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America faces a growing affordable housing crisis, one that converts over 3 million individuals into homelessness each year. Millions of others live on the brink of homelessness or in severely substandard homes as they struggle to meet enormous increases in housing and utility costs which have largely outpaced wages.
Our work to provide a seamless continuum of safe and affordable housing options for the poor requires full and flexible funding from various federal programs. It also requires a comprehensive plan to address the current housing foreclosure crisis which has forced more families into dangerous housing conditions.
Making a Difference on Capitol Hill
Catholic Charities agencies rely on partnerships with government, public housing authorities, private business, and community groups to leverage resources and provide housing services for the poor and the vulnerable.
The non-profit community cannot do this work alone. Government must be an equal partner.
Catholic Charities USA urges Congress to:
- Develop a balanced approach to the reauthorization of the McKinney-Vento Act to address homelessness in America;
- Allow local flexibility for communities to address identified housing needs appropriate to their areas;
- Allow funds to be used to prevent homelessness rather than focus on more costly remediation strategies;
- Pass a comprehensive plan that addresses the foreclosure crisis and keeps more families in their homes;
- Provide more resources to expand housing counseling;
- Maintain homeownership as a core public policy goal;
- Provide tax incentives to help non-profits develop safe and affordable housing; Expand the Section 8 Voucher program; and
- Provide safe, affordable housing for seniors and other vulnerable populations.
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