Increased by 10% over 2009
Mckinney-Vento increases 12%; Increased by almost $200 million
Lautenberg and Menendez voted for the HUD Budget!
Action Needed to preserve the increases!
Senator Robert Menendez
On September 17, 2009, the U.S. Senate approved by a vote of 73-25-1, the fiscal year 2010 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development (THUD) appropriations bill. Funding for Housing and Urban Development (HUD) programs increased by ten percent (10%) to a total of $45.8 billion.
The twelve (12%) increase in McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Grants to $1.875 billion is an important victory. The amount is almost “$200 million above the fiscal year 2009 enacted level and more than $80 million above than the President’s request. This funding responds to the needs of the increasing number of homeless families.” This is $25 million higher than the House approved HUD budget.
Of significant concern is that the budget does not meet the needs of meeting the renewal costs of the Section 8 program. The recession has created a potential shortfall in both the Section 8 Tenant-Based Rental Assistance and the Project-Based Rental Assistance programs: additional dollars will be needed just to continue funding vouchers currently in use.
Senator Frank Lautenberg at the 2nd Annual Congressional Reception
Increases in renewal costs are attributed to declines in tenant incomes due to job loss and an increase in the number of families assisted compared to 2008. The renewal need for the Tenant-Based program for 2010 is estimated to be at least $16.6 billion according to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. Unfortunately, the House level is $250 million below that estimate, and the Senate level is $299 million below. Even the House funding level would reduce the number of families housed by more than 30,000.
Two other programs that assist in ending homelessness – Section 811 and Housing opportunities for persons with AIDS (HOPWA) – received increases that were less than the amounts approved by the House.
Both the House and Senate included $75 million for 10,000 new HUD-Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) vouchers for homeless veterans.
Housing for the Disabled: $265 million for housing for our Nation’s disabled. This level of funding is $15 million above the fiscal year 2009 enacted level and the budget request. This funding will provide housing options for the disabled to live independently. The House version of the budget was $350 million an increase of $100 million.
Housing opportunities for persons with AIDS (HOPWA): $320 million to increase housing assistance for persons living with HIV/AIDS. The level of funding is $10 million above the fiscal year 2009 enacted level and the President’s request. The House version approved $350 million an increase of $40 million.
For more details on the budget click here.
ACTION NEEDED: The next step will be a budget conference between the Senate and House to finalize the budget. We will be advocating for the following:
- The Senate approved amount of $1.875 billion for McKinney-Vento should be the final approved amount;
- Adequate funding of $16.6 billion for Section 8 must be in the final budget;
- Section 811 should be funded at the House approved amount of $350 million; and
- HOPWA should be approved at the House approved amount of $350 million.
The Advocacy Network encourages you to contact both Senator Menendez and Lautenberg and thank for supporting the budget. Ask them and your members of the House of Representatives to support the above delineated list of changes.
The Advocacy Network greatly appreciates the substantial boost in funding included in both the House and Senate versions of the FY 2010 T-HUD Bill for homeless assistance grants and several affordable housing programs. The recession has placed intense pressure on homelessness programs. This increase will help these programs provide the services that are needed in all our communities and housing for thousands of additional homeless people.
