Coronavirus Response Package Includes Funding for Homelessness and Housing

THANK YOU FOR YOUR ADVOCACY!

Your calls and e-mails worked, Congressional leaders have agreed to include funding for homelessness and housing in the $2 trillion direct spending bill to respond to the coronavirus pandemic. A very special thank you to our partners at the National Low Income Housing Coalition (NLIHC), and in particular Diane Yentel for her tireless leadership. NLIHC staff will be on our weekly member discussion tomorrow to give a federal update.

Overall, the bill provides more than $12 billion in funding for HUD programs.  We have a lot more work ahead of us as this crisis unfolds. Together we will work to ensure that these new resources get to communities in need as quickly and effectively as possible, and push for additional resources for everyone to have a safe, affordable place to call home.

Highlights of the bill include:

• $4 billion for Emergency Solutions Grants for homelessness assistance
• $5 billion in Community Development Block Grants
• $1.25 billion for the Housing Choice Voucher program
• $1 billion for project based rental assistance
• $685 million for public housing
• $15 million for Section 811 Housing for Persons with Disabilities.

For more details on what's in the bill for housing and homelessness, see NLIHC's full analysis and chart.