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66 which outlines intentions to revitalize the economy and includes a substantial housing investment. e stated goal of the agenda is to revitalize the economy in communities that have been left out and left behind, provide every child in America a world-class education, dismantle the school-to-prison pipeline, tackle disparities in health and nutrition, and fight for environmental justice. In addition, the initiative will also create good-paying jobs, rebuild crumbling infrastructure, and connect housing to opportunity in communities that are being left out and left behind. Interestingly, funding for the $125 billion Economic Revitalization Initiative is almost punitive in nature, proposed to be paid for by a tax on Wall Street, which Clinton's campaign believes will ensure that the "major financial institutions that contributed to the Great Recession are doing their part in bringing back the communities it hurt the most." A $25 billion allocation within the plan would be dedicated to "lifting more families into sustainable homeownership and connecting housing to opportunity," the factsheet stated. "Homeownership is about more than just owning a home," Clinton's campaign explained. "It is about putting roots down in a community with better schools, safer streets and good jobs. And it is about building wealth, as homeowners build equity in their home one mortgage payment at a time. But this opportunity is increasingly out of reach for too many families, particularly families of color...We must make sure that everyone has a fair shot at homeownership." e campaign noted that 42 percent of black households and 47 percent of Latino households own a home, white homeownership sits at 72 percent. Clinton's campaign argues that the best way to reverse this disproportionate trend is not to lower credit standards, but lift more families into homeownership by: » Supporting families as they save for sustainable homeownership. Clinton will support initiatives to match up to $10,000 in savings for a down payment for those who earn less than area median income. She will also reduce barriers to lending in underserved communities, support housing counseling programs, and police abuse and discrimination in the mortgage market. » Building more affordable rental housing near good jobs and good schools. Clinton will increase support for affordable rental housing in the areas that need it most and encourage communities to implement land use strategies that make it easier to build affordable rental housing near good jobs. » Overcoming pockets of distress. Clinton will provide the resources necessary to overcome blight, giving communities a chance to rebuild and renew with new businesses, new homeowners, and new hope. And she will connect housing support in high-poverty neighborhoods to economic opportunity. Ed Brady, Chairman of the National Association of Home Builders, Illinois applauded Clinton for "recognizing the significant role that housing plays in our local communities and economy and being one of the first presidential candidates to present a housing and community development plan that will help boost homeownership, rental housing and employment opportunities for the American people." "Proposals such as providing a match for down payment savings, emphasizing homeownership counseling and taking steps to improve credit availability for qualified borrowers are all needed steps to boost homeownership." THE TRUMP APPROACH: REGULATORY REFORM Trump for his part, has been more coy, keeping his policies close to the vest. On the housing front he has said that he plans to discontinue funding of at least some government housing programs and has specifically alluded to the possibility of eliminating e U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) but has few specifics as to what type of entity (if any) would take the place of HUD. But he has been somewhat forthcoming in his desire to role back what he views as excessive regulation. In a speech to the National Association of Home Builders, Trump noted that there is no group regulated harder than the housing industry. Trump feels that these regulations kill not just the small businesses but jobs in general. Trump plans to eliminate these regulations and instead implement a method of creating jobs without regulation. "Overregulation, which is a big problem, is costing our economy 2 trillion dollars a year," said Trump. "ink of that. And you are a big beneficiary of overregulation, because there's nobody other than, I would say, the energy industry, that is overregulated more than the home building industry. Nobody." Trump said that he believes the real unemployment number is well north of the government published 5 percent, but instead is probably 20 or 21 percent. In his view, eliminating regulation is the only way to create jobs. "e U.S. economy today is 25 percent smaller than it would have been without the surge of regulations since 1980," said Trump. "So many businesses knocked down. We will "HOMEOWNERSHIP IS ABOUT MORE THAN JUST OWNING A HOME. IT IS ABOUT PUTTING ROOTS DOWN IN A COMMUNITY WITH BETTER SCHOOLS, SAFER STREETS AND GOOD JOBS. AND IT IS ABOUT BUILDING WEALTH, AS HOMEOWNERS BUILD EQUITY IN THEIR HOME ONE MORTGAGE PAYMENT AT A TIME." –HILLARY CLINTON

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