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The Best Housing & Poverty Review of 2005
A Years Review Of The Nation's Housing & Poverty Crisis In America.
The Best Housing & Poverty Review of 2005
By Lynda Carson January 2, 2005
The year of 2005 was a wicked year for the poor and impoverished across the nation, and there is no relief in sight.
Hundreds of thousands have been made homeless from evictions, disasters, and mean spirited budget bills that take resources from the poor, to give to the rich.
Let 2005 be a reminder that the Bush administration hates poor people and must be removed from power as soon as possible.
On January 4, it's reported that the Washington County Housing Authority stopped accepting voucher applications for its Section 8 housing program.
On January 5, it's reported that 130 families in Salt Lake City were left stranded without housing assistance during the coldest months of the year, because of HUD funding cuts.
On January 6, a federal judge concluded that Black public housing tenants have been systematically consigned to segregated, poor neighborhoods of Baltimore City, as a result of HUD policies.
On January 6, it's reported that the San Antonio Housing Authority moved a step closer to easing its strict "one-strike and you're out" policy that punishes entire families.
On January 7, it's reported that the South Carolina State Housing Finance and Development
Authority, which administers Section 8 programs in 10 counties, has cut its vouchers by 10 percent.
On January 7, it was also reported that 160 families in Charleston County may lose their Section vouchers due to HUD funding cuts, and that Topeka, Kansas, planned to dump 150 families from its Section 8 program. The North Charleston Housing Authority, which had around 2,000 Section 8 families, said it may have to cut 10 percent of them later in January.
On January 14, it's reported that the Bush Administration proposed to cut $8 billion from HUD's community programs, in a bid to kill off the nations CDBG programs.
On January 14, it was also reported that HUD is investigating the Avon Housing Authority for handing out around 70 extra Section 8 vouchers.
On January 15, it was reported that the Charlotte Housing Authority is considering plans to impose time limits on public housing and Section 8 tenants. At that point, only a dozen other U.S. cities imposed time limits on housing assistance.
On January 21, HUD sent a letter to the nation's Public Housing Authorities stating that they would receive 4.1% less in funding than they did last summer, which may result in a loss of 80,000 Section 8 vouchers nationwide.
On January 26, it was reported that Marin County planned to terminate around 76 Section 8 vouchers due to HUD funding cuts.
On January 26, it was also reported that HUD Secretary Alphonso Jackson told the nation's mayors that the Bush administration plans to propose a very lean budget for the nation's housing assistance programs, for FY 2006.
On January 27, it was reported that the New York City Housing Authority would receive $50 million less than what was needed to provide Section 8 vouchers to the poor during 2005.
Around January 27, it was reported that the Allen Metropolitan Housing Authority would lose around $500,000 to fund it's housing assistance programs, due to HUD cutbacks, and that Santa Cruz County would also face cuts to their housing assistance programs.
On January 27, it was also reported that HUD miscalculated the inflation rate and the city's cost of living increase, which would cause New York to lose as much as $61 million in Section 8 vouchers.
On January 28, it was reported that 10 housing authorities in central Puget Sound were notified Jan. 24 about the extent of the Section 8 voucher cuts, which range in size from $350,000 to
$2.5 million.
On January 31, it was reported that the Greenburgh Housing Authority may have to cut 30
families from its Section 8 program. Yonkers, lost around $2.5 million in HUD funding, and expects to cut about 100 vouchers through attrition.
On February 1, it was reported that forty workers lost their jobs after a wave of HUD funding cuts rolled across the Pittsburgh Housing Authority. The Vancouver Housing Authority also reported they will have to reduce their Section 8 vouchers by 70 to 104, due to HUD funding cuts.
On February 2, Bush had promoted plans to cut or eliminate 150 programs in his State of the Union address.
On February 7, the Bush administration released it's budget proposals for FY 2006, which proposed to cut nearly 12% in funding from the nation's housing assistance programs, and pushes to end the federal rule that requires 75% of Section 8 vouchers to go to those earning 30% or less of AMI.
On February 9, it was reported that hundreds of families in Hawaii could lose their Section 8 vouchers due to HUD funding cuts. The National Housing Law Project had also declared victory against the United State Department of Agriculture? attempt to illegally evict families whose heads of households were not U.S. citizens or permanent residents of the United States.
On February 12, it was reported that hundreds of low-income Dubuque families in the Section 8 program, may have to pay more for rent due to HUD funding cuts.
On February 12, it was also reported that the Raleigh Housing Authority cut rent subsidies to nearly 800 low-income renters.
On February 15, it was reported that around 123,000 units of public housing have been demolished
since 2001, and that another 45,000 units have been scheduled for demolition.
On February 16, it was reported that the King County Housing Authority approved major changes to the Section 8 program that will result in thousands paying more or being squeezed into smaller living spaces. The Atlantic City Housing Authority also approved a plan to cut 10% of it's jobs as a result of HUD budget cuts.
On February 16, it was also reported that Wisconsin may lose up to 35,000 units of public housing during the next 7 years as a result of the Bush administrations proposals. It was also reported that agencies in 32 states faced increased requests for emergency food or shelter.
On February 17, it was reported that the Berkeley Housing Authority may be in danger of
downsizing its administration, and had to cut it's employees down from 19 to 13. The Fort Wayne Housing Authority reported that they may leave some Section 8 renters without housing or raise their rents by $50 per month.
On February 18, it was reported that under the Bush administrations proposals, 370,000 fewer families could receive voucher assistance by 2010. If the proposed cuts to HUD occur, by 2010 California faces a projected loss of 52,925 low-income housing vouchers across the
state, below the 2005 level.
On February 22, it was reported that the Bush administration proposed to stop financing the construction of new housing for the mentally ill and physically handicapped, and that the federal government would discontinue financing housing for people with spinal cord injuries
or psychiatric illnesses resdiing in nursing homes or psychiatric hospitals.
On February 26, it was reported that the state Court of Appeal has upheld a $12 million
judgment against the San Francisco Housing Authorityfor its culpability in a deadly blaze at one of its properties more than seven years ago.
On March 2, it was reported that the Solano County Board of Supervisors agreed to lower Section 8 subsidy payments by 10 percent in 2006.
On March 5, it was reported that a bipartisan group of 55 senators spelled out its opposition to Bush's proposed cuts to HUD. It was also reported that the number of public housing apartments in New York City remaining vacant for more than five years has increased 31 percent since 2003.
On March 6, it was reported that Montgomery County could face an almost $16 million
shortfall in its subsidized housing voucher program by 2010.
During the week of March 7, both chambers of Congress have proposed budget resolutions that pave the way for severe cuts to low income programs and the provision of additional tax cuts to the wealthy. The budget resolution calls for an estimated $30 billion to $35 billion in cuts over the
next five years from low-income programs.
March 8 was designated as a national call-in day to oppose the proposed HUD budget cuts in support of an adequate budget resolution.
On March 8, it was reported that Section 8 landlords in Fort Wayne said that by imposing a 10% rent reduction, it could sabotage the Section 8 program. Near Chicago, the Oak Park Housing Authority will ask the Village Board for $150,000 in emergency funding. McHenry County Housing Authority also reported that recent budget cuts mean that the agency is able to help 100 fewer families than it could a couple years ago.
On March 9, it was reported that more than 60 Bloomington families were notified over the weekend that their housing subsidies will end in 60 days.
On March 10, it was reported that Mayor Thomas M. Menino lashed out at the Bush proposals by saying that housing assistance cuts could drive up homelessness in Boston. Boston's Section 8 funding has been cut by $5.7 million in 2005, which is the cost of covering 461 vouchers. The King County Housing Authority, reports that it stopped taking new participants into the Section 8 program in Seattle. The Detroit Housing Commission, faces the loss of up to $ 2.8 million in federal aid.
On March 11, it was reported that Phoenix may cut their housing department by 85 jobs due to federal budget cuts. In central Illinois, McLean County is looking for ways to help 64 families
losing their housing subsidies on April 30.
On March 12, it was reported that Bush is proposing to withdraw food stamps for certain
families already receiving other government assistance, which would result in more than 300,000 people being cut from the Food Stamp Program.
On March 15, the House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Human Resources passed a welfare reform bill (TANF) that would increase work requirements and reduce the amount of time a person can use vocational education to fulfill ?ork activity?requirements.
On March 18, it was reported that the Cincinnati Metropolitan Housing Authority plans to
slash funding in its Section 8 housing voucher program. It was also reported that funding cuts to the Section 8 program could cost the Columbus Housing Authority more than $1 million by December.
On March 24, it was reported that the Dalton Housing Authority severed ties with HUD, being the first housing authority in the nation to do so.
