“Fiddling” As Housing Demand Burns


These reports generally confirm what we already know: there is an incredible and growing shortage of housing supply. This shortfall is dramatically affecting housing for moderate and low-income households, but far more devastating to extremely low-income households most vulnerable to unstable housing and homelessness. Unfortunately, much of the federal response would only make the problem worse.

Last month the U.S. House of Representatives Financial Services Subcommittee on Housing and Insurance held hearings in Washington on Homelessness in America. While advocates for people experiencing homelessness or unstably housed testified or submitted comments (as CFH did), legislation was introduced to make eligibility for federal housing subsidies narrower, regulation more stringent and mandating work requirements for more people. The federal Department of Housing and Urban Development has even recommended reducing the number of rent burdened households. By simply changing the definitions, and advocates “helping” tenants in federally subsidized housing, like public housing and Section 8 housing, by increasing tenant rents from 30% of household gross income to 35%, even though the current 30% cap is based on HUD’s own studies of what is affordable.

At the same time, there are efforts in Congress, supported by the administration, to cut SNAP (formerly the Food Stamp program) payments and make fewer families eligible, and threaten many safety net programs. Studies like the NLIHC and Furman Center reports show just how devastating those kinds of cutbacks to unstably housed households and those living with nutrition-insecurity would be. This is hardly the time for cutbacks. Better-funded programs offering more housing opportunities to extremely low-income households isn’t just the right thing to do; it would produce dramatically better outcomes and actually save public resources over time.

Now, while these debates on housing, healthcare and food security issues, as well as other safety net programs are ongoing, is the right time to call your members of the House of Representatives and the Senate. Let them know you advocate for better funding for programs that provide housing supports, healthcare and food security to our most vulnerable neighbors. It is critical because stable housing, good healthcare and adequate food are all human rights. You can find out who your representatives in congress are, and call them free at 202-224-3121.

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