Grading the Administration 1

Weekly Poverty Grades for Obama Administration: B-

Every week we are going to try to assign a letter grade to the new administration on how they are doing with regard to reducing poverty with a concentration on housing/homelessness. It is hard not to compare this administration to the last, and their record on poverty. We will try to avoid that, because in all honesty every week would be an A on that scale. It is difficult to focus on these activities every week, when it has taken decades for us to get the country in this bad shape. I mean, we have now come to accept that a certain percentage of our population will become homeless and will not have basic health care, an opportunity for a job, or a roof with some privacy. There is so much riding on this administration probably because of all the promises made, and that we can no longer grade on a curve.

Week #1 is a B-. This week is difficult to judge because the administration really only had 4 days to accomplish anything, but it is a good baseline. Here are a few short takes on why:

• The new HUD Secretary was approved by the Senate this week, and he knows about housing issues and is not afraid to say the word "renter", "affordable", or "homelessness." He comes from an affordable housing background, and pledged to work on family homelessness. He is planning to take an active interest in stabilizing the housing market. All these are important, and a positive step.
  
• There is a great deal on the White House website about poverty. [It actually says the word "poverty" with only one click away from the home page. Can you believe that?] Yes, these are just words, but that is the second step in community organizing. Write down the problems, agree on a course of action, solicit support, implement, repeat. So, in four days, we are on step 2. Not bad.
  
• The stimulus package will include an extension of unemployment. This is a critical program to stabilize the current workforce while changes are made. Again, at this point just talk.
  
• Pledges on the website of support for National Housing Trust. Good step, but again at this point is just talk.
• Executive Order to open information of the Executive Branch to the freedom of information act. Most would not see the relationship between FOIA and poverty, but it is actually critical. It is impossible to figure out a solution, when we spend all of our time arguing about the facts. We need the information released quickly and without distortion, so that we can then develop solutions. This order moves the administration into the "B" territory on the struggle against poverty, because it is so critical for democracy to have an open and transparent government.
  
• The new ethics rules are also important for the same reason as above.
• Retired General Eric Shinseki was approved by the Senate as the new Director of Veterans Affairs, and spoke often of his goal to make sure that homelessness is not part of the re-integration of veterans from combatant to civilian.
• There is mention on the White House site about urban policy. While short on details, there is a reference to more affordable housing. There is nothing about homelessness, but at least the administration recognizes the need for a focus on urban issues. The other new part of the website is a section on rural issues. Even shorter on details and again no details on rural homelessness, but it is a step.
  

Areas that need work in order to move that grade up to an A:

• Nothing on Katrina or general preparedness of the gulf coast. (There is a statement under additional issues: "President Obama will keep the broken promises made by President Bush to rebuild New Orleans and the Gulf Coast."--but no real action statements.)
  
• No actual jobs were created this week--I think that "Job Creation" should be listed as an agenda on the White House website.
  
• Temporary workers are still not on the agenda.
  
• No one actually received health insurance.
  
• The education system is still not working for many children left behind.
• College is more out of reach than in any time since the 1930s.
  
• The economic stimulus package has not passed.
  
• There was nothing proposed or introduced to protect fragile populations from civil rights violations.
  
• Give us more details on these agenda items of poverty, urban and rural issues.
• Nothing new happened with regard to homelessness in America.
  
• Poor people are still facing incredible--some might say indefinate--debt issues.
  

Brian
Posts by Northeast Ohio Coalition for the Homeless staff and Board.