On March 30, the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities reported that 220,000 SSI recipients are at risk from the latest proposed budget cuts to the nation's low-income programs.
On March 31, it was reported that the Passaic Housing Authority has temporarily suspended the issuance and use of new vouchers and the use of existing vouchers to move to another dwelling, because of a $3.8 million HUD funding error.
-94,000 Section 8 Units Lost Since 1995-
During early April, the National Housing Trust released a list of HUD-assisted, project-based housing units that have been lost since 1995. Total losses for all 50 states and the District of Columbia count more than 94,000 Section 8 units and nearly 196,000 assisted units lost since 1995.
On April 5, it was reported that in an effort to sabotage the Social Security program, Bush told an audience that there is no Social Security Trust Fund. "There is no trust `fund' ?just IOUs that I saw firsthand," Bush said.
On April 8, it was reported that the New York City Housing Authority could lose up to $166 million, or almost a quarter of its annual federal subsidy for operating costs, under a new cost-cutting proposal by the Bush administration. Across the nation, the funding loss would be as much as $480 million, or 14 percent, of the $3.4 billion federal budget for day-to-day operations, and would affect the nation's 3,100 housing authorities. If the budget proposals go onto effect they will result in one of the biggest cuts since the federal government first began subsidizing housing.
On April 12, it was reported that the Bush Administration has proposed to slash $84,330, nearly 23%, from the annual operating budget of the Hudson Housing Authority.
On April 13, it was reported that HUD proposes to change the housing formula for Section 8 housing vouchers and would make 90 percent of the vouchers available to people bringing home 60 percent or less of the median income. Currently, 75% of Section 8 vouchers go to those earning 30% or less of the local AMI.
On April 13, Senator Wayne Allard introduced S. 771, the State and Local Flexibility Act of 2005 (SLHFA). The bill allows 90% of the families issued Section 8 vouchers to have incomes up to
60% of AMI.
On April 14, U.S. Senator Patty Murray pressed HUD Secretary Alphonso Jackson to restore King County Public Housing Authority funds that were improperly cut due to an error on the part of HUD. $800,000 in Section 8 funding has been denied to King County due to computer errors
made by HUD.
On April 15, it was reported that the Los Angeles Housing Authority will begin reissuing
rent subsidies to hundreds of families abruptly dumped from the Section 8 program more than a year ago when the agency ran out of funds.
On April 16, it was reported that the King County Housing Authority shall receive $755,000
more out of the federal government after HUD agreed that it had made a mistake. The Fayette County Housing Authority is hiking up the rents by 14 to 19 percent.
On April 16, it was also reported that community leaders from 15 states gathered in Fresno to discuss a Bush administration proposal that could pit big city against small, urban against rural
in the struggle over federal funding.
On April 17, it was reported that Pico Rivera's Housing Authority plans to stop taking applications.
On April 18, it was reported that Lehigh Valley's two biggest housing authorities
plan to cut back on the number of vouchers they hand out to low-income renters this year.
On April 20, it was reported that thousands of Baton Rouge residents were turned away when they showed up to apply for Section 8 housing.
On April 23, it was reported that more than 350 low-income families in Merced County could be forced to pay more for rent because of HUD funding cuts. In addition, HUD demanded that the Newark Housing Authority return $6.4 million in federal funds after an audit concluded that the money had been misspent.
On April 28 congressional Republicans reported agreement on a budget that envisions $10 billion in Medicaid funding cuts over the next five years and at least $70 billion in tax cuts for the filthy rich. The horrific agreement, developed solely by Republicans, requires almost $35 billion in cuts to mandatory programs.
On April 29, it was reported that almost 40 organizations, including the National Low Income
Housing Coalition, signed a letter in opposition to S. 771 (SLHFA).
On April 30, hundreds of senior citizens appeared at a rally to Save Section 8 at the Redwoods in Marin County. Meanwhile, the Merced County Housing Authority sent letters to around 100 low-income families during the past week informing them they will lose their Section 8 vouchers at the end of May. And the Bucks County Housing Authority stopped accepting applications to their Section 8 program.
On May 3, it was reported that a GAO report finds HUD fair market rent data to be flawed in 31% of the nation's communities.
On May 4, it was reported that 100 protesters led by a coalition of housing activists charged that Mayor Gavin Newsom's Care Not Cash program is leaving out a lot of people in need by focusing on the most troubled homeless people.
On May 5, it was reported that the Edinburg Housing Authority has frozen its waiting list for public housing.
On May 6, it was reported that Rhode Island received $400,000 less in HUD funding than in 2004.
On May 7, it was reported that Congress saved the Community Development Block Grant program by restoring $1.5 billion in funding the Bush administration tried to grab.
On May 9, it was reported that HUD budget cuts have forced the King County Housing Authority to dump more than 4,000 low-income households from its Section 8 voucher program waiting list.
On May 11, SLHFA/S.771 had it's first congressional hearing. SLHFA is HUD's proposal to dump the poorest of the poor from the Section 8 program.
On May 13, it was reported that the Fayette County Housing Authority plans to start
evicting more than 400 families for failing to perform eight hours of community service each month as required by their lease.
On May 17, a house panel blasted HUD Secretary Alphonso Jackson over his Section 8 reform plan known as SLHFA.
On May 23, Lawndale residents filed a class action federal lawsuit and a preliminary
injunction to prevent HUD from illegally terminating a project-based Section 8
contract on 1,240 housing units.
On May 24, hundreds of protesters gathered outside the Mazzoli Federal Building in downtown Louisville to protest cuts to it's Section 8 program.
On May 25, it was reported that the Millville Housing Authority may face a $200,000 budget cut in the next fiscal year that begins Oct. 1
On May 27, Honolulu stopped accepting applications for it's Section 8 program. In Portland, around 200 protesters gathered in front of City Hall to bring attention to proposed cuts to federal housing programs.
On May 27, it was also reported that the Marin Housing Authority has been ordered to return $318,139 to the federal government because it failed to follow government regulations in administering the Section 8 program.
On May 29, it was reported that the Maryville Housing Authority is struggling from a 10 percent federal cut in its public housing budget this fiscal year. The housing authority has already cut the number of Section 8 vouchers from 304 to 250 during 2005.
On May 29, it was also reported that Federal officials say the Newark Housing Authority may owe an additional $2.5 million, barely a month after the agency was ordered to return $6.4 million.
On June 1, it was reported in Idaho that a local PHA will have to dump 65 families from their Section 8 program. The housing authority currently assists 585 families in the Pocatello area, and that number needs to be trimmed to 520.
On June 10, it was reported that hundreds held a rally in Missouri, at the Boone County Court House, to protest against budget cuts to the nation's housing programs.
On June 13, it was reported that around 60 housing advocates gathered in Boston to protest budgets cuts to the Section 8 program and the Massachusetts rental voucher program.
On June 14, it was reported that low-income tenants in federally subsidized housing in California are entitled to 90 days' notice before eviction.
On June 15, hundreds of San Francisco tenants in the Section 8 program appeared for a hearing at the Westbay Conference Center to voice their concerns about the San Francisco Housing Authority.
On June 16, it was reported that there are more than 90,000 men, women and children living on streets and in encampments, vehicles and shelters throughout Los Angeles County.
On June 16, it was also reported that Colorado Springs wants to force homeless people to carry ID cards or face a loss of assistance services.
On June 18, it was reported that the Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority could lose millions more under a proposed rule and legislation moving through Congress.
On June 23, it was reported that a law-suit filed by five people could determine whether hundreds more people lose their Section 8 vouchers in Merced County for failing to adhere to their Section 8 contracts.
On June 29, it was reported that the Atlanta Housing Authority will start evicting tenants who are not working, in school or in a work force training program. Thousands face homelessness as a result.
On June 30, it was reported that congress voted to add $165 million to the dreaded Hope lV program that demolishes low-income housing, and replaces it with mixed use housing for wealthier tenants.
On June 30, it was also reported that the Boston Housing Authority will cut payments to landlords on behalf of 3,500 poor households and force more than half of those Section 8 tenants to chip in as much as $200 more per month. And in Sagit County, around 300 low-income families will be forced to pay $30 to $71 more each month in rent because of HUD budget cuts.
During July, the City of Albany has sent more bulldozers to clear out homeless encampments at the Albany Landfill.
On July 1, it was reported that protestors wore red shirts for solidarity, yelled unity chants and waved signs outside the Pompano Beach Housing Authority headquarters to bring attention to poor living conditions at the Golden Acres Development.
On July 6, it was reported that the Galveston Housing Authority has begun demolition of 228 units in the Palm Terrace Apartments.
