Congress has approved the FY2001 appropriations bill for the Department of Housing and Urban Development with virtually every housing and community development program receiving increases. Overall, HUD funding was increased by $4.6 billion, giving the department an appropriation of $30.5 billion.

The Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program is funded at $5.1 billion and the HOME Investment Partnerships program is funded at $1.8 billion. These are record funding levels for the two programs. Last year's funding for CDBG was $4.8 billion and $1.6 billion for HOME.

The Congress provided $453 million to fund 79,000 incremental vouchers, which is the largest increase in 15 years; 60,000 vouchers were provided in last year's funding.

Section 8 contract renewals received an increase of $2.5 billion over last year's funding level which would bring the total to nearly $14 billion for FY2001.

Several public housing programs were also increased. Public housing modernization is funded at $3 billion, $100 million more than last year, while public housing operating subsidies are increased by $50 million, and funded at $3.242 billion. HOPE VI, the program for severely distressed public housing, is level funded at $575 million. Homeless assistance grants are funded at $1,025 billion. Shelter Plus Care renewals are funded separately at $100 million for FY2001 and FY2002 renewals.

Section 202 elderly housing and Section 811 disabled housing are funded at $779 million and $217 million, respectively. Housing for Persons with AIDS is funded at $258 million, a $26 million increase over last year's funding.

Brownfields redevelopment received level funding at $25 million. The America's Private Investment (APIC) program funded at $20 million last year is not funded in FY2001.

The rental housing production program that was reported in the Senate Appropriations Committee bill is not included in the final conference report.