Rally decries proposed cuts in government housing funds

COLUMBIA, Mo. -- Advocates for government housing assistance for the poor rallied Thursday to oppose potential cuts in federal spending on housing programs.

Roy Jones, housing coordinator for the Cape Girardeau Community Caring Council, said there is already a waiting list of up to two years for rent vouchers under the federal Section 8 housing program.

"Any cuts are going to make things more difficult," Jones said.

Jones said that in the last year, the cost of rent in Cape Girardeau has increased between 17 percent and 25 percent, depending on the classification of different types of rental property.

"Even with the money we receive today, we will not be able to provide the same number of vouchers next year as this year," Jones said.

Although state housing assistance for the poor was unaffected by the recent budget cuts that targeted many of Missouri's social welfare programs, Jones said federal spending is the primary source of financial support for low-income housing.

About 15 people attended the rally in front of the Boone County Courthouse. Organizers said they are concerned that both chambers of Congress have proposed budget resolutions that include cuts to in federal housing programs.

J. Wayne Zimmer of Project HOPE in Cape Girardeau said more than 700 people in the city on are the waiting list for government subsidized housing. He said advocates need to raise public awareness of the shortage of affordable housing.

"In a country that is recognized as the best country in the world, we should not have a homeless problem," Zimmer said.

Craig Stevens, the field coordinator for the National Low Income Housing Coalition, said U.S. Sen. Kit Bond, R-Mo., in recent years has played a key role in protecting housing programs as chairman of the Senate appropriations subcommittee that oversees funding of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. However, Stevens said Bond and other lawmakers are under pressure from the Bush Administration to cut HUD programs.

Stevens said advocates must stress to policy makers the harm that would be done if federal housing assistance is reduced.

"We've been talking about moral issues for years," Stevens said. "We need to frame this that way if that is what it takes for them to respond."

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