Volume 19, Issue 34

September 8, 2014

 

NATIONAL HOUSING TRUST FUND

 

CONGRESS

 

FROM THE FIELD

 

RESOURCES

 

FACT OF THE WEEK

 

VOTERIZATION

 

EVENT

 

NLIHC NEWS

 

 

NATIONAL HOUSING TRUST FUND

NHTF Status in Final Days of 113th Congress

 

With few legislative days left on the Congressional calendar, chances are slim for action on the several pieces of legislation that would fund the National Housing Trust Fund. Housing finance reform is not expected to move any further this year.

 

Three housing finance reform bills would provide significant funding for the NHTF: S. 1217, AKA Johnson-Crapo (see Memo, 5/16); H.R. 5505 , introduced by Representatives John Delaney (D-MD), John Carney (D-DE), and Jim Himes (D-CT) (see Memo, 7/11); and a discussion draft circulated by Representative Maxine Waters (D-CA), who serves as Ranking Member of the House Financial Services Committee.  S. 1217 was reported out of the Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee on May 15, 2014.

 

The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) released a cost estimate of S. 1217 on Friday, September 5, 2014. A preliminary review indicates that CBO estimates the level of funding for NHTF and the other affordable housing program is less than estimates made by the bill drafters. NLIHC will provide a full analysis of the CBO report in next week's Memo.

 

The fourth housing finance reform bill, H.R. 2767, introduced by House Financial Services Committee Chair Jeb Hensarling (R-TX), would repeal the NHTF statute. H.R. 2767 was voted out of committee on July 23, 2013 (see Memo, 7/26/2013).

 

Another threat to the NHTF is in the House THUD Appropriations bill (see article below) that would prohibit HUD from spending any funding to administer the NHTF.

 

Two recent papers offer analyses of the housing finance reform debate. "The Devil is in the Mortgage Finance Reform Details" by Barry Zigas of the Consumer Federation of America can be found at http://bit.ly/1B9W0i2. The Urban Institute paper by Laurie Goodman titled "A Realistic Assessment of Housing Finance Reform" is at http://urbn.is/1we0uRS.

 

The other funding strategy for the NHTF in the 113th Congress has been through changes to the mortgage interest deduction (MID). H.R 1213, introduced by Representative Keith Ellison (D-MN) on March 15, 2013, would make modest changes to the MID and use the revenue raised to fund the NHTF and other low income housing programs (see Memo, 3/15/2013). H.R. 1213 in its entirety is included in H.R. 5352, a comprehensive anti-poverty bill introduced by Representative Barbara Lee (D-CA) (see Memo, 8/4). Neither bill is expected to be taken up before the end of the year.

 

On the Administrative side, NLIHC and others remain hopeful that Federal Housing Finance Agency Director Mel Watt will lift the suspension on the requirement that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac fund the NHTF and the Capital Magnet Fund (see Memo, 1/10), although many observers are puzzled why he has not done so to date.

 

Meanwhile, the long-awaited NHTF regulations are in clearance at the Office of Management and Budget (OMB).

 

 

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CONGRESS

 

Congress Returns with Full Agenda and Little Time

 

When the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives reconvene after their August recess on September 8, it is likely they will only be in session for two weeks before they return home to campaign for the November elections. During this two-week period, Congress has important work to accomplish, with funding of federal programs into FY15 top on its agenda.

 

FY15 Appropriations

 

To date, the House and Senate have not enacted any FY15 appropriations bills, including the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies (THUD) spending bill. The House passed its THUD bill, H.R. 4745 on June 10 (see Memo, 6/13). The Senate could not reach agreement on an amendment procedure for a package of spending bills, including its THUD bill, and therefore, was unable to pass S. 2438 (see Memo, 6/20). The FY15 fiscal year begins on October 1.

