Tri-Caucus Leads More Than 75 Democrats in Demand to Preserve Housing Assistance for Mixed-status Families
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Congressional Tri-Caucus, composed of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC), Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC), and the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC), condemned the Trump administration's illegal push to gut housing assistance for thousands of families with mixed immigration statuses.
In a letter to Housing Secretary Scott Turner co-signed by more than 75 members of the House of Representatives, the leaders of the Tri-Caucus — CAPAC Chair Rep. Grace Meng (NY-06), CHC Chair Rep. Adriano Espaillat (NY-13), and CBC Chair Rep. Yvette Clarke (NY-09) — called on the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to withdraw its Notice of Proposed Rulemaking entitled “Housing and Community Development Act of 1980: Verification of Eligible Status (FR-6524).”
HUD's proposed rule threatens housing for tens of thousands of Americans, is blatantly illegal, and strains the agency's remaining resources.
“Like other immigration policies from this Administration, the proposed rule attempts to solve a problem that does not exist. It is based on the false premise that ineligible noncitizens are receiving housing assistance and diverting resources from citizens,” wrote the lawmakers. “In reality, current HUD rules limit rental assistance to household members with eligible immigration status, and ineligible individuals are prohibited from receiving such aid.”
The proposal flies against the intent of Congress, which in 1988 amended the Housing and Community Development Act to prioritize family unity while making sure non-eligible residents do not receive federal assistance.
If implemented, the rule will kick 80,000 people out of housing, including nearly 37,000 children, most of whom are U.S. citizens.
HUD's own analysis shows that the proposed rule will reduce, not increase, the number of HUD-assisted units, effectively worsening the affordable housing crisis for everyone.
“HUD’s proposed rule is directly in conflict with the agency’s mandate to provide fair housing opportunities. Immigrant populations already face discrimination in housing, and the enactment of this proposed rule would exacerbate this issue. It blatantly disregards the congressional intent of the law and would disrupt the lives of thousands of families – citizen and noncitizen alike,” wrote the lawmakers.
“At a time when over 21 million renter households are cost-burdened and there is a shortage of 7.2 million affordable rental homes, HUD should not attempt to restrict safety net housing programs,” the lawmakers concluded.
Read the letter in full HERE.
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