THE WHITE HOUSE

                       Office of the Press Secretary
                          (Aboard Air Force One)
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For Immediate Release                                    October 1, 1999

STATEMENT BY THE PRESIDENT

The Department of Housing and Urban Development yesterday released $280 million in rental assistance vouchers to help 50,000 families in 35 states move from welfare to work. These housing vouchers are an integral part of our efforts to reform welfare, reward work, and provide affordable housing for low-income families. They will help families move closer to a job, reduce a long commute, or secure more stable housing that will help them get or keep a job.

Today, our economy is strong, incomes are up, and poverty is at the lowest rate in 20 years. But there are still more than 5 million low-income families who need affordable housing. That is why I have asked Congress for an additional 100,000 rental assistance vouchers to meet the critical housing needs of families moving from welfare to work, the homeless and the elderly. As Members of the House and Senate meet in conference to debate this year's budget for the Department of Housing and Urban Development, I want to underscore my strong commitment to this initiative. Congress should not turn its back on families that are playing by the rules and moving from welfare to work. A budget without new vouchers would shortchange the American Dream.

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