Against the backdrop of the government shutdown and continued debate over FY14 funding levels, advocates have begun their work on FY15 funding requests. NLIHC has joined 174 organizations in calling on President Obama and Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack to maintain funding for Rural Housing Service programs in next year’s budget.In an October 11 letter initiated by the Housing Assistance Council, an NLIHC special member, the organizations urged the Administration to propose funding of Section 515 rental housing at the level sought in its 2011 and 2012 budgets and ensure the preservation of that existing stock. They also urged the Administration to carefully calculate how much Section 521 rental assistance will be needed to renew all expiring contracts, fill the gap created by 2013 funding cuts, and aid tenants in newly constructed USDA rentals.“We strongly disagree with your efforts in recent years to eliminate or drastically reduce funding for many of the USDA housing programs,” the organizations wrote. “Congress, on a completely bipartisan basis, has rejected those efforts every year. We ask that you reconsider your position and maintain these programs in your FY 2015 budget.”View the letter: http://bit.ly/15uhNmu