WHEREAS: As Mandated by the Budget Control Act of 2011, because Congress failed to pass a bill reducing the deficit by $1.2 trillion dollars, that amount will be automatically sequestered through across-the-board budget cuts from mandatory and discretionary spending in the years 2013 – 2021, beginning with $110 billion of automatic cuts commencing on January 2nd, 2013; AND
WHEREAS: Our organization shares the vision of the Washington Low Income Housing Alliance for everyone in Washington to have the opportunity to live in a safe, healthy, affordable home; AND
WHEREAS: On any given night, more than 22,000 people are homeless and more than 132,000 extremely low-income families are spending more than half their income for rent and have trouble affording basic necessities like food and medicine in Washington State; AND
WHEREAS: Cuts to programs that serve low and moderate income renters and homeowners in urban, suburban, rural, and tribal communities will drastically reduce services and increase the number of people experiencing homelessness in Washington State including among the elderly, people with disabilities, families with children, and veterans; AND
WHEREAS: The sequestration of federally-funded housing and community development programs is directly in opposition to the goal of providing safe, healthy, affordable homes and the necessary supportive services, and the development and recovery of thriving communities; NOW
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, [Insert organization name] does find that the sequestration cuts mandated by the Budget Control Act of 2011 will cause severe harm to some of the most vulnerable residents in Washington State and are in direct contravention of our mission and our beliefs; AND
FURTHER BE IT RESOLVED: [Insert organization name] strongly opposes the sequestration of federal funding for housing and community development programs as mandated by the Budget Control Act of 2011 and strongly urges Congress to halt the non-defense, discretionary cuts in order to protect key programs that prevent and end homelessness and truly serve the most vulnerable in our communities, and instead adopt a balanced approach that includes additional revenue and upholds the federal commitments to affordable housing, community development, and ending homelessness.