On July 8, it was reported that an argument between the cities of Paterson and Passaic
over missing paperwork may cost 55 families their Section 8 vouchers.
On July 9, it was reported that HUD took control of Detroit's public housing agency after decades of funding mismanagement.
On July 15, it was reported: "The federal government's chief investigator yesterday blasted the Pentagon for its ''atrocious financial management," saying the Defense Department was not able to give federal oversight officials a full accounting of the $1 billion being spent each week on the war in Iraq"
On July 21, it was reported that the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee approved $38.9 billion in federal housing spending, in defiance of the Bush administration plans to kill the Community Development Block Grant program.
On July 22, it was reported that during the past two years, Pasco County's homeless and
the agencies serving them have missed out on large amounts of federal money available to assist them.
On August 2, 43 residential tenants of the historic landmark California Hotel in Oakland,
filed a lawsuit against Oakland Community Housing Inc., and are seeking $50,000 in damages over rat infestations, bed bugs, cock roaches and other health and safety issues.
On August 10, it was reported that Wyoming County Section 8 tenants were shocked last week when they received notice that their assistance would be substantially less starting September 1.
On August 12, it was reported that residents of the Hunters View public housing development are in opposition to plans to demolish the housing project for mixed use housing.
On August 14, it was reported that a lack of affordable housing in Chicago has scattered thousands of low-income residents to neighboring cities, and states.
On August 17, it was reported that Nashville residents in low-income Section 8 housing may be
forced to prove they have a job or are training for one to stay in the Section 8 program. And it's reported that single-family home prices are "extremely overvalued" in 53 cities.
On August 18, it was reported that public housing tenants at Kuhio Park Terrace in Kalihi
and Palolo Valley Housing demonstrated outside of the state agency that manages public
housing, because they say their rights to fight evictions are being taken away.
On August 20, it was reported that officials in New York's Suffolk County are cracking down on landlords who rent to illegal immigrants.
On August 24, it was reported that a House Bill places over 28,000 Section 8 vouchers at risk of being cut.
On August 28, it was reported that a group of protesters outnumbered by police rallied at the foot of the Atlantic City Expressway to bring attention to the city's dwindling stock of affordable homes.
On August 29, Hurricane Katrina devastates the Gulf Coast region.
On September 1, it was reported that over a million people have fled their homes from the Gulf Coast region because of Hurricane Katrina, and currently 163,000 citizens of Louisiana are in shelters. New Orleans is a disaster zone with tens of thousands stranded there without food, water or assistance.
On September 1, it was also reported that homelessness & unrest at the (New Orleans) Superdome has spiraled out of control, since hurricane Katrina struck the Gulf Coast. And a national study released today verifies that low-income people with disabilities are experiencing a national housing
affordability crisis. In another report, it states the "federal minimum wage remains unchanged for eighth straight year, falls to 56-year low relative to the average wage".
On September 2, it was reported that more than 20,000 public-housing residents in the New
Orleans area will need somewhere to stay.
By September 4, the world watches in horror as it becomes apparant that the Bush administration has ignored Katrina's poor Black victims who are still stranded in New Orleans without food, water or assistance.
On September 7, it was reported that the Oakland Housing Authority is concerned about the proposed housing budget cuts; "We favor the Senate version because we would lose about 1,000 fewer vouchers," said John Gresley, director of the Oakland Housing Authority.
By September 8, reports from across the nation reveal how Katrina's evacuees are being pitted against the poor that are already seeking housing assistance.
On September 9, it was reported that Congress gave swift approval to $51.8 billion to help fund recovery efforts on the Gulf Coast due to Hurricane Katrina, in addition to $10.5 billion approved by Congress on September 2.
On September 12, it was reported that search teams found more than 40 bodies, many of them elderly patients, inside a New Orleans hospital flooded out by Hurricane Katrina.
On September 12, it was also reported that up to 200,000 Katrina evacuees may be homeless for the next 3-5 years. More than 450,000 people fled New Orleans. The Red Cross says it is now picking up hotel bills for at least 57,000 people who fled Hurricane Katrina.
On September 14, it was reported that the Senate Ok's $3.5 billion in vouchers and more than 350,000 families made homeless by Hurricane Katrina would get emergency housing vouchers averaging $600 a month for up to six months after the House later votes on their own compannion bill.
On September 15, it was reported that 1.2 million of those affected by Hurricane Katrina are receiving some form of housing assistance.
By September 16, the official death toll in Louisiana from Katrina reached 579.
On September 16, it was reported that conservative Republicans are worried about the growing costs of rebuilding the Gulf Coast region, and want to pay for it by cutting the nation's domestic programs for the poor.
By September 19, it was reported that 302,000 housing units were destroyed or damaged by Hurricane Katrina, and 216,000 units, or 71%, were affordable to low income households. In New Orleans, 142,000 units were damaged or lost, 79% of which were affordable to low income households.
On September 19, it was reported that housing officials are urging the Bush administration
to issue tens of thousands of emergency rental vouchers to Katrina's evacuees. New Orleans alone lost 24,000 public housing and Section 8 units, HUD officials said.
On September 21, the Republican Study Committee, a group of the most conservative House Republicans, released ?peration Offset,?which is their policy response to Hurricane Katrina that proposes to loot billions from the nation's poverty programs.
By September 22, the Louisiana Attorney General's Office has received zillions of calls alleging price gouging in the housing and rental markets since Katrina hit.
On September 22, it was reported that as Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans, the sheriff's department abandoned hundreds of inmates imprisoned in the city? jail who were without food or water for days.
On September 23, it was reported that landlord friendly judges were ignoring Gov. Kathleen Blanco's executive order to halt all evictions since Katrina struck Louisiana.
On September 23, HUD and FEMA officials announce two new Transitional Housing Assistance Programs for Hurricane Katrina evacuees.
On September 27, HUD officials announced that they lost around 50,000 homes/rental units to Hurricane Katrina. FEMA announced they distributed almost $625 million in housing assistance in the past two days.
On September 28, it was reported that hundreds of thousands of residents along the gulf coast region still remained homeless due to Katrina. The Kingston Housing Authority announced it has closed its waiting list and is not taking any more applications for subsidized housing.
On September 29, it was reported that HUD Secretary Alphonso Jackson was targeting Black's for exclusion from New Orleans; Secretary Jackson said, "Whether we like it or not, New Orleans is not going to be 500,000 people for a long time," he said. "New Orleans is not going to be as black as it was for a long time, if ever again."
On September 29, homeless families joined the Chicago Coalition for the Homeless, in a rally to support low-income housing programs outside House Speaker Dennis Hastert's district office in downtown Batavia.
On September 30, the Justice Department won a $1 million settlement in a major disibility discrimination suit.
On October 2, it was reported that the number of Katrina evacuees in hotels increased from 220,000 to more than 400,000 people. Meanwhile, more than 100,000 people remain in about
1,000 shelters operated by the Red Cross, smaller charities and churches, scattered across two dozen states. It was reported that 1,700 hurricane evacuees landed in the San Francisco Bay Area.
On October 4, it's reported that more than 10 percent of Montgomery County's 70,000
rental apartments could be converted to condominiums within five years.
By October 5, the American Red Cross estimates that more than 350,000 homes were destroyed by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, while an additional 146,000 had major damage. Overall, 850,791 housing units were damaged, destroyed or left inaccessible because of Katrina.
By October 6, FEMA has registered over 1.7 million Katrina victims for disaster assistance and provided housing assistance in the form of money or direct housing to over 390,000 displaced individuals and families.
On October 9, it's reported that Massachussetts homeless people and advocates are protesting
the way that Katrina's evacuees are bumped ahead of those already in line for housing assistance.
On October 14, landlords started to illegally evict thousands of Lake Charles residents from their apartments. Local cops said they will not forcibly remove people from their apartments if they challenge a 24-hour eviction notice issued this week.
On October 14, dozens of residents and community activists protested outside the Forest Park Apartments in New Orleans because of an illegal lock-out by the housing authority.
On October 19, it's reported that the House of Representatives put off a vote seeking $50 billion in budget cuts due to a lack of votes. In addition, over 62 national organizations objected to a GSE bill that contains voter restrictions in an affordable housing provision that punishes non profits for assisting in voter registration activities. On October 26, 220 Members of the House voted to
suppress voting in federal elections by low income people.
On October 22, it's reported that a quarter of New Orleans housing may face bulldozers.
On October 24, acting on a law suit, a judge temporarily blocked landlords from evicting New Orleans tenants unless hearings are held close to home.
