Bridging this gap between the housing haves and have-nots needs to be a top priority for the next President of the United States. This is not a partisan issue, it is a national issue that deserves the support of both the Democratic and Republican nominees. That starts with access to capital for entrepreneurs and access to credit for consumers. Our proposals for helping millions of low-income families move from renting to owning are detailed elsewhere in this platform as major elements in Governor Bush's program for a New Prosperity. For those families, and for all other potential home buyers, low interest rates make mortgages affordable and open up more housing opportunities than any government program.
Affordable housing is in the national interest.
That is why the mortgage interest deduction for primary residences was put into the federal tax code, and why tax reform of any kind should continue to encourage homeownership. At the same time, a balanced national housing policy must recognize that decent housing includes apartments, and addresses the needs of all citizens, including renters. We will turn over to local communities foreclosed and abandoned HUD properties for urban homesteading, a citizen renovation effort that has been remarkably successful in revitalizing neighborhoods. We affirm our commitment to open housing, without quotas or controls, and we applaud the proactive efforts by the realty and housing industries to assure access for everyone. In many areas, housing prices are higher than they need to be because of regulations that drive up building costs.