HUD [Housing and Urban Development] - Budget

HWO udjet Secretary Cuomo called Congressional approval of HUD's new budget for fiscal year 2001 a victory for working families across the nation. Responding to President Clinton's fiscal year 2001 budget request, it is the highest funding level approved by Congress since 1981. The landmark budget will provide affordable housing or homeownership assistance for nearly 7.5 million families in the coming year. "This budget directly addresses the realities of the changing economy," said Secretary Cuomo, "especially skyrocketing housing costs in high job-growth areas that are creating a shortage of affordable housing, not just for low-income families but for the middle-class as well." Cuomo called the budget convincing proof of the Department's transformation over the past four years, and testimony to the Clinton- Gore Administration's commitment to the people and places not yet sharing in America's success. The $32.4 billion in program funding approved by Congress and sent to President Clinton represents a $4.2 billion or 16 percent increase over fiscal year 2000. The budget includes across-the- board increases in virtually every HUD program, including record funding for community development and housing block grants (CDBG and HOME), record funding for homeless assistance, record funding for Native American programs, and the largest increase in housing vouchers in more than 15 years. "With this budget, we have the most resources we've had in 20 years to meet the needs of America's families" Cuomo said. "The message is clear. HUD's reinvention is a success. Four years ago we were threatened with elimination. But today we are fulfilling the promise that John F. Kennedy had in mind when he first proposed this Department more than forty years ago." Highlights of this year's budget include: Largest increase in new housing vouchers for families in 15 years In addition to $13 billion to renew all existing vouchers, the budget provides for about 80,000 new housing