Today, Congressman Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) cheered the increase in funding for affordable housing and HIV/AIDS housing included in H.R. 3288, the FY 2010 Consolidated Appropriations Act, which passed the House of Representatives. Nadler, joined by colleagues and the leadership of the Appropriations Committee, fought successfully to increase funding for these essential and chronically underfunded programs. The bill contains significantly more funding for housing programs than last year, including: $18.2 billion for tenant-based rental assistance; $8.5 billion for project-based rental assistance; $75 million for 10,000 Section 8 vouchers for homeless veterans; and, $335 million for the Housing Opportunities for People with AIDS (HOPWA) program.

“I am very pleased that we were finally able to increase funding for housing for our most vulnerable citizens,” said Nadler. “Year after year, I have fought for more funding for affordable housing and for HOPWA. In 2009, when economic pressures are particularly severe for those who are low-income, elderly or HIV-positive, it is a relief to have a Congress and a President who appreciate the importance of affordable housing.”

The bill contains another important development in the fight against the spread of HIV/AIDS. On the heels of a variety of efforts led by Reps. Jose Serrano (D-NY) and Nadler, H.R. 3288 will remove unfair restrictions on needle exchanges designed to prevent the spread of disease – including HIV – among intravenous drug users. The bill will allow local public health and law enforcement officials to determine suitable locations for needle exchange programs, thus permitting jurisdictions to administer the exchanges where they are needed and appropriate.