Statement of Senator Clinton on Bush Administration's Drastic Cuts to Nation's Public Housing Programs

New York City Housing Authority Already Facing A Staggering $195 Million Deficit With More Cuts To Come

February 29, 2008 -- “Public housing programs such as the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) strive to provide decent and affordable housing in safe and secure living environments to more than 400,000 hardworking New Yorkers who are in need of assistance. The Authority is presently facing a staggering $195 million structural deficit this year, which is why I find it completely unconscionable that the Bush administration would seek to pull the rug out from under them by further reducing funding to NYCHA in his FY 2009 budget.

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In an effort to accommodate the ever increasing budget cuts, NYCHA has done their part by trimming their operating costs by $527 million since 2003. These budget shortfalls have also forced them to reduce their workforce by 2,400 positions over the last six years. The President’s proposal to fund NYCHA and other public housing programs throughout the country at $.80 on the dollar is simply unacceptable, and would place the Authority in a financial predicament that will become increasingly more difficult to withstand. NYCHA also works to enhance the quality of life for their residents by offering opportunities to participate in a multitude of community, educational and recreational programs, as well as job readiness and training initiatives. Without adequate funding these valuable programs face an uncertain future.

As the Authority has rightly pointed out, without a substantial and meaningful increase in Federal funding, public housing in New York City is financially threatened. For many of these hard working families, public housing is the difference between self-sufficiency and the unfortunate possibility of homelessness.I strongly urge President Bush to reconsider his proposal to again slash funding for our nation’s public housing programs, and I promise to fight so that agencies such as NYCHA can continue serve the people who are most in need of their programs.”

Source: Senator Hillary Clinton