After delays and setbacks, congressional leaders have reached a bipartisan agreement on a framework for a final fiscal year (FY) 2023 spending package. While topline spending numbers have not been made public, appropriators are now making critical decisions about how much funding should be invested in HUD’s and USDA’s affordable housing and homelessness programs.
Advocates should contact their members of Congress today and urge them to enact an FY23 spending bill as soon as possible with significant increases to HUD’s affordable housing and homelessness programs!
Background
The FY23 spending bill is one of the last opportunities this year for Congress to make robust investments in affordable housing and homelessness programs. Congress must not pass up the chance to provide the significant funding needed to ensure the nation is moving towards safe, affordable, accessible housing for all.
Both the House and Senate FY23 budget drafts provided increases to HUD’s affordable housing, homelessness, and community development programs. However, the House proposal included $3 billion more in needed investments than the Senate’s proposal, including full funding to renew all Tenant-Based Rental Assistance (TBRA) vouchers and to expand the program to an additional 140,000 households with low incomes. In comparison, the Senate proposal provided funding to renew existing vouchers but would only expand the program by 5,000 new vouchers. See NLIHC’s full analysis of the House draft, the Senate draft, and our updated budget chart for more information.
After months of delays, congressional leaders reached an agreement on December 13 for a framework for a final spending bill. Because appropriators will need more time to draft the legislation, Congress will pass a one-week continuing resolution (CR) before the current CR expires today (December 16) to keep the government funded through December 23. Between now and then, appropriators will finalize decisions about spending levels for key programs, including HUD’s and USDA’s housing and homelessness programs.
Your members of Congress need to hear from you! Advocates can use NLIHC’s Take Action page to call or email their members of Congress and urge them to enact an FY23 spending bill with significant increases to HUD’s affordable housing and homelessness programs. You can also use NLIHC’s Fall and Winter 2022 Advocacy Toolkit to help create your own message to Congress!
Take action today!
Contact your members of Congress and urge them to enact an FY23 spending bill with significant increases to HUD’s affordable housing and homelessness programs, including NLIHC’s top priorities:
- Full funding for the Tenant-Based Rental Assistance (TBRA) program to renew all existing vouchers and to expand assistance to an additional 140,000 households.
- $3.6 billion for HUD’s Homeless Assistance Grants program, to address the needs of people experiencing homelessness.
- Full funding for the Public Housing Capital Fund to preserve public housing, and for the Public Housing Operating Fund.
- $100 million for legal assistance to prevent evictions.
- $300 million for HUD’s competitive tribal housing program, targeted to tribes with the greatest needs.
Use NLIHC’s Take Action page to send an email to or call your members of Congress and demand they enact an FY23 budget with these vital resources!
Contact Your Members of Congress
Thank you for your advocacy!