The U.S. House Transportation, Housing, and Urban Development (THUD) Appropriations Subcommittee released its draft fiscal year (FY) 2023 spending bill on June 22. The bill would provide $62.7 billion for HUD’s vital affordable housing, homelessness, and community development programs – an almost 17% increase above FY22-enacted levels, and $1.1 billion more than the amount proposed in President Biden’s budget request. Read NLIHC’s analysis of the draft spending bill here.
The bill proposes significant increases to nearly all HUD programs compared to FY22, including funding to significantly increase access to Housing Choice Vouchers by providing $13.04 billion to renew all existing housing vouchers, and $1.1 billion to expand vouchers to an additional 140,000 low-income households. While less than the 200,000 voucher expansion proposed in the President’s budget request, this expansion would help put the nation on the path towards universal housing assistance for all eligible households. For full details, see NLIHC’s updated budget chart and analysis.
The THUD Subcommittee convened on June 23 to review the bill and voted to move the bill forward to the full Appropriations committee. A full committee review of and vote on all 12 of the House’s draft appropriations bills is expected this week. Senate Appropriations Committee Chair Patrick Leahy (D-VT) announced last week the Senate would begin drafting, reviewing, and voting on its FY23 spending bills soon after Congress reconvenes following the July recess.
While movement on the appropriations process is welcome news, because appropriations leaders have not yet reached a topline funding agreement – and because both Republican and Democratic votes are needed to enact an appropriations bill – it is very likely that a final FY23 appropriations package will be significantly smaller than the drafted legislation in the House and Senate. In order to ensure HUD’s vital housing and homelessness programs receive significant funding increases in the coming fiscal year, advocates should continue contacting their members of Congress and urging them to support significant funding for NLIHC’s top priorities:
- $32.13 billion for the Tenant-Based Rental Assistance (TBRA) program to renew all existing contracts and expand housing vouchers to an additional 200,000 households.
- $5.125 billion for the Public Housing Capital Fund to preserve public housing, and $5.06 billion for the Public Housing Operating Fund.
- $3.6 billion for HUD’s Homeless Assistance Grants program to address the needs of people experiencing homelessness.
- $100 million for legal assistance to prevent evictions.
- $300 million for the competitive tribal housing program, targeted to tribes with the greatest needs.
NLIHC and our partners in the Campaign for Housing and Community Development Funding (CHCDF) are also leading our annual 302(b) letter to demand that Congress provide the highest possible level of funding for affordable housing, homelessness, and community development resources in FY23.
Thank you for your advocacy!