UnidosUS Stands with Partners Challenging the Administration’s Cancellation of Nearly $1 Billion in Congressionally Approved Funding

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WASHINGTON — Mauricio Garcia, Senior Vice President of Programs at UnidosUS, released the following statement in response to the Administration’s decision to cancel nearly $1 billion in funding that Congress already approved for housing, education, small businesses and public health programs that working families across the country rely on.

“By freezing these funds just days before they were set to expire on September 30, the Administration deliberately ran out the clock so Congress could not vote to save them. This is a short-sighted, likely unlawful political stunt, and working families will pay the price.

“Among the cuts is $56 million for HUD’s Housing Counseling Program, one of the few free, trusted resources families have when making the biggest financial decision of their lives. HUD housing counseling helps first-time buyers, renters, veterans, seniors and families from big cities to rural towns in every state. It covers the full housing journey, from pre-purchase guidance for aspiring homeowners to rental counseling and foreclosure prevention. UnidosUS stands with the 10 housing counseling organizations, including our longstanding partners the National Urban League and National CAPACD, challenging these cuts in court. That is why we filed an amicus brief in support of the plaintiffs and the families who rely on housing counseling. We also stand with the National Housing Resource Center and the entire housing community as we coordinate a response and educate bipartisan congressional leaders on the importance of housing counseling.

“For nearly three decades, UnidosUS has been a HUD-approved housing counseling intermediary. Through our network of nearly 50 independent, community-based nonprofits, we have counseled more than 1 million families and helped more than 50,000 become homeowners. Our services are open to anyone who needs them, and our HUD grants were awarded competitively and subject to federal oversight.

“Even though UnidosUS did not apply for this round of HUD Housing Counseling funding, the White House named UnidosUS in its written statement announcing the pocket rescission in late September. We were singled out not for our performance but for our policy views, which shows these cuts for what they are: discriminatory.

“We urge Congress to continue bipartisan Congressional condemnation of these unlawful impoundments, to stand up for its authority over federal spending and restore this funding. UnidosUS will keep working with lawmakers of both parties to protect the resources that working families across the country count on.”

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