 

With so few working days left, Congress will have to pass a continuing resolution (CR) to keep government open and programs funded at FY14 levels. The CR is expected to last until the week of December 11. The post-election lame duck Congress will have to pass spending bills before the 113th Congress closes or pass another CR.  How long a subsequent CR would last depends on the outcome of the November elections. If Republicans gain control of the Senate starting in January, they can force an extension of the CR into the next Congress when they could extract funding cuts or policy changes as part of the FY15 spending bills.

 

During the August recess, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY), campaigning in his own re-election race, said a Republican-held Senate would force President Obama to “move to the center” by attaching policy restrictions to spending bills. “We’re going to pass spending bills, and they’re going to have a lot of restrictions on the activities of the bureaucracy,” Senator McConnell said, according to media reports.  

 

HUD’s housing programs’ costs will increase above FY14’s funding levels in FY15 because of rising rents and stagnant incomes of the households HUD’s largest programs serve. Any CR that provides FY14 funding past January 1 will require housing programs cuts that can result in fewer families served. NLIHC and our partners in the Campaign for Housing and Community Development Funding will strive to make sure that any CR that funds programs past January 1 includes “anomalies,” which are adjustments beyond the FY14 funding level, so that housing programs do not have to decrease the number of households served or the value or duration of subsidies provided.

 

Funding at FY14 levels will lock in the loss of 70,000 vouchers nationwide because of the sequester cuts in FY13 that were not restored in the FY14 HUD funding bill. Also, the White House will be forced to roll back its goal to end chronic homelessness by the end of 2016 if HUD’s homeless assistance grants do not receive the President’s request for a $301 million increase over the FY14 level.

 

A provision added to the House THUD appropriations bill during the floor debate would prohibit HUD from spending any funds to administer the National Housing Trust Fund. Senate supporters of the NHTF will have to make sure this provision does not make it into the final bill.

 

Protecting Tenants at Foreclosure

 

A top NLIHC priority for 2014 is extending the Protecting Tenants at Foreclosure Act (PTFA).  Since PTFA was enacted in 2009, renters have been protected from eviction when their homes have undergone foreclosure. An NLIHC survey of legal services attorneys and housing counselors in 2011 found that PTFA was effective in preventing evictions of tenants who were current in their rent, but whose landlords had lost their properties in foreclosure. See (http://bit.ly/WydPHV.) However, PTFA is due to sunset on December 31 unless Congress acts.

 

Bills to make PTFA permanent have been introduced in the Senate and House:  S. 1761 introduced by Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and H.R. 3543 introduced by Representative Keith Ellison (D-MN) (see Memo, 11/22/13). However, it is unlikely that they will pass on their own, so advocates are seeking a legislative vehicle to which they can be attached before the current law expires. In the absence of a consensus on making PFTA permanent, NLIHC and our partners in the PTFA campaign are working on an extension of at least two years. 

 

According to the National Housing Law Project, just 22 states and DC, plus Miami-Dade, FL and Providence, RI have stronger protections for tenants in foreclosed properties than are provided for by PTFA (http://nhlp.org/node/1341).  In the other 28 states, renters at foreclosure would face renewed risk of immediate eviction, devastating to both the families who lose their homes and the communities in which in they live.

 

Advocates in these 28 states in particular should let the members of their Congressional delegations know that the PTFA must be extended to protect their constituents.  

 

Rental Assistance Reforms

 

While there seems to be interest in the Congressional authorizing committees in reforming and improving HUD’s rental assistance programs, it is unlikely that any legislation will move or that even hearings will occur in the remaining days of the 113th Congress.

 

An amendment filed during the lead-up to the Senate’s consideration of its THUD bill, which ultimately did not occur, would have expanded the Moving to Work (MTW) demonstration to ten more public housing agencies. NLIHC opposed the amendment in order to protect residents from time limits and excessive rents, and because expansion should be carefully considered by the authorizing committees, not by hastily offering an amendment to an appropriations bill on the Senate floor. Even though the amendment was never considered because the underlying bill was not taken up, the issue of whether and how to grant MTW status to more than the 39 public housing agencies currently in the demonstration is an ongoing issue on Capitol Hill.

