Ironically, as Congress recesses for the Thanksgiving holiday, HOPWA FY 2008 appropriations remain unsettled despite the first time ever agreement among the Administration, the House and the Senate on the highest funding level ever in the program's history, $300.1 m. By a non-veto proof vote of 270-147, the House on November 14, 2007 approved H. Rep. 110-446, the Conference Report to accompany H.R. 3074, Transportation, Housing and Urban Development and Related Agencies FY 2008 appropriations.  Click here to see how your House member voted.

 

The President strongly opposes the bill and has threatened a veto because it exceeds his own request by over $3 billion, which the Administration characterizes as "unwarranted spending".  He also takes issue with specific issues around Department of Transportation spending and earmarks within the HUD account.  Click here for the full text of the Administration's position.

 

HUD programs, woefully underfunded in the context of the overall THUD appropriations measure, are likely to fare poorly if the Administration forces reductions to meet its spending targets.  One example of the HUD programs that will suffer dramatically under the Administration scheme is section 8 project-based voucher renewals, for which the President has proposed $1.9 billion less than the Congress approved. The proposed reductions would result in the loss of housing units for current tenants and serve as a disincentive for private landlords to remain in the program.  The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities has prepared an extensive analysis of the impact of a forced reduction to Administration proposed levels.

 

Though the proposed  funding is inadequate to address actual need, the HOPWA program fared relatively well in relation to other programs such as public housing, housing for people with disabilities (811) and elderly housing (202).  With two to three additional HOPWA formula jurisdictions estimated to become eligible during 2008 and shrinking or non-existence alternative housing resources in many communities, AIDS housing cannot withstand reductions virtually inevitable in a scenario in which the administration forces reductions in THUD programs to drive funding levels closer to his 2008 budget proposal.

 

Timing for Senate action on the THUD conference report is uncertain.

On October 10, 2007 the groundbreaking National Affordable Housing Trust Fund (H.R. 2895) passed the House on a bi-partisan vote of 264-148.  The Trust Fund, long supported by AIDS housers and service providers, would create 1.5 million units of affordable housing over ten years from a dedicated source of funding, not subject to the whims of the annual appropriations process.  The measure looks to multiple funding sources including, but not limited to FHA surpluses and Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac profits.  The bill was ably maneuvered to passage by Chairman Barney Frank (D-MA), chair of the House Financial Services Committee with the support of Housing Subcommittee chair Maxine Waters (D-CA) and others.  Companion legislation is being crafted for introduction in the Senate likely by Senators John Kerry (D-MA), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Russ Feingold (D-WI) and others.  It is hoped that Senate Banking Committee members, including Senators Charles Schumer (D-NY) and Jack Reed (D-RI).  The National Housing Trust Fund Campaign is pursuing bi-partisan co-sponsorship.  Senators Norm Coleman (R-MN), Arlen Specter (R-PA), Susan Collins (R-ME) and Olympia Snowe (R-ME) are among Republicans being sought for co-sponsorship.

 

Click here for the most updated press from the National Housing Trust Fund Campaign.

 

In a related development on November 16, Sen. Jack Reed introduced the Government Sponsored Enterprise Mission Improvement Act. The bill would amend the Housing and Community Development Act of 1992 to strengthen the affordable housing mission of Government Sponsored Enterprises (GSEs) Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. 

 

The bill would require Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to set aside 4.2 basis points on each dollar of unpaid principle balance of total new business purchases for an Affordable Housing Program (AHP). Sixty-five percent of the AHP would go toward an Affordable Housing Block Grant Program (AHBGP), the purpose of which would be to increase and preserve the supply of rental housing and increase homeownership for extremely low and very low income households.  Should a National Affordable Housing Trust Fund be enacted at any point in the future, the HUD Secretary would be required to transfer funds from the AHBGP to the trust fund.

 

Click here for an analysis of the Government Sponsored Enterprise Mission Improvement Act by the National Low Income Housing Coalition.

Since the launch of the International AIDS Housing Roundtable (IAHR), NAHC has made a concerted effort to reach various populations impacted by the lack of affordable housing.  Next month, the National AIDS Housing Coalition will launch a Spanish language version of the Policy Toolkit.  According to the Kaiser Foundation (July 2007 HIV/AIDS Policy Fact Sheet), Latinos in the United States continue to be affected by the HIV/AIDS epidemic, accounting for a greater proportion of AIDS cases than their representation in the U.S. population overall, and the second highest AIDS case rate in the nation, by race/ethnicity.  Click here to view more statistics on HIV/AIDS and the Latino community.

 

The NAHC Policy Toolkit, developed through a grant from the San Francisco AIDS Foundation, translates research findings confirming the critical role of housing in HIV/AIDS prevention, care and treatment into a user friendly format to inform public policy at the local, state and federal level.  NAHC understands the importance of making comprehensive information regarding HIV/AIDS housing available to all persons affected directly and indirectly by the lack of stable housing.

In our ongoing effort to educate policymakers and others about the crucial role of stable housing in HIV/AIDS prevention and healthcare, NAHC is once again enlisting your help. We are calling on you to take our short survey and tell us how you feel about housing related issues in your neighborhood or region. Completing this survey will help us to better advocate for more resources and sound policy for HIV/AIDS housing.