Here’s the old news: The federal government didn’t shut down. Here’s the new news: The cuts made to ensure that outcome are starting to be felt by localities — and the feeling stings a bit.
In Fairfax County, the Department of Housing and Community Development put out a breakdown of nearly $2 million in federal cuts to programs that provide affordable housing opportunities.
The department will lose more than $1 million from its Community Development Block Grants, used for a variety of activities such as job training for low-income adults, or childcare at housing complexes. Specifically, Fairfax officials said that homeownership programs are on the chopping block, as is a program providing home repair for the elderly.
The HOME Investment Partnership program will lose about $323,000, potentially stripping dollars from rental assistance for the elderly and the county’s homeless population.
A public housing capital fund will face about $350,000 in cuts, forcing a delay in needed maintenance that “could slow efforts to increase the number of fully accessible apartments.”
In a meager stroke of good news, federal money for emergency shelters in the county will increase by about $5,300.
