In 'And Housing for All,' Foscarinis delves into the history and evolution of the housing crisis in the U.S., revealing how systemic policies have perpetuated inequality. Amid personal anecdotes and extensive expertise from her legal career in homelessness advocacy, she critiques past and present administrations from both parties for their roles in reinforcing a punitive narrative around homelessness. Foscarinis argues that the affordable housing crisis is exacerbated by historical cuts to federal funding, particularly those initiated during Reagan's presidency, which remain unaddressed, highlighting a critical need for political commitment to effective solutions.
While Republican President Ronald Reagan infamously claimed that homelessness was a 'lifestyle choice,' Foscarinis notes that the next Democratic president, Bill Clinton, 'fully intended to institute harmful policies and continue the racist, punitive narratives of Reagan.'
Foscarinis argues that the biggest barrier to ending homelessness isn't a lack of solutions. It's a lack of political will.
Foscarinis helpfully grounds these policy decisions in their historical context. Beginning with the New Deal, which dramatically expanded the white middle class while explicitly excluding Black Americans, she shows how federal policy has consistently penalized people for the crime of poverty.
Although some reinvestments have been made since, 'the Reagan cuts have never been restored to their original numbers - while the affordable housing crisis has deepened,' Foscarinis writes.
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