"The lack of safe, affordable housing requires a renewed commitment to increase the supply of quality housing and to preserve, maintain, and improve existing housing through public/private partnerships, especially with religious groups and community organizations.”
--USCCB, Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship, 2011
The Catholic bishops believe decent, safe, and affordable housing is a human right. Catholic teaching supports the right to private property, but recognizes that communities and the government have an obligation to ensure the housing needs of all are met, especially poor and vulnerable people and their families. In a time of rising homelessness and when many workers' wages are stagnant and living expenses are rising, it is important to ensure housing security.
Letter to Congress Regarding Yes in God's Backyard Act
Archbishop Borys Gudziak, Rev. Christopher Kellerman, SJ, Ms. Kerry Alys Robinson, Mr. John Berry, July 12, 2024
Recognize the Inherent Dignity of Every Person, Especially Those Experiencing Homelessness
Archbishop Borys Gudziak, June 28, 2024
Letters to Congress on FY 2025 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development (THUD) Appropriation
Archbishop Borys Gudziak and Ms. Kerry Alys Robinson, June 12, 2024
Letters to Congress on FY 2024 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations
Archbishop Borys Gudziak and Mr. Anthony Granado, June 13, 2023
Letters to Congress Regarding Appropriations for Transportation, Housing and Urban Development
Archbishop Paul S. Coakley and Sr. Donna Markham, May 24, 2022
Increase Funding for Housing Programs
Urging an increase in funding for housing programs, Archbishop Paul S. Coakley and Sr. Donna Markham of Catholic Charities USA write to Congress on June 29, 2021 regarding fiscal year 2022 appropriations for Transportation, and Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies.
Extend the Eviction Moratorium
On March 26, 2021, Chairman of the Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development, Archbishop Paul S. Coakley, Sr. Donna Markham, Director of Catholic Charities USA, and Sr. Mary Haddad, Director of Catholic Health Association write to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Walensky urging her to take immediate action to extend the Centers for Disease Control’s eviction moratorium for the duration of the COVID-19 pandemic.
U.S. Bishop Chairman Grateful for Administration’s Early Actions to Address Urgent Food and Housing Needs
Archbishop Paul S. Coakley, January 27, 2021
Bishop Chairmen Affirm Right to Shelter for All, Commend Improvements to HUD Rule
Archbishop Paul S. Coakley, Archbishop Thomas G. Wenski, Bishop David A. Konderla, September 11, 2020
Weakened Fair Housing Rule Fails to Promote Dignity of Human Person
The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) and Catholic Charities USA filed comments in March 2020 on HUD’s proposed changes to the AFFH rule.
Backgrounder on COVID-19 Relief that Meets the Needs of the Poor & Vulnerable
January 2021
Backgrounder on Mixed-Status Families and Eligibility for Certain HUD Housing Programs: What You Need to Know About HUD's Proposed Rule
United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Catholic Charities USA, Catholic Legal Immigration Network, and Catholic Health Association, July 2, 2019
Backgrounder on Affordable Housing and the National Housing Trust Fund (NHTF)
February 2011
Backgrounder on Foreclosure
February 2011
Backgrounder on COVID-19 Relief that Meets the Needs of the Poor & Vulnerable
January 2021
Backgrounder on Mixed-Status Families and Eligibility for Certain HUD Housing Programs: What You Need to Know About HUD's Proposed Rule
United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Catholic Charities USA, Catholic Legal Immigration Network, and Catholic Health Association, July 2, 2019
Backgrounder on Affordable Housing and the National Housing Trust Fund (NHTF)
February 2011
Backgrounder on Foreclosure
February 2011
Letter to Congress Regarding Yes in God's Backyard Act
Archbishop Borys Gudziak, Rev. Christopher Kellerman, SJ, Ms. Kerry Alys Robinson, Mr. John Berry, July 12, 2024
Recognize the Inherent Dignity of Every Person, Especially Those Experiencing Homelessness
Archbishop Borys Gudziak, June 28, 2024
Letters to Congress on FY 2025 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development (THUD) Appropriation
Archbishop Borys Gudziak and Ms. Kerry Alys Robinson, June 12, 2024
Letters to Congress on FY 2024 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations
Archbishop Borys Gudziak and Mr. Anthony Granado, June 13, 2023
Letters to Congress Regarding Appropriations for Transportation, Housing and Urban Development
Archbishop Paul S. Coakley and Sr. Donna Markham, May 24, 2022
Increase Funding for Housing Programs
Urging an increase in funding for housing programs, Archbishop Paul S. Coakley and Sr. Donna Markham of Catholic Charities USA write to Congress on June 29, 2021 regarding fiscal year 2022 appropriations for Transportation, and Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies.
