From Our Executive Director
Genesee County Habitat for Humanity statement on White House fiscal year 2018 budget
Habitat urges Congress to protect social safety net programs that support affordable homeownership opportunities
FLINT, MI (May 23, 2017) – The White House today 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 the City of Flint, Genesee County 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.
Genesee County Habitat for Humanity 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 Genesee County Habitat for Humanity Executive Director, Margaret Kato:
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.
Funding from these programs have helped over 100 people improve the homes they own through necessary critical repairs and helped stabilize families through home-ownership in neighborhoods throughout Flint and Genesee County over the past year alone! In addition, Genesee County Habitat for Humanity has provided opportunities for AmeriCorps members to serve our community and have offered five members permanent, employment with our organization. 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.
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.
Genesee County Habitat for Humanity 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 Genesee County Habitat for Humanity Executive Director, Margaret Kato:
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.
Funding from these programs have helped over 100 people improve the homes they own through necessary critical repairs and helped stabilize families through home-ownership in neighborhoods throughout Flint and Genesee County over the past year alone! In addition, Genesee County Habitat for Humanity has provided opportunities for AmeriCorps members to serve our community and have offered five members permanent, employment with our organization. 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.