March 3, 2010

Dear Colleague:

Please join me in supporting full funding for programs in the Transportation and Housing and Urban Development appropriations bill for fiscal year 2011.  It is crucial for our budget to prioritize affordable housing and reinvest in our communities, particularly after years of neglect and deterioration.  And at a time when our nation is in the middle of an unprecedented foreclosure crisis, it has never been clearer that stable and affordable housing is the key to enabling children to succeed in school and helping adults maintain employment.

  The attached letter identifies the public housing operating and capital funds, tenant- and project-based Section 8 programs, housing for vulnerable populations, the Community Development Block Grant program, the HOME Investment Partnerships program and the National Affordable Housing Trust Fund as crucial priorities for the 2011 budget.  I urge you to join me in ensuring that these important programs are supported by our budget. 

Please contact Amanda Fischer at extension 6-3503. The deadline for signatures is Tuesday, March 16 by close of business.  Please note that this constitutes a programmatic request, which should be entered into the online database and included in the Member’s signed letter to the THUD Appropriations Subcommittee

/s

Maxine Waters

Chairwoman

Subcommittee on Housing and Community Opportunity