of public and assisted housing units in the Gulf region undermine the ability of local agencies to meet local needs in a responsible manner.

In addition, proposed legislation to revise the current CDBG formula could cast a long shadow of uncertainty in communities large and small who have to date successfully used a shrinking pot of CDBG dollars to help meet vital community needs such as job creation and retention. Revision of the current formula, in combination with a $1 billion cut to CDBG formula funding, will result in substantially reduced funding in many communities. Reform of the Section 8 program, while necessary, must be addressed by the authorizing committees of Congress in a manner that does not limit the ability of local agencies to meet current commitments and address larger, well-documented needs under the guise of increased local flexibility. Authorization of a responsible funding formula is central to the passage of any legislation of this kind.

In an attempt to restrain spending, the administration has underfunded valuable housing and community development programs. This will not enable local agencies to manage for results. We simply must make quality affordable housing a national priority. If we are to address the needs of working families and those unable to access more than assisted housing -- including lower- income seniors and people with disabilities -- a committed and invested federal partner is a necessity.

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NAHRO is a membership organization of 21,000 housing and community development agencies and professionals throughout the United States whose mission is to create affordable housing and safe, viable communities that enhance the quality of life for all Americans, especially those of low- and moderate-income. The association will issue a formal analysis and reaction to the budget in the near future.

http://www.usnewswire.com/

http://news.yahoo.com/s/usnw/20060207/pl_usnw/nahro__president_s_proposed_budget_underfunds_housing_and_community_development_programs212_xml

This is interesting, because it seems to be in stark contradiction to the article I posted only a week ago, which said that Bush's budget included good things for low income housing.

[caligirl]

1. Robbing Peter(the states) to pay Paul(Iraq) and go back to 1890.

[HockeyMom]

2. "Affordable" Senior Low Income Rental Housing

Oh, I checked this out; partially state financed. $1,100 for a one bedroom. That's affordable, low income Senior housing? Can you say, "Welcome to Walmart"?

[oscar111]

3. "to restrain spending" ...My comment on that phrase.. DONT use RW phrasing

sad the OP article uses RW phrase.

Better, if he had said

"in an effort to cut taxes for the rich, which leads to cutting aid to the poor, ... "
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As our leading thinker on language said,

"Own the language, so you can 'frame the debate' ".