John Kerry's position on

HUD: Created as a Cabinet-level agency in 1965. HUD is the Nation's housing agency committed to increasing homeownership, particularly among minorities; creating affordable housing opportunities for low-income Americans. The Department also promotes economic and community development as well as enforces the nation's fair housing laws. Link 

Description of candidate's position: Kerry is a long time member of the Senate housing subcommittee and was its ranking member in the 107th Congress. Kerry has been a strong proponent of preserving and expanding affordable housing and homeownership opportunities for the American people. He feels that affordable housing promotes more stable families, healthier children, better educational outcomes, and increased economic self-sufficiency for low-income families working to transition off of public assistance ad improve their lives.

Quotation from the candidate: "I oppose the cuts the Bush Administration is making to Section 8, and as President, I will reverse those cuts and direct the Department of Housing and Urban Development to enforce fair housing laws. Too many disabled Americans lack the financial means to move elsewhere. If we are serious about helping them transition back into society, we must first ensure that they have access to adequate, affordable and accessible housing." link

Assessment of the proposal:

Positive: For FY05, the Bush Administration has proposed both cutting the housing voucher program's funding, and restructuring the program. The housing voucher program is widely viewed as one of the most effective tools for helping low-income families afford housing. The bipartisan, congressionally chartered Millennial Housing Commission strongly endorsed the program in its 2002 report, describing it as "flexible, cost-effective, and successful in its mission." Similarly, a 2002 study by the U.S. General Accounting Office found the voucher program to be the most cost-effective of the federal housing programs the report examined.

Negative: HUD Secretary, Alphonso Jackson claims that the Bush Administration budget will significantly boost funding for housing. "The budget we've proposed for the coming year provides a record $45 million to help more than a half-million homebuying families with counseling services. We've more than doubled the funding for housing education since 2001."

Comparison: Kerry strongly opposes the Bush Administration's cuts in federal housing programs. The Bush Administration's FY05 budget request contains a proposal to make fundamental changes to the "Section 8" housing voucher program and give more funding to homebuying education.

Link to Bush's issue page