The Bush administration's housing policy, which emphasizes homeownership for the poor over rental assistance, plans to scale back funding for low-income tenants and could intensify the shortage of affordable housing in cities.
"Making 'the American dream of homeownership' come true for more poor people and minorities is important because it bolsters their communities, Mel Martinez, secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development, said in an interview last week. But he stressed that the administration is not giving rental housing short shrift and intends to have more built. Critics have applauded the push for more homeownership, but say the effort has overshadowed assistance needed for rental housing, where most of the nation's poorest residents live."
Thanks to Christian Peralta
FULL STORY: HUD eyes cuts in rental funding

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