CLPHA Advocacy

CLPHA supports the nation’s largest and most innovative housing authorities by advocating for the resources and policies they need to solve local housing challenges and create communities of opportunity. We frequently champion our members' issues, needs, and successes on the Hill, at HUD, and in the media. In these arenas CLPHA also advocates for legislation and policies that help our members, and the public and affordable housing industry as a whole, strengthen neighborhoods and improve lives.

Click below for links to congressional testimonies, statements for the record, action alerts, comments to HUD and other federal agencies, and the latest information about CLPHA's multi-pronged housing advocacy.

Action Alerts

11.28.22

ACTION ALERT: Ask Congress to Pass a FY23 THUD Funding Bill Before the December 16 Deadline

Congress Needs To Increase Public And Affordable Housing Funding

Background:

The federal government is currently funded under a continuing resolution (CR) that expires December 16 this year. If the government does not take additional action it runs out of money and has to shut down. Given the uncertainty of what will happen in the appropriations process during the next Congress beginning in January, it is critical that the current Congress finish the work already begun and pass a full year FY23 appropriations bill. CLPHA is particularly concerned with the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies (THUD) proposed legislation currently in final negotiations between the House and Senate.

CLPHA and industry partners recently sent a letter and revised joint appropriations request to the leadership of the House and Senate appropriations committees asking for specific funding levels and authorizing language be included in the final THUD appropriations bill. Among our requests, we ask Congress to increase funding for the HUD defined shortfalls in the public housing operating fund program to $345 million to accommodate all eligible housing authorities. We ask the committees to accept the Senate-proposed level of $364 million in set-aside funding for tenant protection vouchers (TPVs) since HUD recently indicated that the current demand for TPVs has exceeded its initial projections for FY23 and they again anticipate not being able to fund replacement TPVs for vacant units in calendar year 2023 without additional funding. We also ask that HUD be directed to determine the impact of recent changes to the calculation of FY23 Fair Market Rents (FMRs), because of the recent extension of regulatory waivers increasing payment standards up to 120 percent of the FMR in local housing markets affecting the need for additional housing assistance payments (HAP) set-aside funding.

ACTION:

CLPHA is calling on members to:

1) Ask your Members of Congress to support the recommendations included in the public housing industry joint funding request and joint industry letter.

2) Ask your Members of Congress to support the THUD funding bill.

3) Ask your Members of Congress to support final passage of a full-year FY23 appropriations bill.

For questions or additional information, contact Gerard Holder, CLPHA Legislative Director at gholder@clpha.org.

7.12.22

ACTION ALERT: Urge Congress to Reinsert Annual Contributions Contract (ACC) Language in the FY 2023 HUD Appropriations Bill

BACKGROUND:

CLPHA and our industry partners today sent a letter (and attachments Exhibit 1 and Exhibit 2) to House and Senate Appropriations Committee members asking to include legislative language that prevents HUD from implementing unilateral changes to the ACC in the forthcoming FY23 appropriations bill. This joint industry request was made by CLPHA, the MTW Collaborative, the National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials (NAHRO) and the Public Housing Authorities Directors Association (PHADA).

CLPHA and our industry partners remain concerned that HUD’s continued attempts to revise the ACC will circumvent the Administrative Procedure Act (APA), unilaterally change the contractual relationship between HUD and public housing agencies (PHAs), and strip PHAs of their ability to challenge HUD’s breach of contract actions, which PHAs have recently successfully litigated. Without the inclusion of the legislative language mentioned in our letter, we are concerned that HUD’s ability to make problematic changes to the ACC has been renewed.

This week the full House passed six appropriations bills including its version of the FY23 HUD bill. Since the Senate has not yet taken action on their bill version, we hope to have the ACC language included in the Senate bill, and we are seeking eventual conference committee action between the House and Senate to include the ACC language and committee report language.

ACTION:

We are asking housing authorities to sign and send a similar letter asking their representatives in both the House and Senate to reinstate the legislative language regarding the ACC in the General Provisions section of the FY23 HUD appropriations legislation.

We’ve drafted a sample letter as a guide for you.

Download the Letter Template

Once you’ve downloaded the sample letter, fill out the highlighted fields and personalize the letter as appropriate.
We recommend that you email the letter(s) to your representatives.

