Dear Editor:
Congressman Robert Menendez has again shown his strong leadership and advocacy for low and moderate income families by urging all representatives to sign onto a bi-partisan letter to the House Appropriations Committee asking for full funding of the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program and protecting it from the changes proposed by President Bush.
Section 8 provides necessary housing assistance to low-income families, the elderly and people with disabilities. However, President Bush’s FY 2005 proposed budget includes a $1.7 billion funding cut for Section 8 and a plan to turn Section 8 into a block grant program. The funding cut alone means that out of the 65,000 existing vouchers in New Jersey, 7,000-8,000 could be eliminated. Turning Section 8 into a block grant program could also result in tenants being forced to pay a higher portion of their income in rent, a reduction in the number of vouchers available to extremely low-income individuals, and the elimination of the 50,000 vouchers nationwide that are currently set aside for people with disabilities.
UCP of Hudson County praises Congressman Menendez for his continued zeal and passion in support of housing assistance for low-income people. We hope others join him in his efforts to fully fund and protect the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program.
Nick Starita, Executive Director
United Cerebral Palsy of Hudson County, Inc.
Member agency of the Alliance for the
Betterment of Citizens with Disabilities (ABCD)