NHC joins supporters of HOME program at congressional hearing
Handelman delivers testimony in defense of HOME
WASHINGTON, DC – November 2, 2011 – (RealEstateRama) — The National Housing Conference, known as the united voice for housing, voiced strong support for the HOME Investment Partnerships program, which is under scrutiny by the House Subcommittee on Insurance, Housing and Community Opportunity and the House Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations. NHC Vice President for Policy and Advocacy Ethan Handelman said the federal block grant program provides critical funding for state and local governments to create affordable housing for low-income families.
Handelman pointed out that a majority of NHC’s members do not administer HOME funding, but most consider the program integral to the ability of states and localities to respond to the housing needs they judge most pressing. He said NHC supports a letter circulated by the National Council of State Housing Agencies (NCSHA) signed by more than 32 national groups that support HOME.
“As many national housing organizations stated in their joint letter to this committee, HOME allows states and communities to serve the whole spectrum of need, from homeless to ownership to disaster recovery, from urban to rural areas, and all low?income populations, including families with children, the elderly, and persons with special needs,” Handelman said.
Handelman added that NHC, along with others signing the NCSHA letter, supports efforts to ensure all HOME funds are properly used. NHC has already issued a letter of support for the program to the chairs and ranking members of the subcommittees.
Handelman spoke on the hearing’s second panel along with officials at the Department of Housing and Urban Development charged with overseeing the HOME program. A copy of Handelman’s testimony is available here.
The hearing was held today, Wednesday, Nov. 2 starting at 2 p.m. at the Rayburn House Office Building in Washington. A live webcast of the hearing will be available at the House Financial Services Committee’s website.
