National Housing Justice Memorial Day: May 26, 2004

Demand That HUD End its Attack Against Section 8!

Show Your Support for Affordable, Fair Housing!

Join in a national day of action!

Below is an e-mail I received today from Erhard Mahnke of the Vermont Affordable Housing Coalition (VAHC) concerning a planned protest of the HUD office located in Burlington, Vermont on May 26, 2004.

Read Erhard's e-mail if you want to learn why this particular protest is taking place.

From: Erhard Mahnke erhardm@vtaffordablehousing.org
Date: Thu, 20 May 2004 08:30:13 -0400
Subject: SECTION 8 PROTEST -- MAY 26 -- BURLINGTON
To: Affordable Housing Coalition Members & Friends


The Section 8 Program is Under Attack!

The Section 8 Housing Voucher Program provides safe, affordable, integrated housing to more than two million American families. These vouchers are the main lifeline for 6,100 of Vermont's lowest income families.

DEMONSTRATION

HOUSING JUSTICE MEMORIAL DAY

Noon to 1:00 PM

May 26th, 2004

Burlington HUD Office

(corner of Bank and Church Streets)

If HUD's FY 2005 budget plan becomes reality:

q The number of Section 8 vouchers serving the very lowest income citizens would be cut – up to 740 Vermont families could lose assistance next year!

q Rents would increase for those who get to keep their Section 8 vouchers – Vermont families could pay an average of $58 per month more!

q For the first time in the program's thirty-year history, HUD would abandon its commitment to fund all families currently receiving assistance!

q Vermont could lose up to $4.3 million in 2005 alone. The state cannot make up the difference from its already strapped budget.

In addition, a recent HUD ruling is already forcing housing authorities all over the country to terminate Section 8 families in the current fiscal year. While Vermont housing authorities will not lose large numbers of vouchers this fiscal year, they will lose significant admin funding, crippling their ability to run the program.

DEMAND THAT HUD END ITS ATTACK AGAINST SECTION 8!

Show Your Support for Affordable, Fair Housing!

Join in a national day of action!

• For more info, contact the Vermont Affordable Housing Coalition (erhardm@vtaffordablehousing.org),
or the Vermont Center for Independent Living (janetd@vcil.org) •

[Note: The VAHC Website is still under construction]


Related blog posts:

[Vermont] Housing agencies face another cut

[Hpn] Section 8 op-ed by Nancy Pelosi


For additional information concerning these and related matters, go to:


Via the Vermont Housing Awareness Campaign Website:

Experts: Housing cuts could lead to crisis
(Text; Associated Press; 05/06/04)

Funding cuts may reduce subsidies for low-income housing
(Link to Vermont Public Radio; 05/07/04)


Via the Los Angeles Coalition to End Hunger and Homelessness (LACEH&H) Website:

Read the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities’ analysis ...

Talking Points on the Housing Choice Voucher Program Re: Full Funding of Existing and Additional Vouchers


Via the National Low Income Housing Coalition (NLIHC) Website:

NLIHC Call(s) to Action:

April 30, 2004: Tell Congress: HUD must withdraw its new voucher policy that will force families out of their homes.

May 11, 2004: Urge your Representative to join a letter calling for full funding of the Section 8 program in 2005.

About NLIHC:

The National Low Income Housing Coalition is dedicated solely to ending America’s affordable housing crisis. We believe that this is achievable, that the affordable housing crisis is a problem that Americans are capable of solving. While we are concerned about the housing circumstances of all low income people, we focus our advocacy on those with the most serious housing problems, the lowest income households.

Via the National Coalition for the Homeless (NCH) Website:

Bringing America Home: A Campaign to End Homelessness! [As of] May 14: The Bringing America Home Act now has 46 Congressional cosponsors!

National Coalition for the Homeless (NCH) Housing Justice Project

2004 Voting Rights manual: People experiencing homelessness have the right to vote in 2004. Register and make your voice heard!

Dates to Remember in 2004:

September 26-Oct. 2: National Homeless Voter Registration Week

November 2: Election Day!

Register to Vote! Your Vote Matters in 2004.