Federal Funding at Risk

Federal Funding 1Over 340 Habitat leaders, volunteers and homeowners from across the country came together to advocate for affordable housing in Washington, D.C. in February. Representatives of Habitat for Humanity of Greater Los Angeles (Habitat LA) joined this effort and shared with elected officials that the proposed federal cuts will worsen the affordable housing crisis facing Los Angeles County and other communities across the United States.

“Too many people in greater Los Angeles are already struggling between making their housing payments and buying food for their family,” said Erin Rank, President and CEO, Habitat LA. “We are asking our representatives on Capitol Hill to make greater investments in affordable housing, not less.”

The budget recently proposed by the White House would drastically cut funds that communities use to finance the development of new affordable homes. Habitat LA has used funding from the Home Investment Partnerships Program (HOME) on the most recent 16 homes built in the cities of Montebello, Downey and Bellflower and the White House budget proposal would eliminate these types of funds. Habitat LA is calling on Congress to set aside the flawed budget proposal and instead work to prioritize solutions that will end the affordable housing crisis.

Federal Funding 2The White House’s proposed budget would also eliminate the AmeriCorps program through the shuttering of the Corporation for National and Community Service. AmeriCorps is a vital component of Habitat LA’s work to partner with more families working toward homeownership. Thousands of AmeriCorps members have served their communities in a variety of ways, including more than 10,000 members working through Habitat where they have helped build homes and helped rebuild in disaster-stricken areas.

If this proposal becomes reality, it will stop 75,000 Americans serving as AmeriCorps volunteers in more than 20,000 communities across the country where they are responding to natural disasters, addressing the housing crisis, fighting the opioid epidemic, supporting our veterans, and teaching and mentoring at-risk students.

To donate and help fill the affordable housing funding gap in Los Angeles click here, or if you would like to join Habitat LA in telling Congress to reject these devastating proposed budget cuts please click here and add your voice to the conversation.