BILL REQ. #:  H-2312.1 

READ FIRST TIME 03/02/05.   

     TO THE HONORABLE GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, AND TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE AND THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, AND TO THE SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE UNITED STATES, IN CONGRESS ASSEMBLED, AND TO THE SECRETARY OF THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT:
     We, your Memorialists, the Senate and House of Representatives of the State of Washington, in legislative session assembled, respectfully represent and petition as follows:
     WHEREAS, Affordable, safe, and sanitary housing is vital to the quality of life for individuals, families, and communities throughout the United States. It is also a necessary component of a healthy economy; and
     WHEREAS, Owning one's home has long been considered a part of the "American Dream"; and
     WHEREAS, The cost of owning a home in Washington has dramatically increased; and
     WHEREAS, In the 2000 Census, Washington homeownership among White householders was more than 67 percent, higher than the rate of 41 percent for Hispanics; however, less than 38 percent of Black householders were found to own their own home; and
     WHEREAS, It is a goal of the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development to add 5.5 million minority homeowners by the end of the decade; and
     WHEREAS, Congress has appropriated a $113 million increase in the HOME Investment Partnerships Program - allowing local governments to encourage the production of affordable housing in communities nationwide; an additional $10 million to provide counseling services to Americans who wish to become homeowners; and $200 million for the American Dream Downpayment Initiative to help an estimated 40,000 low-income families a year become first-time homeowners; and
     WHEREAS, The department's comprehensive plan to end chronic homelessness is the largest total award of federal funds for homeless assistance in history, totaling more than 4,400 projects nationally; and
     WHEREAS, The Section 8 program, 42 U.S.C. Sec. 1437f, provides funds for rental subsidies for qualified low-income households in Washington and throughout the nation and is one of the best models of public-private partnerships. The goal of the Section 8 program is to make rental housing, both private and public, more affordable to low-income people. By making the rental housing more affordable, Section 8 funds benefit the states and their communities, in general, and property owners and low-income individuals and families, in particular; and
     WHEREAS, Two-thirds of the housing authorities in Washington which administer Section 8 vouchers have already had to close their Section 8 waiting lists because of the huge number of people already on the lists. Those on the lists already face a wait of eighteen months to five years for Section 8 rental assistance. This state saw a decrease from 2003 to 2004 in the number of Section 8 vouchers and the amount of Section 8 assistance available. Based on information provided by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development in January of 2005, it is projected that Washington will lose funding for an additional 2,169 Section 8 vouchers in calendar year 2005. Reductions to Section 8 funding in calendar year 2005 will likely result in an increase in the number of people that are homeless or live in unsafe and unsanitary housing. These changes and reductions will also severely challenge private landlords who are anxious to partner with the public and rent their housing stock, but who are financially unable to shoulder the burden of a Section 8 budgeting process which does not take into account market forces;
     NOW, THEREFORE, Your Memorialists recognize the role of the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development for assisting Washington families with rental assistance and home ownership programs.
     NOW, THEREFORE, Your Memorialists respectfully pray that the number of Section 8 vouchers and the Section 8 funding levels and formulas be maintained as provided in Public Law 108-7, Independent Agencies, VA, and HUD Appropriations for 2003 as part of the 2003 Omnibus Bill.
     BE IT RESOLVED, That copies of this Memorial be immediately transmitted to the Honorable George W. Bush, President of the United States, the Secretary of the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development, the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and each member of Congress from the State of Washington.