On October 26, 220 Members of the House voted to suppress voting in federal elections by low income people. Republican hard-liners succeeded in passing a measure that would limit the ability of nonprofit groups to conduct voter registration drives.
On October 26, around 40 tenants and more showed up at the Alameda County Superior Court in support of Oakland? Just Cause eviction protections known as Measure EE, which faces a law suit by greedy landlords trying to over turn the will of the people.
On October 27, more than 70 law enforcement officers from a wide variety of City, County, State and Special District police departments attacked 24 homeless encampments in Contra Costa County.
On October 31, it's reported that Black babies in Nashville are two times more likely to
die before their first birthday than white infants are. Voices for America's Children today urged Members of Congress to reject spending cuts that harm children.
On November 1, it's reported that HUD officials tried to pull off an $11.4 million money
grab from humanitarian New Orleans operations after Hurricane Katrina struck. Additionally, landlords in the Section 8 program have not been payed by the federal government since Katrina made landfall Aug. 29.
On November 1, it's also reported that a budget reconciliation bill now before the Senate would cut $39 billion from programs for the poor, but would give $70 billion in tax cuts to the rich.
On November 3, the Senate approved a far-reaching budget bill that would cut spending for Medicare, Medicaid and other needed domestic benefit programs. The bill slashes around $36 billion from the nation's mandatory programs over the next five years, and the House wants to cut as much as $54 billion in their compannion bill.
On November 3, it's reported that 25,000 residents of public housing are still displaced from New Orleans. The housing authority locked-out the public housing tenants in defiance of the governor's decree prohibiting evictions. Theres been reports of a thousand evictions a day taking place in New Orleans.
On November 3, it's reported that the Red Cross says it can no longer afford to house evacuees in hotels, the Salvation Army has run out of beds, and government housing authorities have few or
no vacancies.
On November 3, all 42 House members of the Congressional Black Caucus introduced HR 4197, the Hurricane Katrina Recovery, Reclamation, Restoration, Reconstruction and Reunion Act of 2005.
On November 5, it's reported that FEMA will give $26,200 in aid to those worst hit by Katrina, but determining who is eligible concerns many that may be left out in the cold.
On November 6, it's reported that state housing officials said they cannot afford to repair public housing damaged by Hurricane Katrina ($155 million in damage) in three coastal Mississippi counties.
On November 10, the San Francisco Housing Authority commission moved forward with a plan to demolish the Hunters View public housing units by voting to negotiate with a team of developers that would tear down the housing units for the poor.
On November 11, it's reported that around $2.2 million in taxpayer money has been wrongly used by the Housing Authority of Winston-Salem.
On November 14, a lawsuit to stop evictions was filed seeking a temporary restraining order to protect the interests of displaced residents of New Orleans, as a result of Hurricane Katrina.
Meanwhile, FEMA gives notice to 150,000 Katrina evacuees in hotels to vacate their units In 15 days.
On November 17, conferees wrapped up negotiations on a budget bill (HR 3058) that places 27,889 Section 8 Vouchers at risk.
On November 18, the House passed the Deficit Reduction Omnibus Reconciliation Act of 2005, making nearly $50 billion in cuts to mandatory programs for the poor. The recently Senate-passed reconciliation bill contains $35 billion in cuts, and both bills need to be reconciled.
On November 18, the Senate passed S. 2020, the Tax Relief Act of 2005, a bill containing more than $74 billion in tax cuts for the rich over the next five years.
On November 21, it's reported that last week The Greater New Orleans Fair Housing Action Center has filed a housing discrimination complaint against the Housing Authority of New Orleans.
On November 22, the Fayette County Housing Authority gave mercy to 450 tenants that refused to comply with a mandatory community service requirement, and gave them an additional six months to do so before it begins serving eviction notices.
On November 22, it's reported that hundreds of New Orleans inmates were still in custody despite a release order issued by a judge 12 days earlier.
On November 23, a judge ruled in favor of a law suit to stop the evictions in New Orleans, and the parties agreed to a stay of all evictions for renters in Orleans and Jefferson Parishes, pending mail notification to addresses provided by FEMA and hearings 45 days later.
On November 26, it's reported that an Algiers hero who commandered a school bus the day after Hurricane Katrina hit to take 60 stranded residents to safety in Houston, has been arrested on drug charges where his bus journey began at the Fischer public housing complex. Jabar Gibson became a national figure when he stole a school bus to rescue himself and his neighbors from the catastrophe in New Orleans.
On November 28, it's reported that most of America's inner cities continue to lose jobs despite years of federal programs. 82 of the largest municipalities across the nation lost jobs from 1995 to 2003.
On November 30, Bush signed the FY 2006 HUD funding bill that allows HUD to overfund some housing authorities, while underfunding others, which places thousands at risk of losing their Section 8 vouchers in the future.
On November 30, it's reported that Mississippi plans to force prison inmates to help rebuild the
Katrina-damaged areas along the Gulf Coast. The slave labor scheme could save coast
governments millions.
On November 30, it's also reported that 3 months after Hurricane Katrina struck, most of New Orleans is still in the dark and looks like a war zone. Remaining tenants in New Orleans report they are still being forced from their housing through illegal evictions, despite the recent lawsuit blocking such evictions.
On December 1, it's reported that the housing authority of New Orleans still stands firm with it's continued illegal lock-out of public housing tenants in that city. People blame HUD officials for trying to keep Blacks from returning.
On December 5, it's reported that 45 residents of a public housing development with a waterfront view in Morehead City, worry that plans to sell their homes to profiteers will disrupt their lives.
On December 6, it's reported that the Salt Lake City Housing Authority will begin accepting applications for their Section 8 program after refusing to do so for the past 2 years.
On December 8, the House passed a bill that gives more than $90 billion in tax cuts to the rich.
On December 10, over 5,000 people in New Orleans marched from Congo Square in Louis Armstrong Park to City Hall, where they gathered in cold weather to listen to pleas for action to return people back to their beloved city.
On December 10, it's reported that over 10,000 housing trailers that FEMA bought for Hurricane Katrina's evacuees are sitting empty. In an act of madness, FEMA stopped the manufacturers from delivering the trailers to those in need.
On December 11, it's reported that the waters have receded in New Orleans but the mainly Black,
low-income residents are now the victims of rising rents, forced evictions and plans that favor the well to do.
On December 12, it's reported that while hundreds go homeless on the island of Oahu, more than 750 federally funded public housing units are sitting empty.
On December 12, U.S. District Judge Stanwood R. Duval, Jr. ruled that FEMA must pay the hotel bills for evacuees from Hurricane Katrina and Wilma until Feb 7.
On December 12, California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger horrified the world by refusing to halt the execution of Stanley "Tookie'' Williams.
On December 13, it's reported that affordable housing in Utah and across the country is out of reach for many, according to a new report by the National Low-Income Housing Coalition.
On December 14, over 100 religious activists protesting proposed cuts to health care and
other social welfare programs were arrested after they staged a peaceful sit-in at a government building near the U.S. Capitol.
During the week of December 18, the House & Senate passed a 1% across the board budget cutting bill that will grab $8.5 billion from the nation's domestic programs, except for Veterans?Affairs programs and war accounts.
On December 19, it's reported that the Richmond courts are unlawfully denying poor people defending themselves from eviction their rights to a trial by jury.
On December 19, the House of Representatives passed a devastating budget cutting bill that cuts $39.7 billion from mandatory programs for the poor from FY 2006 to FY 11. The battle to block the $39.7 billion dollar five-year deficit reduction bill is not over, and advocates have one more chance during January to keep this bill from going into effect.
On December 21, it's reported that people of color pay millions more monthly for home
loans.
On December 21, it's reported that Arkansas shelters and services for the homeless will be cut by 27% in 2006, and that a recent report reveals that during 2005 requests for food aid increased in 76% of the 24 major cities across the nation.
On December 22, it's reported that 2 billion in home heating assistance was stripped from the defense appropriations bill.
On December 27, it's reported that Katrina's Black evacuees faced housing discrimination and that 66% of white callers got better deals in Houston and 16 other cities.
On December 28, it's reported that a man believed to be one of Buffalo's worst slumlords, was extradited from San Francisco to Buffalo for numerous housing violations across the city.
On December 29, it's reported that city officials of New Orleans agreed not to begin demolition of thousands of hurricane-damaged homes until after a state judge holds a hearing on Jan 6.
On December 30, it's reported that the city of Corpus Christi will go after landlords in an effort to keep tenants from stealing water or gas from city services.
On December 31, it's reported that a powerful storm ripped through Northern California, displacing thousands and leaving tens of thousands without power in their homes or businesses.
