Hoyer, Lee Statement on Trump Administration's Proposal to Triple Rent on Low-Income Americans
For Immediate Release:
April 25, 2018
Contact Info:
WASHINGTON, DC – House Democratic Whip Steny H. Hoyer (MD) and Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA), chair of the Democratic Whip Task Force on Poverty, Income Inequality, and Opportunity, released the following statement in response to the Trump Administration's proposal to triple rent on low-income Americans:
“Clearly, Secretary Carson doesn’t understand how difficult it is for low-income families who are struggling to keep roofs over their heads. Asking Congress to triple the rent on our nation’s poorest is no way to help them get back on their feet and access jobs and opportunities. Furthermore, linking housing assistance to work requirements is not an effective way to increase employment. In fact, it creates barriers to assistance and insults those who are struggling, insinuating that they do not wish to work. On the contrary – many are working two, even three part-time jobs that pay minimum wage or have had to stop working to care for a sick loved-one.
“Instead of raising rents, Congress ought to raise wages; instead of making it harder for poor families to afford shelter, we ought to be making it easier for them to get back into the middle class and achieve real economic security. That’s what the Democratic Whip Task Force on Poverty, Income Inequality, and Opportunity has been focused on and will continue to fight for in Congress.”
“Clearly, Secretary Carson doesn’t understand how difficult it is for low-income families who are struggling to keep roofs over their heads. Asking Congress to triple the rent on our nation’s poorest is no way to help them get back on their feet and access jobs and opportunities. Furthermore, linking housing assistance to work requirements is not an effective way to increase employment. In fact, it creates barriers to assistance and insults those who are struggling, insinuating that they do not wish to work. On the contrary – many are working two, even three part-time jobs that pay minimum wage or have had to stop working to care for a sick loved-one.
“Instead of raising rents, Congress ought to raise wages; instead of making it harder for poor families to afford shelter, we ought to be making it easier for them to get back into the middle class and achieve real economic security. That’s what the Democratic Whip Task Force on Poverty, Income Inequality, and Opportunity has been focused on and will continue to fight for in Congress.”