The Center on Budget Policy and Priorities (CBPP) released a report that commended the Senate Committee on Appropriations for a few of the policy proposals in its recently approved HUD appropriations bill for FY 2013. Most notably, the Senate Committee funded Housing Choice Vouchers at $17.5 billion, which is $250 million above the Obama Administration’s request for FY 2013. However, CBPP suggests that this is at least $200 million short of what will be needed to fully renew assistance for low-income families using vouchers. The Center also contends that the Senate Committee is protecting approximately 500,000 of the poorest HUD-assisted families who would have had their rents raised on average by 50 percent under the Administration’s proposal to impose a mandatory minimum monthly rent of $75.
CPBB does note that the Senate bill falls short in meeting other important goals. For instance, the organization contends that the Senate bill includes only $6.6 billion for public housing operations and capital needs, slightly less than the President’s request and well below the amount required by state and local housing authorities to maintain existing housing in good condition and prevent the further loss of developments due to deterioration. In light of the increasingly challenging budget outlook, CPBB urges the importance for Congress to pass a more substantial package of reforms in low-income housing programs.
Click here to read the report.
