Andrew Cuomo

In the following viewpoint, Andrew Cuomo, then U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, argues that the government should play a strong role in providing affordable housing for low-income families, most of whom are priced out of today’s competitive rental market. Federal housing policies such as rent vouchers, public housing programs, and tax incentives for home ownership allow the poor to meet their housing needs, thus preventing homelessness.

Editor’s Note: The following viewpoint is excerpted from testimony given to the U.S. Senate Committee on Appropriations, Subcommittee on Veteran Affairs, Housing and Urban Development, and Independent Agencies.

As you read, consider the following questions:

1. What are the three main findings of the HUD’s report on rental housing, as stated by Cuomo?
2. According to the...