If you have any questions, contact Gerard Holder, CLPHA Legislative Director, at gholder@clpha.org.

1.26.22

CLPHA, Industry Groups Urge PHAs to Sign Congressional Letter Advocating for Housing Funding Levels to Be Kept in Build Back Better Act

10.6.21

ACTION ALERT: KEEP HOUSING FUNDING IN BUILD BACK BETTER ACT

CLPHA has been made aware that funding for housing is at serious risk of being removed from the Build Back Better Act under consideration in the budget reconciliation negotiations currently underway in Congress and the White House. The House Financial Services Committee on September 14 provided $327 billion in funding for affordable housing and community development programs to be included in the President’s Build Back Better Act. The housing investments in this economic recovery package is expected to help make transformational improvements in the lives of low-income and vulnerable Americans and in our communities. The negotiations are on a fast track and taking place at the highest levels between the House and Senate leadership, key members of Congress, and the White House. We understand Congress and the White House have not heard from housing stakeholders on the importance of keeping housing in the legislation. We have been told that the next 48 hours are critical to keeping housing in the legislation. Since housing is very much on the chopping block, we encourage CLPHA members to: Reach out to your representatives in the House and Senate and ask them to contact their leadership and express support for retaining the housing provisions in the Build Back Better Act. We cannot overstate how important it is for you to contact your Congresspersons and Senators and have them communicate with their Leadership and the White House that HOUSING MUST BE INCLUDED IN THE BUILD BACK BETTER ACT!


Important Talking Points Include: In January 2020, HUD) reported at least 580,466 people were homeless, which represents a 2.2 percent increase from 2019. Despite these growing needs, only 1 in 5 eligible families currently receive assistance. Public housing and Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers play a critical role in our nation's infrastructure and social safety net, providing families with a stable home and assisting them in opportunities for upward mobility. Across the United States, public housing provides almost 1 million units of housing to over 1.8 million people, including 800,000 children, and more than half the population in public housing is elderly and disabled. The 2.3 million Section 8 housing choice vouchers house an additional 5.2 million people including 2.2 million children. In many cities and towns across the nation, seniors, veterans, persons with disabilities and families with children rely on public housing, now perhaps more than ever before. In some instances, no other source of housing could take its place more readily or affordably. An investment in public housing capital needs will spur local economic growth, as occurred with funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA). The Government Accountability Office (GAO) found that 99.9% of all public housing ARRA capital funds were obligated and expended under accelerated time frames. With $4 billion in capital funds, researchers found that agencies invested in over 245,000 affordable units, created 26 jobs for every $1 million spent on capital projects, and generated nearly $12.5 billion in national economic activity.¹


	¹Public Housing Stimulus Funding: A Report on the Economic Impact of Recovery Act Capital Improvements, Commissioned by PHADA, CLPHA and NAHRO with funding from the Housing Authority Insurance (HAI) Group, 2011.