 

Low Income Housing Tax Credit

 

Low Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) advocates are hoping for an extension of the minimum 9% credit floor, which expired on December 31, 2013. Bills with numerous cosponsors have been introduced in the House and Senate to achieve this goal, as well as to create a new minimum 4% LIHTC credit floor. But partisan disagreements over amendment processes have prevented the Senate from considering its broad tax extenders measure, and the House’s plans to send an “economic package,” including some tax extenders, to the Senate this fall do not include the House’s bill for 9% and 4% credit floors.

 

Native American Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Act

 

Bills to reauthorize the Native American Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Act (NAHASDA), which expired at the end of FY13, have moved out of committee in both the House and Senate. However, S. 1352, sponsored by Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) (see Memo, 1/3) and H.R. 4329, sponsored by Representative Steve Pearce (R-NM) (see Memo, 8/4) are significantly different from one another. Senator Cantwell’s bill does not contain provisions that would allow a privatization demonstration, or waiver of the Brooke rule, which keeps rents affordable to the lowest income households. Also, Senator Cantwell’s bill would reauthorize the Native Hawaiian housing and community development programs, while Mr. Pearce’s would not. It is unclear whether these bills can be reconciled during the remaining days of the 113th Congress.

 

 

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FROM THE FIELD

 

Massachusetts Advocates Score Victories at Conclusion of Legislative Session

 

Massachusetts advocates won significant housing victories during the recently concluded 2013-2014 session of the state’s biennial legislature. NLIHC State Coalition Partner, Citizens’ Housing and Planning Association (CHAPA), and its allies, celebrate passage of two important bills, one affecting state-supported public housing and another providing funding increases and initiatives for housing and community development programs.

 

The legislature’s Joint Committee on Housing developed a major state public housing reform bill after touring housing authorities and holding public hearings and stakeholder meetings. The bill passed both chambers on the last day of the session on August 1, and was signed into law by Governor Deval Patrick (D) on August 6. Massachusetts is one of the few states that has its own public housing program.

 

The legislation creates significant opportunities for tenant participation and feedback. Each of the more than 240 state-supported local public housing authorities will be required to have at least one of its five board positions filled by an elected tenant representative. The Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) will provide technical assistance to tenant board members and tenant organizations in order to enable full tenant participation in the oversight of a state housing authority’s operation and capital planning. State housing authorities will also be required to administer annual resident surveys. In addition, the law requires development of a centralized application and waiting list within one year, which will make it much easier for households to apply.

 

DHCD will develop performance-based monitoring for all state housing authorities. For chronically poor performing state housing authorities, DHCD is authorized to appoint a chief financial and administrative officer. DHCD will also create capital assistance teams to assist state housing authorities with capital planning and maintenance and repair planning. State housing authorities will be required to produce annual plans subject to public review, and all board members will participate in trainings every two years. 

 

The legislation creates a regional pilot program designed to achieve increased coordination and cooperation among several housing authorities, foster innovative models for the development, redevelopment and repair of public housing, and increase economic efficiencies and opportunities.

 

“State Public Housing is a key part of the affordable housing delivery system in Massachusetts. We are eager to work with DHCD and other advocates to implement this reform and strengthen  local housing authorities so they continue to provide quality affordable housing to families and individuals in need,” said Brenda Clement, CHAPA’s Executive Director and NLIHC Board Chair.

 

The second major piece of legislation was an economic development bill, also passed by the legislature on the last day of the session, and signed by the Governor on August 13. The legislation includes significant funding increases and initiatives for housing and community development programs.

 

The legislation provides $3 million for the Housing Preservation and Stabilization Trust Fund (HPSTF), a state trust fund created in July 2013. The intent of the HPSTF is to provide a flexible method for funding affordable housing for low income families and individuals, particularly those most at-risk of becoming homeless. DHCD administers the fund using money unspent at the end of the fiscal year by several housing and homelessness programs. The $3 million will supplement these sources. Advocates are seeking additional sources of funding for the HPSTF.

