HUD
Bush's $31.4 billion budget for the Department of Housing and Urban Development proposes a $2 billion rise in budget authority. It includes $204 million for 34,000 new housing vouchers to subsidize rental housing for the poor and adds $238 million to the HOME investment partnerships program for housing rehabilitation and to encourage home ownership among low- and moderate-income households.
HUD proposes cutting the public housing capital fund by $438 million, while boosting the operating subsidy by $40 million. It wants to cut the community development grant program by $336 million, the amount earmarked this fiscal year for special purpose projects. HUD officials propose cutting the $25 million rural housing program, saying it should be merged with the Agriculture Department's program even though that agency has proposed a slight decrease in rural housing services.