On December 31, it's reported that the poorest of Katrina's evacuees have become FEMA's biggest challenge.
? {?
By Lynda Carson January 2, 2005
The year of 2005 was a wicked year for the poor and impoverished across the nation, and there is no relief in sight.
Hundreds of thousands have been made homeless from evictions, disasters, and mean spirited budget bills that take resources from the poor, to give to the rich.
Let 2005 be a reminder that the Bush administration hates poor people and must be removed from power as soon as possible.
On January 4, it's reported that the Washington County Housing Authority stopped accepting voucher applications for its Section 8 housing program.
On January 5, it's reported that 130 families in Salt Lake City were left stranded without housing assistance during the coldest months of the year, because of HUD funding cuts.
On January 6, a federal judge concluded that Black public housing tenants have been systematically consigned to segregated, poor neighborhoods of Baltimore City, as a result of HUD policies.
On January 6, it's reported that the San Antonio Housing Authority moved a step closer to easing its strict "one-strike and you're out" policy that punishes entire families.
On January 7, it's reported that the South Carolina State Housing Finance and Development
Authority, which administers Section 8 programs in 10 counties, has cut its vouchers by 10 percent.
On January 7, it was also reported that 160 families in Charleston County may lose their Section vouchers due to HUD funding cuts, and that Topeka, Kansas, planned to dump 150 families from its Section 8 program. The North Charleston Housing Authority, which had around 2,000 Section 8 families, said it may have to cut 10 percent of them later in January.
On January 14, it's reported that the Bush Administration proposed to cut $8 billion from HUD's community programs, in a bid to kill off the nations CDBG programs.
On January 14, it was also reported that HUD is investigating the Avon Housing Authority for handing out around 70 extra Section 8 vouchers.
On January 15, it was reported that the Charlotte Housing Authority is considering plans to impose time limits on public housing and Section 8 tenants. At that point, only a dozen other U.S. cities imposed time limits on housing assistance.
On January 21, HUD sent a letter to the nation's Public Housing Authorities stating that they would receive 4.1% less in funding than they did last summer, which may result in a loss of 80,000 Section 8 vouchers nationwide.
On January 26, it was reported that Marin County planned to terminate around 76 Section 8 vouchers due to HUD funding cuts.
On January 26, it was also reported that HUD Secretary Alphonso Jackson told the nation's mayors that the Bush administration plans to propose a very lean budget for the nation's housing assistance programs, for FY 2006.
On January 27, it was reported that the New York City Housing Authority would receive $50 million less than what was needed to provide Section 8 vouchers to the poor during 2005.
Around January 27, it was reported that the Allen Metropolitan Housing Authority would lose around $500,000 to fund it's housing assistance programs, due to HUD cutbacks, and that Santa Cruz County would also face cuts to their housing assistance programs.
On January 27, it was also reported that HUD miscalculated the inflation rate and the city's cost of living increase, which would cause New York to lose as much as $61 million in Section 8 vouchers.
On January 28, it was reported that 10 housing authorities in central Puget Sound were notified Jan. 24 about the extent of the Section 8 voucher cuts, which range in size from $350,000 to
$2.5 million.
On January 31, it was reported that the Greenburgh Housing Authority may have to cut 30
families from its Section 8 program. Yonkers, lost around $2.5 million in HUD funding, and expects to cut about 100 vouchers through attrition.
On February 1, it was reported that forty workers lost their jobs after a wave of HUD funding cuts rolled across the Pittsburgh Housing Authority. The Vancouver Housing Authority also reported they will have to reduce their Section 8 vouchers by 70 to 104, due to HUD funding cuts.
On February 2, Bush had promoted plans to cut or eliminate 150 programs in his State of the Union address.
On February 7, the Bush administration released it's budget proposals for FY 2006, which proposed to cut nearly 12% in funding from the nation's housing assistance programs, and pushes to end the federal rule that requires 75% of Section 8 vouchers to go to those earning 30% or less of AMI.
On February 9, it was reported that hundreds of families in Hawaii could lose their Section 8 vouchers due to HUD funding cuts. The National Housing Law Project had also declared victory against the United State Department of Agriculture? attempt to illegally evict families whose heads of households were not U.S. citizens or permanent residents of the United States.
On February 12, it was reported that hundreds of low-income Dubuque families in the Section 8 program, may have to pay more for rent due to HUD funding cuts.
On February 12, it was also reported that the Raleigh Housing Authority cut rent subsidies to nearly 800 low-income renters.
On February 15, it was reported that around 123,000 units of public housing have been demolished
since 2001, and that another 45,000 units have been scheduled for demolition.
On February 16, it was reported that the King County Housing Authority approved major changes to the Section 8 program that will result in thousands paying more or being squeezed into smaller living spaces. The Atlantic City Housing Authority also approved a plan to cut 10% of it's jobs as a result of HUD budget cuts.
On February 16, it was also reported that Wisconsin may lose up to 35,000 units of public housing during the next 7 years as a result of the Bush administrations proposals. It was also reported that agencies in 32 states faced increased requests for emergency food or shelter.
On February 17, it was reported that the Berkeley Housing Authority may be in danger of
downsizing its administration, and had to cut it's employees down from 19 to 13. The Fort Wayne Housing Authority reported that they may leave some Section 8 renters without housing or raise their rents by $50 per month.
On February 18, it was reported that under the Bush administrations proposals, 370,000 fewer families could receive voucher assistance by 2010. If the proposed cuts to HUD occur, by 2010 California faces a projected loss of 52,925 low-income housing vouchers across the
state, below the 2005 level.
On February 22, it was reported that the Bush administration proposed to stop financing the construction of new housing for the mentally ill and physically handicapped, and that the federal government would discontinue financing housing for people with spinal cord injuries
or psychiatric illnesses resdiing in nursing homes or psychiatric hospitals.
On February 26, it was reported that the state Court of Appeal has upheld a $12 million
judgment against the San Francisco Housing Authorityfor its culpability in a deadly blaze at one of its properties more than seven years ago.
On March 2, it was reported that the Solano County Board of Supervisors agreed to lower Section 8 subsidy payments by 10 percent in 2006.
On March 5, it was reported that a bipartisan group of 55 senators spelled out its opposition to Bush's proposed cuts to HUD. It was also reported that the number of public housing apartments in New York City remaining vacant for more than five years has increased 31 percent since 2003.
On March 6, it was reported that Montgomery County could face an almost $16 million
shortfall in its subsidized housing voucher program by 2010.
During the week of March 7, both chambers of Congress have proposed budget resolutions that pave the way for severe cuts to low income programs and the provision of additional tax cuts to the wealthy. The budget resolution calls for an estimated $30 billion to $35 billion in cuts over the
next five years from low-income programs.
March 8 was designated as a national call-in day to oppose the proposed HUD budget cuts in support of an adequate budget resolution.
On March 8, it was reported that Section 8 landlords in Fort Wayne said that by imposing a 10% rent reduction, it could sabotage the Section 8 program. Near Chicago, the Oak Park Housing Authority will ask the Village Board for $150,000 in emergency funding. McHenry County Housing Authority also reported that recent budget cuts mean that the agency is able to help 100 fewer families than it could a couple years ago.
On March 9, it was reported that more than 60 Bloomington families were notified over the weekend that their housing subsidies will end in 60 days.
On March 10, it was reported that Mayor Thomas M. Menino lashed out at the Bush proposals by saying that housing assistance cuts could drive up homelessness in Boston. Boston's Section 8 funding has been cut by $5.7 million in 2005, which is the cost of covering 461 vouchers. The King County Housing Authority, reports that it stopped taking new participants into the Section 8 program in Seattle. The Detroit Housing Commission, faces the loss of up to $ 2.8 million in federal aid.
On March 11, it was reported that Phoenix may cut their housing department by 85 jobs due to federal budget cuts. In central Illinois, McLean County is looking for ways to help 64 families
losing their housing subsidies on April 30.
On March 12, it was reported that Bush is proposing to withdraw food stamps for certain
families already receiving other government assistance, which would result in more than 300,000 people being cut from the Food Stamp Program.
On March 15, the House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Human Resources passed a welfare reform bill (TANF) that would increase work requirements and reduce the amount of time a person can use vocational education to fulfill ?ork activity?requirements.
On March 18, it was reported that the Cincinnati Metropolitan Housing Authority plans to
slash funding in its Section 8 housing voucher program. It was also reported that funding cuts to the Section 8 program could cost the Columbus Housing Authority more than $1 million by December.
On March 24, it was reported that the Dalton Housing Authority severed ties with HUD, being the first housing authority in the nation to do so.
