Taking action on reports of plans under way by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to close half to two-thirds of its 65 field offices, Senators Jack Reed (D-RI) and Michael Rounds (R-SD) in a March 11 letter urge HUD Secretary Scott Turner to make certain that HUD retains a local field office footprint in every state.

“As local partners embedded in communities across every state, HUD field offices provide one-on-one guidance to HUD-funded housing providers as they implement programs and navigate administrative challenges,” the letter says.

Among all the letters sent to HUD about funding interruptions and staffing concerns this year, this is the first bi-partisan letter.

Both Senators are on the Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee, which has jurisdiction over HUD affordable housing programs, and the Senate Appropriations Committee, which has jurisdiction over HUD funding. LeadingAge has been working with congressional offices to urge HUD to protect its field offices and its staff.

See a map of HUD field offices here. Read the letter here.