Habitat CEO: Congress must reject proposed tripling of rent for lowest-income public housing residents
ATLANTA (April 26, 2018) – Habitat for Humanity International CEO Jonathan Reckford issued the following statement opposing the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s proposal to impose steep rent increases on low-income users of public housing. In its proposal, the administration seeks to triple the minimum rental cost for public housing and abandon the widely accepted standard that families should not be required to pay more than 30 percent of their income on housing.
“Habitat for Humanity strongly opposes this proposal to raise rents on many of America’s most impoverished and vulnerable families,” Reckford said. “When families are living paycheck to paycheck, every dollar counts. Tripling the rent on the most vulnerable families means less food, less medical care and less hope for a better future.
“More than 18 million families are already paying more than half of their paychecks on their housing. We must be called to solve this problem together. Habitat urges Congress to reject the Administration’s proposal to raise the rent on those least able to afford it.”
About Habitat for Humanity
Driven by the vision that everyone needs a decent place to live, Habitat for Humanity began in 1976 as a grassroots effort on a community farm in southern Georgia. The Christian housing organization has since grown to become a leading global nonprofit working in local communities across all 50 states in the U.S. and in more than 70 countries. Families and individuals in need of a hand up partner with Habitat for Humanity to build or improve a place they can call home. Habitat homeowners help build their own homes alongside volunteers and pay an affordable mortgage. Through financial support, volunteering or adding a voice to support affordable housing, everyone can help families achieve the strength, stability and self-reliance they need to build better lives for themselves. Through shelter, we empower. To learn more, visit habitat.org.