On March 30, the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities reported that 220,000 SSI recipients are at risk from the latest proposed budget cuts to the nation's low-income programs.
On March 31, it was reported that the Passaic Housing Authority has temporarily suspended the issuance and use of new vouchers and the use of existing vouchers to move to another dwelling, because of a $3.8 million HUD funding error.
-94,000 Section 8 Units Lost Since 1995-
During early April, the National Housing Trust released a list of HUD-assisted, project-based housing units that have been lost since 1995. Total losses for all 50 states and the District of Columbia count more than 94,000 Section 8 units and nearly 196,000 assisted units lost since 1995.
On April 5, it was reported that in an effort to sabotage the Social Security program, Bush told an audience that there is no Social Security Trust Fund. "There is no trust `fund' ?just IOUs that I saw firsthand," Bush said.
On April 8, it was reported that the New York City Housing Authority could lose up to $166 million, or almost a quarter of its annual federal subsidy for operating costs, under a new cost-cutting proposal by the Bush administration. Across the nation, the funding loss would be as much as $480 million, or 14 percent, of the $3.4 billion federal budget for day-to-day operations, and would affect the nation's 3,100 housing authorities. If the budget proposals go onto effect they will result in one of the biggest cuts since the federal government first began subsidizing housing.
On April 12, it was reported that the Bush Administration has proposed to slash $84,330, nearly 23%, from the annual operating budget of the Hudson Housing Authority.
On April 13, it was reported that HUD proposes to change the housing formula for Section 8 housing vouchers and would make 90 percent of the vouchers available to people bringing home 60 percent or less of the median income. Currently, 75% of Section 8 vouchers go to those earning 30% or less of the local AMI.
On April 13, Senator Wayne Allard introduced S. 771, the State and Local Flexibility Act of 2005 (SLHFA). The bill allows 90% of the families issued Section 8 vouchers to have incomes up to
60% of AMI.
On April 14, U.S. Senator Patty Murray pressed HUD Secretary Alphonso Jackson to restore King County Public Housing Authority funds that were improperly cut due to an error on the part of HUD. $800,000 in Section 8 funding has been denied to King County due to computer errors
made by HUD.
On April 15, it was reported that the Los Angeles Housing Authority will begin reissuing
rent subsidies to hundreds of families abruptly dumped from the Section 8 program more than a year ago when the agency ran out of funds.
On April 16, it was reported that the King County Housing Authority shall receive $755,000
more out of the federal government after HUD agreed that it had made a mistake. The Fayette County Housing Authority is hiking up the rents by 14 to 19 percent.
On April 16, it was also reported that community leaders from 15 states gathered in Fresno to discuss a Bush administration proposal that could pit big city against small, urban against rural
in the struggle over federal funding.
On April 17, it was reported that Pico Rivera's Housing Authority plans to stop taking applications.
On April 18, it was reported that Lehigh Valley's two biggest housing authorities
plan to cut back on the number of vouchers they hand out to low-income renters this year.
On April 20, it was reported that thousands of Baton Rouge residents were turned away when they showed up to apply for Section 8 housing.
On April 23, it was reported that more than 350 low-income families in Merced County could be forced to pay more for rent because of HUD funding cuts. In addition, HUD demanded that the Newark Housing Authority return $6.4 million in federal funds after an audit concluded that the money had been misspent.
On April 28 congressional Republicans reported agreement on a budget that envisions $10 billion in Medicaid funding cuts over the next five years and at least $70 billion in tax cuts for the filthy rich. The horrific agreement, developed solely by Republicans, requires almost $35 billion in cuts to mandatory programs.
On April 29, it was reported that almost 40 organizations, including the National Low Income
Housing Coalition, signed a letter in opposition to S. 771 (SLHFA).
On April 30, hundreds of senior citizens appeared at a rally to Save Section 8 at the Redwoods in Marin County. Meanwhile, the Merced County Housing Authority sent letters to around 100 low-income families during the past week informing them they will lose their Section 8 vouchers at the end of May. And the Bucks County Housing Authority stopped accepting applications to their Section 8 program.
On May 3, it was reported that a GAO report finds HUD fair market rent data to be flawed in 31% of the nation's communities.
On May 4, it was reported that 100 protesters led by a coalition of housing activists charged that Mayor Gavin Newsom's Care Not Cash program is leaving out a lot of people in need by focusing on the most troubled homeless people.
On May 5, it was reported that the Edinburg Housing Authority has frozen its waiting list for public housing.
On May 6, it was reported that Rhode Island received $400,000 less in HUD funding than in 2004.
On May 7, it was reported that Congress saved the Community Development Block Grant program by restoring $1.5 billion in funding the Bush administration tried to grab.
On May 9, it was reported that HUD budget cuts have forced the King County Housing Authority to dump more than 4,000 low-income households from its Section 8 voucher program waiting list.
On May 11, SLHFA/S.771 had it's first congressional hearing. SLHFA is HUD's proposal to dump the poorest of the poor from the Section 8 program.
On May 13, it was reported that the Fayette County Housing Authority plans to start
evicting more than 400 families for failing to perform eight hours of community service each month as required by their lease.
On May 17, a house panel blasted HUD Secretary Alphonso Jackson over his Section 8 reform plan known as SLHFA.
On May 23, Lawndale residents filed a class action federal lawsuit and a preliminary
injunction to prevent HUD from illegally terminating a project-based Section 8
contract on 1,240 housing units.
On May 24, hundreds of protesters gathered outside the Mazzoli Federal Building in downtown Louisville to protest cuts to it's Section 8 program.
On May 25, it was reported that the Millville Housing Authority may face a $200,000 budget cut in the next fiscal year that begins Oct. 1
On May 27, Honolulu stopped accepting applications for it's Section 8 program. In Portland, around 200 protesters gathered in front of City Hall to bring attention to proposed cuts to federal housing programs.
On May 27, it was also reported that the Marin Housing Authority has been ordered to return $318,139 to the federal government because it failed to follow government regulations in administering the Section 8 program.
On May 29, it was reported that the Maryville Housing Authority is struggling from a 10 percent federal cut in its public housing budget this fiscal year. The housing authority has already cut the number of Section 8 vouchers from 304 to 250 during 2005.
On May 29, it was also reported that Federal officials say the Newark Housing Authority may owe an additional $2.5 million, barely a month after the agency was ordered to return $6.4 million.
On June 1, it was reported in Idaho that a local PHA will have to dump 65 families from their Section 8 program. The housing authority currently assists 585 families in the Pocatello area, and that number needs to be trimmed to 520.
On June 10, it was reported that hundreds held a rally in Missouri, at the Boone County Court House, to protest against budget cuts to the nation's housing programs.
On June 13, it was reported that around 60 housing advocates gathered in Boston to protest budgets cuts to the Section 8 program and the Massachusetts rental voucher program.
On June 14, it was reported that low-income tenants in federally subsidized housing in California are entitled to 90 days' notice before eviction.
On June 15, hundreds of San Francisco tenants in the Section 8 program appeared for a hearing at the Westbay Conference Center to voice their concerns about the San Francisco Housing Authority.
On June 16, it was reported that there are more than 90,000 men, women and children living on streets and in encampments, vehicles and shelters throughout Los Angeles County.
On June 16, it was also reported that Colorado Springs wants to force homeless people to carry ID cards or face a loss of assistance services.
On June 18, it was reported that the Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority could lose millions more under a proposed rule and legislation moving through Congress.
On June 23, it was reported that a law-suit filed by five people could determine whether hundreds more people lose their Section 8 vouchers in Merced County for failing to adhere to their Section 8 contracts.
On June 29, it was reported that the Atlanta Housing Authority will start evicting tenants who are not working, in school or in a work force training program. Thousands face homelessness as a result.
On June 30, it was reported that congress voted to add $165 million to the dreaded Hope lV program that demolishes low-income housing, and replaces it with mixed use housing for wealthier tenants.
On June 30, it was also reported that the Boston Housing Authority will cut payments to landlords on behalf of 3,500 poor households and force more than half of those Section 8 tenants to chip in as much as $200 more per month. And in Sagit County, around 300 low-income families will be forced to pay $30 to $71 more each month in rent because of HUD budget cuts.
During July, the City of Albany has sent more bulldozers to clear out homeless encampments at the Albany Landfill.
On July 1, it was reported that protestors wore red shirts for solidarity, yelled unity chants and waved signs outside the Pompano Beach Housing Authority headquarters to bring attention to poor living conditions at the Golden Acres Development.
On July 6, it was reported that the Galveston Housing Authority has begun demolition of 228 units in the Palm Terrace Apartments.
