2009 Family Unification Program (FUP) Appropriations

With $20 million in current year funding, HUD is about to provide nearly 3,000 new Section 8 vouchers under the Family Unification Program (FUP). Locally, these vouchers can be awarded both as “regular” Section 8 vouchers for families who would otherwise likely lose their children to foster care due to a lack of housing, or time limited Section 8 vouchers for youth aging out of foster care who need permanent housing assistance as they attend school or enter the workforce.

While this is excellent news, advocates must be prepared to work with the Administration and Congress to ensure that funding for the initial vouchers is continued, and additional funds are provided for more new vouchers.

The 3,000 FUP vouchers were funded for federal fiscal year 2008, which ends on September 30. Because the vouchers have not yet gone out, the FY 2008 money can be used during FY 2009. However, advocates should also seek additional funds for FY 2009. And when a new administration takes office in January, they will formulate the federal budget for FY 2010. This will be another opportunity to secure money for FUP vouchers.

Temporary FY 2009 funding decisions will likely be made in November or December, after the Presidential election. Permanent FY 2009 funding will probably be determined early next year, by February or early March. At that same time, Congress will begin to make FY 2010 funding decisions as well, since that fiscal year begins next fall.

Advocates should support doubling FUP funding, to a total of not less than $40 million. To make an impact, people should send letters and make phone calls to the House and Senate Appropriations Committees, particularly the subcommittees that focus on HUD funding. When the new Administration takes office, we will also provide information on how best to impact the proposed FUP budget that HUD submits to Congress.

Contact information for the House Appropriations Committee can be found at:

http://appropriations.house.gov/

Contact information for the Senate Appropriations Committee can be found at:

http://appropriations.senate.gov/