Affordable housing advocates have been working hard to protect the budget for the U.
S.
Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
At a time when so many Americans are struggling with unemployment or reduced salaries, and are facing foreclosure, low- and moderate-income housing is in high demand.
Advocates realize the importance of continuing to fund housing development, and have been trying to convince members of Congress.
Last month, the Senate Committee on Appropriations submitted it's funding recommendations for the Department of Housing and Urban Development to the full Senate for final approval.
The report on Senate bill S.
1596 recommends funding levels for both HUD and the Department of Transportation, including several of HUD's affordable housing programs.
Though advocates didn't get everything they wanted, they managed to limit HUDs budget reductions.
In order for Congress to allocate money to the various government departments, a legislative bill requesting funding must first be submitted to each chamber (the House and the Senate).
In the House, the Ways and Means Committee determines how much money each department gets.
In the Senate, it's the Appropriations Committee.
Each Committee reviews the requests outlined in their respective legislative bills and submits a "report"of funding recommendations to the full legislative body.
Then, each chamber has to vote on and approve the report before any money is allocated.
The Senate Appropriations report recommends a decrease in HUD's budget from $40.
8 billion to $39.
5 billion.
It also includes specific recommendations for a variety of HUD programs.
If the Senate accepts the Appropriations report, HUD's Healthy Homes budget will increase from $119 million to $120 million.
Additionally, the HOME Investment budget will decrease from $1.
6 billion to $1 billion, and the CDBG budget will decrease from $3.
5 billion to $3 billion.
The Appropriations Committee also recommended $400 million be allocated for disaster relief through the CDBG program, and it approved HUD's request to fund Choice Neighborhoods, which replaces the highly successful HOPE VI program.
The final bill has been placed on the Senate's General Legislative Calendar, but no date has been set for an actual vote.
It is encouraging to know that, during these hard economic times, our elected officials recognize the need to support low- and moderate-income families.
Despite the good news, there is still plenty about which housing advocates are concerned.
HUD's budget wasn't reduced by very much, but the housing and economic downturns have led to an increase in the number of people who can't afford fair market housing prices or rents.
The unfortunate result is that HUD has to find ways to accomplish more with less.
HUD officials are counting on private investment to supplement public funding so that more affordable housing can be developed in the coming year.
S.
Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
At a time when so many Americans are struggling with unemployment or reduced salaries, and are facing foreclosure, low- and moderate-income housing is in high demand.
Advocates realize the importance of continuing to fund housing development, and have been trying to convince members of Congress.
Last month, the Senate Committee on Appropriations submitted it's funding recommendations for the Department of Housing and Urban Development to the full Senate for final approval.
The report on Senate bill S.
1596 recommends funding levels for both HUD and the Department of Transportation, including several of HUD's affordable housing programs.
Though advocates didn't get everything they wanted, they managed to limit HUDs budget reductions.
In order for Congress to allocate money to the various government departments, a legislative bill requesting funding must first be submitted to each chamber (the House and the Senate).
In the House, the Ways and Means Committee determines how much money each department gets.
In the Senate, it's the Appropriations Committee.
Each Committee reviews the requests outlined in their respective legislative bills and submits a "report"of funding recommendations to the full legislative body.
Then, each chamber has to vote on and approve the report before any money is allocated.
The Senate Appropriations report recommends a decrease in HUD's budget from $40.
8 billion to $39.
5 billion.
It also includes specific recommendations for a variety of HUD programs.
If the Senate accepts the Appropriations report, HUD's Healthy Homes budget will increase from $119 million to $120 million.
Additionally, the HOME Investment budget will decrease from $1.
6 billion to $1 billion, and the CDBG budget will decrease from $3.
5 billion to $3 billion.
The Appropriations Committee also recommended $400 million be allocated for disaster relief through the CDBG program, and it approved HUD's request to fund Choice Neighborhoods, which replaces the highly successful HOPE VI program.
The final bill has been placed on the Senate's General Legislative Calendar, but no date has been set for an actual vote.
It is encouraging to know that, during these hard economic times, our elected officials recognize the need to support low- and moderate-income families.
Despite the good news, there is still plenty about which housing advocates are concerned.
HUD's budget wasn't reduced by very much, but the housing and economic downturns have led to an increase in the number of people who can't afford fair market housing prices or rents.
The unfortunate result is that HUD has to find ways to accomplish more with less.
HUD officials are counting on private investment to supplement public funding so that more affordable housing can be developed in the coming year.