Even before the Budget Control Act of 2011 was adopted and sequestration took effect, programs that rely on discretionary federal funding had been cut sharply and millions of Americans have been hurt in the process. A new report from NDD United, Faces of Austerity: How Budget Cuts Have Made Us Sicker, Poorer, and Less Secure, tells the stories of those who have been impacted most by Washington’s austerity measures. The report highlights austerity’s impact concerning housing starting on page 25:
For fiscal year 2013, proposed HUD funding represents less than 1 percent of all federal spending and only 5 percent of discretionary spending. This small investment in HUD generates cost savings in other government funded activities and makes them more effective, including health care, law enforcement, education and employment. Prior to sequestration, HUD estimated that hundreds of thousands of households would be negatively affected and that tens of thousands of jobs would be lost. Currently, public housing agencies are forced to serve fewer families with vouchers and may have to increase tenants’ rents. Pubic and non-profit agencies have eliminated staff. Private investment leveraged by community development programs is at risk. These 2013 cuts will have serious repercussions for years to come if they are not reversed quickly. Fewer housing vouchers used in 2013 may result in permanent loss of units; deferral of public housing repairs may result in shuttering… USDA estimated that, due to sequestration, 15,000 low-income tenants could lose housing assistance. In July 2013, USDA notified 900 property owners that it would not be able to pay rental assistance contracts until October 2013 and that property owners should manage this funding gap. While USDA is attempting to convince owners to continue contracts, it is not clear whether thousands of units will be lost.
Read the full report here. See Also: Sequestration Could Cut Housing Assistance for 185,000 People Next Year
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