-----Original Message-----
From: Partnership (Betsy) [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Sent: Thursday, February 26, 2004 3:07 PM
To: partnership
Subject: Fw: National Housing Voucher CALL-IN DAYS: MARCH 1 & 2
Dear Partnership Members:
Please read -- and act on -- the message written below from the Statewide Housing Action Coalition. We all need to participate in the National Housing Voucher Call-In Days on March 1 &2.
As we work to end homelessness, we could lose existing subsidized housing units. The President has proposed to cut the Section 8 housing program, which translates to a loss of 10,140 vouchers in Illinois in 2005 alone. By 2009, we will have lost 32,000.
In the message below there is very specific and easy to follow information on how you can make calls opposing this move to cut housing vouchers. Please call - and encourage your participants to call - your Congressional Delegates on March 1st and 2nd!
Thank you,
betsy
----- Original Message -----
From: Bob Palmer
Sent: Tuesday, February 24, 2004 10:02 PM
Subject: National Housing Voucher CALL-IN DAYS: MARCH 1 & 2
National Housing Voucher CALL-IN DAYS: MARCH 1 & 2
Tell Congress the President's voucher proposal is WRONG
The President's FY05 budget was released in early February. The changes he proposes to the housing voucher (Section 8) program are the most radical and threatening to residents in the history of the program:
* For FY05, President Bush allocates $1.6 billion too little to fund all housing vouchers currently in use.
* President Bush's proposal would cut funding even more drastically in years to come. By 2009, funding cuts would reach 40%-a loss of 800,000 vouchers.
* The President would also remove important resident protections. Public housing authorities would no longe! r be required to serve people with the lowest incomes, and they would not be required to keep rent at 30% of a resident's income. Further, current voucher holders would not be protected under the proposal. Indeed, given that PHAs would be under pressure to serve the same number of families with fewer dollars, families with extremely low incomes could be at risk of losing their vouchers to families with higher incomes.
As Congress puts together its budget proposal, Members must hear that the President's proposal is wrong. On Monday, March 1 and Tuesday, March 2, housing and homelessness advocates from around the country will call Congress to urge Members to protect the voucher program and the 2 million families it currently serves. Mark your calendar now and plan to call!
In addition, to help educate Members of Congress, DC-based advocates will hold a briefing on the President's voucher proposal on Fri! day, March 5. When you speak to your Congressional offices, urge the staff person to attend this briefing to learn more.
Please join in! On March 1st or 2nd, call 1-888-818-6641 (toll free) and ask to be transferred to your Representative's office. Ask to speak to the staff person who deals with housing issues (Find out who your members are by entering your zip code at www.nlihc.org.)
Give the person you speak with the following message:
"President Bush's proposal for the housing voucher program in the FY05 budget is wrong and unacceptable. It would cut funds to the program and remove importa! nt resident protections, putting thousands of people at risk of losing their housing. As you work on the budget, it is crucial that you protect the voucher program and the people it serves. (If appropriate, include a story of the importance of housing vouchers in your community.) You can learn more at a briefing on Friday, March 5, from 11 am to noon in room 2220 of the Rayburn Office Building. Will someone from your office commit to attending?"
Repeat with calls to your Senators' offic! es.
Please report the results of your calls to us.
Pass this call to action to others you work with-especially to people who are voucher holders or who are on a waiting list.
More information is available at www.nlihc.org or www.cbpp.org.
Thank you!
Bob Palmer
Statewide Housing Action Coalition
11 E. Adams #1501
Chicago, IL 60603
312-939-6074 (p)
312-939-6822 (f)
www.statewidehousing.org
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