US congressional funding fights take toll on housing aid programs

Democrats in the U.S. Congress fended off some of the deepest cuts to housing and other social safety net programs sought by Republicans, but low-income Americans will nonetheless feel the brunt of reductions that were included in a new law. Washington's efforts to address the availability of affordable dwellings for low-income families and rid aging structures of dangerous lead-paint contamination suffered funding setbacks in legislation enacted earlier this month as part of a wide-ranging government spending measure. The bills would determine funding levels for an array of social programs, including teachers serving low-income students, reducing mortality for poor pregnant women, job training for disadvantaged youth and HIV prevention.