Save CDBG

I haven’t made a post on this blog in quite awhile due to a busier schedule. I still hope to make regular posts in the future, but today I felt vey compelled to make a post. In the past I’ve tried very hard to not bring in politics, however today it’s a little unavoidable. This is due to the proposed budget by the Trump administration to completely cut HUD’s Community Development Block Grant (CDBG). Which would be very damaging to people with disabilities.

For over 40 years CDBG has received bipartisan support as it has helped communities develop, revitalize, and maintain. The grant covers a multitude of programs that help assist the quality of life for those that are low-moderate income.

So how does CDBG help people with disabilities and why will its elimination hurt so bad? Well because there are many programs under CDBG that assist people with disabilities. Such as making homes accessible, neighborhoods accessible, providing services such as Meals on Wheels, and more.

In fact the job I used to have before I took my current one was a CDBG funded program. That program has made literally hundreds of homes more accessible for their residents. And that is just for one medium sized community. Magnify that to nationwide and you’re talking about thousands, if not millions of homes. Then add in the millions of people and families affected. CDBG has made communities much more accessible by creating more accessible housing and neighborhoods.

With the elimination of CDBG, there will be less accessible housing and neighborhoods. The resources simply will not be there for low-moderate income households to make their homes more accessible. In fact, many of the non-profits that you think might be able to fill in, actually get much of their funding from CDBG.

So how can you help? You can start by contacting your representatives in Congress and the Senate. They are the ones who will ultimately decide if this budget cut goes through or not. You can also help by educating others on what CDBG is and what it does. So many are unaware of what it does and how worse off communities would be without it.