4.28.21

ACTION ALERT: Ask Your Member of Congress to Support the SAVE Act

3.25.21

ACTION ALERT: Ask Your Member of Congress to Support Broadband Access

2.10.21

ACTION ALERT: ASK CONGRESS TO FUND PUBLIC HOUSING AND HOUSING VOUCHERS IN THE NEXT COVID-19 RELIEF BILL

8.12.20

ACTION ALERT: CLPHA CALLS ON MEMBERS TO ENDORSE THE YIMBY ACT

7.22.20

ACTION ALERT: TELL YOUR SENATORS THAT HOUSING AUTHORITIES NEED EMERGENCY RENTAL ASSISTANCE IN THE SENATE STIMULUS BILL

Emergency rental assistance is in jeopardy in the latest stimulus package in the Senate. Early indication is that housing assistance and direct rental assistance will not be a part of the Senate legislative package. The Senate is debating the stimulus right now. Renters are facing a devastating cliff with CARES Act protections expiring at the end of this month. Public housing authorities’ voices are critical to the Senate debate. The Senate returned this week, resuming legislative activity for the next two weeks until their next recess begins August 7. This is the last opportunity to pass emergency economic relief and stimulus legislation in 2020 before Congress hits the campaign trail for the November elections. The recent House-passed HR 6800, the “Health and Economic Recovery Omnibus Emergency Solutions Act” or the “HEROES Act,” is a critically needed legislative package designed to provide economic relief to states, cities, local jurisdictions, medical front-line workers, first responders, unemployed persons, consumers, students, renters, homeowners, housing providers, and more. The HEROES Act provides over $114 billion in funding for housing and community development programs. It includes $100 billion in emergency rental assistance, $4 billion for Tenant-Based Rental Assistance, $2 billion for the Public Housing Operating Fund, and $750 million for Project Based Rental Assistance. For this reason, CLPHA is urging members to make your voices heard to ensure emergency rental assistance is included in the next economic relief and stimulus package. CLPHA is calling for the $100 billion under the Emergency Solutions Grant Program (ESG) to be made flexible to allow different funding portals, such as emergency single-use housing vouchers, or for other rental assistance platforms be able to allocate the funds.

CLPHA strongly encourages members to:

Urge your Senators to include housing and rental assistance in the next economic relief and stimulus package.
Ask your Senators to allow $100 billion in ESG funds from the HEROES Act be made flexible for delivery through multiple funding platforms, such as emergency single-use housing vouchers.

Without your active engagement with your Senators, providing additional housing assistance to housing authorities will be jeopardized.

Senators must hear from you to know this is important!

For questions or additional information, contact CLPHA Legislative Director Gerard Holder at gholder@clpha.org.

CLPHA Recent Comments

10.23.23

CLPHA, Reno & Cavanaugh Comment on Accessibility of Web Information

9.14.23

CLPHA, MTW Collaborative Submit Comments on Improving Access to HUD Programs

Letter Asserts Data Sharing Is Crucial to Streamlining Program Access and Administration

7.24.23

CLPHA Comments on Fair Market Rents Calculation Methodology

Today, CLPHA submitted comments on proposed changes to the methodology used for calculating Fair Market Rents (FMRs).

7.24.23

CLPHA Comments on Forthcoming Changes on Section 504

Today, CLPHA submitted comments on a Federal Register notice regarding changes to Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. On April 25, HUD issued an Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking

7.5.23

CLPHA Comments on PBV Data Collection Notice

CLPHA and its counsel Reno & Cavanaugh have submitted comments to HUD on a

4.25.23

CLPHA, Reno & Cavanaugh Submit Comments on AFFH

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Latest News

11.17.23

CLPHA Applauds Biden-Harris Administration’s New Steps to Bridge Housing & Health Sectors Through New HUD/HHS Resources, Calls for Funding to Support These Efforts

(Washington, D.C.) November 17, 2023 — Sunia Zaterman, executive director of the Council of Large Public Housing Authorities, released the following statement upon the Biden-Harris administration’s announcement yesterday of the U.S. Playbook to Address Social Determinants of Health and the CHIP Health-Related Social Needs Framework::

“The Council of Large Public Housing Authorities applauds the Biden-Harris administration’s publication of the U.S. Playbook to Address Social Determinants of Health and the Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) Health-Related Social Needs Framework. President Biden and HUD Secretary Marcia L. Fudge have led the nation in raising awareness of the foundational role that housing plays in improving life outcomes for low-income Americans throughout the President’s term.

“CLPHA’s Housing Is Initiative has driven the conversation for a decade on how best to bridge the housing and health sectors to improve the life outcomes of residents living in federally assisted housing. CLPHA has long supported public policies cited in the Framework such as evidence-based interventions to support housing and nutrition needs for certain Medicaid enrollees. CLPHA has also advocated for innovative solutions like waivers for Medicaid through its 1115 demonstration that allow for housing-related assistance.

“With current programs proving beneficial and innovative programs being developed we know we have the answers. Yet, for these programs to be successful they must be funded at a level that meets the need. Unfortunately, they are not funded at those levels currently. While announcements like these are important in raising the awareness of the foundational role of housing in improving health outcomes, we must continue to advocate for increased resources, including incentivizing PHA/Medicaid partnerships, so they can deliver the benefits they are designed to achieve.”

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About the Council of Large Public Housing Authorities
The Council of Large Public Housing Authorities is a national non-profit organization that works to preserve and improve public and affordable housing through advocacy, research, policy analysis and public education. CLPHA’s 80 members represent virtually every major metropolitan area in the country. Together they manage 40 percent of the nation’s public housing program; administer more than a quarter of the Housing Choice Voucher program; and operate a wide array of other housing programs. Learn more at clpha.org and on Twitter @CLPHA.

