Today the Trump administration released its budget proposal: “America First: A Budget Blueprint to Make America Great Again.” As advertised, this budget increases defense spending by $54 billion while cutting non-defense discretionary spending by an equal amount. The proposed budget impacts much of the country, as almost every federal agency sees cuts – some more devastating than others.
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development in particular would see $6.2 billion dollars in cuts, which amount to 13.2% of the agency’s budget. In FY2015 North Carolina received $868.2 million through the various HUD programs that supported more than 11,000 jobs in the state. The administrations budget proposal would:
- Eliminate the Community Development Block Grant program ($70.2 million for NC in FY15);
- Eliminate the HOME Investment Partnerships program ($24.3 million for NC in FY15);
- Eliminate Choice Neighborhoods;
- Eliminate the Self-Help Homeownership Opportunity Program;
- Eliminate Section 4 Capacity Building for Community Development and Affordable Housing grants; and
- Increase lead mitigation funding by $20 million;
These cuts would mean a loss of more than $100 million in funding for affordable housing in North Carolina.
The budget also:
- Eliminates the CDFI Fund;
- Eliminates Corporation for National and Community Service that provides AmeriCorps members for many affordable housing organizations;
- Eliminates the Weatherization Assistance Program in the Department of Energy; and
- Eliminates the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness.
I encourage you to continue to reach out to North Carolina’s delegation and let them know that President Trump’s budget does not “make North Carolina great again.” It only makes it harder for North Carolinians to find a decent, affordable place to live. Call Senator’s Thom Tillis (202-224-6342) and Richard Burr (202-224-3154) as well as your Representative. Let them know that these programs are crucial for our state, and their loss would be devastating.
