March 17, 2005
The Honorable Edward J. Markey
2108 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
Dear Congressman Markey,
United Housing is a cross-disability coalition of organizations working to ensure that people with disabilities have access to affordable and accessible housing. United Housing is made up of more than 30 organizations and agencies, representing over 100,000 individuals across Massachusetts.
We are writing to you to express our grave concern with President Bush's proposed budget for Fiscal Year 2006, and specifically its devastating funding reductions to housing programs that serve the most vulnerable members of our society: homeless and low-income people living with disabilities.
President Bush's proposal would impose deep cuts in several housing programs that serve persons with disabilities. These include:
- A $118 million reduction from Section 811 - Housing for Persons With Disabilities. This represents a 50% cut from the Fiscal Year 2005 level and will make it virtually impossible to expand housing opportunities for persons with disabilities. When adequately funded, the Section 811 program has proved effective in providing housing opportunities for disabled individuals. However, insufficient funding in recent years has resulted in an erosion of the program as base funds have had to be used to renew older projects rather than start new construction.
It is vitally important that President Bush's proposed cuts not be implemented. In order to prevent the further erosion of Section 811 and allow the program to keep pace with need, an appropriation of $323 million for Fiscal Year 2006 is essential.
- A $14 million reduction in the Housing Opportunities for Persons With AIDS (HOPWA) program to $268 million. This comes on the heels of a $13 million cut in Fiscal Year 2005. Increased funds are needed in order to house people currently on waiting lists for HOPWA housing, expand housing options for low income individuals with HIV/AIDS and their families, provide rental assistance, make a minimal level of supportive services available in order to help people remain their homes, and to fill the many gaps in comprehensive care available through other sources.
In order to address the existing housing need for persons living with HIV/AIDS, it is estimated that $385 million is needed for HOPWA.
- An inadequate level of funding for the Housing Choice Voucher Program (Section 8 housing vouchers). While President Bush’s budget increases funding for Section 8 over the Fiscal Year 2005 level, his proposal still leaves half of the vouchers cut last year unfunded. As you know, Section 8 vouchers provide rental assistance to low-income individuals and families, many of whom are disabled. Without this program, current and potential voucher recipients will be unable to afford housing.
An estimated $293 million in additional funding above President Bush’s request is needed to eliminate the projected voucher shortfall, bringing the total needed appropriation to $16.138 billion.
- Changing the funding mechanism for Section 8 to a block grant. By failing to connect funding levels for the program to actual numbers of vouchers in use, the number of vouchers authorized, or market conditions, the future of Section 8 becomes precarious. Arbitrary cuts to the program are far more likely if it is funded under a block grant system.
In order to protect the future of Section 8 vouchers, it is imperative that a block grant approach is not used to determine funding levels.
We appreciate your time and look forward to working with you and your staff during the budget and appropriations processes for Fiscal Year 2006. Enclosed, please find information on United Housing. If you have any questions please contact Matt Noyes, Community Advocacy Coordinator for the AIDS Housing Corporation, at 617-927-0088 x26 or via email at mnoyes
ahc.org.
Sincerely,
The Undersigned Members of United Disability Housing Partnership
cc: Members, Massachusetts Congressional Delegation
cc: Members, House Committee on the Budget
cc: Members, House Committee on Appropriations