National CAPACD condemns the Administration’s proposed measures to fire half the staff at the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Such a significant reduction in the workforce will make it impossible for communities across the country to access critical housing programs. These programs are vital to low-income families and other historically marginalized communities who face the greatest barriers to accessing safe and affordable housing. 

“Scaling back on critical programs that keep families housed will increase foreclosures, evictions, and homelessness if adopted,” says Seema Agnani, Chief Executive Officer of National CAPACD. “Housing costs are rising faster than wages, and we are dealing with an acute shortage of affordable housing supply. These factors alone are making it increasingly hard for all households, particularly low-income families and communities of color, to secure housing that is safe, stable, and affordable. A significant reduction in staff at the agency primarily responsible for providing funding and resources to manage these challenges is dangerous and misguided. These staffers also play an essential role in addressing HUD violations through enforcement.” 

HUD funds programs such as Housing Counseling, Section 8 rental assistance, the HOME Investment Partnerships, and Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) programs, including CDBG-Disaster Relief (DR). It also administers Section 202 Supportive Housing for the Elderly. These programs develop and rehabilitate affordable housing, provide rental assistance for struggling families, revitalize neighborhoods, help communities recover from natural disasters, provide housing for vulnerable seniors on fixed incomes, and fund coaching programs that support people to find and maintain stable housing. 

Help keep people in their homes and invest in safe and affordable housing so that families, particularly those living paycheck to paycheck, have a place to live. Our partners at the National Low Income Housing Coalition have set up an easy way for you to contact your senators and representatives and let them know why it is critical to protect the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).