HUD published data on its web site recently that could be helpful to housing authorities as they argue for more adequate funding for low-income housing programs. The data describes the negative effects the VA/HUD bill (HR 2684) would have on certain communities and states.

HUD's charts project the total dollars lost for communities; the impact on jobs; the impact on housing units for low-income families; and the number of homeless and persons with AIDS that would not receive assistance as a result of the cuts.

The document, "Losing Ground: The Impact of HUD Budget Cuts on America's Communities," is available on the HUD web site at http://www.hud.gov/pressrel/losegrnd.html. Appendix B, which lists the impact on communities, is at http://www.hud.gov/pressrel/budgcuts.html.

NOTE: Some of the negative impacts projected in the HUD chart are based on the cut in Public Housing Capital Grants. The HUD press release says that "public housing capital funds would be cut by $445 million, despite the huge backlog of rehab and repair needs in the Nation's housing of last resort." However, what HUD doesn't say is that the Clinton administration is just as responsible for this huge cut. The administration's FY 2000 budget request asks for just $2.555 billion for modernization, the same amount as the House bill.

PHADA FRONT