 

Since the HPSTF was established, DHCD has spent $7 million to create supportive housing units and $2 million to supplement HomeBase, a state program that provides emergency assistance to help families and individuals avoid or exit the shelter system. DHCD spent an additional $1 million on the Secure Jobs Initiative, a program that matches homeless, at-risk, and recently rehoused families and individuals with services to help them overcome barriers to work and connect with jobs that offer career pathways.

 

The legislation also creates and capitalizes at $16 million, the Gateway Cities Transformative Development Fund. In Massachusetts, Gateway Cities are midsize urban centers that anchor regional economies. These cities have stubborn social and economic challenges, but retain many assets, such as existing infrastructure, strong connections to transportation networks, and major institutions such as museums, hospitals, or universities. The legislation also doubles funding to $10 million for the Housing Development Incentive Program (HDIP), a program intended to create more housing for households of various income levels in order to diversify the income mix in Gateway Cities. At least 80% of the housing must be market rate rental targeted to households with incomes greater than 110% of the area median income. Together, HDIP and the Gateway Cities Transformative Development Fund are expected to expand diversity of housing stock, promote economic development, and revitalize and support residential, commercial, and institutional development in the Gateway Cities.

 

Another provision of the economic development legislation provides $10 million for the state’s Brownfields Redevelopment Fund. A supplemental budget passed by the legislature earlier this year included an additional $15 million for the fund.

 

CHAPA’s Director of Public Policy, Rachel Heller said, “The Governor and legislative leaders have recognized that investing in affordable housing and community development programs is key to continued economic growth in Massachusetts. This funding in the economic development legislation and the earlier passage of a $1.4 billion housing bond bill are critical resources for us to address a growing need for affordable housing statewide.”  

 

For more information, contact Brenda Clement at [email protected] and Rachel Heller at [email protected]

 

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RESOURCES

                                                                                                                                 

NLIHC Updates State Housing Profiles

 

NLIHC has updated its State Housing Profiles (SHPs). The profiles now include new data focusing on the housing needs of Deeply Low Income (DLI) renters, those with incomes of no more than 15% of area median income. The profiles include the number of affordable and available units per 100 DLI renter households, as well as the proportion of DLI renters with housing cost burden, spending more than 30% of their income for rent and utilities.

 

The new data are from NLIHC’s analysis of the 2012 American Community Survey (ACS).  The State Housing Profiles are used by advocates to inform policy makers about the need for affordable rental housing at the state and local level.

 

NLIHC first included the DLI income category in the Housing Spotlight released on August 24 (see Memo, 9/2). The Housing Spotlight discusses the shortage of affordable housing across each state and the fifty metropolitan areas with the with the largest renter populations.

 

The updated State Housing Profiles are at http://nlihc.org/library/housingprofiles 

 

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With More Low Income Older Adults, Housing Assistance Stretched Thin

 

A report issued on September 2 by the Joint Center for Housing Studies at Harvard University and the AARP Foundation finds that the nation is unprepared to meet the housing needs of aging Americans. By 2030, the number of people over age 65 is projected to reach 73 million, or one in five Americans, but the supply of housing suitable and affordable to this population will not be sufficient.

 

As the population ages, the number of low income, older adults is anticipated to rise sharply. By 2024, the number of households aged 65 and over with incomes less than $15,000 is expected to rise 37%, or by 1.8 million households. However, with declining incomes among households during their peak-earning, pre-retirement years, and with far fewer workers benefiting from pension plans, the number of low income, older adult households may rise even more than projected.

 

By age 85, two in three older adults have difficulty with hearing, vision, cognition, or mobility. The incidence of disabilities varies by income, with 45% of those with less than $15,000 facing at least one disability or limitation, compared to just 14% of those with $75,000 or more. Many older adults may need to make modifications to their homes as their physical limitations increase.

