HUD Archives: News Releases

STATEMENT BY SECRETARY CUOMO ON REPORT BY THE NATIONAL LOW-INCOME HOUSING COALITION

See full Out of Reach report (was linked to http://www.nlihc.org/oor99/)

WASHINGTON - Housing and Urban Development Secretary Andrew Cuomo today issued the following statement concerning the report titled Out of Reach by the National Low-Income Housing Coalition. The Coalition's report concludes that in virtually every state and every metropolitan area, low-income Americans - especially those earning only the minimum wage - are unable to afford housing at fair market rent.

Secretary Cuomo said: "This report confirms HUD's own studies that show 5.3 million of America's most vulnerable families have a tremendous need for affordable housing. The report shows why it's important for Congress to approve the budget President Clinton has proposed to enable HUD to help reduce the affordable housing shortage, and to reject the $1.6 billion in cuts to HUD's budget that have been approved by the House Appropriations Committee. Now is the time for Congress to approve HUD initiatives including the creation of 100,000 new rental assistance vouchers, increased funding for the HOME Program for Affordable Housing, and other important housing measures."