John,

Everyone deserves affordable, accessible, stable housing and in order to reach this goal, our federal government must invest in—not cut—critical housing programs.

According to the National Low Income Housing Coalition, there is a national shortage of more than 7.3 million affordable apartments for our nation’s 11 million families with extremely low incomes. This means that there are only 33 affordable apartments for every 100 extremely low-income families.¹

At a time when millions are struggling to keep a roof over their heads, Congress is considering cuts to current levels of housing assistance.

We know that lack of access to affordable housing doesn’t affect all communities equally. Black, Indigenous, and other people of color continue to be overrepresented among the population experiencing housing instability and homelessness. For example, Black people make up just 13% of the total U.S. population, yet comprise 37% of all people experiencing homelessness and 50% of people in families with children experiencing homelessness.²

Without stable housing, people have difficulty accessing stable employment, education, and reliable health care—the effects of which can be felt for generations. Congress is making decisions now about spending levels that could mean many in our communities will lose rental assistance—and it’s up to us to raise our voices to push back.

Join the Coalition on Human Needs and our allies in urging Congress to increase—not cut—funding for critical housing programs.

Thank you for all you do,

Meredith Dodson
Senior Director of Public Policy, Coalition on Human Needs

¹ National Low Income Housing Coalition, The Gap: A Shortage of Affordable Homes
² The 2023 Annual Homelessness Assessment Report (AHAR to Congress) Part 1: Point-In-Time Estimates of Homelessness, December 2023

-- DEBORAH's EMAIL --

John,

Congress has underfunded housing and homelessness resources for decades and now after dramatic increases in housing costs and price gouging by corporate landlords, many families are struggling to keep a roof over their heads.

A new report from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) reveals that homelessness increased by 12%, or 70,650 more people, in 2023—a record high.¹ On a single night in January of 2023, 653,100 people—20 out of every 10,000 people in the U.S.—were experiencing homelessness.²

And Congress’ “solution” is, sadly, to make it worse.

When Congress returns next week, they need to immediately work to pass funding bills or we’ll face a partial government shutdown on January 19th. Speaker Mike Johnson is threatening to cut current funding levels, which would eliminate housing assistance for nearly 700,000 households and produce 3,000 fewer units of affordable housing.³ Even the Senate’s bipartisan bill that substantially increases funding for the Housing Choice Vouchers—America’s largest rental assistance program—wouldn’t fund all existing vouchers and would leave 6,000 families without assistance.⁴

In the richest nation in the world, no one should be without safe, stable housing. Join us in calling on Congress to fully invest in funding for housing and homelessness programs now. Click here to take action today >>

Our housing assistance under current law is grossly inadequate. 3 out of 4 families who need and qualify for assistance don’t receive any at all, often placed on waiting lists that can take years to receive a voucher.⁵ From June 2020 to June 2023, rents increased by 28% while the average cost of a voucher increased by 17% during that same period.⁶ If Congress doesn’t ensure there is adequate funding for housing assistance and vouchers don’t keep up with rent costs, families will not be able to afford housing and even more could face homelessness. At a time when more help is needed, fewer will get it.

Housing is a basic human right. We must fight to ensure everyone is securely housed. Send a message to Congress demanding they invest in housing and community services, not put these critical programs at risk.

Thank you for all you do,

Deborah Weinstein
Executive Director, Coalition on Human Needs

¹ Homelessness in the U.S. jumped to record level in 2023, government says
² The 2023 Annual Homelessness Assessment Report (AHAR to Congress) Part 1: Point-In-Time Estimates of Homelessness, December 2023
³ Implications of a Date-Change, Full-Year CR
⁴ Final Appropriations Package Will Need Additional Funding to Avoid Rental Assistance Cuts
⁵ Long Waitlists for Housing Vouchers Show Pressing Unmet Need for Assistance
⁶ Final Appropriations Package Will Need Additional Funding to Avoid Rental Assistance Cuts