House Bill Makes Significant Improvements In “Hope VI” Public Housing Revitalization Program

Publication Date: January 2008

Publisher: Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (Washington, D.C.)

Author(s): Barbara Sard; Leah Staub

Research Area: Social conditions

Keywords: Economic projections; Income diversity; Economic inequality; Housing assistance

Type: Report

Abstract:

Historically, HOPE VI — which provides grants to public housing agencies to revitalize severely distressed public housing projects — has received broad, bipartisan support. In recent years, however, in response to Bush Administration proposals to eliminate the program and to the overall drive to cut domestic appropriations, Congress has reduced annual funding for HOPE VI by more than 80 percent. (For 2008, the program is funded at $100 million, down from $625 million in 1999.) There continues to be bipartisan interest in boosting funding for HOPE VI, however, and before significant new investments are made, it is important to reform the program to address weaknesses that have become evident over HOPE VI’s 15-year history and to ensure that the program significantly improves families’ lives, including the most disadvantaged families."