In the latest of a string of scoops about threats to affordable housing programs in the United States this year, Denver-based reporter Jesse Bedayn uncovered that a crucial federal initiative is running out of money.
Bedayn’s sources tipped him off to the looming loss of Emergency Housing Voucher funding, which currently pays rent for some 60,000 Americans, many of whom are fleeing homelessness or domestic violence.
Working his extensive source network — spanning the housing industry and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development — Bedayn obtained a copy of a letter sent by HUD. The letter advised public housing authorities that distribute rental assistance that the funding is expected to run out over the next year.
His reporting showed that although Congress could intervene and allocate new funding to sustain the program, that appeared increasingly unlikely. Lawmakers declined to comment on the issue, adding to the uncertainty.
The story was the first national report on the potential loss of this funding. It sparked follow-up coverage in local media markets and was widely shared by prominent housing advocates and research organizations.
Bedayn’s reporting highlighted the real-world consequences of stalled congressional action and underscored the importance of proactive journalism on vulnerable communities.
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