WHEREAS:

Home prices and rents have sky-rocketed. Most workers spend more than 50 percent of their income on rent, leaving them with less money for essentials like food, transportation and health care. Private sector home builders are interested in building luxury homes for wealthy families, not low-income families; and

WHEREAS:

The shortage of affordable rental units across the country has increased from 5.8 million to 7.2 million units; and

WHEREAS:

The lack of affordable housing affects senior citizens, veterans, children and people with disabilities due to fixed incomes; and

WHEREAS:

President Trump’s budget cuts to federal programs such as those administered by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) are negatively affecting the affordable housing crisis. The work of organizations such as Habitat for Humanity will be negatively impacted in the United States; and

WHEREAS:

HUD Secretary Ben Carson wants to raise the rent for tenants in subsidized housing to 35 percent of gross income up from the current 30 percent of adjusted income. About half of the 4.7 million families receiving housing benefits will be impacted by this increase; and

WHEREAS:

There will be insufficient funding to make necessary repairs, provide daily maintenance and renovate outdated and unsafe structures in the building complexes as a result of these cuts; and

WHEREAS:

Secretary Carson has suspended programs under the Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) that help low-income families find homes in middle-class communities. He also stopped requirements that communities analyze segregation and submit plans for remedying it as a condition for receiving billions of dollars in federal aid; and

WHEREAS:

Federal housing programs are necessary for family stability and support. Families with access to housing fare better financially, health wise and educationally.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED:

That AFSCME will work jointly with civil rights organizations, housing advocacy groups, clergy and others to promote legislation at the local and federal level to protect and promote the development of affordable housing for working families; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:

That AFSCME will work with legislators in Congress to reinstate funding for federal housing programs to preserve and develop public and affordable housing for all people; and

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED:

That AFSCME will continue to initiate dialogue with elected officials and members of the public to educate them about the importance of providing proper and safe housing for all communities across the country.

SUBMITTED BY:

Juan Fernandez, President and Delegate
Juliet White, Delegate
Sheera S. Glass, Delegate
Thomas Orawiec, Delegate
James Whooley, Delegate
Local 154, District Council 37
New York