Earlier this week, the White House released an overview of the president’s 2018 federal budget request. In it, the administration proposes to eliminate several federal programs that are critical to Habitat Wake’s work, including:
- Community Development Block Grant (CDBG)
- HOME Investment Partnerships Program (HOME)
- Self-help Homeownership Opportunity Program (SHOP)
- Corporation for National and Community Service, which houses the AmeriCorps program
Habitat Wake receives support from each of these programs. We use the funds to increase access to affordable housing in our community by:
- Purchasing land for new homes
- Providing second mortgage loans to keep homes affordable
- Building houses for families in need of affordable housing
- Working to revitalize neighborhoods in areas where we build
- Hosting full-time AmeriCorps members, who increase our capacity and enable us to serve more families
Cuts like the ones proposed would profoundly impact Habitat Wake’s efforts to build affordable housing for families who need it. Ultimately, it is up to Congress to pass a final budget, so our collective voices matter now more than ever.
Please take a moment today to call Senators Thom Tillis (202-224-6342) and Richard Burr (202-224-3154), as well as your representative. Let them know that these programs are vital to providing adequate, affordable housing in Wake County and across all communities in North Carolina.