Senator Collins Urges HUD Secretary to Quickly Release Funding for Lead Paint Removal, Preserve Funding for Youth Homeless Shelters and Aging in Place Grants
Click HERE to read Senator Collins’ opening statement.
Click HERE to watch Senator Collins’ opening statement. Click HERE for the high-resolution video.
Click HERE to watch Senator Collins’ Q&A on funding for lead paint removal and youth homeless shelters. Click HERE for the high-resolution video.
Click HERE to watch Senator Collins’ Q&A on aging in place grants. Click HERE for high-resolution video.
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Susan Collins urged Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Ben Carson to release funding for lead paint removal and preserve funding for youth homeless shelters and aging in place grants at a hearing she chaired to review HUD’s fiscal year (FY) 2020 budget request. Last month, Senator Collins hosted Secretary Carson in Lewiston, Maine, to see firsthand how federal housing programs are improving the health, safety, and overall wellbeing of Mainers and strengthening local communities.
Senator Collins referenced the new lead demonstration program established in the FY 2019 appropriations bill, which will fund intensive interventions in communities with very high incidences of lead paint. These multi-year projects can dramatically reduce lead-based paint hazards in communities with old housing that are in greatest need for lead remediation.
“From your trip to Lewiston, Maine, and from your medical background, you know just how important this lead program is in the State of Maine. As 57 percent of the housing stock was built prior to the year that lead-based paint was banned, Maine has one of the highest levels [of lead paint] in the country,” said Senator Collins. “We need to get that funding out as soon as possible.”
In response, Secretary Carson said that these funds should be available by the summer.
Senator Collins also discussed her opposition to the lack of funding in the Administration’s budget proposal for youth homeless shelters and aging in place grants.
Recent data show that homeless youth are more likely to be unsheltered compared to the overall homeless population. While one-third of all homeless people are unsheltered, 55 percent of unaccompanied homeless youth under the age of 18 have no roof over their heads each night. Addressing this problem is further complicated in rural areas, where there is a lack of services and housing options.
“To help address this problem, our subcommittee created the youth homeless demonstration program in 2016, and we have since increased its funding.” said Senator Collins. “I'm disappointed that the Administration seems to be going in the opposite direction when it comes to homeless youth programs… As we saw at the Lewiston drop-in centers and shelters, they are truly changing lives. Indeed, I would argue they are saving the lives of a lot of these young people. I hope we can work together on that.”
“First of all, thank you for the tremendous interest you've shown in this,” Secretary Carson responded. “I remember when I was [in Lewiston] how you interacted with the young people, and it really meant a lot to them. It means a lot to me too. I will make sure that my staff reaches out to yours to ensure that there's no diminution for the youth.”
The FY 2019 appropriations bill included $10 million for aging in place grants. These grants are intended to enable low-income seniors to remain in their homes through low-cost, high-impact home modifications such as the installation of grab bars, handrails, and other accessibility improvements. This new program is based on smaller programs across the country, including by the Bath Housing Authority and the Maine State Housing Authority. Senator Collins noted that HUD appears to be using this grant funding for multi-family rental properties rather than homeowners, contrary to Congress’ intent.
“Due to the work that I’ve done as the Chair of the Aging Committee, I’ve learned a great deal about how we can allow our seniors to age in their own homes,” said Senator Collins. “Allowing older homeowners to remain in their own homes not only allows them to be where they really want to be, but it avoids the cost of moving into assisted living facilities, and there is a real shortage of those kinds of properties in rural areas. I would ask you to work closely with us to ensure that the aging in place program is accurately reflecting the intent of this subcommittee.”
While noting that 80 percent of seniors are homeowners, Secretary Carson acknowledged the importance of developing a way to allow seniors to “benefit from what they’ve accumulated over their lifetime.”
