At the recent monthly SAFE Meeting held at the hospital, Housing Authority Director Carrie Hiltner made a passionate appeal to citizens, urging them to take action by sending letters to Congress and the White House. The goal: to advocate for an on-time budget that fully funds the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) programs for fiscal year 2025. These programs are crucial for housing and community development initiatives in Excelsior Springs and across the nation.
Hiltner’s call to action comes in the wake of rising housing costs, highlighted by a May 2024 interactive article from The Washington Post, which reported a 6.1% increase in housing prices in Clay County between March 2023 and March 2024. This increase underscores the urgent need for robust HUD funding to ensure affordable housing remains accessible to all community members.
Citizens are encouraged to visit the National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials (NAHRO) website, where they can send a pre-written letter to Congress using an online form. NAHRO, established in 1933, is a prominent membership organization comprising 26,000 housing and community development providers and professionals throughout the United States. Its members manage over 3 million homes for more than 8 million people, advocating for affordable housing and vibrant communities.
The suggested message to Congress, tailored for officials representing Excelsior Springs—including US Senators Josh Hawley and Eric Schmitt, and US Representative Sam Graves —emphasizes the critical need for timely, full funding of HUD programs. It highlights the importance of rental assistance, housing investments, and the potential negative impacts of budget uncertainties, such as government shutdowns.
The letter outlines specific funding recommendations for key HUD programs:
– Public Housing Capital Fund: $5 billion
– Public Housing Operating Fund: $5.838 billion
– Public Housing Operating Fund Shortfall: $377 million
– Choice Neighborhoods: $150 million
– Section 8 Voucher Payment Renewals: $30.617 billion
– Voucher Operational Administrative Fees: $3.217 billion
– Family Self-Sufficiency: $200 million
– Section 8 Project-Based Rental Assistance: $16.686 billion
– Community Development Block Grant: $4.2 billion
– HOME Investment Partnerships: $2.5 billion
Additionally, the letter expresses concern over two proposals in the President’s budget that could undermine funding for housing vouchers and unfairly reallocate resources between communities.
Director Hiltner’s appeal aims to mobilize community members to ensure that Congress prioritizes the preservation of rental assistance and continues critical investments in housing infrastructure. By advocating for these measures, citizens can help maintain the wellbeing and stability of their local community in the face of rising housing costs and increasing homelessness.
For more information and to participate in this advocacy effort, residents are encouraged to visit the NAHRO website and send their letters to Congress.
Correction: An earlier version of this article stated Congressman Emanuel Cleaver was representing Ray County in error. Ray County is represented by Congressman Sam Graves. The error has been omitted.
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I appreciate all the work Ms. Hiltner does . She fights for those who are truly in need, the right thing to do, as a human being. There is so much hate & devision. Good people of the excecior springs housing authority stand up for all that is good, what God would want.
Go Kamala !! 💙💙💙