 

Just 1% of all housing units have the five design features that make homes accessible to those with disabilities, and two out of five have just one feature or none at all. Only 551,000 unassisted units with rents below $400 have at least three universal design features. While HUD-assisted rental units are more likely to have accessibility features, their availability is limited.

 

Half of renters aged 50-64 face a housing cost burden, spending more than 30% of their income for rent and utilities. Sixty percent of renters over age 80 face this burden. Housing cost burden is also common among older homeowners with a mortgage. While just one third of owners aged 50-64 with a mortgage face a housing cost burden, 61% over age 80 do. Seventy-seven percent of all households with incomes less than $15,000 over the age of 50 face a housing cost burden, 99% of those with a mortgage and 75% of those that rent.

 

While an estimated 3.9 million households over age 62 qualified for housing assistance in 2011, just 1.4 million received assistance. This gap is expected to grow as the population of low income older renters rises. By 2020, the number of older households eligible for rental assistance is estimated to rise by 1.3 million, but the supply of affordable housing assistance is unlikely to keep pace. Many older adults are assisted through HUD’s Section 202 program, which provides housing with supportive services. The program funds the gap between the costs of providing housing and what tenants can afford to pay in rent. However, many Section 202 contracts will expire over the coming years. By 2024, up to 41,900 units may no longer remain affordable. Further, the program no longer provides capital grants to fund the development of new senior housing.

 

The report recommends several policy changes to better serve the aging population, including promoting the development of accessory dwelling units, and tax incentives to allow older adults to make age-appropriate modifications to their homes. The report also urges coordination of programs providing affordable housing and supportive health services. With the costs of assisted living often prohibitive, developing alternate models of age-restricted affordable housing with services is increasingly important.

 

The report, Housing America’s Older Adults: Meeting the Needs of an Aging Population, is at http://bit.ly/1umYrKY

 

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FACT OF THE WEEK

 

Proportion of Older Households Facing Severe Housing Cost Burden on the Rise

 

Household by Income

% Severe Burden

 

2000

2012

Under $15,000

47%

59%

$15,000-$29,999

16%

26%

$30,000-$44,999

6%

11%

$45,000-$74,999

2%

5%

$75,000 and Over

0.6%

1%

 

 


Note: Older Households are over age 50

                                                           

Source: Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University. (2014). Housing America’s Older Adults: Meeting the Needs of an Aging Population. Cambridge, MA: Author. Retrieved from http://bit.ly/1umYrKY

 

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VOTERIZATION

 

Final NLIHC 2014 Voterization Webinar Monday, September 8

 

The November 4 midterm elections are fast approaching. Your organization can still be involved in educating voters and candidates about housing issues.

 

Join us on Monday, September 8, at 2:00 pm ET for “Mobilization: Getting Out the Vote.”

Building on our two previous webinars that discussed voter registration and education, the final webinar will describe strategies for getting low income voters and their allies to the polls on election day. The agenda will include:

 

 

In two weeks, Congress will head back to home districts for the final stretch of campaign season. It is essential that candidates know that housing is an important election issue.

 

Register for the webinar at http://bit.ly/RlKMpt.

 

The previous webinar recordings and presentation slides are at http://nlihc.org/library/voterization.

 

To participate in Voterization activities, contact NLIHC’s Field Team at [email protected].

 

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EVENT

 

Using New Census Poverty Data Webinar

 

The Coalition for Human Needs and the Community Action Partnership will conduct a webinar on Thursday, September 11, to help advocates access and use new poverty data that the U.S. Census Bureau will release on September 16 and 18.

 

The free webinar will discuss what the new data will likely show about poverty, income, health insurance, and other topics. Participants will also learn how to access and use national, state, and local data.

