Legislative & Policy

U.S. Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ) is leading an effort in the Senate to boost FY20 funding for public housing. His office has asked CLPHA for help in encouraging other Senators to sign onto the letter to the Appropriations Committee requesting full funding of the Public Housing Operating Fund at 100 percent proration, $5 billion for the Public Housing Capital Fund, and $200 million for the Choice Neighborhoods program.

The following messages are being sent to other U.S. Senators:

 

PUBLIC HOUSING:

Sen. Menendez is inviting other Senators to sign a Dear Colleague letter in support of the Public Housing Operating Fund and the Public Housing Capital Fund. The letter requests full funding of the Public Housing Operating Fund at 100 percent proration and $5 billion for the Public Housing Capital Fund. The Operating Fund provides the subsidies necessary to cover the difference between the rents paid by residents and the operating costs of the property. According to HUD, their request represents a 54 percent proration of formula eligibility for Operating Funds and eliminates the Capital Fund.

Please encourage your Senators to sign on by contacting Erika Calderon at [email protected].

 

CHOICE NEIGHBORHOODS:

Sen. Menendez is inviting other Senators to sign a Dear Colleague letter in support of $200 million for the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Choice Neighborhoods program.

The Choice Neighborhoods program holds great promise as a way to improve economic opportunity, reduce concentrated poverty, and revitalize distressed communities.  The program’s targeting of local community planning and implementation generates a ripple effect, attracting new private investment to the revived communities.  For Fiscal Year’s 2010-2015, the program leveraged outside investment at a more than seven to one ratio, bringing in an additional $3.69 billion.  The requested funding for FY 2020 would allow the Department to fund five to ten Planning and Action Grants, to be allocated through a competitive process, and six Implementation Grants.

The President’s FY20 budget eliminates funding for the Choice Neighborhoods program.

Please encourage your Senators to sign on by contacting Erika Calderon at [email protected].

 

 

 

Encourage Your Members of Congress to Write to Sec. Carson

CLPHA is hosting a member call on Friday, February 22 at 1:00 PM ET to solicit member feedback on the notice of changes to the Annual Contributions Contract (ACC) that was published on December 27. A draft of CLPHA’s comments is available here.

If you have an example of how the proposed conflict of interest policy creates inconsistencies with local or state requirements (page 6), please email Emily Warren at [email protected] or share that information on the member call. 

A set of talking points on the proposed changes to the ACC is available here. Please encourage your members of Congress to write to HUD to express their concern about the proposed changes.

 

Call Details:

Date: Friday, February 22

Time: 1:00 PM ET/10:00 AM PT

Call in number: (719) 867-1571

Passcode: 349101

 

RSVP for the Call

The bipartisan Congressional Public Housing Caucus, is still seeking new Members of the U.S. House of Representatives to join the Caucus. 

CLPHA conceived and helped establish the Caucus and we remain strongly committed to building its membership. The goal of the Caucus is to connect Members of Congress and their staff with key stakeholders of public and affordable housing, as well as educate them on the latest policy developments. 

ACTION:

We need your help in promoting the Caucus to Members of the U.S. House of Representatives. 

Please reach out to your Representatives and encourage them to join the bipartisan Congressional Public Housing Caucus.  

To join, Members of Congress should contact Mark Gilbride of Rep. Stivers’ staff (225-2015; [email protected]) or Jennifer Shapiro of Rep. Cleaver's staff (225-4535; [email protected]).