Extend the Eviction Moratorium
On March 26, 2021, Chairman of the Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development, Archbishop Paul S. Coakley, Sr. Donna Markham, Director of Catholic Charities USA, and Sr. Mary Haddad, Director of Catholic Health Association write to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Walensky urging her to take immediate action to extend the Centers for Disease Control’s eviction moratorium for the duration of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Bishop Chairmen Affirm Right to Shelter for All, Commend Improvements to HUD Rule
Archbishop Paul S. Coakley, Archbishop Thomas G. Wenski, Bishop David A. Konderla, September 11, 2020
Weakened Fair Housing Rule Fails to Promote Dignity of Human Person
Archbishop Paul S. Coakley, Bishop Shelton J. Fabre, Sr. Donna Markham, July 28, 2020
Letters to Congress Regarding the FY2021 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill
Archbishop Paul S. Coakley and Sr. Donna Markham, June 15 and June 16, 2021
Public Comment Regarding Notice of Proposed Rulemaking Concerning Eligibility for Covered Housing Assistance Programs
United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Catholic Charities USA, Catholic Legal Immigration Network, and Catholic Health Association, July 2, 2019
Letters to Congress on FY2020 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations
Bishop Frank J. Dewane and Sr. Donna Markham, May 13, 2019
Letter to U.S. Senate on FY 2018 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations
Bishop Frank J. Dewane and Sr. Donna Markham, July 12, 2017
Letter to U.S. Senate on FY 2017 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations I Letter to U.S. House of Representatives on FY 2017 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations
Archbishop Thomas G. Wenski and Sr. Donna Markham, March 4, 2016
Letter to U.S. Senate on FY 2016 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations I Letter to U.S. House of Representatives on FY 2016 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations
Archbishop Thomas G. Wenski and Sr. Donna Markham, March 18, 2015
Letter to U.S. Senate on the National Housing Trust Fund I Letter to U.S. House of Representatives on the National Housing Trust Fund
Archbishop Thomas G. Wenski and Sr. Donna Markham, March 17, 2015
Letter to Congress on the National Housing Trust Fund (NHTF)
Archbishop Thomas G. Wenski, May 2, 2014
Letter to U.S. House of Representatives on FY 2013 Appropriations for Transportation, Housing, and Urban Development
Bishop Stephen E. Blaire, June 26, 2012
Letter to U.S. House of Representatives on FY 2013 Appropriations for Transportation, Housing and Urban Development
Bishop Stephen E. Blaire, April 4, 2012
Letter to U.S. House of Representatives Regarding Public Housing Changes in the Affordable Housing and Self-Sufficiency Improvement Act
Bishop Stephen E. Blaire, March 7, 2012
Letter to Congress on Cuts to Affordable Housing
Bishop Stephen E. Blaire, October 20, 2011
Letter to U.S. House of Representatives Regarding Efforts to Eliminate the National Housing Trust Fund
Bishop Stephen E. Blaire, July 11, 2011
Letter to U.S. Senate on Capitalization for the National Housing Trust Fund
Bishop Stephen E. Blaire, December 10, 2010
Letter to Congress on Housing for Elderly and People with Disabilities
Bishop William F. Murphy, April 21, 2010
Letter to U.S. Senate on National Housing Trust Fund and Assistance for Unemployed Workers
Bishop William F. Murphy, March 5, 2010
Letter to U.S. House of Representatives on the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act
Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio, March 27, 2007
Letter to U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure on Changes to the Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA) and the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act
Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio, September 13, 2006
Letter to Congress on the Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act for Defense, the Global War on Terror, and Hurricane Recovery
Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio and Bishop Thomas G. Wenski, May 19, 2006
Letter to the House of Representatives to Support the National Housing Trust Fund
April 18, 2002
Homelessness and Housing: A Human Tragedy, A Moral Challenge
United States Catholic Conference Administrative Board, March 24, 1988