New Report Highlights Need for Critical Affordable Housing Program in Central Appalachia

A new national report, Building HOME: The HOME Investment Partnership Program’s Impact on America’s Families and Communities highlights the significance of the HOME Investment Partnerships (HOME) program in Central Appalachia’s most vulnerable communities. The first-of–its kind report analyzes the economic impact of the HOME program in the States that Fahe serves – Kentucky, Tennessee, West Virginia, Virginia, Alabama, and Maryland – and the consequences of cutting funds to such an important resource for local communities.

HOME is the only federal housing program exclusively focused on providing states and communities with funding to address their most pressing affordable housing needs. The program provides assistance to residents with the greatest challenges including seniors, individuals with disabilities, families with children, veterans, as well as individuals experiencing homelessness.

According to Building HOME, since 1992, HOME has built or preserved 107,541 affordable homes and has provided direct assistance to 22,018 families at risk of homelessness in the states Fahe serves. It has attracted approximately $2.3 Billion across the six states, supporting 123,703 jobs and generating $7.8 Billion in local income.

Despite its success, Congress is proposing to deeply cut and even essentially eliminate the program. The Senate proposed to cut HOME funding from $900 million to just $66 million, which would effectively eliminate the program. If the Senate bill is enacted, Kentucky, Tennessee, West Virginia, Virginia, Alabama, and Maryland will lose a critical tool to combat the affordable housing crisis. It’s time for Congress to lift the damaging spending caps, and make smart investments in locally driven and effective federal housing programs, like HOME.