What’s at stake?
Beacon creates and operates supportive housing, which is subsidized housing for low-income households paired with on-site services. Rent vouchers are essential to Beacon’s ability to provide a home for youth, individuals, and families transitioning from homelessness into stable, long-term housing.
For example, at Vista 44, Beacon is able to provide 50 families with supportive housing because each apartment has a federal housing voucher attached to it that subsidizes the rent. Parents at Vista 44 have a chance to strengthen and stabilize their family home while their kids are able to focus on school, friends, and just being kids.
331 households at Beacon buildings rely on federal housing vouchers. These proposed cuts put youth, individuals, and families at Beacon buildings across the metro at risk of losing the stability they’ve gained.
Currently, only one in four people who qualify for a federal voucher get one. It is unthinkable, then, that the federal government would dramatically cut the program instead of growing it to meet the need. Beacon advocates helped successfully lead the Bring it Home, Minnesota campaign, which created a historic new state voucher program. This is a WIN for more of our Minnesota neighbors! The President’s proposal is a huge step backwards. We know rent vouchers are essential to the stability of home. We need more, not less!