Leaders in the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate are still working to reach an agreement on a final spending bill for fiscal year (FY) 2023 before December 16, when the current continuing resolution (CR) expires. Lawmakers have until December 16 to extend the CR or pass a final spending bill, or they risk a shutdown of the federal government.
It is critical that advocates urge their members of Congress to pass a spending bill as quickly as possible with significant increases to HUD’s affordable housing and homelessness programs!
Background
The FY23 spending bill is one of the last opportunities this year for Congress to make robust investments in affordable housing and homelessness programs. Congress must not pass up the chance to provide the significant funding needed to ensure the nation is moving towards safe, affordable, accessible housing for all.
Both the House and Senate FY23 budget drafts provided increases to HUD’s affordable housing, homelessness, and community development programs. However, the House proposal included $3 billion more in needed investments than the Senate proposal, including full funding to renew all Tenant-Based Rental Assistance (TBRA) vouchers and to expand the program to an additional 140,000 households with low-incomes. In comparison, the Senate proposal provided funding to renew existing vouchers but would only expand the program by 5,000 new vouchers. See NLIHC’s full analysis of the House draft, the Senate draft, and our updated budget chart for more information.
Congress passed a continuing resolution on September 30 to keep the government funded through December 16, and it will likely pass another short-term CR to extend the deadline to December 23 and give lawmakers more time to negotiate a final spending bill.
There is growing pressure from some conservative members of Congress to delay the federal budget process into the new year, when Republicans will take control of the House. This could potentially result in deep cuts to domestic programs – including housing and homelessness programs – or a potential year-long CR.
Long-term CRs have a drastic impact on affordable housing, homelessness, and community development programs. Because CRs maintain a consistent level of funding for federal programs, and because the cost of housing and development are tied to market rates, which have risen dramatically over the last year, flat funding would act as a cut and reduce the number of households being served by these vital programs.
Your members of Congress need to hear from you! Advocates can use NLIHC’s Take Action page to call or email their members of Congress and demand they enact an FY23 spending bill with significant increases to HUD’s affordable housing and homelessness programs. You can also use NLIHC’s Fall and Winter 2022 Advocacy Toolkit to help create your own message to Congress!
Take action today!
Contact your members of Congress and urge them to enact an FY23 spending bill by December 16 with significant increases to HUD’s affordable housing and homelessness programs, including NLIHC’s top priorities:
- Full funding for the Tenant-Based Rental Assistance (TBRA) program to renew all existing vouchers and to expand assistance to an additional 140,000 households.
- $3.6 billion for HUD’s Homeless Assistance Grants program to address the needs of people experiencing homelessness.
- Full funding for the Public Housing Capital Fund to preserve public housing, as well as for the Public Housing Operating Fund.
- $100 million for legal assistance to prevent evictions.
- $300 million for HUD’s competitive tribal housing program, targeted to tribes with the greatest needs.
Use NLIHC’s Take Action page to send an email to or call your members of Congress and demand they enact an FY23 budget with these vital resources!