[Date]
President [Name]
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20500
Dear Mr. President:
The organizations that comprise the Campaign for Housing and Community Development Funding and the [###] undersigned organizations request that you support a FY 2002 Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) budget that allows us to continue building communities and providing homes for all people, especially those who are poor.
Even in these strong economic times, many low-income people do not live in safe, decent, and affordable homes. HUD's 1999 worst case housing needs report showed that at least 5.4 million low income households pay more than half of their incomes for rent and/or live in severely inadequate homes. This need for affordable housing is exacerbated by a lack of available affordable housing units. The Senate recognized this need by including a new affordable housing production program in its version of the FY 2001 HUD appropriations bill. Unfortunately that provision was dropped from the final bill. We urge you to include new money for production in your FY 2002 budget.
HUD-funded affordable housing programs are instrumental in the nation's efforts to reduce the housing burdens of low-income families. HUD-funded programs address the community development needs of underserved people in metropolitan and rural areas. These programs encourage strong partnerships between federal, state, and local entities that provide housing and rebuild communities. These partnerships consist of governments, financial institutions, non-profit organizations, for profit developers and owners, and neighborhood organizations.
Having decent, safe and affordable housing is a prerequisite for creating community stability. We urge you to submit a budget for FY 2002 that increases HUD funding and continues to make progress toward meeting the affordable housing needs of low-income families and building livable communities for all. Your FY 2002 budget should at least fully fund current programs and provide new resources to increase the supply of affordable housing.
Sincerely,