A cruel cut-back on rental assistance for the elderly, disabled and poor

In May, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development released a proposed rule to prohibit families from receiving rental assistance if at least one person isn’t eligible because of their immigration status.

Current law allows members of mixed-status families to live together in subsidized housing so long as the housing subsidy is decreased to prohibit the ineligible members from receiving assistance.

Nationally, more than 100,000 people, including 55,000 eligible children, face eviction if the rule goes into effect. Families would have to split up to continue receiving housing assistance or forego the assistance altogether.

Many will become homeless.

In the future, this rule would block immigrant families with US-born children and legal permanent resident family members from applying for housing support they are currently eligible for.

Nationally, nine million U.S. citizens receive HUD assistance. Among them are 120,000 elderly eligible immigrants, who are at risk of losing their housing if they cannot provide proof of citizenship or immigration status.

In Illinois, half a million people use federal rent assistance and 66% of them are seniors, children or people with disabilities. The chilling effect of this proposed rule will spread well beyond these numbers.

As philanthropic organizations, we are often called upon to fill social service gaps that government spending and program cuts create. Philanthropy works best in a complementary way with government and builds on the foundation of basic supports the government provides.

Nevertheless, we stand strong in support of our communities and align with what is just and right. We oppose any rules or policies that spread hate, injustice and fear.

The administration should immediately withdraw its proposed HUD rule.

Blowitz-Ridgeway Foundation
Chicago Community Trust
Chicago Foundation for Women
Conant Family Foundation
Crossroads Fund
Forefront
Healthy Communities Foundation
United Way of Metro Chicago/ United Way of Illinois
VNA Foundation
Woods Fund Chicago
Wieboldt Foundation

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