Issue Position: Economic Stability and Poverty

Issue Position

Issue Position: Economic Stability and Poverty

The security of having a roof over your head, food to eat, and access to a doctor when you're sick should not be a luxury. Meeting such basic human needs is a right and a necessity. I am committed to putting an end to hunger, to addressing the mortgage crisis, to attending to the needs of the middle class, to ensuring that all citizens have equal access to affordable housing and to helping communities build strong social and economic networks. Every American deserves a chance to live the American Dream.

Housing

Americans increasingly face a lack of safe and affordable housing. The housing affordability burden falls most heavily on low-income renters throughout our country. I have been a strong supporter of the Section 8 program, which provides rental housing assistance for low income renters, and I will continue to work to see that our communities are better-equipped to meet the rising demand for rental housing assistance.

Additionally, I will remain committed to funding public housing, which is a national asset, serving nearly 3 million low-income, disabled, senior citizens and families, while stabilizing neighborhoods throughout America. I will also stand firm in my dedication to equal housing opportunities for all Americans by authorizing funds to process complaints, investigate cases of housing discrimination, and develop and operate education and outreach programs to educate the general public of fair housing rights.

Despite the passage of the Fair Housing Act almost 40 years ago, more than 4 million fair housing violations still occur each year. We must do more to protect the gains we have made in the past, and to see that we continue to improve in the future.

Mortgage Crisis and Fair Lending

Homeowners and borrowers must be protected from predatory lending. As an original cosponsor of legislation designed to prevent fraud, I am dedicated to safeguarding consumers against abusive practices in the mortgage industry. Families who have been placed in risky subprime loans face the threat of losing their homes to foreclosure. I am working on measures that would help such families who have filed for bankruptcy adjust their mortgages to make them affordable.

I also seek to require mortgage professionals to report suspected fraudulent activity, and to establish grant programs to help state and local law enforcement officials fight mortgage fraud. And I am a supporter of the creation of programs to provide tenants, homeowners, and other consumers with mortgage fraud counseling and advice. I have also cosponsored legislation which will help states establish and improve outreach programs to assist homeowners in avoiding foreclosure. This bill would also finance one-time emergency grants and subsidized home preservation loans in order to prevent foreclosure, and would protect the credit of the buyer.

The Homeless and Special Needs

Homelessness is one of our nation's most challenging social problems. As many as 3.5 million people in America will experience homelessness each year. We must reduce this number. The Department of Housing and Urban Development's homeless assistance programs have helped communities move tens of thousands of people out of homelessness and into permanent housing. This investment has saved millions of dollars in public funds for emergency and institutional care, while dramatically improving the recovery and self-sufficiency of those served by these programs. I will continue to support HUD in these crucial efforts.

Additionally, I will continue to work to protect those who find themselves especially vulnerable to the threat of homelessness. As a backer of a plan to provide housing opportunities for individuals with AIDS, I seek to prevent people from having to choose between essential medications and necessities such as housing. We must continue to support these and similar programs which provide cities and states with the resources to address the housing crisis facing people with special needs. Community-based, cost-effective supportive housing can help break the cycle of chronic homelessness and incarceration by providing long term strategies for individuals and families struggling with homelessness.

Hunger and Nutrition

It is a well-known fact that those who are most likely to be hungry are also most likely to be in poor health and most in need of our assistance. Families living at or below the federal poverty level are five times as likely to be food insecure than other families. Despite a growing economy, thousands of Illinois families who work year round receive food stamps, and thousands of families still experience hunger. This is simply unacceptable.

As co-chair of the Senate Hunger Caucus, I am committed to raising awareness about hunger issues and supporting the efforts of the anti-hunger community. I am the main sponsor of legislation designed to promote local collaboration in the fight against hunger. I am also a long-standing and active supporter of federal nutrition programs including the Special Supplemental Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), Food Stamps, and School Lunch and Breakfast Programs. I am dedicated to doing all I can to ensure that no one in America, young or old, ever has to wonder where their next meal is going to come from.

Community Development

Strong neighborhoods foster strong families, strong businesses, and strong individuals. I have been a leader in protecting funding for and promoting the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program, the centerpiece in our nation's efforts to help states and localities meet the needs of low-income communities. CDBG funds vital housing rehabilitation, supportive services, public improvements and economic development projects in communities across the nation. Providing assistance to both rural and urban communities, CDBG is one of the most effective programs to help revitalize neighborhoods with proven results.

I believe the federal government should work collaboratively with the private sector to bring much needed capital into low income areas of Illinois. I strongly support funding for Community Development Financial Institutions, which take small amounts of seed money from the federal government and leverage that funding to create large pools of private investment that then underwrite improvements in housing, schools, community centers, and more.

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