PHADA sent the following letter to Office of Management and Budget Director, Jacob Lew concerning the Administration's budget request for fiscal year 2001. PHADA members are encouraged to contact OMB, as well, (at the address on the letter) in order to make the case for adequate funding. At this time, OMB and HUD are in the early stages of developing the next budget request. The Administration's FY 2001 budget request will be formally sent to Congress in February of 2000.

Public Housing Authorities Directors Association 511 Capitol Court, NE, Washington, DC 20002 phone: 202-546-5445   fax: 202-546-2280    www.phada.org November 17, 1999 Mr. Jacob Lew Director Office of Management and Budget New Executive Office Building 17 Street and Pennsylvania Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20503 Dear Mr. Lew: PHADA represents the professional administrators of more than 1,700 housing authorities from all over the United States. I am writing on behalf of our membership to request that your office provide adequate public housing funding in its FY 2001 budget "passback" to HUD. Public housing provides safe, sanitary and affordable shelter to 1.2 million households in more than 13,000 developments around the United States. More than 40 percent of all public housing residents are either elderly or disabled. In addition, contrary to conventional wisdom, the income of more than two-thirds of all public housing households is derived from sources other than public assistance. The median income of these families is roughly $7,000 per year. Given these demographics, it is critical that the administration and Congress provide sufficient support to the program and the residents it serves. Absent adequate appropriations, the federal government would be neglecting its commitment to some of society's most vulnerable citizens and families trying to move up the ladder of self-sufficiency. The administration's original FY 2000 budget proposal to Congress last February was significantly lacking in terms of public housing funding. Ultimately, however, you and your colleagues at OMB and HUD were able to work with Congress to secure additional funds for operating subsidies, capital grants and drug elimination funds. Our members greatly appreciated your efforts in this regard. We urge you to continue the positive course established with the final FY 2000 VA/HUD bill and propose adequate funding for next fiscal year. PHADA is presently conducting an analysis of operating subsidy and capital fund needs and will forward that analysis to you and the appropriate HUD and congressional officials soon as possible. After completing that process, we will adjust our recommendations up or down as reflected in our budget analysis. In the meantime, we support a position advanced by the Central New York Housing Authorities Association (CNYHA), proposing at least a 5 percent increase above the amounts PHADA and CNYHA jointly recommended for FY 2000. Those recommendations included: Operating subsidies -- $3.2 billion Capital funds -- $3 billion Drug Elimination Grants -- $310 million Thank you for your consideration of PHADA's position. Please do not hesitate to contact me should you need more information concerning this matter. Sincerely, Timothy G. Kaiser Executive Director

The cut-off date for making reservations at the Anaheim Marriott Hotel is December 17. The deadline for receiving PHADA's "early bird" conference registration fee, meanwhile, is December 8.

Since hotel availability is diminishing every day, members are strongly encouraged to make their plans now. The hotel's telephone number is (714) 750-8000. More information about the conference, including registration forms, can be found at http://www.phada.org/cc-home.html

PHADA FRONT