Anthony O'Leary, AMHA's Executive Director said "this low level of funding is unprecedented and comes at a time when demand for affordable housing is at record high levels."

For the past several months AMHA has been planning on how to address budget cuts by reducing staff and various services. The agency has reduced personnel by 25 positions, increased the cost of health insurance to employees and implemented a partial hiring freeze. "This all comes at a price to those who can least afford it and with this latest news, further staff reductions and lower levels of service are inevitable,"   said O'Leary.

In November 2006, the Akron Metropolitan Housing Authority hosted a Housing Summit, presenting information showing Ohio was among a few states losing the most money under a new funding formula being implemented by the U.S. Department of Urban Development. Hundreds of public housing residents and community leaders have written to Ohio's congressional delegation urging a unified effort to return adequate dollars to Ohio. Final budget action by the Congress is still pending and will determine whether the very low numbers stand. The Akron Metropolitan Housing Authority's fiscal year ends June 30. Therefore the fiscal year will likely be nearly over when final budget numbers are known. In the meantime staffing reductions and reductions in services will continue.