While encouraged by the "budget as a whole," B’nai B’rith International was a little concerned with some aspects of the detailed budget released by the Obama administration last week.
"As the largest Jewish sponsor of subsidized housing, we are pleased there are no plans to cut housing money for low-income elderly,” said B’nai B’rith Associate Executive Vice President Mark Olshan in a press release. “But merely standing still at current levels means many seniors will not get the help they need in the future.”
The group said that under the current plan, there are about nine people on the waiting list for each low-income housing unit. As the population ages, that waiting list will continue to grow unless funding is increased.
B’nai B’rith added that it is "pleased the budget includes a $90 million allocation for the service coordinators who work in many subsidized buildings to help older residents get a range of services from transportation and medical needs, to meals and home health aids. The full funding for project-based Section 8, which helps many older people, is also a good step for the elderly. In addition, the government has set aside funds to ensure housing providers get paid on time – something that has been an ongoing problem."
Meanwhile, the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism praised the inclusion of the "first-ever funding for the National Housing Trust Fund to address the shortage of affordable housing and the budget’s funding for international adaptation programs "to help the poorest and most vulnerable communities around the word adapt to the effects of climate change."
The group said, though, it was "disappointed" by the extension of funding to the Washington, D.C. school vouchers program.
The full press releases on the budget from B’nai B’rith International, the RAC and the National Jewish Democratic Council are after the jump:[[READMORE]]
First, B’nai B’rith International:
WHITE HOUSE BUDGET DETAILS ON HOUSING CAUSE FOR SOME CONCERN
Overall Budget Outline Maintains Important Services for Seniors
(Washington, D.C., May 8, 2009)—Budget details provided by the White House on May 7 offer a mixed bag when it comes to the elderly. B’nai B’rith International (BBI) is encouraged by the budget as a whole, but is concerned about proposed changes in housing, aging services, and healthcare.
“As the largest Jewish sponsor of subsidized housing, we are pleased there are no plans to cut housing money for low-income elderly,” said B’nai B’rith Associate Executive Vice President Mark Olshan. “But merely standing still at current levels means many seniors will not get the help they need in the future.” Under the current plan, there are about nine people on the waiting list for each low-income housing unit. As the population ages, that waiting list will continue to grow unless funding is increased.
B’nai B’rith has long been a leader and advocate for the Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Section 202 program, which finances housing for low-income older adults. Under the president’s budget, the program would remain steady in the 2010 fiscal year. The administration’s budget on aging programs would also remain at the same level of funding from this fiscal year to the next.
B’nai B’rith is pleased the budget includes a $90 million allocation for the service coordinators who work in many subsidized buildings to help older residents get a range of services from transportation and medical needs, to meals and home health aids. The full funding for project-based Section 8, which helps many older people, is also a good step for the elderly. In addition, the government has set aside funds to ensure housing providers get paid on time – something that has been an ongoing problem.
While B’nai B’rith recognizes the difficult fiscal times, there is also hope that leaders in the White House and Congress recognize the increasing need for housing and services specific to older populations. The difficult economy has combined with existing demographic trends to put enormous strains on the aging services network. “In the future, we need to significantly increase support for these programs simply to keep pace with the growing needs of older people in our communities,” Olshan said. “We also recognize that this more detailed budget still leaves the architecture of healthcare reform to the House and Senate, and we are committed to working for the interest of older people and their families as we help shape the fiscal blueprint.”
Then, the RAC:
President’s Budget Reflects Commitment to Those in Need
Washington DC May 7, 2009 — In response to President Barack Obama’s release of his detailed Fiscal Year 2010 budget, Mark Pelavin, Associate Director of the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism, issued the following statement:The allocation of our government’s financial resources is a reflection of our nation’s values, and we welcome the support in the President’s FY10 budget for programs that lift up communities in need, protect our environment, and establish a firm commitment to health care reform. Clearly, the budget is a massive document, and it will take some time to give it the thorough review necessary; nevertheless, we offer these preliminary reactions.
Among the budget’s provisions, we are particularly encouraged by the inclusion of the first-ever funding for the National Housing Trust Fund to address the chronic shortage of affordable housing in our country. We also strongly support the inclusion of funding for international adaptation programs to help the poorest and most vulnerable communities around the world adapt to the effects of climate change. Protecting those populations who will be hit first and hardest by the climate crisis must remain a priority and a responsibility for our nation.
Health care reform continues to be a central priority for the Reform Jewish Movement and the nation broadly, and we are pleased that this budget reflects the Administration’s continued commitment to such reform.
Although we share the President’s determination to improve the education and well-being of our nation’s youth, we are disappointed by the extension of funding for the Washington D.C. private school vouchers pilot program. Vouchers detract from efforts to address underlying failures in our public school system and raise significant constitutional concerns about the spending of public tax dollars on sectarian education.
As Americans and as Jews, we view the budget as a moral document, with particular concern for its impact on our nation’s most vulnerable populations. In this time of great challenge, the President’s budget invests in a more just future for our nation and our world.
And finally, the NJDC:
Today, Ira N. Forman, Executive Director of the National Jewish Democratic Council (NJDC), released the following statement:
The National Jewish Democratic Council (NJDC) strongly supports President Barack Obama’s budget plan that ushers in a new era of fiscal responsibility and much needed public investment. This comprehensive plan makes long overdue investments and reforms in health care, education, and energy.
The President’s budget is appropriately wide-ranging and aggressive in its approach to the challenges we face today. In addition to its ambition, this budget is designed to cut the deficit in half by the end of Obama’s first term and is a transparent and honest depiction of how the U.S. will expend its revenue.
NJDC applauds the President’s strong leadership in planning a responsible and bold budget plan.
