May 18, 2006


The Honorable Thad Cochran, Chairman
Senate Appropriations Committee
113 Dirksen Senate Building
Washington, D.C. 20510

The Honorable Robert Byrd, Ranking Member
Senate Appropriations Committee
311 Hart Senate Building
Washington, D.C. 20510


Dear Chairman Cochran and Ranking Member Byrd:

On behalf of the National Housing Conference (NHC), I appreciate the opportunity to provide comments on the Section 8 allocation in the hurricane supplemental bill.

The National Housing Conference is a nonprofit 501(c) (3) membership association dedicated to advancing affordable housing and community development causes. A membership drawn from every industry segment forms the foundation for NHC’s broad, nonpartisan advocacy for national policies and legislation that promote suitable housing in a safe, decent environment across the nation.

NHC is pleased that the hurricane supplemental appropriations bill passed the Senate on May 4 (H.R. 4939). The $202 million allocated for Section 8 vouchers is critical to providing housing for families affected by the disaster in the Gulf Coast region. We are especially pleased that an amendment was accepted that set aside some of the vouchers for supportive housing for some of the country’s most vulnerable populations. Unfortunately, the House version of the bill does not include an allocation to Section 8. NHC urges the conferees to keep the Section 8 allocation in the final supplemental bill.

It is critical that as rebuilding efforts progress in the Gulf Coast, low-income families are not forgotten. The allocation to Section 8 will ensure that affordable, safe and decent housing options remain for the poor and disabled. Supportive housing has proven to be cost effective, sharply reducing hospitalizations and the need for other costly emergency services. More importantly, affordable housing helps keep low-income families and the disabled from homelessness.

NHC believes these funds are critical to truly rebuilding the Gulf Coast and the lives of those affected by the disaster. These subsidies would be the first federal rebuilding assistance specifically targeted to providing affordable housing to people with incomes below the poverty line. As aforementioned, this subsidy is not only cost-efficient, but it is also efficient and compatible with other current state plans created to help more needy households.

NHC asks that the conferees maintain the allocations to Section 8 and ensure that the most vulnerable of those affected by the Gulf Coast disaster have a chance at truly rebuilding their lives. We ask that you support the Section 8 allocation during conference negotiations and ensure that the working poor, senior citizens and the disabled have access to affordable housing in the Gulf Coast.

The National Housing Conference is pleased to be able to submit these comments. If further information would be helpful, please feel free to contact me.

Sincerely,


Conrad E. Egan,
President and CEO