On July 8, it was reported that an argument between the cities of Paterson and Passaic
over missing paperwork may cost 55 families their Section 8 vouchers.
On July 9, it was reported that HUD took control of Detroit's public housing agency after decades of funding mismanagement.
On July 15, it was reported: "The federal government's chief investigator yesterday blasted the Pentagon for its ''atrocious financial management," saying the Defense Department was not able to give federal oversight officials a full accounting of the $1 billion being spent each week on the war in Iraq"
On July 21, it was reported that the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee approved $38.9 billion in federal housing spending, in defiance of the Bush administration plans to kill the Community Development Block Grant program.
On July 22, it was reported that during the past two years, Pasco County's homeless and
the agencies serving them have missed out on large amounts of federal money available to assist them.
On August 2, 43 residential tenants of the historic landmark California Hotel in Oakland,
filed a lawsuit against Oakland Community Housing Inc., and are seeking $50,000 in damages over rat infestations, bed bugs, cock roaches and other health and safety issues.
On August 10, it was reported that Wyoming County Section 8 tenants were shocked last week when they received notice that their assistance would be substantially less starting September 1.
On August 12, it was reported that residents of the Hunters View public housing development are in opposition to plans to demolish the housing project for mixed use housing.
On August 14, it was reported that a lack of affordable housing in Chicago has scattered thousands of low-income residents to neighboring cities, and states.
On August 17, it was reported that Nashville residents in low-income Section 8 housing may be
forced to prove they have a job or are training for one to stay in the Section 8 program. And it's reported that single-family home prices are "extremely overvalued" in 53 cities.
On August 18, it was reported that public housing tenants at Kuhio Park Terrace in Kalihi
and Palolo Valley Housing demonstrated outside of the state agency that manages public
housing, because they say their rights to fight evictions are being taken away.
On August 20, it was reported that officials in New York's Suffolk County are cracking down on landlords who rent to illegal immigrants.
On August 24, it was reported that a House Bill places over 28,000 Section 8 vouchers at risk of being cut.
On August 28, it was reported that a group of protesters outnumbered by police rallied at the foot of the Atlantic City Expressway to bring attention to the city's dwindling stock of affordable homes.
On August 29, Hurricane Katrina devastates the Gulf Coast region.
On September 1, it was reported that over a million people have fled their homes from the Gulf Coast region because of Hurricane Katrina, and currently 163,000 citizens of Louisiana are in shelters. New Orleans is a disaster zone with tens of thousands stranded there without food, water or assistance.
On September 1, it was also reported that homelessness & unrest at the (New Orleans) Superdome has spiraled out of control, since hurricane Katrina struck the Gulf Coast. And a national study released today verifies that low-income people with disabilities are experiencing a national housing
affordability crisis. In another report, it states the "federal minimum wage remains unchanged for eighth straight year, falls to 56-year low relative to the average wage".
On September 2, it was reported that more than 20,000 public-housing residents in the New
Orleans area will need somewhere to stay.
By September 4, the world watches in horror as it becomes apparant that the Bush administration has ignored Katrina's poor Black victims who are still stranded in New Orleans without food, water or assistance.
On September 7, it was reported that the Oakland Housing Authority is concerned about the proposed housing budget cuts; "We favor the Senate version because we would lose about 1,000 fewer vouchers," said John Gresley, director of the Oakland Housing Authority.
By September 8, reports from across the nation reveal how Katrina's evacuees are being pitted against the poor that are already seeking housing assistance.
On September 9, it was reported that Congress gave swift approval to $51.8 billion to help fund recovery efforts on the Gulf Coast due to Hurricane Katrina, in addition to $10.5 billion approved by Congress on September 2.
On September 12, it was reported that search teams found more than 40 bodies, many of them elderly patients, inside a New Orleans hospital flooded out by Hurricane Katrina.
On September 12, it was also reported that up to 200,000 Katrina evacuees may be homeless for the next 3-5 years. More than 450,000 people fled New Orleans. The Red Cross says it is now picking up hotel bills for at least 57,000 people who fled Hurricane Katrina.
On September 14, it was reported that the Senate Ok's $3.5 billion in vouchers and more than 350,000 families made homeless by Hurricane Katrina would get emergency housing vouchers averaging $600 a month for up to six months after the House later votes on their own compannion bill.
On September 15, it was reported that 1.2 million of those affected by Hurricane Katrina are receiving some form of housing assistance.
By September 16, the official death toll in Louisiana from Katrina reached 579.
On September 16, it was reported that conservative Republicans are worried about the growing costs of rebuilding the Gulf Coast region, and want to pay for it by cutting the nation's domestic programs for the poor.
By September 19, it was reported that 302,000 housing units were destroyed or damaged by Hurricane Katrina, and 216,000 units, or 71%, were affordable to low income households. In New Orleans, 142,000 units were damaged or lost, 79% of which were affordable to low income households.
On September 19, it was reported that housing officials are urging the Bush administration
to issue tens of thousands of emergency rental vouchers to Katrina's evacuees. New Orleans alone lost 24,000 public housing and Section 8 units, HUD officials said.
On September 21, the Republican Study Committee, a group of the most conservative House Republicans, released ?peration Offset,?which is their policy response to Hurricane Katrina that proposes to loot billions from the nation's poverty programs.
By September 22, the Louisiana Attorney General's Office has received zillions of calls alleging price gouging in the housing and rental markets since Katrina hit.
On September 22, it was reported that as Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans, the sheriff's department abandoned hundreds of inmates imprisoned in the city? jail who were without food or water for days.
On September 23, it was reported that landlord friendly judges were ignoring Gov. Kathleen Blanco's executive order to halt all evictions since Katrina struck Louisiana.
On September 23, HUD and FEMA officials announce two new Transitional Housing Assistance Programs for Hurricane Katrina evacuees.
On September 27, HUD officials announced that they lost around 50,000 homes/rental units to Hurricane Katrina. FEMA announced they distributed almost $625 million in housing assistance in the past two days.
On September 28, it was reported that hundreds of thousands of residents along the gulf coast region still remained homeless due to Katrina. The Kingston Housing Authority announced it has closed its waiting list and is not taking any more applications for subsidized housing.
On September 29, it was reported that HUD Secretary Alphonso Jackson was targeting Black's for exclusion from New Orleans; Secretary Jackson said, "Whether we like it or not, New Orleans is not going to be 500,000 people for a long time," he said. "New Orleans is not going to be as black as it was for a long time, if ever again."
On September 29, homeless families joined the Chicago Coalition for the Homeless, in a rally to support low-income housing programs outside House Speaker Dennis Hastert's district office in downtown Batavia.
On September 30, the Justice Department won a $1 million settlement in a major disibility discrimination suit.
On October 2, it was reported that the number of Katrina evacuees in hotels increased from 220,000 to more than 400,000 people. Meanwhile, more than 100,000 people remain in about
1,000 shelters operated by the Red Cross, smaller charities and churches, scattered across two dozen states. It was reported that 1,700 hurricane evacuees landed in the San Francisco Bay Area.
On October 4, it's reported that more than 10 percent of Montgomery County's 70,000
rental apartments could be converted to condominiums within five years.
By October 5, the American Red Cross estimates that more than 350,000 homes were destroyed by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, while an additional 146,000 had major damage. Overall, 850,791 housing units were damaged, destroyed or left inaccessible because of Katrina.
By October 6, FEMA has registered over 1.7 million Katrina victims for disaster assistance and provided housing assistance in the form of money or direct housing to over 390,000 displaced individuals and families.
On October 9, it's reported that Massachussetts homeless people and advocates are protesting
the way that Katrina's evacuees are bumped ahead of those already in line for housing assistance.
On October 14, landlords started to illegally evict thousands of Lake Charles residents from their apartments. Local cops said they will not forcibly remove people from their apartments if they challenge a 24-hour eviction notice issued this week.
On October 14, dozens of residents and community activists protested outside the Forest Park Apartments in New Orleans because of an illegal lock-out by the housing authority.
On October 19, it's reported that the House of Representatives put off a vote seeking $50 billion in budget cuts due to a lack of votes. In addition, over 62 national organizations objected to a GSE bill that contains voter restrictions in an affordable housing provision that punishes non profits for assisting in voter registration activities. On October 26, 220 Members of the House voted to
suppress voting in federal elections by low income people.
On October 22, it's reported that a quarter of New Orleans housing may face bulldozers.
On October 24, acting on a law suit, a judge temporarily blocked landlords from evicting New Orleans tenants unless hearings are held close to home.
On October 26, 220 Members of the House voted to suppress voting in federal elections by low income people. Republican hard-liners succeeded in passing a measure that would limit the ability of nonprofit groups to conduct voter registration drives.
