House and Senate Committees Approve Budget Versions
This week the House Appropriations Committee and a Senate Appropriations Subcommittee approved their versions of the FY 2011 Housing and Urban Development (HUD) appropriations bill. Click here to review a full summary of the HUD budget prepared by NLIHC.
Homeless Housing Assistance grants get a $190 million increase over FY 2010 to $2.055 billion in the Senate version which is the same amount that President Obama asked for in his budget. The House version included $2.2 billion. This is an 18% increase but still not enough. Click here to read our post on the need for $2.4 billion.
The higher funding level recognizes the enactment in 2009 of the Homeless Emergency Assistance and Rapid Transition to Housing (HEARTH) Act and the desire on the part of the House Appropriations Committee for grantees to make significant progress in the prevention of, and rapid resolution of, homelessness in the Nation.
Also, included within the overall Section 8 funding level in the House and Senate versions is $85 million for HUD to use in coordination with the Department of Health and Human Services in a “Housing and Services for Homeless Persons Demonstration” program. The demonstration is intended to break down silos among HUD and HSS programs that should be focused on homeless individuals in a holistic manner.
To view HUD’s overview of this demonstration program click here.
Both budgets include $75 million for 10,000 VASH vouchers. The President’s budget had not asked for funding for VASH vouchers.
The House bill provides $825 million for the Section 202 elderly housing and $300 million for the Section 811 disabled housing programs in the House bill and $200 million in the Senate version. HUD had not requested funding for either program saying it wanted to put in place reforms to increase program efficiency.
The Senate and the House concurred with the President to provide $114 million dollars for Section 811 Mainstream renewals.
The Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS gets a $15 million increase in the House Committee-approved bill to $350 million over the amount provided in FY 2010. The Senate bill provides $340 million for HOPWA.
The House bill is expected to be considered by the full House prior to the August recess. Senate floor action is uncertain.
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