Every week at All Saints Church we put our faith into action. This week we are urging our representatives in Congress to expand and fully fund housing programs to confront the growing crisis in affordable housing occurring across the country.

With just a few months left in the year, Congress must do its job and address the housing crisis.

According to recently released survey data by the U.S. Census Bureau, 43% of households earning $50,000 or less were spending over half of their income on rent. It’s a common rule of thumb that your housing cost should be no more than 30% of your gross income. But with rising housing costs and stagnant wages, that’s becoming more and more unachievable. Right now, a full-time worker needs to earn $25.82 per hour to afford a modest, two-bedroom rental home and $21.25 per hour to afford a modest, one-bedroom rental home.

No wonder eviction rates are back to pre-pandemic levels, with Black and Latinx Americans disproportionately facing the highest rates. We’re in a severe affordable housing crisis that has been exacerbated by the coronavirus pandemic, skyrocketing inflation, and corporate greed. Private equity firms continue to disrupt local real estate markets, raising rents, and failing to make needed repairs. Congress needs to act now and fund programs that will keep people housed and help prevent evictions.

The time for Congress to act is now. We demand:

1. An expansion of housing vouchers to at least an additional 200,000 households.
2. Significant funding to preserve and operate public housing ($5.125 billion for the Public Housing Capital Fund, and $5.06 billion for the Public Housing Operating Fund).
3. $3.6 billion for HUD’s Homeless Assistance Grants program to address the needs of people experiencing homelessness.
4. $100 million for legal assistance to prevent evictions.
5. $300 million for the competitive tribal housing program, targeted to tribes with the greatest needs.

So many people are hurting due to inflation and multiple public health crises. It’s imperative that Congress pass this legislation to help communities thrive.

Options to Take Action:

1. Sign on to the letters at the Action Table outside the church on Sunday morning.
2. Download a copy of the Action Letter that you can sign and mail.
   Action Letter if you live within California  —  Action Letter if you live outside California
3. Click on this link to the Americans for Financial Reform action.
   

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Click here for the California 2022 Ballot Propositions Recommendations Comparison Chart
The election is November 8. Mail In Ballots have gone out to all registered voters. If you have not received a ballot and believe you should have, then contact your county’s registrar of voters. If you live in Los Angeles County call (800) 815-2666 or email votebymail@rrcc.lacounty.gov.

The last day to register to vote on line is October 24, however, you can register to vote in person at a Voting Center through Election Day. And don’t forget, on Sunday, November 6th we will March to the Ballot Box! Save the date and cast your ballot at City Hall in Community with Team All Saints GOTV (Get Out the Vote)! As George Regas used to say, “It is sin not to vote.”

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If you ever need to look up your member of the U.S. House of Representatives or your U.S. Senators check here: www.house.gov and www.senate.gov.

To find contact information for your California State Senator or California State Assemblymember check here: www.senate.ca.gov and www.assembly.ca.gov.