New America Policy Papers: 2009

Papers and other formal publications from our policy programs are available below. To jump to another year in the archives, please use the links at right.

Promoting the Vision

  • By
  • Reid Cramer,
  • New America Foundation
January 16, 2009

Introduction/Background

In recent years, the role that savings and assets play in shaping people's lives has increasingly captured the attention of researchers, policy analysts and elected officials. Their interest in savings and building wealth has grown along with an increased awareness of specific policy tools and interventions, such as matched savings accounts available for lower-income workers.

Programs:

Rental Assistance Asset Accounts

  • By
  • Reid Cramer,
  • New America Foundation
  • and Jeffrey Lubell, Executive Director, Center for Housing Policy
January 13, 2009

The rental housing market in the United States is characterized by a fundamental disconnect between rents and household incomes. It has been this way for decades. Millions of Americans simply earn too little to afford to rent a decent home. To meet these families' basic needs for shelter, the federal government spends more than $25 billion each year to provide rental assistance to more than four million poor and near-poor households.

Programs:
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