 

The webinar will take place Thursday, September 11, 2:00 pm – 3:15 pm ET (11:00 am PT)

 

Presenters:

 

 

Registrants will receive:

 

·      A full recording of the webinar and its slides,

·      Tables with state data from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities as soon as data are released,

·      Links to key Census Bureau materials showing each state’s trends in poverty, health coverage, income, unemployment, educational attainment, and use of benefits,

·      Links to timely analyses of the data from expert organizations, and

·      Sample letters to the editor and key points to incorporate in letters, blogs, or other pieces.

 

Those unable to join on September 11 are encouraged to register in order to receive all related follow-up materials and the link to the on-demand training as soon as it is available.

 

Register for “The New Poverty Data: Using it to Show What Works (and What Doesn’t) to Reduce Poverty” at http://bit.ly/1pcEReW

For more information contact Joanna Sandager at [email protected]

 

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NLIHC NEWS

NLIHC Membership Month Underway

 

This month, we strive to significantly expand our network of low income housing advocates who want to advance our mission to achieve socially just public policy that ensures people with the lowest income have affordable and decent homes.

 

We urge all current NLIHC members to recruit at least one new individual or organization to become an NLIHC member.

 

The NLIHC member who recruits the most new members (with a minimum of five) by the end of September will receive an iPad Mini! To be eligible, please make sure that any new members you recruit list your full first and last name in the referral box on their membership form.

 

NLIHC members are the source of our power to change federal housing policy for the better. The more members we have, the more powerful we are. 

 

People can join online using a credit card or download a PDF of the membership form at www.nlihc.org/membership

 

For more information, email [email protected]

 

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NLIHC Welcomes New Members for August 2014

 

Welcome to these new NLIHC members who joined in August 2014:

 

Katrice Cheaton, Philadelphia, PA

Omar Kashef, Chapel Hill, NC

Elliott Owensby, Fresno, CA

Rita Pogue, Portland, OR

Kenny Stancil, Lexington, KY

Paul Stanford, Romulus, MI

Brenda White, Lancaster, CA

 

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NLIHC Welcomes Fall Policy Intern

 

Sean Griffin joins NLIHC as a Fall Policy Intern. Sean is a junior at the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, Massachusetts, where he studies Economics and Political Science. He is in Washington, DC this fall as part of his college’s Washington Semester Program, for which he is conducting research into the effectiveness and efficiency of the Federal Housing Administration’s Single-Family Mortgage Insurance Program. He is from Skillman, New Jersey.

 

 

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NLIHC Seeks Interns for Fall 2014

 

NLIHC is accepting resumes for fall 2014 internship positions. Interns are highly valued and fully integrated into our staff work. We seek students passionate about social justice issues, with excellent writing and interpersonal skills.

 

The available positions are:

 

A cover letter, resume, and writing sample are required for consideration. They should be included as attachments if you choose to submit them electronically. In your cover letter, please specify the position(s) for which you are applying and that you are interested in a fall 2014 internship.

 

Interested students should send their materials to: Paul Kealey, Chief Operating Officer, National Low Income Housing Coalition, 727 15th Street NW, 6th Floor, Washington, DC 20005. Or, send via email to [email protected] or fax to 202-393-1973.

 

 

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40 Years Ago: Title XX of the Social Security Act Authorized

 

Title XX of the Social Security Act was signed into law by President Gerald Ford on January 4, 1975 as part of the Social Services Amendments of 1974. The program was intended to compliment the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), enacted in August 1974, in providing states a flexible source of funding for social services. 

 

The stated purpose of the 1974 act was to encourage states to furnish services with the goals of:

“(1) Achieving or maintaining economic self-support to prevent, reduce, or eliminate dependency;

(2) Achieving or maintaining self-sufficiency, including reduction or prevention of dependency;

(3) Preventing or remedying neglect, abuse, or exploitation of children and adults unable to protect their own interests, or preserving, rehabilitating, or reuniting families;

(4) Preventing or reducing inappropriate institutional care by providing for community-based care, home-based care, or other forms of less intensive care; and

(5) Securing referral or admission for institutional care when other forms of care are not appropriate, or providing services to individuals in institutions.”

