By Eugene T. Lowe
March 31, 2003

Conference President Boston Mayor Thomas M. Menino spoke to an audience committed to affordable housing on March 17 when he appeared before the legislative meeting of the National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials (NAHRO). "As everyone in this room knows_ working families and people of all ages, at different income levels, are struggling to keep a roof over their heads," Menino said in opening his remarks.

A shaky economy, high housing costs, rising unemployment, a cold winter in the northeast (increase heating bills)Ñ all of these are contributing to the affordable crisis. While the nation has a "record number of homeowners... we also have a record number of homeless people", Menino said. Moreover, people are paying too much for housing, he added.

Menino focused his remarks around two points: the administration's lack of commitment to housing and community development and the "ways in which the federal government can- and must'step up to the plate." On the first point, the mayor talked about the administration's proposed elimination of HOPE VI and the plan to block grant the Section 8 voucher program to states. Critical of both proposals, the mayor said "the federal government has sent a strong message — that affordable housing is not their problem." Speaking strongly against the proposed Section 8 state block grant, Menino said, "This plan is a lose-lose proposition. The governors didn't ask for this program. The governors asked for help with Medicaid costs, education mandates and homeland security. What they got landed with is a housing program that many states are ill equipped to administer."

According to Menino, the federal government instead should pursue a number of initiatives to address the affordable housing crisis. There should be the establishment of a housing production program such as a National Affordable Housing Trust fund. Mayor Menino praised President Bush's proposal to provide a tax credit for the development of homeownership housing and called for its passage. Mayor Menino said that employer-assisted housing programs should also be expanded.

Menino implored the redevelopment officials: "Let's work together to create a national housing policy that creates more homes and apartments that working families, seniors, low-income workers, and the disabled can afford. Housing isn't a luxury; it's a fundamental right. This issue deserves national attention. I hope you will join with me, using the tremendous power in this room, to make a national housing agenda a reality."