Habitat’s Statement on White House Fiscal Year 2018 Budget

Habitat urges Congress to protect social safety net programs that support affordable homeownership opportunities

Denver, CO, May 24, 2017 – The White House yesterday released its full fiscal year 2018 budget request, which proposes to eliminate funding for programs that further Habitat for Humanity’s efforts to address the affordable housing crisis in metro Denver, and across the United States.

Proposed cuts include the Self-Help Homeownership Opportunity Program (SHOP), the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), the HOME Investment Partnership Program, and the Corporation for National and Community Service. These vital programs allow Habitat organizations nationwide, as well as other organizations, to empower more people to access all-too-rare opportunities for affordable homeownership and help provide the tools they need to build better lives for themselves and their families.

Habitat for Humanity of Metro Denver encourages its supporters and all advocates for affordable housing to contact their members of Congress and urge them to support adequate funding for these critical programs in the fiscal year 2018 budget.

Statement from Heather Lafferty, CEO of Habitat for Humanity of Metro Denver:
There has never been a more important time for the American people to stand up for quality, affordable housing. Decent, affordable housing provides the stability individuals and families need to improve their health and education, enhance their financial growth and security, and strengthen their neighborhoods.

In metro Denver alone, Habitat for Humanity receives approximately $1 million per year in funding from SHOP, CDBG and HOME funds. These funds are a critical investment in the development of affordable homeownership opportunities for low-income families. Additionally, we’re able to leverage the $1 million in annual funding from HUD programs into more than $4 million in private funding to help build and preserve affordable homeownership.

Without the proven programs that are now sadly in jeopardy, too many of our neighbors and fellow citizens will be denied access to the tools they need, to a hand up that helps them build better lives. These tangible, practical and fruitful investments play an important role in furthering the reach of Habitat’s work, and we call upon our elected officials to not lose sight of the effectiveness and significance of these programs in communities large and small as they consider this White House budget request.

For Habitat for Humanity, this is a moral issue, not simply a budget one. Helping more people build and improve decent places to call home only serves to strengthen the fabric and economies of the cities and towns in which we all live and work.