TRENTON – Senator Troy Singleton (D-Burlington), the Senate Majority Caucus Chair and Chair of the Senate Community and Urban Affairs Committee, issued the following statement on the proposed cuts to the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and Federal Housing Administration (FHA), which threaten to reduce the departments’ workforce by as much as 50 percent and 40 percent respectively:

“The United States is already in the grip of a severe housing crisis. Rents are skyrocketing, homeownership is slipping out of reach, and too many families are teetering on the edge of homelessness. Instead of stepping up to address this emergency, the federal government is turning its back on the very agencies designed to help.

“These proposed cuts to HUD and FHA are not just numbers on a spreadsheet—they are an assault on working families, seniors, and vulnerable Americans who rely on housing assistance to keep a roof over their heads. Slashing these programs would rip apart the safety net that prevents families from being forced into the streets and kneecap our ability to build the affordable housing New Jersey desperately needs.

“Access to a safe and affordable home is the bedrock of all good policy, and for that reason I wholeheartedly condemn any effort that will destroy lifelines that keep families off the streets and communities thriving. I am deeply concerned about the impact these actions, if undertaken, will have on the national housing market and access to affordable housing, especially here in New Jersey.

“But be clear, New Jersey will not let our progress on building more workforce housing fall by the wayside, even as federal cooperation crumbles. I will not stand by while Washington sabotages our progress. New Jersey will continue fighting to expand access to affordable and safe housing, but we need federal partnership—not sabotage. I urge every New Jerseyan to make their voice heard. Call your federal representatives and demand they stop these reckless cuts before they devastate communities across our state and the nation.”

Original Article