 

In a statement released on the day President Ford signed the act, he characterized the Social Services Amendments of 1974 as a “major piece of domestic legislation and a significant step forward in Federal-State relations.” However, it was not until the passage of the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1981 (OBRA) that Title XX was amended to its current form as a block grant to the states, now commonly known as the Social Services Block Grant Program (SSBG).

 

From a housing policy perspective, it is worth noting that many activities associated with the goal of “preventing or reducing inappropriate institutional care…” fall under the rubric of the Housing Plus Services model. SSBG funds may be used to provide community- and home-based services to seniors and people with disabilities to help them live successfully outside of institutions.

 

Combined with adequate housing subsidies, community- and home-based care serve a critical role in allowing seniors and people with disabilities to live independent, socially integrated lives in their communities. When used to assist people with disabilities such as serious mental illness, SSBG funds can play an important part in successful Olmstead implementation. The 1999 U.S. Supreme Court Olmstead decision held that Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act prohibits unjustified segregation of individuals with disabilities. The court directed public entities serving qualified individuals with mental or physical disabilities to provide treatment and services in the most integrated and least restrictive setting that appropriately addresses the needs of the individual.

 

Beyond activities typically associated with preventing or reducing inappropriate institutional care, SSBG may also be used to fund services for locating, obtaining, and maintaining housing. This includes housing search assistance, tenant counseling, assistance with understanding leases, and assistance with securing utilities.

 

Funded as high as $2.8 billion from 1991 to 1995, SSBG was permanently reduced to $1.7 billion in 2001 to help pay for the 1998 Transportation Equity Act, which reauthorized the surface transportation programs. As a result of sequestration in FY13, funding was cut to $1.578 billion. The FY14 House Budget resolution proposed eliminating SSBG, and legislation was introduced in the Senate that would use SSBG to fund other social services initiatives

 

Although funding has significantly declined, SSBG remains an important source of funding for services that allow low income people to both find and stay in housing.   

 

Sources:

 

National Association of Counties, “2014 Policy Brief: Support the Social Services Block Grant (SSBG),” http://bit.ly/Wo8oLZ

 

Social Services Amendments of 1974, http://1.usa.gov/1rGt4uX

 

President Gerald Ford, “Statement on Signing the Social Services Amendments of 1974,” http://bit.ly/Wo9Qht

 

NLIHC is recognizing its 40th anniversary throughout 2014, culminating in a commemorative event on Monday, November 17 in Washington, DC. Please save the date.

 

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NLIHC STAFF

Megan Bolton, Research Director, x245

Elina Bravve, Research Analyst, x244

Christine Campbell, Vice President for Field and Communications, x247

Linda Couch, Senior Vice President for Policy, x228

Sheila Crowley, President, x224

Dan Emmanuel, Housing Advocacy Organizer, x316

Ellen Errico, Graphic Design and Web Manager, x246

Ed Gramlich, Special Advisor, x314

Sean Griffin, Policy Intern, x252

Mary Kolar, Field Director, x233

Paul Kealey, Chief Operating Officer, x232

Joseph Lindstrom, Housing Advocacy Organizer, x222

Khara Norris, Director of Administration, x242

Christina Reyes, Executive Assistant, x224

Christina Sin, Development Coordinator, x234 

 

SPREAD THE WORD!

NLIHC membership is the best way to stay informed about low income housing issues, keep in touch with advocates around the country, and support NLIHC’s work.

 

NLIHC membership information is available at www.nlihc.org/membership. You also can email us at [email protected] or call your outreach associate at 202-662-1530 to request membership materials to distribute at meetings and conferences.

 

Established in 1974 by Cushing N. Dolbeare, the National Low Income Housing Coalition is dedicated solely to achieving socially just public policy that assures people with the lowest incomes in the United States have affordable and decent homes.

 

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