The Nation - News from March 29, 1988

Housing is “unavailable, unaffordable or unfit” for most poor Americans, a private task force said while recommending a 12-year federal support program to increase the supply of low-income and rental housing. The first-year goal of the National Housing Task Force is establishment of a “Housing Opportunity Program” with an appropriation of $3 billion. That seed money is intended to stimulate state and local efforts to develop, renovate and conserve low-income housing and would produce 150,000 to 200,000 units. Half of the $3 billion would be allocated to the states and the other $1.5 billion would go to cities.