About CLPHA’s Housing Is Initiative
The Housing Is Initiative, led by the Council of Large Public Housing Authorities, helps build a future where sectors work together to improve life outcomes. Housing stability is a critical first step to improve life outcomes for low-income children, families, and seniors; CLPHA’s Housing Is Initiative is based on the premise that sectors can better meet needs when they work together. Housing Is establishes, broadens, and deepens efforts to align affordable housing, education, and health systems to produce positive, long-term results. Learn more at housingis.org and on Twitter @housing_is.

10.23.23

CLPHA, Reno & Cavanaugh Comment on Accessibility of Web Information

9.14.23

CLPHA, MTW Collaborative Submit Comments on Improving Access to HUD Programs

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Archived CLPHA Congressional Testimony & Comments

DHA CEO Testifies on Behalf of CLPHA Before House Appropriations THUD Subcommittee

Testimony of Paul Graziano before House Financial Services Committee on Hearing: “The Administration’s Proposal to Preserve and Transform Public and Assisted Housing: The Transforming Rental Assistance Initiative” (5.25.10)

5-25-10 Testimony - Transforming Rental Assistance Initiative

Testimony of Keith Kinard before Senate Financial Services Committee on Hearing: "Public Housing One-for-One Replacement and Tenant Protection Act of 2010" (4.27.10)

4-27-10 Testimony - Public Housing Preservation and One-For-One Replacement

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We are asking housing authorities and housing organizations to sign on to a similar letter to Congressional leaders urging them to retain funding for the Public Housing Capital Fund and Housing Choice Vouchers in the Build Back Better legislation. Sign-ons are Due by February 4! SIGN THE LETTER

Deadline: 5:00 PM ET Tomorrow, March 26 Urge your members of Congress to cosponsor H.R. 1904: The Broadband Justice Act of 2021. The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the growing digital divide and the deepening disparities among access to essential technology. These inequities especially impact lower income households and those living in federally assisted housing. By updating the definitions used by HUD, the Department of Treasury, and USDA for utility allowance, The Broadband Justice Act of 2021 would bring affordable broadband to 8 million households residing in federally assisted housing throughout the nation. Bolstered through the creation of a new grant program to develop the required infrastructure and additional operating funds to mitigate increased costs, access to broadband as an allowed utility would be federally subsidized, in a similar way that gas, electricity, and water currently are. Congressman Bowman (D-NY), the bill sponsor, is organizing support for the letter and has set a Friday, March 26, 5:00 pm ET deadline for House members to sign on.

ACTION: 1) CLPHA is asking you to strongly encourage your Members of Congress to cosponsor H.R. 1904: The Broadband Justice Act of 2021. 2) Your Member of Congress should fill out this form to cosponsor the bill. For additional information, please email Josh Shokoor, CLPHA Research & Policy Analyst, at jshokoor@clpha.org.

Congressional Democrats are moving the next COVID-19 bill swiftly through Congress. CLPHA and other national public housing industry groups are asking our members to sign on to a joint industry letter to be sent to congressional leadership asking for additional emergency funding and longer-term preservation resources for public housing operating funding, housing vouchers, and infrastructure funding.

The Council of Large Public Housing Authorities has endorsed H.R. 4351, the Yes in My Backyard (YIMBY) Act. The YIMBY Act, originally co-sponsored by Representatives Denny Heck (D-WA) and Trey Hollingsworth (R-IN), is a bipartisan housing bill that seeks to encourage, while not mandating, localities to advance policies that eliminate discriminatory land use policies, exclusionary zoning and other artificial barriers to building affordable housing. The YIMBY Act achieves these goals by requiring Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) recipients to report periodically on the extent to which they are removing discriminatory land use policies and implementing inclusive and affordable housing policies detailed by the bill. The YIMBY Act passed the U.S. House of Representatives unopposed under suspension of the rules on March 2, 2020, and is now in the Senate awaiting consideration. CLPHA is working with Up for Growth Action, the lead advocacy organization generating support for the bill, and is encouraging our members to sign-on as an endorser of the bill. There is a narrow window of opportunity to advance the YIMBY bill to passage after recess in September, and broad geographic, organizational, and industry support can help convince Senate leadership the bill should be considered for a vote.