A reminder to District Dime readers that the DCFPI FY 2013 toolkit is live! New additions include specialized toolkits on housing and workforce development. TANF, homeless services and energy assistance are soon to come!
Highlights from the housing toolkit:
- The Mayor’s fiscal year 2013 proposed local budget for affordable housing is $89 million, which represents a decrease of one percent over the FY 2012 budget, after adjusting for inflation. The proposed 2013 funding level is one-third lower than in 2008.
- Most programs would be funded at their prior year levels. The exceptions are the Housing Production Trust Fund which would see a significant cut for the second year in a row, and the Department of Mental Health’s Home First program which would see a modest increase.
- The Mayor’s FY 2013 proposes a cut of $20 million from DC’s Housing Production Trust Fund (HPTF) ‘ DC’s main source for affordable housing construction and renovation ‘ in FY 2013 and future years.
- The budget would increase the Department of Mental Health’s Home First program by $1.2 million, providing 100 additional affordable housing units.
- The budget also proposes to start phasing out of a portion of the Local Rent Supplement Program. LRSP is DC’s main tool to make housing affordable to very low-income residents. The FY 2013 budget would change the program so that as families leave the tenant-based side, no new families can join.
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Highlights from the Workforce Development toolkit:
- Maintains overall spending on workforce development despite a decrease in federal grants. The proposed FY 2013 gross budget ‘ $57.5 million in combined local and federal funds ‘ is three percent higher than the approved FY 2012 budget after adjusting for inflation. The increase is primarily due to a replacement of local dollars for declining federal Workforce Investment Act funds and a $2 million federal payment.
- Mayor Gray’s proposed budget would increase local funding for adult workforce development. The FY 2013 budget replaces lost federal funds for DC Works! One-Stop career centers with $4 million in local funding. It would also boost local spending on employer services.
- The FY 2013 proposed budget continues a five-year reduction in local spending on youth workforce programs, primarily due to a major scaling back of the Summer Youth Employment Program.
- The proposed budget includes $500,000 for the Workforce Investment Council. The Council, whose members are appointed by the Mayor and come from both the public and private sectors, has oversight over federal Workforce Investment Act funds.
