| Here’s
a question. How can the federal government claim to be
ending homelessness, while every year it cuts funding
to housing and other programs that serve the poor?
Quick answer: A.) because the numbers are complicated
enough to easily lie about, and B.) people who should
know better let them get away with it.
Last month, the President sent his FY08 Budget to Congress,
and it includes what amounts to an 8 percent reduction
in HUD funding from what are likely to be FY07 levels.
What does this mean? I think Barney Frank said it best
in his statement: “It is now clear the President
is choosing to cut assistance to those in need and resources
to our cities and communities in order to finance the
tax cuts and the war in Iraq.”
It also means that, if this request stands, public housing
operating funds will be around 15 percent short of what
is actually needed. It means that Community Development
Block Grant funds for a range of poor people’s programs
will be cut by 20 percent. It means that housing funds
for elderly and disabled people will be cut. It means
that funding for Section 8 housing vouchers will be cut
and there will be a rule change to make them harder to
count.
But, on the bright side, there’s another $117 million
in Homeless Assistance Grants. Are we ending homelessness
yet?
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