On October 26, around 40 tenants and more showed up at the Alameda County Superior Court in support of Oakland? Just Cause eviction protections known as Measure EE, which faces a law suit by greedy landlords trying to over turn the will of the people.
On October 27, more than 70 law enforcement officers from a wide variety of City, County, State and Special District police departments attacked 24 homeless encampments in Contra Costa County.
On October 31, it's reported that Black babies in Nashville are two times more likely to
die before their first birthday than white infants are. Voices for America's Children today urged Members of Congress to reject spending cuts that harm children.
On November 1, it's reported that HUD officials tried to pull off an $11.4 million money
grab from humanitarian New Orleans operations after Hurricane Katrina struck. Additionally, landlords in the Section 8 program have not been payed by the federal government since Katrina made landfall Aug. 29.
On November 1, it's also reported that a budget reconciliation bill now before the Senate would cut $39 billion from programs for the poor, but would give $70 billion in tax cuts to the rich.
On November 3, the Senate approved a far-reaching budget bill that would cut spending for Medicare, Medicaid and other needed domestic benefit programs. The bill slashes around $36 billion from the nation's mandatory programs over the next five years, and the House wants to cut as much as $54 billion in their compannion bill.
On November 3, it's reported that 25,000 residents of public housing are still displaced from New Orleans. The housing authority locked-out the public housing tenants in defiance of the governor's decree prohibiting evictions. Theres been reports of a thousand evictions a day taking place in New Orleans.
On November 3, it's reported that the Red Cross says it can no longer afford to house evacuees in hotels, the Salvation Army has run out of beds, and government housing authorities have few or
no vacancies.
On November 3, all 42 House members of the Congressional Black Caucus introduced HR 4197, the Hurricane Katrina Recovery, Reclamation, Restoration, Reconstruction and Reunion Act of 2005.
On November 5, it's reported that FEMA will give $26,200 in aid to those worst hit by Katrina, but determining who is eligible concerns many that may be left out in the cold.
On November 6, it's reported that state housing officials said they cannot afford to repair public housing damaged by Hurricane Katrina ($155 million in damage) in three coastal Mississippi counties.
On November 10, the San Francisco Housing Authority commission moved forward with a plan to demolish the Hunters View public housing units by voting to negotiate with a team of developers that would tear down the housing units for the poor.
On November 11, it's reported that around $2.2 million in taxpayer money has been wrongly used by the Housing Authority of Winston-Salem.
On November 14, a lawsuit to stop evictions was filed seeking a temporary restraining order to protect the interests of displaced residents of New Orleans, as a result of Hurricane Katrina.
Meanwhile, FEMA gives notice to 150,000 Katrina evacuees in hotels to vacate their units In 15 days.
On November 17, conferees wrapped up negotiations on a budget bill (HR 3058) that places 27,889 Section 8 Vouchers at risk.
On November 18, the House passed the Deficit Reduction Omnibus Reconciliation Act of 2005, making nearly $50 billion in cuts to mandatory programs for the poor. The recently Senate-passed reconciliation bill contains $35 billion in cuts, and both bills need to be reconciled.
On November 18, the Senate passed S. 2020, the Tax Relief Act of 2005, a bill containing more than $74 billion in tax cuts for the rich over the next five years.
On November 21, it's reported that last week The Greater New Orleans Fair Housing Action Center has filed a housing discrimination complaint against the Housing Authority of New Orleans.
On November 22, the Fayette County Housing Authority gave mercy to 450 tenants that refused to comply with a mandatory community service requirement, and gave them an additional six months to do so before it begins serving eviction notices.
On November 22, it's reported that hundreds of New Orleans inmates were still in custody despite a release order issued by a judge 12 days earlier.
On November 23, a judge ruled in favor of a law suit to stop the evictions in New Orleans, and the parties agreed to a stay of all evictions for renters in Orleans and Jefferson Parishes, pending mail notification to addresses provided by FEMA and hearings 45 days later.
On November 26, it's reported that an Algiers hero who commandered a school bus the day after Hurricane Katrina hit to take 60 stranded residents to safety in Houston, has been arrested on drug charges where his bus journey began at the Fischer public housing complex. Jabar Gibson became a national figure when he stole a school bus to rescue himself and his neighbors from the catastrophe in New Orleans.
On November 28, it's reported that most of America's inner cities continue to lose jobs despite years of federal programs. 82 of the largest municipalities across the nation lost jobs from 1995 to 2003.
On November 30, Bush signed the FY 2006 HUD funding bill that allows HUD to overfund some housing authorities, while underfunding others, which places thousands at risk of losing their Section 8 vouchers in the future.
On November 30, it's reported that Mississippi plans to force prison inmates to help rebuild the
Katrina-damaged areas along the Gulf Coast. The slave labor scheme could save coast
governments millions.
On November 30, it's also reported that 3 months after Hurricane Katrina struck, most of New Orleans is still in the dark and looks like a war zone. Remaining tenants in New Orleans report they are still being forced from their housing through illegal evictions, despite the recent lawsuit blocking such evictions.
On December 1, it's reported that the housing authority of New Orleans still stands firm with it's continued illegal lock-out of public housing tenants in that city. People blame HUD officials for trying to keep Blacks from returning.
On December 5, it's reported that 45 residents of a public housing development with a waterfront view in Morehead City, worry that plans to sell their homes to profiteers will disrupt their lives.
On December 6, it's reported that the Salt Lake City Housing Authority will begin accepting applications for their Section 8 program after refusing to do so for the past 2 years.
On December 8, the House passed a bill that gives more than $90 billion in tax cuts to the rich.
On December 10, over 5,000 people in New Orleans marched from Congo Square in Louis Armstrong Park to City Hall, where they gathered in cold weather to listen to pleas for action to return people back to their beloved city.
On December 10, it's reported that over 10,000 housing trailers that FEMA bought for Hurricane Katrina's evacuees are sitting empty. In an act of madness, FEMA stopped the manufacturers from delivering the trailers to those in need.
On December 11, it's reported that the waters have receded in New Orleans but the mainly Black,
low-income residents are now the victims of rising rents, forced evictions and plans that favor the well to do.
On December 12, it's reported that while hundreds go homeless on the island of Oahu, more than 750 federally funded public housing units are sitting empty.
On December 12, U.S. District Judge Stanwood R. Duval, Jr. ruled that FEMA must pay the hotel bills for evacuees from Hurricane Katrina and Wilma until Feb 7.
On December 12, California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger horrified the world by refusing to halt the execution of Stanley "Tookie'' Williams.
On December 13, it's reported that affordable housing in Utah and across the country is out of reach for many, according to a new report by the National Low-Income Housing Coalition.
On December 14, over 100 religious activists protesting proposed cuts to health care and
other social welfare programs were arrested after they staged a peaceful sit-in at a government building near the U.S. Capitol.
During the week of December 18, the House & Senate passed a 1% across the board budget cutting bill that will grab $8.5 billion from the nation's domestic programs, except for Veterans?Affairs programs and war accounts.
On December 19, it's reported that the Richmond courts are unlawfully denying poor people defending themselves from eviction their rights to a trial by jury.
On December 19, the House of Representatives passed a devastating budget cutting bill that cuts $39.7 billion from mandatory programs for the poor from FY 2006 to FY 11. The battle to block the $39.7 billion dollar five-year deficit reduction bill is not over, and advocates have one more chance during January to keep this bill from going into effect.
On December 21, it's reported that people of color pay millions more monthly for home
loans.
On December 21, it's reported that Arkansas shelters and services for the homeless will be cut by 27% in 2006, and that a recent report reveals that during 2005 requests for food aid increased in 76% of the 24 major cities across the nation.
On December 22, it's reported that 2 billion in home heating assistance was stripped from the defense appropriations bill.
On December 27, it's reported that Katrina's Black evacuees faced housing discrimination and that 66% of white callers got better deals in Houston and 16 other cities.
On December 28, it's reported that a man believed to be one of Buffalo's worst slumlords, was extradited from San Francisco to Buffalo for numerous housing violations across the city.
On December 29, it's reported that city officials of New Orleans agreed not to begin demolition of thousands of hurricane-damaged homes until after a state judge holds a hearing on Jan 6.
On December 30, it's reported that the city of Corpus Christi will go after landlords in an effort to keep tenants from stealing water or gas from city services.
On December 31, it's reported that a powerful storm ripped through Northern California, displacing thousands and leaving tens of thousands without power in their homes or businesses.
On December 31, it's reported that the poorest of Katrina's evacuees have become FEMA's biggest challenge.
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