[mgj-discuss] REMINDER: TUESDAY Tell Congress: We need HOUSING Not Handguns!]

[Morrigan]

HOPE YOU CAN JOIN US!

A CALL TO Act Now! Before It’s TOO Late!

JOIN Demonstration – At Russell Office Bldg. – First and Constitution, NE

*June 28th – 3pm *

*Tell Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchinson & Congress, Housing NOT Guns!*

************************************************************************

The District of Columbia Grassroots Empowerment Project (EmpowerDC)

calls on concerned residents of the District of Columbia to join with us

in a demonstration at the Capitol Hill office of Senator Kay Bailey

Hutchinson of Texas on Tuesday, June 28. This demonstration is called for

three reasons:

1. To express our outrage and opposition to the President’s and

Congress’ devastating cuts to Section 8 and public housing programs. 
Section

8 vouchers are the leading source of federal housing assistance for low

income families struggling to afford quality housing; elderly people

living on a fixed income; and low income people with disabilities who,

with vouchers, can live independently.

2. To emphasize that it is unacceptable and disgraceful to have

interference by Senator Kay Bailey Hutchinson of Texas, and other senators

who DO NOT LIVE IN DC, with in the decision made by DC citizens/residents

concerning gun control. District citizens/residents have continuously

affirmed, as recently as twelve months ago, our gun law decision is in

the best interest of our children and families and as well as an

exercise in our democratic right.

3. To urge Senator Kay Bailey Hutchinson of Texas, as a member of the

Appropriations Committee, to use her enthusiasm and professed concern

for District of Columbia residents, to oppose the President’s requested

11% reduction (from the reduced funding of fy 2005) in the federal

housing assistance funding and the Section 8 policy changes as outlined in

H.R.1999 and S.771 or the State and Local Housing Flexibility Act of

2005, which would essentially dismantle the federal housing assistance

program rather than her attempt to repeal the local gun law that the

District of Columbia residents have democratically adopted.

The Section 8 Housing Program was created in the 1970s and currently

serves more than 2 million low income families, elderly and people with

disabilities. The voucher program helps recipients pay for housing in

the private market. The recipients pays 30 percent of her income and

the program pays the balance.

Under the Bush Administration’s current budget proposal, according to a

study done by the Center on Budget And Policy Priorities

(www.cbpp.org), the number of low-income households receiving vouchers 
could be

reduced by more than 370,000 by 2010.

Meanwhile, the availability of housing affordable to low and moderate

income people in the District of Columbia is disappearing.

* The average fair market rent for a two bedroom apartment is now

$1218 a month - unaffordable for half of the District's households.

* More than 36,000 households spend at least half of their income on

housing.

* An estimated 7,400 individuals are homeless in D.C.

* If the budget proposed by President Bush is adopted, DC will face a

shortfall of at least $4.5 million for the Housing Choice Voucher

program this year, and the voucher shortfall could reach $29 million by

2010.

* By 2008, the DC could lose as many as 5,665 units of Project-based

Section 8 housing.

QUESTIONS, RSVP TO EMPOWERDC 234-9119

Parisa B. Norouzi

Co-Director/Organizer

District of Columbia Grassroots Empowerment Project

(Empower DC)

1419 V St, NW

Washington, DC 20009

(202) 234-9119