“With the lingering effects of inflation, meaningful increases in the HUD budget are needed just to maintain housing for the same number of people currently served,” the letter reads. “Flat funding for housing and community development programs acts as a cut to vital services.”
The letter also urges lawmakers to protect the religious freedom of faith-based organizations that assist with housing.
“The freedom of faith-based shelters and other organizations should be protected in order to continue serving thousands of people in need at this time without violating their beliefs or compromising the safety of their clients,” the letter reads.
The letter also called for more funding for Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers, Project-Based Section 8 Rental Assistance, and the Public Housing Capital Fund and Operating Fund. Current funding “fails to keep pace with the need for affordable housing,” it said.
The bishops also recommend more funding for the Housing for the Elderly Program, which partners with nonprofit and faith-based organizations to expand housing for low-income elderly families. They also request higher investments in the HOME Investment Partnership Program, which rehabilitates affordable housing buildings.
Other recommendations include funds for McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Grants, which are intended to reduce homelessness, and Housing Counseling Assistance funding, which helps renters and homeowners make sustainable choices. The bishops also encouraged more funds for the Community Development Block Grant Program, which supports economic development in impoverished communities.
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