Habitat for Humanity statement on budget blueprint
WASHINGTON (March 20, 2017) – Last week, the White House released its fiscal year 2018 budget outline, which includes recommendations for deep reductions in housing and community development programs that enable Habitat for Humanity to serve more families and communities across the U.S.
Federal housing programs currently reach about one in four income eligible households. With the proposed budget, many fewer would receive assistance, leading to even more families to choose paying housing costs over purchasing food, health care and meeting other basic needs.
“Perhaps more than ever before, middle and lower income households in the U.S. are shouldering heavy housing cost burdens and facing a variety of health, education, financial stability and other challenges resulting from or complicated by lack of access to decent, stable housing at an affordable price,” said Jonathan Reckford, CEO of Habitat for Humanity International. “Federal housing programs are critical to meeting affordable housing needs in our country, and we look forward to working with the administration, along with Habitat’s many supporters in Congress as legislation moves forward with the budget and appropriations process.”
The “skinny budget” proposes eliminating CDBG (Community Development Block Grant Program); HOME (Home Investment Partnerships Program); SHOP (Self-Help Homeownership Opportunity Program); Section 4 Program; the CDFI fund, which administers the New Market Tax Credit program at Treasury, and the entire Corporation for National and Community Service agency, which implements the AmeriCorps program. Further programmatic detail on the administration’s budget request proposals will be released in May.
Eliminating or reducing funding for these housing programs would exacerbate local housing shortages and increase the burden of housing costs on families in need of housing stability.
Habitat believes housing is foundational to reducing poverty and achieving lasting economic growth. In the coming weeks and months Habitat will work with our elected officials to demonstrate the value and importance of these programs for Habitat’s work and in meeting affordable housing needs.
About Habitat for Humanity
Driven by the vision that everyone needs a decent place to live, Habitat for Humanity began in 1976 as a grassroots effort on a community farm in southern Georgia. The Christian housing organization has since grown to become a leading global nonprofit working in nearly 1,400 communities throughout the U.S. and in more than 70 countries. Families and individuals in need of a hand up partner with Habitat for Humanity to build or improve a place they can call home. Habitat homeowners help build their own homes alongside volunteers and pay an affordable mortgage. Through financial support, volunteering or adding a voice to support affordable housing, everyone can help families achieve the strength, stability and self-reliance they need to build better lives for themselves. Through shelter, we empower. To learn more, visit habitat.org.