Federal Advocacy Actions

• PH Capital ‘Formula’ supported in JOBS bills
• Community Development Lobbying in Washington, DC
• FY 11 PHA Program Funding Advocacy-NYS Congressional Delegation
• Memo to NYSARHO Members on Budget & Funding Issues
• Federalization Letter to Secretary Donovan
• Section 8/HCV Issues & Program Links (Rich Wankel) 


NYSARHO lobbies U.S. Senators for Additional PH Capital Formula Funds

Operating, Capital & Section 8

NYSAHRO appealed to the NYS Congressional Delegation to support of FY 11 public housing funding levels as outlined below. President Jeff McTiernan stated, “This funding is critical to serving low-income persons including the elderly, disabled and families. High unemployment and a weak economy increase the need for affordable housing options in communities across NYS. We are a partner in the effort to address the local needs within our communities but we need strong support for our federally funded programs to maximize our efforts.”

• The Waters’ letter seeks $5 billion in funding for both the Operating Fund and for the Capital Fund, $19.55 billion for Section 8 tenant-based and $9.38 billion for S8 project-based rental assistance. These are good funding levels for these programs, especially for the Capital Fund where the Administration has proposed a $456 million funding reduction below FY2010.
• The Nadler-Velázquez letter calls for full funding for both the tenant-based and project-based accounts and calls on the Appropriation Subcommittee to provide an additional 250,000 Section 8 vouchers tenant-based vouchers.

President’s Budget & JOBS, JOBS, JOBS

A February 3rd memo to NYSARHO membership highlights FY 11 funding issues, including the proposed freeze on domestic discretionary spending which includes PHA & CDA funding. It is the responsibility of the industry to justify ongoing funding needs and educate our elected officials on the economic benefits to our communities created by federal PHA and CDA program funding-particularly capital funds.

 

NYSARHO Requests HUD Secretary Support for Federalization of PH Units with ARRA Funds

NYSARHO President, Jeff McTiernan, (ED, Ilion Housing Authority / ED, Village of St. Johnsville Housing Authority) wrote to HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan requesting his support for using American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funds as a resource to increase the federal public housing stock while also providing the ongoing operating and capital funds to support those new federal housing units. A number of NYS housing authorities pursued the transfer of state-owned public housing to the federal public housing program under a provision of ARRA and with the support of DHCR. This temporary provision lifted the public housing stock ceiling for the first time since 1999. McTiernan stated, “This is a unique opportunity to expand the housing stock available to low-income families, elderly and disabled in many New York communities.”

On January 12, the NYSARHO Board voted unanimously to ask our U.S. Senators and entire congressional delegation to support $1 billion or more in funding for the Public Housing Capital Grants program and to require that the funds be distributed as formula funds assuring that public housing agencies across New York State will receive capital program funding and that New York State receives its fair share of these federal funds. NYSARHO immediately communicated this position to US Senators Schumer and Gillibrand and in follow-up meetings with the Senator’s housing staff on January 20 were assured that both Senators were solidly supporting the NYSARHO position.
This issue addresses a second congressional stimulus funding bill, called the JOBS For Main Street Act, that passed the House of Representatives in December and is under consideration in the U.S. Senate. The House bill included $1 billion in funding for the capital grants program but directed that the money be distributed to applicants from the FY 09 $1 billion competitive funding round approved as part of the ARRA-stimulus programs. Twelve NYS housing authorities received approximately $18 million in competitive grant awards. If the same $1 billion was distributed according to the capital grant program formula, NYS housing authorities would have received about $168 million statewide. The competitive grant program excluded the majority of housing agencies in NYS because they lack the funding and resources to hire grant writers or to divert staff from daily responsibilities to write competitive grants.
PHAs role in local economies was clearly recognized in the first stimulus package and remains critical in both addressing local housing needs and in creating jobs.

** As of May 10, 2010, Congress is still considering a variety of JOBS related legislation. We encourage you to call your US Congressman & US Senators to ask that they include the PH Capital Funds in the final JOBS legislation. (Capitol Operator will connect you to your elected representative @ 202-224-3121).

NYSARHO Community Development Chair Lobbies Congress

On January 21, 2010, NYSARHO Community Development Chair, Paul Fink (ED of Islip Community Development Agency) lobbied members of the NYS Congressional Delegation for their support on a variety of issues including FY 2011 funding for CDBG, HOME, HUD Homeless Assistance Programs and the National Housing Trust Fund. He also advocated for consumer protection against predatory lending and for assurances that newly created programs for regional planning and Choice Neighborhoods will provide NYS with a fair share of any new funding. Finally, Chairman Fink advocated for additional PHA Capital program funds (JOBS legislation) noting the NYSARHO Board preference for “formula” distribution (rather than competitive) of those funds. 


NYSAHRO ADVOCATES - FY 2011 PHA FUNDING