Bishop urges rejection of amendments to affordable-housing bill

Published: 2005-10-26

BROOKLYN, N.Y. (CNS) -- Brooklyn Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio, chairman of the U.S. bishops' Committee on Domestic Policy, reiterated his opposition to amendments pending in Congress that would limit access to federal funding for affordable housing. The Federal Housing Reform Act of 2005, H.R. 1461, would establish a $5 million trust fund to support the creation of affordable housing nationwide. Two amendments, however, would make any organizations that promote voter registration or do not have housing as their primary mission ineligible for funding. The amendments threaten to make the funds inaccessible to organizations such as Catholic Charities and other faith-based organizations. With 3,000 units throughout the diocese, Catholic Charities of Brooklyn and Queens is the largest not-for-profit sponsor of affordable housing in New York City. Bishop DiMarzio made his comments at the Oct. 25 dedication of St. Leonard House, a new 85-unit affordable housing complex in the Bushwick section of Brooklyn.

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