Federal Budget Advocacy Takes Shape
Jul.11.2013
The U.S. House and Senate have passed their respective appropriations bills for the federal Transportation Housing and Urban Development (THUD) subcommittee.
The Senate's bill is by far the stronger of the two. The Senate allocated $10 billion more to the THUD budget, including $2.26 billion for McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Grants. This amount represents a $228 million increase over last year's budget. The House, Senate and Executive budgets all provide increases to this vital program, a testament to its broad, bi-partisan support.
The Senate also funds the HOME program at $1 billion -- more than either the House or Executive budgets but far short of the 2010 funding level of $1.8 billion, before Congress cut the program by 40%. HOME has been a vital capital funding source for supportive housing. The Senate also proposes higher funding levels for HOPWA, Tenant-Based Section 8 and Project-Based Section 8. The House and Senate propose equal appropriations for Section 811 for persons with disabilities, Section 202 for the elderly and VA Supportive Housing (VASH).
Continue Reading …