April 25, 2005
The Honorable John F. Kerry
304 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
Dear Senator Kerry:
United Disability Housing Partnership is a cross-disability coalition of housing organizations, dedicated to expanding housing opportunities for persons with disabilities. United Housing includes 40 organizations across Massachusetts, representing over 150,000 individuals with disabilities.
We are writing to you today to urge you to co-sign the Dear Colleague letter being circulated by senators Leahy, Sarbanes, Reed, Coleman, DeWine, and Santorum in support of the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program. This letter would encourage the Appropriations Committee to provide $4.732 billion of CDBG for Fiscal Year 2006, thereby restoring cuts to the program that have been proposed by the President.
CDBG has been one of the Department of Housing and Urban Development's most effective programs in improving access to affordable housing, something that is desperately needed by the disability community. Drastic cuts along the lines of those proposed by the administration would have a devastating impact on the availability of affordable housing across the country.
Enclosed, please find a copy of the Dear Colleague letter. To have your name included among the signers, please contact Chanda Betourney with Senator Leahy at 202-224-4242. Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
The Undersigned Members of United Disability Housing Partnership