Housing Advocates Want State Task Force

Aug 08, 2008 by Jeff Robinson

(KCPW News) Local low-income housing advocates are urging Governor Jon Huntsman to create a special task force to take full advantage of the National Housing Trust Fund just established by Congress. Tim Funk with the Crossroads Urban Center says the $3 million dollars the state currently dedicates to affordable housing is a paltry amount, and it's time to bring in more federal and state money.

"The great thing about the new National Housing Trust Fund legislation is that it does provide more than adequately for state and local participation in this," said Funk. "There's no excuse for anyone at the state level, or at the local level for that matter, not to respond strongly to this legislation."

The trust fund was established as part of the Housing and Economic Recovery Act signed just last week by President Bush. It's dedicated primarily to preserving or operating rental housing for extremely low-income families.

Volunteer Steve Erickson says it will also be important for local governments to coordinate with each other and the state to maximize the amount of federal money Utah gets from this trust fund.

"If they can do that at the local level and create the zoning that allows for affordable housing, then I think that that will facilitate the federal funds and state funds being utilized appropriately," said Erickson.

Advocates will soon mail a letter to Governor Jon Huntsman asking him to create the housing task force. They'd like to see it happen before next year's legislative session.

Email to a friendPosted in KCPW Newsroom. Copyright 2008 KCPW