1. Federal Housing Policy Updates from NLIHC
James Saucedo, Housing Advocacy Organizer
Empower Missouri Bi-Monthly Advocates’ Briefing March 1, 2018

2. About NLIHC
NLIHC is dedicated to ensuring access to safe, decent, affordable housing for people with the lowest incomes.
Reprioritizing federal spending on affordable housing
Protecting and expanding federal housing resources
Expanding the national Housing Trust Fund (HTF)
Ensuring equitable access to affordable housing
Ensuring equitable disaster housing recovery
Become a member and receive our Action Alerts:

3. State of the Federal Budget

4. State of the Federal Budget
Congress Passes Two-Year Budget Deal
Continues to operate FY’18 federal programs under a Continuing Resolution until March 23
Lifts sequester budget caps for two years:
$63 billion increase in FY’18 and $68 billion in FY’19
Raises the federal debt ceiling
Also funds disaster relief, children’s health care, community health centers, and efforts to combat the opioid epidemic
Congress now needs to negotiate specific line item appropriations
TAKE ACTION! Sign your organization to our federal budget letter at: Deadline: Friday, March 16, 2018

5. State of the Federal Budget
President Trump released FY’19 federal budget request to Congress
Proposes drastic cuts to housing and homelessness programs similar to last year—though slightly less severe
Proposes $8.8 billion cut to HUD—that’s 18.3% of the overall HUD budget
Proposes complete elimination of HOME, CDBG, HTF, ICH, VASH, SHOP, and Public Housing Capital
Along with other measures to gut the federal budget, this is all designed to pay for the $1.5 trillion tax cut package passed in December

6. Proposed Benefits Cuts

7. Proposed Benefits Cuts
President Trump released FY’19 federal budget request to Congress
Also proposes punitive benefits cuts
Measures aimed at cutting the number of people eligible for public assistance through housing programs
Imposes work requirements on housing programs
Imposes rent increases on housing programs
TAKE ACTION! Sign your organization to our letter opposing housing benefit cuts and punitive restrictions at: Deadline: Friday, March 16, 2018

8. Update on the National Housing Trust Fund (HTF)

9. Updated on the HTF
Federal Housing Finance Agency Director Mel Watt announced he will protect the 2017 allocation for the national Housing Trust Fund (HTF)
HTF will receive $268.6 million for 2017
We turn now to protecting the HTF against attempts to eliminate the program entirely
We also turn to expanding the program through comprehensive housing finance reform
TAKE ACTION! Join our HTF Campaign and our more than 1,300 organizations that joined a recent sign- on letter to Congress at:

10. NLIHC’s Annual Policy Forum, March 19-21

11. Upcoming Policy Forum

12. Our Homes, Our Voices Housing Week of Action May 1-8

13. Upcoming Housing Week of Action

14. NLIHC Membership

15. NLIHC Membership

16. Thank you!
“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.” -Margaret Mead James Saucedo, , Direct