Margie Quinn, Social Justice Intern

5,000,000

That’s how many low-income families, people with disabilities, and senior citizens are able to live in safe, healthy, and affordable homes thanks to Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) programs.

50%

That’s how much funding has been cut from HUD and USDA programs since 2010.

600,000

That’s the number of people experiencing homelessness on any given night across the U.S.

Image

Sequestration is bad public policy that attacks our most vulnerable neighbors and makes it impossible for poor people to find and afford safe, healthy homes. Here is a quick reminder about what sequestration is, just in case you might have forgotten. HUD and USDA housing programs work to ensure that we get people off of the street and into homes. Sadly, these programs receive a disproportionately large share of sequestration-mandated funding cuts. In other words, sequestration threatens to leave more and more people homeless.

In Washington State, the lowest income households face insurmountable home affordability challenges while local organizations that serve these individuals and families have fewer and fewer resources. Here in Washington, we have a shortage of 169,588 affordable units for extremely low-income renters.

Sequestration-mandated funding cuts have resulted in several negative state and nationwide impacts. By the end of 2014, Washington could see as many as 2,860 fewer housing vouchers due to sequestration. Less housing vouchers means fewer families housed. Additionally, project-based rental assistance cuts could also put a severe dent in the already utilized 16,010 homes. We cannot let this happen.

Image

We at the Housing Alliance believe that everyone should have the opportunity to live in a safe, healthy, affordable home. We simply cannot afford to lose even more funding for affordable housing opportunities. It’s a matter of someone having a home or living on the streets. If sequestration remains as it is, cuts to programs that assist low-income families and individuals will worsen dramatically. We refuse to watch the hardships grow for these people. We demand Congress cancel sequestration. This would allow the federal legislature to stop cutting funds for housing programs and to start passing bills that could help our most poor and vulnerable residents.

The bicameral Budget Conference Committee must make an agreement that cancels sequestration before the December 13 deadline. That’s nine days away. We ask that you help us reach out to your federal representative and senators now in order to prevent the wrong decision from being made on December 13.

Today, you have an opportunity. You have a chance to speak up about this issue. Call Congress today, and urge them to cancel sequestration in order to protect housing and homelessness programs. Your voice matters. Will you make the call?

To participate, call 866.898.2624 right now. Help us protect programs for affordable housing. Help us fight to end homelessness.