| Tell Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchinson & Congress - WE NEED FULL DEMOCRACY - MORE |
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Tuesday, June 28 2005, 3:00pm - 4:30pm |
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Tuesday, June 28th: 3pm
A CALL TO Act Now! Before It’s TOO Late!
JOIN Demonstration At Russell Office Bldg.; First and Constitution
Tell Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchinson & Congress - WE NEED FULL DEMOCRACY - MORE
HOUSING - NOT GUNS!!
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The District of Columbia Grassroots Empowerment Project (EmpowerDC) calls on
concerned residents of the District of Columbia to join with us in a
demonstration at the Capitol Hill office of Senator Kay Bailey Hutchinson of
Texas on Tuesday, June 28. This demonstration is called for three reasons:
1. To express our outrage and opposition to the President’s and Congress’
devastating cuts to Section 8 and public housing programs. Section 8 vouchers
are the leading source of federal housing assistance for low income families
struggling to afford quality housing; elderly people living on a fixed income;
and low income people with disabilities who, with vouchers, can live
independently.
2. To emphasize that it is unacceptable and disgraceful to have interference
by Senator Kay Bailey Hutchinson of Texas, and other senators who DO NOT LIVE
IN DC, with in the decision made by DC citizens/residents concerning gun
control. District citizens/residents have continuously affirmed, as recently
as twelve months ago, our gun law decision is in the best interest of our
children and families and as well as an exercise in our democratic right.
3. To urge Senator Kay Bailey Hutchinson of Texas, as a member of the
Appropriations Committee, to use her enthusiasm and professed concern for
District of Columbia residents, to oppose the President’s requested 11%
reduction (from the reduced funding of fy 2005) in the federal housing
assistance funding and the Section 8 policy changes as outlined in H.R.1999 and
S.771 or the State and Local Housing Flexibility Act of 2005, which would
essentially dismantle the federal housing assistance program rather than her
attempt to repeal the local gun law that the District of Columbia residents
have democratically adopted.
The Section 8 Housing Program was created in the 1970s and currently serves
more than 2 million low income families, elderly and people with disabilities.
The voucher program helps recipients pay for housing in the private market.
The recipient pays 30 percent of her income and the program pays the balance.
Under the Bush Administration’s current budget proposal, according to a study
done by the Center on Budget And Policy Priorities (www.cbpp.org), the number
of low-income households receiving vouchers could be reduced by more than
370,000 by 2010.
Meanwhile, the availability of housing affordable to low and moderate income
people in the District of Columbia is disappearing.
* The average fair market rent for a two bedroom apartment is now $1218 a
month - unaffordable for half of the District's households.
* More than 36,000 households spend at least half of their income on housing.
* An estimated 7,400 individuals are homeless in D.C.
* If the budget proposed by President Bush is adopted, DC will face a
shortfall of at least $4.5 million for the Housing Choice Voucher program this
year, and the voucher shortfall could reach $29 million by 2010.
* By 2008, the DC could lose as many as 5,665 units of Project-based Section 8
housing.
QUESTIONS, RSVP TO EMPOWERDC 234-9119 or Stand Up! for Democracy in DC Coalition
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Location: 1 & Constitution Ave., Senate Russell Office Building
Contact: Anise Jenkins 202-232-2500 x 2 or Linda Leaks at 234-9119 |
| FREE DC NOW! |
