ACTION/HOUSING APPROPRIATIONS (fwd)

[F. Pennell]

For your information.  Francie Pennell


           JUSTICE FOR ALL

           beckyo at names.org

      ACTION/HOUSING APPROPRIATIONS

It has come to our attention through a variety
of sources that there are problems brewing with
regard to Section 8 Funding. These problems need
IMMEDIATE ATTENTION AND ACTION.

In 1992 Congress passed legislation limiting access
by people with disabilities to public housing and
other federally-funded affordable housing programs.
Over the past few weeks, Congress passed legislation
which further limits access by people with disabilities
to community based affordable housing, but also potentially
provides alternative housing opportunities.

The law contains a provision to authorize funding for
Section 8 tenant-based rental assistance, specifically
for people with disabilities. This provision could help
offset the loss of housing for people with disabilities
caused by "elderly-only designation" or HUD budget cuts.
The provision was introduced by Rep. Barney Frank(D-Mass)
and had strong bipartisan support, including Rep. Lazio(R-NY),
who chairs the House Housing and Community Opportunity Sub-
Committee. Now that the "authorizers" (make the laws) have
done their job, we need the "appropriators" (fund the laws)
to do their job and do it well. Funding for this provision
will be decided in the Appropriations negotiations for
FY 1997, which will be an ongoing process and will probably
last through the beginning of summer.

The version of S.1494 that passed did not contain any specific
amount of funding for this housing provision, although the
original amendment was for $50million. Granted, this would
not nearly be enough to cover the housing needs for people
with disabilities, it would be a start.

WHAT YOU SHOULD BE DOING: If your Senator or Representatives
are on the HUD Appropriations Subcommittees in either chamber,
contact them each and every week until this is a done deal.
All Members can be reached through the capitol switchboard
@202-224-3121. The message is as follows:

*Establish funding of $50 million for Section 8 tenant
based rental assistance specifically for people with
disabilities.
*Support this appropriation in the Subcommittee and full
committee, and on the floor of the House and Senate.
*Tell your personal stories to show how very important
it is to fully fund this program.
*Give the waiting list data in your state or locality
for people with disabilities.
*Provide anecodotal information about why community-
placements or CSLA type activities are hard to implement
because of the lack of rental assistance.
*Give the HUD Worst Case Reports that demonstrates that
people with disabilties have some of the "worst case housing
needs."
*Give information from any and all sources to emphasize the
need for funding and CCD Housing Task Force will gladly
disseminate their Task Force report, "Opening Doors", which
shows that implementation of designation policies since
1993 has caused over 250,000 units that would have been
occupied by people with disabilities to be lost to them.
This report can be obtained by calling Kathy McGinley at
The ARC Governmental Affairs Office, 202-785-3388, or
e-mail:kmgarc at radix.net

JUSTICE FOR ALL!!!

Becky Ogle
E-mail:  beckyo at names.org
Voice:  703-836-6263