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Press Room
President Neglects Community Needs in State of the Union, NAHRO Says
WASHINGTON, Feb. 2 -- Following is a statement of Saul N. Ramirez Jr., executive director of the National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials, on the State of the Union: In his State of the Union address, President Bush highlighted historic highs in homeownership rates. I applaud the president's focus on making homeownership more readily accessible to minorities and low-income families. However, homeownership is only one piece of a responsible community agenda. That agenda should pair federal and local governments working together to create sustainable, thriving communities that offer quality housing options for all Americans. Such an agenda is sorely absent from the president's listed priorities. A broader community agenda would address a range of needs, from housing assistance for the 850,000 people who are homeless on any given night, many of whom are children, to rental and homeownership assistance for the low-wage earners who are key to sustaining the American economy. Federal housing investments, including public housing, Section 8 and the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit, are the tools that help people onto the first rungs of a ladder that leads to homeownership and provides stable living environments for the elderly and disabled. These programs help millions of families of modest income find decent housing in increasingly expensive markets, while also giving them the opportunity to stabilize their living situation and work toward self-sufficiency so that they have the option of moving up the ladder to homeownership. As millions of Americans know from experience, we have a dramatic shortage of affordable housing. A recent survey found that 81 percent of voters would like to see the government place a higher priority on making housing more affordable for renters and homeowners alike. The cost of housing in America is increasing steadily, and many moderate-income Americans-nurses, firefighters and teachers-are being priced out of the communities they work in. One in seven American families pays more than half their income toward housing costs and/or lives in substandard conditions. Federal housing policies work hand-in-hand with community development activities to serve as an economic engine that stimulates local economies, creates jobs, encourages investment and expands the tax base. Another key component of a responsible community agenda is a continued commitment to providing local governments with the resources they need to further valuable revitalization initiatives. For example, one such program, the Community Development Block Grant, enabled local communities to create or retain 78,000 jobs and provide assistance to nearly 160,000 households in 2004. America's states and cities need to know that the federal government remains a full and committed partner in their efforts to uplift our communities and provide safe, affordable housing and economic development. Regrettably, the president's State of the Union address did not speak to these vital issues. The federal government should not retreat from our historic housing and community development partnership. We look forward to working with the president and his administration to address the ever-increasing demand for affordable housing. |
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