Washington, D.C. — Today, the U.S. Senate voted to confirm Dr. Ben Carson as secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, or HUD. Sarah Edelman, Director of Housing Policy at the Center for American Progress, issued the following statement:
The nation’s families and communities are facing steep housing challenges. For many Americans, buying a home or finding an affordable place to rent can be especially difficult given rising costs or discrimination based on race, sexual orientation or gender identity, place of origin, or disability. Too many families are one illness or paycheck away from homelessness.
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development must be a strong partner to these families and the urban, suburban, and rural communities in which they live. Carson has made disparaging statements about families experiencing poverty, LGBT people, and fair housing that raise questions about his ability to be a fair and effective leader of this important agency.
CAP will work to hold Carson accountable to the promises he recently made during the confirmation process to enforce fair housing and the equal access rule and to fight budget cuts that will make it impossible for HUD to fulfill its mission.
For more information or to speak with an expert, contact Allison Preiss at [email protected] or 202.478.331.