The Trump administration released a new budget plan on Friday that proposes a 40% cut to the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s discretionary funding.

The Blaze reported that the budget cuts to HUD’s discretionary funding will mainly cut the Housing Choice Voucher Program, which is also known as “Section 8 Housing.”

HUD directors  in their  budget proposal wrote, “By transforming the current federal dysfunctional rental assistance programs into a state-based formula grant, which would allow states to design their own rental assistance programs based on their unique needs and preferences.”

The proposal also aims to prioritize housing funds for the elderly and disabled.

Check out what The Blaze reported:

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President Donald Trump’s administration released a budget plan on Friday that proposed drastic cuts across the federal government, including slashing the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s discretionary funding by more than 40%.

The budget referred to the federal government’s current rental assistance program as “dysfunctional.” NPR reported that it essentially called to end the Housing Choice Voucher Program, also known as Section 8, noting that it would slash rental aid by roughly 40%.

‘It furthers our mission-minded approach at HUD of taking inventory of our programs and processes to address the size and scope of the federal government, which has become too bloated and bureaucratic to efficiently function.’

According to the administration’s budget plan, the proposal aims to empower states to provide housing assistance “by transforming the current federal dysfunctional rental assistance programs into a state-based formula grant which would allow states to design their own rental assistance programs based on their unique needs and preferences.”

If adopted, the budget would place a two-year cap on rental assistance for able-bodied adults. It would also ensure that “a majority” of the funding went toward the elderly and disabled.

“In combination with efforts related to opening up federal lands, this model would incentivize states and the private sector to provide affordable housing.”

Additionally, the budget would earmark $25 million in housing grants for individuals aging out of the foster care system.

HUD Secretary Scott Turner released a statement responding to Trump’s proposed budget, calling it a “bold … reimagining of how the federal government addresses affordable housing and community development.”

Per Housing Wire:

The potential elimination of Section 8 housing vouchers and roughly 40% cuts to rental assistance were included in a recent White House request to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

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The cuts, first reported by NPR, target core HUD programs like Section 8 vouchers, replacing them with block grants to states.

The White House described the current system as “dysfunctional” and said that states should be allowed to “design their own rental assistance programs based on their unique needs and preferences.”

The plan would also cap rental aid for able-bodied adults at two years, reallocating any remaining funds toward elderly and disabled recipients, according to NPR.

This is a Guest Post from our friends over at WLTReport. View the original article here.
 

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