KITCHEN URGES CONGRESS TO PROVIDE BETTER FUNDING TO HUD

          HARRISBURG, March 30: The Senate today unanimously approved a resolution that urges Congress to provide equitable funding to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, according to state Sen. Shirley Kitchen.

          Congress and the Bush administration have cut operating subsidies five years in a row.

          “This resolution makes a statement that goes far beyond a plea for additional funding from the federal government,” said Kitchen, who sponsored the resolution. “This is about retaining good Pennsylvania jobs and preserving the dignity of the people who rely on HUD’s valuable services.”

          HUD builds high-quality affordable housing for people across Pennsylvania, in major cities and in small towns.

          “The face of public housing has changed so much over the years,” Kitchen said. “In fact, public housing has brought up neighborhoods in Philadelphia.” 

         The state’s public housing authorities provide people who cannot normally afford a house, a wonderful opportunity to own a home of their own.

          “Many of us take for granted, being a homeowner,” Kitchen said. “But we can understand the feeling of pride and of improved self-worth that a person gets when they have the ability to provide a quality home for themselves and their family.”

          Public housing authorities do more than just provide affordable housing. They also assist people in finding work programs and pre-apprenticeship training, which results in greater self-sufficiency and a reduced burden on state resources.