Ben Miksch, State and Federal Policy Associate

With New Years Eve only a few days away, it is still very unclear what the next year will hold. This morning, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said that a compromise is out of reach. Congress will be unable to avert the automatic sequestration of federal funds and expiration of major tax provisions before they begin on January 2.

Should these across-the-board sequestration cuts occur, HUD has some leeway around when cuts would begin to take effect. This could mean that come January, our nation’s most vulnerable won’t immediately feel the brunt of sequestration. However, if a post-sequestration deal isn't reached that protects social service funding, then the newly permanent federal cuts will eventually have a devastating impact on programs that serve the most in-need members of our communities.

One of the things I’ve learned in this debate is that averting sequestration means different things to different people. Shockingly, there are many who’d be perfectly satisfied if we only averted the automatic cuts to defense spending, while leaving the cuts to human services whole or even increased. This is unacceptable.

That’s why the Washington Low Income Housing Alliance has been working to raise public notice–and outcry–on the effect these cuts would have in our communities. Today, we’re sending a petition signed by advocates across Washington State, as well as a Board Resolution endorsed by several of our member-organizations, letting our senators and representatives in Washington, D.C. know where we stand.

It is seeming inevitable that we will go over the "fiscal cliff," while Congress works on pursuing a deal. However, the most important thing hasn't been to get a deal for the sake of getting a deal; it's not just whether we avert sequestration, but how we avert sequestration. The burden of reducing the deficit should not be borne by the most vulnerable in our communities.

We must pass a bill halting the sequestration cuts to non-defense discretionary spending. Let’s not cut Social Security or other basic safety net services Americans rely on. If Congress really wants to reduce the national debt, then do so by ending the Bush Tax Cuts for the wealthiest people in our country or by ending the tax loopholes that disproportionately favor individuals and companies that can afford tax lobbyists. Let’s stop pretending that we’re a poor country and realize that we can afford a strong safety net and human services. And we can do this while investing in our people and our country to ensure our economy continues to be the largest in the world.

It is really unclear how all of this will shake out next year, but one thing remains certain. Whatever challenges the new year brings, I am confident that advocates will be ready to continue fighting for every Washingtonian to have the opportunity to live in a safe, healthy, affordable home.