rich 1.0 Action Network https://actionnetwork.org <link href='https://actionnetwork.org/css/style-embed-v3.css' rel='stylesheet' type='text/css' /><script src='https://actionnetwork.org/widgets/v6/letter/congress-must-invest-in-housing-not-cut-funding?format=js&source=widget'></script><div id='can-letter-area-congress-must-invest-in-housing-not-cut-funding' style='width: 100%'><!-- this div is the target for our HTML insertion --></div> CHN Action https://actionnetwork.org/groups/coalition-on-human-needs https://actionnetwork.org//images/generic_facebook.jpg Everyone deserves affordable, accessible, stable housing and in order to reach this goal, our federal government must invest in—not cut—critical housing programs. According to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), on any given night in 2022, 582,500 people were experiencing homelessness—with 72% of adults experiencing homelessness also having children present. Millions are facing higher housing costs and housing instability, with only one in four eligible households able to participate in federal rental assistance because of lack of funding. Because of continually increasing rents charged by landlords, Congress must annually increase HUD funding just to maintain current levels of assistance. While Congress narrowly avoided a government shutdown, the stopgap spending proposed by right-wing Republicans in the House—which did not pass—proposed a 30% cut in non-defense spending, which would have decimated HUD programs. Congress has until November 17th to work out a budget deal to keep the federal government funded for FY2024 and we—as advocates and members of directly impacted communities—must do all we can to ensure that funding for HUD programs is increased to keep up with incredible need. We’re joining our coalition partners and demanding members of Congress oppose any budget amendments that would cut federal investments in affordable housing and homelessness programs, including: Eliminating funding for the Housing for Persons with AIDs (HOPWA) program Cutting in half funding for Community Development Block Grants Reducing HUD funding by either $4.95 billion or to FY2019 levels Cutting funding for fair housing activities and rental assistance Undermining HUD’s ability to use evidence-based approaches to address homelessness Forcing mixed-status immigrant households to separate or face eviction from HUD housing Prohibiting HUD from implementing or enforcing its Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing rule Preventing HUD from providing financial assistance to certain able-bodied individuals Imposing rigid work reporting requirements and drug testing We know that the pandemic hit families with babies and small children the hardest. We also know that safe, stable housing is crucial to the emotional, mental, and intellectual development of babies and children. The Children’s Defense Fund recently released a report showing that 1 in every 45 children enrolled in public schools in the United States is unhoused, with a disproportionate number having disabilities, being non-native English speakers, and children of color. Congress has until November 17th—when the stopgap spending bill ends—to pass funding bills to avoid a government shutdown. Click “Start Writing” to send a direct message to Congress to support the highest level of funding for housing and homelessness programs. https://actionnetwork.org/letters/8888c3e3c6fd8701ad70d591908b1683294f61cf