Federal housing programs for fiscal year 2018 (FY18), which began October 1st, are being funded under a continuing resolution (CR), which keeps HUD programs funded at fiscal year 2017 (FY17) levels until its December 8th expiration. LeadingAge is working with Congressional offices to urge passage of a full FY18 spending bill by December 8th because of concern that any additional CRs that continue funding at FY17 levels will be insufficient to fully maintain the programs.
LeadingAge is urging Congress to fully fund HUD programs because:
- The need for affordable housing for older adults has exploded, with seniors representing 66% of the recent increase in “worst case housing needs” households.
- HUD programs like the Section 202 and Section 8 Project-Based Rental Assistance programs are critical to providing currently-assisted seniors affordable housing.
- Only 34% of very low-income seniors receive the housing assistance they are eligible for because the programs are small compared to real need; new production funding is critical.
There seems to be widespread acknowledgement in Congress that it must raise federal spending caps to allow for additional discretionary spending in FY18. If the caps are raised, it is likely Congress could enact spending bills for HUD and other agencies that could garner sufficient support for enactment.
