Ehrlich on Washington column, October 30, 2000

MEWS FROM Robert L. Ehrlich, Jr. Second Congressional District of Maryland 1407 York Road, Suite 304 Lutherville, Maryland 21093 3 1 5 Cannon House Office Building Washington, D.C. 205 1 5 EHRLICH ON WASHINGTON Week of October 30, 2000 By Congressman Robert L. Ehrlich, Jr. Homeownership: An American Dream While traveling across the 2nd District, I visit many different and diverse neighborhoods. Many of the middle and working class neighborhoods I see are strong and stable, others, however, are at-risk of property devaluation and community decay. The outdated federal housing laws of the last two decades have done more harm than good in threatening the stability and health of our communities. Likewise, dubious lawsuits resolved behind closed doors by groups with no interest or attachment to our neighborhoods (i.e. the ACLU v. HUD consent decree) have served to divide people along economic and class lines and increase the anger and resentment toward federal government intrusion in our local communities. As you may know, public housing was originally meant to be temporary; a safety net for those who fell on hard times and needed somewhere to live while getting back on their feet. Unfortunately, this honorable intention was lost along the way as big government policies made public housing a way of life for generations of Americans. The Clinton-Gore Administration has been forced to turn to the courts to further this policy because in recent years the Congress and American people have said, "enough," to the failed housing policies of the past. In an effort to break the pattern of multi-generational reliance on public housing, my colleagues and I in Congress have made substantial reforms in our nation’s housing laws. For example, Congress passed the Quality Housing and Accountability Act in 1998. This historic law encourages responsibility and accountability in public housing. It establishes minimal monthly rent so there is no "free" ride; requires adult residents (excluding senior citizens, students, disabled, and employed) to contribute eight hours or more of community service work; allows families the option to either pay a flat rent or no more than 30% of the family’s adjusted income as rent, thus removing a disincentive to find a job or earn additional income; and requires landlords to establish safeguards and lease provisions to evict persons dealing in illegal drugs. Last week, Congress passed the American Homeownership and Economic Opportunity Act. Consistent with my philosophy of government encouraging people to purchase and invest in a