Apr. 29, 2015 public statement

WASHINGTON (April 29, 2015) – The U.S. Transportation, Housing and Urban Development and Related Agencies, or T-HUD, subcommittee met today to discuss its FY2016 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Appropriations bill. 

The T-HUD subcommittee has proposed level funding the Self-help Homeownership Opportunity Program and the Section 4 capacity building program at $10 million and $35 million, respectively. Maintaining the funding of these important programs with proven outcomes will allow Habitat to continue supporting more than 1,400 affiliates nationwide to better meet the affordable housing needs in their communities. However, the current draft of the bill also proposes $900 million in funding for the HOME Investment Partnerships Program, $100 million less than the president’s FY2016 budget request.

“We greatly appreciate the T-HUD subcommittee’s support of SHOP and Section 4, and are particularly encouraged by the strong statement of support for SHOP from Chairman Hal Rogers of the House Appropriations Committee,” said Elisabeth Gehl, associate director of Federal Relations of Habitat for Humanity International. “As the cost of housing continues to increase faster than families across the nation can keep up, Congress must not decrease the level of resources appropriated to meet the housing needs of lower-income populations. As long as only one in four of the Americans who qualify for housing assistance actually receive it, there is no such thing as a ‘duplicative’ housing program and all community development programs must be protected. Other housing resources like the Housing Trust Fund should not be poached in an effort to make up severe cuts to HOME.”

The proposed T-HUD funding bill could reduce HOME funding to approximately half of its FY2011 levels.

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