Rep. Ed Towns Leads the New York Congressional Delegation Along with Local and State Elected Officials Public Housing Resident Leaders and Residents at a City Hall Rally to Fight Proposed Cuts to Public Housing

Press Release

With concerned New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) residents on hand on the steps of City Hall, Rep. Edolphus "Ed" Towns (NY10), along with members of the New York City Congressional delegation, local and state officials and representatives of the Citywide Council of Presidents of NYCHA mobilized to fight proposed federal budget cuts to public housing.

The FY12 appropriation bill for Transportation, Housing and Urban development, (T-HUD),introduced to the Committee on Appropriations includes a key provision that would deny operating, capital or section 8 assistance to public housing developments that received funding through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA). The measure, if signed into law in its current form would essentially bar funding to 21 NYCHA developments affecting twelve thousand families--36 percent of which are headed by persons 62 years of age or older. With all monies provided by ARRA expended, the provision would effectively bar these public housing developments from ever getting federal housing assistance.

On October 3, Rep. Towns sent a letter, signed by 11 of his colleagues in the House, including Reps. Jerold Nadler, Yvette D. Clarke, and Gregory Meeks, among others to Appropriations Committee Chairman Harold Rogers and Ranking Member Norman D. Dicks urging them to remove this provision from the bill.

"We must bring attention to this devastating provision and urge leadership in the House of Representatives to remove it from the final bill before it goes to the President for his signature" said Towns. "I hear every day from constituents in my district who rely heavily on public housing. I have heard from some constituents who have lived in the same development 45 to 50 years. One of my constituents, Sarah, has lived in a federally-funded housing development for fifty years. She lived there while she was working, raising her child as a single mother, and now lives there in her retirement. She knows no other home."

"We must vehemently oppose the proposed $1.4 billion in cuts to public housing and the elimination of funding for recently federalized NYCHA developments," said Congressman Jerry Nadler. "We cannot -- and must not -- balance the federal budget on the backs of low-income families and those who are most vulnerable. On the contrary, now is the time for meaningful investment in affordable housing in order to ensure the preservation of this critical supply."

"I applaud Congressman Ed Towns for hosting this rally to focus the public's attention on the attack by Republicans in Congress on funding for housing programs in New York and around the country. With 44 million Americans now in poverty it is inexcusable to propose cutting funds for housing programs. This is the moment when our constituents need it most," stated Congresswoman Yvette D. Clarke. "I will continue to join those who fight to protect these programs on behalf of the 11th Congressional District of New York. This rally provides a demonstration that democracy is not a spectator sport. Know that the voices of the American people must be heard despite the political antics of the Republican majority in the House of Representatives."

Congressman Gregory W. Meeks stated, "We must oppose harmful provisions in the FY2012 T-HUD appropriations bill as these measures would bar several of our local developments from access to federal housing assistance. Thousands of families will be affected. I will work in lock step with my colleagues in Congress, and across our state and city, to make sure that the harmful provisions are removed. Living in a safe, secure, and affordable housing environment means so much to families, but especially to those families that are already struggling. They deserve our best effort against these drastic provisions."

"It is critical that the federal government maintain its commitment to public housing -- and its residents -- by providing the adequate funding to ensure the healthy operation of the many developments throughout our city," said Council Member Al Vann, Chair of the NYC Council's Community Development Committee.

The FY12 T-HUD appropriations bill is currently under consideration by the House and the Senate. The Senate-passed version of the bill does not contain this controversial provision. Currently, there is no timeline as to when the language must be changed to exclude this provision before it is signed into law by the President. Next Week, NYCHA residents will descend on Capitol Hill and join Congressman Towns for a "Lobby Day", in an effort to help persuade lawmakers to remove the provision.