"In want or in plenty, in times of challenge or times of calm, we always have reasons to be thankful. America is a land of abundance,
prosperity, and hope."

President George W. Bush
Thanksgiving Day 2003 Proclamation

In his Thanksgiving Day message, President Bush reminds us that even as we give thanks for the blessings of 'abundance, prosperity, and hope,' there are still Americans among us in need. Some are caught in the revolving door between homeless shelters and life on the streets. Some are elderly and seeking housing in communities where affordable homes are hard to find. Others are struggling to meet their family's needs on a tight budget.

These Americans are the focus of our daily work at HUD.

The men and women of HUD can be proud that through your efforts, families and individuals who once saw despair ahead of them have new reason to give thanks. You are helping to lift them into a better quality of life, whether through HUD's homeownership and rental assistance programs, community development initiatives, homeless outreach, or any of the life-changing ways in which we focus our work.

Challenges remain, but you and your colleagues are creating new opportunities for Americans to thrive and succeed - and offering them new hope for the future.

May this Thanksgiving season find you counting innumerable blessings, and may God bless each of you and your families.