Dear Friends,

At 8 pm on Thursday, February 27th, I received a message from HUD, under the direction of the President of the United States and DOGE that HOME’s Fair Housing Initiative Program grant funding was being terminated effective immediately. Federal funding accounts for 45% of our overall operating budget. As a result, we have taken the last two weeks to determine what this egregious assault of fair housing and human rights means for HOME’s future. We have had no choice but to notify invaluable employees of their pending layoff, and in future weeks we will be closing our Delaware office and decreasing our work week hours. There are many uncertainties; will there be any more cuts to our federal funding? Will any more staff members need to be laid off? Will we have to close the doors of our 62-year-old agency? I don’t have the answer to these questions. What we do know is that it is imperative that the doors at HOME remain open to provide fair housing services for all in need and we can’t do it alone. Your support will not only help to continue the important work of HOME but will directly impact the lives of our community. Whether you are a longtime supporter of HOME, or you want to join those that believe in fair and equal access to housing in WNY, we need your help now more than ever.  We must rely on our neighbors and community members to support those in need, and remember that Fair Housing is not an option, it’s the law. Please donate today so we can make sure everyone has a place to call HOME.