Habitat for Humanity: Proposed federal disinvestment will exacerbate affordable housing crisis
ATLANTA (Feb. 12, 2018) – Leading affordable housing nonprofit Habitat for Humanity is warning that cuts proposed by the White House today will worsen the affordable housing crisis facing communities across the United States and around the world.
“With more and more families across America facing the choice between making housing payments and buying food, we are called on to rise to this challenge together. This moment calls for greater investment in affordable housing, not less,” said Jonathan Reckford, CEO of Habitat for Humanity International. “We urge Congress to rise to this moment by rejecting these cuts and investing now before another generation of struggling families are forced to pick between housing and food.”
The budget proposed by the White House today would drastically cut—and in some cases entirely eliminate—funding that communities use to finance the development of new affordable homes. This includes the elimination of Community Development Block Grants; the Home Investment Partnerships Program, or HOME; the Self-help Homeownership Opportunity Program, or SHOP; and the Section 4 program, as well as major cuts to the Community Development Financial Institutions Fund. States, cities and organizations like Habitat use funding from these programs to build and improve affordable housing across the country.
A recent survey of mayors of U.S. cities showed affordable housing to be one of their highest concerns, irrespective of party affiliation. More than half of mayors cited high housing costs as the most common reason that people are leaving their cities.
Over 340 Habitat for Humanity leaders, volunteers and homeowners are in Washington, D.C., this week advocating for affordable housing. In meetings with the offices of more than 400 members of the House and Senate, they will call on Congress to set aside this flawed budget proposal and instead work to prioritize solutions that will end the affordable housing crisis.
“There is no question that we are in an affordable housing crisis,” Reckford said. “More than 18 million families are paying more than half of their paychecks on their housing. Leaders in cities and towns across the country are sounding the alarm, because even middle-class workers like teachers can no longer find housing that fits their budgets. We will make sure those voices are heard in Washington this week as we meet with members of Congress.”
In international funding, Habitat is encouraged that the administration has reversed its proposal to eliminate the Overseas Private Investment Corporation and instead is evaluating proposals to expand development finance opportunities. However, the White House budget does call for drastic cuts in international funding that Habitat and other nongovernment organizations use to help improve the shelter conditions of poverty-stricken people around the world. This includes significant cuts to global humanitarian and development assistance at the U.S. Agency for International Development.
“There are more than 1.6 billion people around the world raising their families in slums and the most dire of circumstances,” Reckford said. “As Habitat’s work has shown, small investments in housing overseas can have a major impact. The United States cannot abandon its role in the global community’s mission to reduce global poverty, particularly when that work is so vital to our own national security and economic interests.”
The budget would also eliminate the AmeriCorps program through the shuttering of the Corporation for National and Community Service. AmeriCorps is a vital component of Habitat’s work to partner with more families working toward homeownership. Thousands of AmeriCorps members have served their communities in a variety of ways, including more than 10,000 members working through Habitat where they have helped build homes and helped rebuild in disaster-stricken areas.
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 more than 1,300 communities throughout 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.