Letter
Letter to the U.S. Senate Regarding Capitalization for the National Housing Trust Fund, December 10, 2010
December 10, 2010
United States Senate
Washington, DC 20510
Dear Senator:
On behalf of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, I urge you to ensure access to affordable housing by providing capitalization for the National Housing Trust Fund.
Congress wisely created the National Housing Trust Fund in 2008 because it recognized the importance of providing communities with resources to build, preserve, and rehabilitate affordable housing units for extremely low-income households. As 2010 draws to a close, Congress must fulfill its commitment to low-income families by providing funding for this vital resource.
In their dioceses throughout the country, Catholic bishops continue to witness the scourge of housing insecurity. For too many families, affordable and decent housing is painfully difficult to find. By capitalizing the Housing Trust Fund, senators would send a clear message that they are cognizant of and responsive to the basic needs of their most vulnerable constituents.
According to the National Low Income Housing Coalition, $1 billion would support the immediate construction of 10,000 affordable rental homes, creating over 15,000 construction jobs and 3,800 permanent jobs in ongoing operations. More than just compassionate social policy, capitalization of the Trust Fund would also be sensible economic stimulus.
As this Congress draws to a close, I urge you to give priority to the most vulnerable among us and provide funding for the National Housing Trust Fund.
Sincerely,
Most Reverend Stephen E. Blaire
Chairman
Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development