NAHRO CEO Adrianne Todman’s Statement on Rescission

Earlier this year, Congress rightly ignored the Administration’s cruel proposed cuts and gave affordable housing programs a much-needed 10 percent funding increase. Now, the Administration seeks to undo some of that good work by trying to claw back money already given to public housing authorities in previous years – the Capital Funds that they use to keep the homes they maintain in safe and decent condition.

The Administration proposes to rescind $41 million in prior-year unobligated balances from the Capital Fund from FY 2015-2017. This would impact vital capital needs projects like new roofs or boiler replacements. This last winter we saw more evidence, not less, of why these Capital Funds are important, with agencies struggling to keep homes adequately heated. Clawing back these funds via rescission would hurt not only the families, seniors, children, veterans and persons with disabilities who live in these homes, but also the plumbers, roofers, and other local businesses who agencies would have contracted with to repair and modernize those homes.  Moreover, we are also concerned that this rescission may impact programs designed to help families achieve self-sufficiency.

This is the wrong direction if we care about our communities and the infrastructure that houses them. 

About NAHRO

NAHRO, established in 1933, is a membership organization of almost 20,000 housing and community development agencies and professionals throughout the United States whose mission is to create affordable housing and safe, viable communities that enhance the quality of life for all Americans, especially those of low- and moderate-income. NAHRO’s membership administers more than 3 million homes for 7.6 million people.

Contact: Sylvia Gimenez