RAHALL REPORT: Let’s Keep the Dream of Homeownership Alive and Well in West Virginia
From the desk of U.S. Rep. Nick Rahall (D-WV)Representing West Virginia's 3rd District
Washington, D.C. (HNN) -- The month of June has again been designated Homeownership Month, and in honor of this important part of the American dream, I am pleased to co-sponsor a resolution in the House of Representatives to commemorate this designation and the importance of homeownership to American families.
According to the United States Census Bureau, more than 81 percent of West Virginians own their own homes, a percentage that is the highest in the nation. Just last week, Wayne County Habitat for Humanity signed an agreement with the state chapter to build the 500th Habitat house in West Virginia.
This is great news for West Virginians. For so many families, their homes, nestled among our beautiful hills, provide them with a sense of security and satisfaction. It is a place to seek refuge, and a place where families create joyful memories. It is a sanctuary, a family gathering place, for now and for future generations.
Unfortunately, this Administration's budget proposal is threatening the dreams of some West Virginians looking to buy their first home. The Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and HOME grant programs provide many with an ample opportunity to collect home rehabilitation funds and provide funds for their down payments. The latest Administration budget contains a drastic 32 percent cut in the funding of the CDBG and HOME programs.
The HOPE VI program, another program that has helped West Virginia families, would have its funding reduced from $574 million to $99 million by this administration. This is a staggering $475 million dollar cut in the funding of a program that has long helped the people of Southern West Virginia in achieving their dreams of owning their own home.
I will continue to work with my Democratic colleagues to increase the amount of homeownership opportunities for low-income and working families in Southern West Virginia. We will continue to fight for the restoration of the cuts in funding of the CDBG, HOME, and HOPE IV, as we know that many American families depend on these programs when purchasing their home. The hardworking people of West Virginia deserve nothing less.
This month, let's renew our commitment to making homeownership dreams a reality. And let's commend all of those who are working to help West Virginians achieve this dream, and who have made our state first in the Nation when it comes to homeownership. The men and women who provide counseling, lending, real estate, construction and other services are quite literally building stronger communities one brick at a time.
Let us also recommit ourselves this month to home safety. In addition to being Homeownership Month, June is appropriately also Home Safety Month. And while West Virginia ranks at the top in homeownership, there is room for improvement when it comes to home safety. These numbers could be drastically improved if individuals took small, inexpensive steps towards a safer home environment. To learn more about living safely in your home, please visit the Home Safety Council Web page at www.Homesafetycouncil.org.