December 14, 2007
ACTION ALERT! URGE CONGRESS TO PASS THE 2008 APPROPRIATIONS BILL!
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"Hey Congress, it's me. Don't lock poor people out." |
Join Housing Works, the National Alliance to End Homelessness (NAEH), and the National AIDS Housing Coalition(NAHC) in the fight to keep affordable housing available for people with AIDS.
About four months ago, the Update reported that a House of Representatives subcommittee had approved a slender increase to President Bush's funding request for the Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA) program—despite President Bush’s threat to veto such spending boosts. The full House approved the money: $300.1 million—the largest HOPWA budget ever—as part of the Fiscal Year 2008 Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Appropriations bill.
Now, due to ongoing threats from the President to veto the omnibus 2008 Appropriations bill, which includes HUD programs like HOPWA, Congress may be forced to cut funding from necessary programs used by citizens with HIV/AIDS.
“HOPWA is slated for the biggest increase in the history of the program,” said Nancy Bernstine, Executive Director of NAHC. “But HOPWA will never be enough on its own. That’s why it’s critical that we let our elected officials know that we must have adequate funding for the range of federal low-income housing programs relied upon by people with HIV/AIDS.”
If the bill does not pass with a veto-proof majority, Congress will be forced to cut programs further until either the President signs the bill or there are enough votes to override his veto. Please call your House Members TODAY and ask them to vote FOR the 2008 Appropriations bill.
“When Congress hears from constituents around the country about how important these housing programs are, it makes a real difference in the kinds of results Congress achieves,” said Steve Berg, a policy expert at the NAEH.
House offices can be reached via the Capitol Switchboard at 1-877-210-5351. Call and speak with the staff person who works on HUD appropriations issues. Talking points:
- "I am calling on behalf of (ORGANIZATION), in (CITY), to ask Representative ____ to support passage of the fiscal year 2008 Appropriations Bill when it is considered by the House this week."
- "Congress has already compromised with the President on funding increases. Your boss's vote is critical to securing a veto-proof majority to prevent further cuts. Less funding for the Department of Housing and Urban Development would mean the actual loss of housing assistance for some people currently being served."
- Describe how people in the Congress person's district rely on programs like HOPWA, the Community Development Block Grant program (CDBG), Section 8, and Homeless Assistance Grants. Talk about the desperate need for more housing assistance.
- Describe people who are suffering because of housing foreclosures, and veterans who desperately need housing assistance.