Open Letter: Section 8 Rent Increases In Berkeley

Section 8 Rent Increases In Berkeley

From: Frances Hailman

Date: February 16, 2007 1:53:47 PM PST

To: Stephen Barton <SBarton [at] ci.berkeley.ca.us>,
manderson [at] ci.berkeley.ca.us, Tia Ingram <tingram [at] ci.berkeley.ca.us>,
Debra Ward <dward [at] ci.berkeley.ca.us>, news [at] berkeleydailyplanet.com,
AmericanVoices [at] mail.house.gov, DSpring [at] ci.berkeley.ca.us, LMaio,
kWorthington [at] ci.berkeley.ca.us, lcapitelli [at] ci.berkeley.ca.us,
mayor [at] ci.berkeley.ca.us, worthington [at] ci.berkeley.ca.us,
GWozniak [at] ci.berkeley.ca.us
Subject: HUD Funding

Dear Mr Barton,

Can you explain to us why Berkeley called a special meeting to announce
rent increases that place an immense burden on seniors and the
disabled, when the very next day the US Senate confirmed the US House
funding increases for HUD? From what they say below, the BHA should be
able to continue their program as is, and these increases squeezed in
the night before are extremely suspect.

Also, I am bewildered about the fact that seniors and the disabled,
including disabled veterans, are targeted for increases (studios and
one bedrooms) when they are the very people living on a low fixed
income (mostly between $800-$900 per month) without the ability to go
out and earn extra money. Your action increases the likelihood of
homelessness even as the mayor pledges help for the homeless.
Something's wrong with the picture.

We the people deserve an explanation, please.

Frances Hailman
Berkeley Citizens for Fair Housing


(Activists urge supporters of Affordable Housing to appear at the Feb. 27, 6pm Berkeley Housing Authority meeting ( Second floor @ Old City Hall), to speak out in opposition to rent hikes in Berkeley. Come early for rally & to sign up as speaker.)

SUMMARY OF SOME SIGNIFICANT SPENDING INCREASES OR ACTIONS IN
FEDERALSPENDING PLAN PASSED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES JANUARY 31,
2007 AND US SENATE ON FEB 14, 2007

HOUSING
Department of Housing and Urban Development
Public Housing Operating Fund (increase):
* $3.8 billion, an increase of $300 million to allow Public Housing
Authorities to address critical operating needs and will help to
restore
staffing levels, maintenance activities, elderly service
coordinators,
security officers and equipment.
* The Department of Housing and Community Development is currently
funding Public Housing Authorities at 76% of their authorized
operating
fund levels, which the House Appropriations Committee says is still
$672
million short of the total estimated need of $4.5 billion.
Section 8 Tenant-Based Program (increase):
* $15.9 billion, an increase of $502 million to allow HUD to renew
70,000
housing vouchers currently in use by individuals and families
Section 8 Project-Based Program (increase)
* $5.9 billion, an increase of $939 million to allow HUD to renew
157,000
housing vouchers currently in use by individuals and families
Section 8 Formula
* Language is included to change the funding formula for the Section
8
Tenant-Based Program.
* The current formula is based on information from 2004 that is out
of
date and results in some Public Housing Authorities getting more
funding
then they can spend while others have less than what is needed.
* This provision would correct that problem by directing the
Department
of Housing and Urban Development to use the most recent 12-month
leasing
and cost data.
* Last week HUD announced that a similar provision would be included
in
their 2008 budget request to be implemented in 2009.
* By including the language now, 2007 funds will be put to their
intended
use – funding housing units for low-income families and individuals
rather than sitting unspent.


House Previously Approved HJR 20 On January 31
* The US House of Representatives previously approved by a vote of
286-140, the spending plan, officially titled the "Revised Continuing
Appropriations Resolution, 2007" for the federal budget year that
began
last October 1, 2006 and ends September 30, 2007. House Republicans
provided 57 of the 286 votes for passage.
* The outcome in the US Senate was never in doubt after passage in
the
House - with the Senate the previous day (Feb 13) approving a motion
to
end further debate on HJR 20 by a vote of 71-26. Democrats also
fought
off attempts by Senate Republicans to amend the bill, who complained
that
they were not allowed to fully debate the measure.

Increases for Housing Authorities & Change in Section 8 Housing
Formula
The spending plan includes funding increases for Public Housing
Authorities operations, Section 8 and public housing - though not at
the
levels hoped for by housing advocates - but better than the
reductions
previously proposed last year by President Bush. The President has
proposed for 2008 reductions in funding for housing authorities (see
previous CDCAN Report on federal budget for 2008).
* HJR 20, also called an "omnibus appropriations bill" includes
funding
of $3.8 billion for public housing authorities, an increase of $300
million to allow these agencies to address critical operating needs,
including unexpected increases in utility costs. The increase in
funding, according to the US House Appropriations Committee, will
help
restore staffing levels, maintenance, service coordinators for the
elderly, security and equipment needs.
* The funding increase - while not at the level housing advocates say
is
necessary to fund housing needs is still a reversal of President
Bush's
original proposal that called for overall spending reductions in
public
housing and will have important impact to people with disabilities,
mental health needs and low income seniors living in public housing
in
California and across the nation.
* Housing advocates - and the House Appropriations Committee have
previously said that the public housing authorities is still about
$672
million short of the total funding that is needed for operating
needs.
* In addition, the HJR 20 includes language to change the funding
formula
for the Section 8 Tenant-Based Program. The current formula is based
on
information from 2004 that is out of date and results in some Public
Housing Authorities getting more funding then they can spend while
others have less than what is needed, and the revised language
corrects
that problem. The change could provide relief to concerns in many
parts
of California for people with disabilities and seniors who are in
such
housing.