US Catholic Bishops Call on Congress to Address Housing Crisis Amidst Inflation

The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) is urging Congress to take action on affordable housing as inflation rates continue to drive up housing and rent costs for American families.

Highlights

By Catholic Online (NEWS CONSORTIUM)
6/15/2023 (1 year ago)

Published in Politics & Policy

Keywords: Bishops, U.S., housing, crisis, inflation, cost, rent

Drawing attention to the burden of housing expenses on family budgets, the letter highlights that around 10.7 million low-income renters spend over half of their income on housing. While acknowledging the Catholic Church as the largest private provider of housing services for the poor, the letter emphasizes the need for increased resources to support everyone in need.

The letter underlines that inflation's lasting effects necessitate meaningful increases in the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) budget just to maintain housing for the current number of beneficiaries. It argues that flat funding for housing and community development programs effectively reduces the availability of vital services.

Furthermore, the USCCB urges lawmakers to safeguard the religious freedom of faith-based organizations involved in housing assistance. The letter emphasizes the importance of protecting the ability of these organizations to serve those in need without compromising their beliefs or compromising client safety.

The bishops' letter also calls for expanded funding for various housing programs, including Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers, Project-Based Section 8 Rental Assistance, and the Public Housing Capital Fund and Operating Fund. Current funding levels are deemed insufficient to address the growing demand for affordable housing.

Additionally, the USCCB recommends increased funding for the Housing for the Elderly Program, which collaborates with nonprofit and faith-based organizations to expand housing for low-income elderly families. They also advocate for higher investments in the HOME Investment Partnership Program, which focuses on rehabilitating affordable housing buildings.

The bishops' recommendations extend to allocating funds for the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Grants, aimed at reducing homelessness, and Housing Counseling Assistance funding, supporting sustainable choices for renters and homeowners. Furthermore, they call for additional resources for the Community Development Block Grant Program, which bolsters economic development in impoverished communities.

Recognizing the competing priorities in the enactment of final spending bills, the letter urges special attention to the aforementioned programs that fulfill the basic human right to shelter.

Archbishop Borys Gudziak, Chairman of the USCCB's Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development, penned a letter to the leaders of the House and Senate Appropriations Committees outlining the USCCB's stance. The letter was co-signed by Anthony Granado, Vice President of Government Relations at Catholic Charities USA.

The letter emphasizes the importance of substantial investments in federal housing programs to provide families and communities with the necessary resources to flourish. It asserts that a just framework for future budgets cannot disproportionately cut essential services for the poor and vulnerable. Instead, it calls for shared sacrifice, including generating adequate revenues, reducing unnecessary spending, and addressing the long-term costs of health insurance and retirement programs fairly.