Christmas Week: Affordable Housing Action Needed

Hello UUCA Community:
It's been a crazy week leading up to the snowstorm on the Hill, but one thing I've been tracking closely is the National Housing Trust Fund item that will provide $1 billion from the unused TARP funds for affordable housing construction.
Given the huge numbers we become accustomed to see in Washington, this may seem a small number, but in Virginia it would mean more than 3,000 new affordable housing units could be constructed and 385 jobs created -- not chump change at all.
What we can do is call and write Senators Webb and Warner, and ask them to support this in the "Jobs on Main Street Act" (HR 2847) that was sent to the Senate Dec. 16.

Contact Sen. Warner:
Phone: 202-224-2023
E-mail (form): http://warner.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?p=Contact

Contact Sen. Webb:
Phone: 202) 224-4024
E-mail (form): webb.senate.gov/contact.cfm

This is a simple thing you can do that could make a difference in our community (Arlington is one of the several Virginia communities that have established Affordable Housing Funds that would directly benefit from the federal appropriation.)


SAMPLE PHONE SCRIPT:
Hello. My name is _______________, and I am a constituent from ___________ (name your place of residence.) I am calling today to ask the Senator to do all he can to keep the National Housing Trust Fund measure in the "Jobs on Main Street Act."
I understand that this would create more than 3,000 needed affordable housing units in Virginia. And we need the construction jobs that would come with those units, so I ask that the Senator fight to keep the Housing Trust Fund in the Act.
Thank you. (If you are so inclined to extend holiday wishes -- feel free to do that here.)
# # #

Warm holiday wishes to you all!!

Laura Dely