Action Alert: Preserve Section 4 Funding

A key resource for our affordable housing and economic development work is HUD Section 4 capacity building funding. We use it to provide direct technical assistance to community organizations and as seed money to help them scale up their talent and be able to access other sources of funding. Section 4 funding is behind some of our most visible work from partners like Newtown CDC, RAIL CDC, Copa Health, and Native American Connections.   

Simply put: we couldn't do what we do without Section 4 funding. 

Help us protect this crucial resource by showing our congressional delegation how much Arizona values HUD Section 4. Please sign on to the support letter on behalf of your organization and share with your network by Tuesday, March 6.  

Urge Congress to Fund the Section 4 Capacity Building Program at $50 Million in FY 2024

February 2023

Please join state and local organizations in urging the House and Senate to provide funding of $50 million for the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Section 4 Capacity Building and Affordable Housing Program in FY 2024. 

Given the tremendous needs in low income communities - and the scarcity of capital available to nonprofit, community-based groups - now is not the time to eliminate or weaken the only dedicated source of federal funding that builds the capacity of these organizations.

Section 4 strengthens low income rural, Native, suburban, and urban communities across the nation by providing flexible support to local nonprofit organizations to develop affordable housing, finance small businesses, revitalize commercial corridors, and help address local healthcare, childcare, education, and safety needs. Section 4 has also been used to assist communities affected by federally declared disasters by rebuilding homes and neighborhood facilities. In addition, it has been used by organizations serving Native communities and populations to increase access to safe and affordable housing, and to support income and asset building opportunities for residents.

During the pandemic, community development corporations (CDCs) worked tirelessly to provide services to their communities and lead equitable recovery efforts, that are still ongoing today. However, as consumer and housing costs continue to rise, low-income families have disproportionally felt the effects of surging food, transportation, and rent costs. In real dollars, Section 4 has been cut by over 25 percent since 2004, making additional funding vital for affordable housing and community development efforts nationwide. 

Forward this email to your community partners and ask them to join the roster of supporters for Section 4. 

For more information, check out a copy of the letter. 

Thank you for your support!