Thank Congressional Champions for Federal Investments in Affordable Housing

Take Action on April 10! Thank Congressional Champions for Increased Federal Investments in Affordable Housing

Over the last year, you joined with advocates throughout the country to urge members of Congress not only to reject President Trump’s call to slash affordable housing investments, but to provide much-needed increases in funding. Congress listened, and together we achieved a 10% increase in federal investments in HUD’s programs in fiscal year (FY) 2018. Congressional champions were critical in achieving this victory.

Join NLIHC and the Campaign for Housing and Community Development Funding (CHCDF) in showing our gratitude to members of Congress who helped secure these important increases to affordable housing and community development investments. On April 10, we will be having a “Day of Thanks” to show our appreciation and encourage Congress to again reject President Trump’s proposed FY19 cuts to housing benefits that help struggling seniors, people with disabilities, families with children, and other populations keep roofs over their heads.

Show your thanks, and take action to oppose President Trump’s proposal to cut housing benefits in FY19.

1. Show your gratitude: Call, email, or tweet at Congressional champions on April 10, thanking them for rejecting harmful cuts and for increasing federal investments in important affordable housing and community development programs.
   • Twitter: We will hold a Twitter storm at 2 pm ET on April 10. Here are some sample tweets you can use:
     • Thank you @SenatorCollins @SenJackReed @MarioDB @RepDavidEPrice for your work to secure needed funding increases for affordable housing and community development programs in the FY18 appropriations bill. This funding helps ensure more people have a safe, accessible, affordable home.
     • Thank you @SenatorCollins @SenJackReed @MarioDB @RepDavidEPrice for rejecting harsh cuts in favor of providing housing for seniors, people with disabilities, families with children, veterans, and other vulnerable communities.
     • Thank you @SenatorCollins @SenJackReed @MarioDB @RepDavidEPrice for increasing funding for public housing by $959 million in FY18. This funding helps house seniors, people with disabilities, and families with children have a safe, accessible, affordable home.
     • Thank you @SenatorCollins @SenJackReed @MarioDB @RepDavidEPrice for increasing funding for Homeless Assistance Grants by $130 million. This increase will allow an additional 20,000-25,000 people to move from homelessness to housing.
     • Thank you @SenatorCollins @SenJackReed @MarioDB @RepDavidEPrice for expanding housing assistance for very low income people with disabilities. This funding can help provide vouchers to 40,000 new recipients with disabilities. 
     • Thank you @SenatorCollins @SenJackReed @MarioDB @RepDavidEPrice for expanding housing assistance for very low income people with disabilities. This funding can allow for construction of more than 1,800 new homes for persons with disabilities.
     • Thank you @SenatorCollins @SenJackReed @MarioDB @RepDavidEPrice for providing funding to create 760 new homes to help older adults age in their communities.
     • Thank you @SenatorCollins @SenJackReed @MarioDB @RepDavidEPrice for providing funding for all existing tenant-based rental assistance and provide new HUD-VASH and Family Unification Program vouchers targeted toward veterans and families.
     • Thank you @SenatorCollins @SenJackReed @MarioDB @RepDavidEPrice for increasing funding for CDBG, which allows state and local governments to respond to their communities’ needs and opportunities.
     • Thank you @SenatorCollins @SenJackReed @MarioDB @RepDavidEPrice for expanding affordable housing through the HOME program. The additional $412 million will allow for new homes for low income communities through rehabilitation, new construction, and acquisition.
   • Call: Call the Capitol switchboard at 202-224-3121 to speak with an operator who will connect you to your lawmakers.
   • Email: Email your lawmakers here.
2. Sign onto a national letter: Last year, more than 3,400 other national, state, and local organizations and governments signed a letter resulting in this year’s 10% increase to critical HUD programs. Please sign onto a similar letter for FY19 by the April 13^th deadline.Read and sign this year's letter here.
3. Begin planning for the Our Homes, Our Voices National Housing Week of Action, May 1-8. Last year, NLIHC and CHCDF– together with our members, national and state partners, mayors and other elected officials, and concerned individuals across the country – hosted more than 60 rallies, press conferences, letter writing campaigns, and other events to defeat harmful federal affordable housing funding cuts and to let members of Congress know why affordable housing matters to our communities. We will build on last year’s successes in 2018 by bringing more attention to the severe shortage of homes affordable to the lowest income people and to urge increased investments in proven solutions. Join us!

Thank you for your advocacy – it’s more important than ever!