If elected President, what steps would you take to eliminate homelessness in the United States?
Senator Clinton:
I will ensure that all Americans have access to affordable housing. In many areas around the
country, housing costs have far outgrown inflation - and the gap between wages and housing costs is
widening, pushing affordable housing beyond the reach of many working families. That's why I
have proposed an agenda to put affordable housing within reach for low- and middle-income
Americans. An important piece of that plan is a $1 billion fund to provide federal support to
housing trust funds established by state, county, and municipal governments. My agenda also
includes plans to crack down on unscrupulous brokers, curb mortgage lending abuses, and help
homeowners avoid foreclosures.
Homelessness is linked to poverty and unemployment. To alleviate poverty, I will start by making
investments in our children early in their lives - by providing quality pre-kindergarten to all
four-year-olds, supporting our children through primary and secondary schools, and making college
more affordable. And I will continue to support them into adulthood to ensure that they have the
skills to land well-paying jobs and build a financially stable life for themselves and their children. I
have an economic blueprint for the 21't century that includes my plans to restore fairness to the tax
system, to balance the budget and spur economic growth; to invest in new and old industries that
will create new jobs in America; and increase the minimum wage.
Senator Obama:
I will implement a multi-prong strategy to address homelessness in the United States, building off of
my record in the Senate to tackle homelessness with our nation's veteran population. First, I will
work to increase the availability of affordable housing in the U.S. by creating an Affordable
Housing Trust Fund, reversing the Bush cuts to the CDBG program and ensuring that public
housing operates by a one-by-one replacement rule. Second, I will work to engage more chronically
unemployed Americans into the workforce by investing $1 billion over 5 years into transitional jobs
and career pathways programs. Third, I will increase and expand eligibility for Earned Income Tax
Credit (EITC) benefits so that more working Americans, including childless working Americans,
have access to more economic supports. Fourth, I will also expand resources for ex-offender job
training and support services, as well as substance abuse programs to help more disengaged
Americans rebuild their lives.
If you are elected President what areas, if any, would your administration focus on in the housing
field?
Senator Clinton:
As President, I will tackle the many challenges America faces with regard to housing. I have
proposed a $1 billion fund to help state, city, and municipal governments expand
affordable housing trust funds. I have also introduced legislation to strengthen the FHA so that low-
and moderate-income people can participate in the dream of homeownership. But we are in the
middle of a foreclosure crisis that is disproportionately affecting minority
communities. l am deeply focused on ending this crisis and ensuring that it never recurs. I have
called for a moratorium on subprime
foreclosures; a five-year freeze in the rates on subprime adjustable rate mortgages and the
conversion of those unworkable mortgages into more stable loans.
I have also proposed a fund of up to $5 billion to help communities and families that are on the
frontlines of this crisis. The fund will not only help communities defray the cost of caring for
vacated properties, but will help families obtain financial counseling and education about predatory
lending. Education is key, so I have also called for dramatically expanding the budget for the HUD
program that supports financial counseling programs. I have also called for expanding the
anti-foreclosure initiatives at Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, the federally chartered companies that
were set up to promote homeownership.
As President, I will pursue this agenda. And I will also tighten mortgage underwriting standards and
strengthen mortgage disclosure rules so that families are not taken advantage of again.
Senator Obama:
Throughout my career as a community organizer, civil rights lawyer, and elected advocate, I have
worked to increase the availability of safe affordable housing. As President, I will fully fund the
Community Development Block Grant program and create an Affordable Housing Trust Fund to
build thousands of new affordable housing units each year. I will also making buying a home more
affordable by creating a new mortgage interest tax credit, which will predominantly benefit families
making under $50,000 per year.
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