OCT 5-7 U.N. World Habitat Day
by Carol
Fondiller
The U.S. has lost over
250,000 units of Government subsidized housing since the United Nations Habitat
II conference in 1996, which committed the U.S. to do more, not less to save
people’s homes.
There has been no
federal low income rental housing construction since 1983. Instead, the
government has approved 140,000 public housing units to be
demolished.
The U.S. still promotes
“privatization” and “deregulation” of subsidized
housing... disastrous strategies that have failed in the U.S. Energy and
telecommunication industries nationally and across the globe. “U.S.
subsidies for wealthy landlords and homeowners still exceed rental subsidies for
low-income people by three to one,” said Michael Kane, Executive Director
of the National Alliance of HUD Tenants (NAHT). “Now, even the socialist
nations, especially the Eastern Bloc countries, are divesting themselves of
subsidized housing.”
In New York City,
NAHT members and other tenant groups are marching from the lower East side,
sight of many buildings evicting long-time tenants, to the United Nations on
October 5th World Habitat Day. Participants will
demand:
Save and build more low-income
housing.
Restore National legislation to keep
privately owned HUD-subsidized
housing
Dignity for all tenants and homeless
people.
Tenant organizations across the
nation will be supporting Save Our Homes Day. To get involved Call Michael Kane
at (617) 267-9564 [Boston] or Dushaw (202) 339-9306 [Washington
D.C.]
Posted: Sun - September 1, 2002 at 06:52 PM