Stop Cuts to Public Housing!

Protest Public Housing Cuts!!
Press Conference and Board of Supervisors Hearing Monday

Life will get much worse for residents of San Francisco’s 6,000 public housing units if Congress doesn’t take action now. Properties that are already in dire need of major repairs, more security services, improved management and more housing units will futher deteriorate if the latest HUD budget cuts remain unopposed.

This year’s federal assault on low-income housing comes in the form of $600 million dollars in cuts to the public housing operating budget. This is the only money that local housing authorities have to subsidize units and cover daily operating expenses like repairs. The San Francisco Housing Authority is slated to lose $7 million dollars this year which will leave them with only $342 subsidy per unit (plus an average of $200 monthly rent) in a market where average rents are $1700. The funding shortfall will mean less repairs, less security and less services.

Residents and housing advocates are outraged and are taking action. The Housing Rights Committee of San Francisco has organized in response to the latest threat to our city’s low-income housing to make the voices of public housing residents heard by Congress. Over 600 postcards (10% of residents) have been gathered from tenants and will be hand delivered to San Francisco’s congressional representatives. Residents and advocates have been meeting with congressional staff to urge action. They have also been working with the Mayor and the Board of Supervisors to build awareness of the issue and to add their voices to the effort to stop the cuts. On Monday, the San Francisco Labor Council, who’s members face layoffs if funding is not restored, passed a resolution opposing the funding cuts. We need your support!

Please join us, on Monday the 18th, in urging
Congress to fix the public housing funding crisis:
12:30 Press Conference on City Hall Steps
1pm Board of Supervisors Hearing in City Hall (Board Chambers)

You can also send a letter to Congress online at ww.local-impact.org. For more information contact Sara [at] hrcsf.org.