Protect Federal Housing Resources:
Congress Needs to Hear from You

Right now, critical federal programs and resources that keep people in stable homes are under attack.

This is part of just-released proposals to cut funding that serves families and communities with health care, food assistance and other needs through Medicaid, SNAP and other programs.

We need more federal support to address our nation’s longstanding housing crisis. Instead, significant budget cuts loom as many members of Congress prioritize tax breaks for corporations and the wealthy over federal spending on basic human needs.

Meanwhile, government and nonprofit employees are under attack based on unsupported accusations.

The U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD) and other federal agencies, such as the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), rely on community-based nonprofits, state and local governments, as well as owners of housing in the private market, to implement critical housing programs.

What's at stake?

Vital programs that support crucial work, including:

• Preventing and ending homelessness through funding of Continuum of Care networks covering every county in Illinois
• Providing resources that help people afford rent in the private market (e.g., Housing Choice Vouchers and Project-Based Section 8), as well as publicly owned housing
• Assisting people in becoming homeowners through HUD-approved housing counseling programs, which offer unbiased expert guidance as clients work with private mortgage lenders, as well as to keep homes through funding for home repair programs
• Educating people about federal fair housing laws and helping people exercise their rights
• Revitalizing and keeping properties and neighborhoods vital through programs like CDBG and HOME
• Eliminating health hazards in homes, particularly through funding to address the presence of lead in water and paint
• Providing heating assistance to keep people warm during the winter through LIHEAP
• Serving rural communities by supporting affordable rental housing and home ownership opportunities through USDA programs  

These Programs are Essential

The widespread, positive impact these programs have in Illinois is clear. For example:  

• These programs help provide stable homes for children, seniors, and people with disabilities. 421,500 Illinoisans (221,000 households) rely on federal rental assistance to afford modest housing. Two-thirds (67%) are seniors, children, or people with disabilities.
• Rental assistance supports working families in making ends meet. 53% of non-disabled, working-age Illinois households receiving HUD rental assistance include at least one worker.

Right now, 4 in 10 low-income people in Illinois are experiencing homelessness or pay over half their income for rent. However, most of those who are eligible do not receive federal rental assistance, due to limited funding. Waiting lists to get rent assistance are generally closed or years long.

The budget cuts currently being proposed at present will result in even fewer people being assisted. This will result in more evictions and more homelessness, at a time when these are already both increasing due to the shortage of affordable housing.

Please contact your members of Congress as soon as possible. The importance of getting our messages to elected officials will undoubtedly continue to increase, especially as March 14 gets nearer. This is the expiration date for the current Continuing Resolution (CR) for fiscal year 2025, which is keeping the federal government operating.

Please thank our members of Congress who are working to protect and expand federal housing resources, including providing the highest possible funding levels for HUD programs in the final fiscal year 2025 budget.

If your Congressional representative supports budget cuts to pay for tax breaks for wealthy people and corporations, let them know you don’t agree. Speak up about how this will hurt your neighbors and community.