Monday, March 30, 2009

Sign-on Letters--Deadline TOMORROW NOON

Please let Danna Fischer danna@nlihc.org if you can sign on to these new letters to the House and Senate on the Budget Resolution. Thanks.

NBC Nightly News on Tent Cities Popping Up Around the Country

Watch the video from Friday's Nightly News about the surge in homelessness in small cities due to the economic crisis.

Letters from CHCDF on FY 2010 Budget

Letter to Budget Committee on FY 2010 Budget Resolution

Letter to HUD on FY 2010 Budget

Friday, March 27, 2009

Two “Dear Colleague” Letters Circulating Concerning Housing Programs

Take Action! Ask Your Representative to “Sign On” to Both Before Noon Eastern on Monday

Ask your representative to sign on to two different "Dear Colleague" letters to the leaders of the Housing Appropriations Subcommittee of the U.S. House.

Why take the time to call about a "Dear Colleague" letter?
For many years there have not been meaningful increases in the number of new, "incremental" Housing Choice Vouchers, and we do not expect the Administration to recommend 200,000 new vouchers in its detailed budget request later in April.

Without a strong show of support on these "Dear Colleague" letters, especially in relation to new vouchers, the chances of increased appropriations for important housing programs in FY10 greatly diminishes. Those on the Appropriations Subcommittee need to see that many of their colleagues support this critical funding in order to include it in their spending bill.

Letter Number 1
The "Nadler/Velasquez Section 8" letter from Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) and Nydia Velazquez (D-NY) asks their colleagues to support:
• Adding 200,000 new ("incremental") Housing Choice Vouchers.
• Full funding for renewing Housing Choice Vouchers.
• Full funding for renewing Project-Based Section 8 contracts.

Ask your representative to sign on to the "Nadler/Velasquez" letter by noon Monday, March 30, by contacting either John Doty (202.225.5635) in Rep. Nadler's office, or Sean Hughes (202.225.2361) in Rep. Velazquez's office.

The Nadler/Velazquez letter is on the NLIHC website at www.nlihc.org/doc/NadlerVelazquez-letter-FY10.pdf.

Letter Number 2
The "Maxine Waters" letter, from Rep. Maxine Waters (D-CA) asks her colleagues to support:
• The Administration's request of $1 billion for the National Housing Trust Fund.
• $16.5 billion for the Housing Choice Voucher program.
• $8 billion for the Project-Based Section 8 program.
• $5.5 billion for the public housing operating fund.
• $5 billion for the public housing capital fund.
• $4.5 billion for the Community Development Block Grant Program.

Ask your representative to sign on to the "Waters" letter by noon Monday, March 30, by contacting Charla Ouertatani in Rep. Waters' office at 202.226.3070.

The Maxine Waters letter is on the NLIHC website at www.nlihc.org/doc/Waters-Sign-on-Letter-Housing-Priorities.pdf.

You can use this toll free number, 877-210-5351, for the congressional switchboard and asked to be connected to the housing staffer for your representative's office. You can also click on the blue "Take Action" link above to enter your zip code and find your representative's number.

If you have any questions, please contact outreach@nlihc.org, or 202.662.1530.