The Department of Housing and Urban Development would receive $7.4-billion in new federal spending in the 2010 budget the Obama administration released today. The department would receive nearly $48-billion next year, an increase of more than 18 percent.

The Community Block Grants program would receive $550-million in new money, for a total of $4.5- billion, while programs to help the homeless would receive nearly $1.8-billion, an increase of $117-million.

New programs to combat mortgage fraud and lending discrimination would receive $37-million. Spending on housing counseling programs would increase by $35-million.

The president would allocate $1-billion to the National Affordable Housing Trust Fund, money local government and nonprofit groups could use to help construct, rehabilitate, and preserve low-cost housing units.

The fund was authorized by Congress last year and...

It’s a gray, rainy Wednesday in Washington but for President Obama it’s a milestone: his 100th day in the White House.

As throngs of pundits, op-ed writers, and others in the media examine and analyze the 44th president’s early efforts and outcomes, the Annie E. Casey Foundation, in Baltimore, is giving citizen y a chance to chime in—particularly those with an interest in child welfare and poverty issues.

The foundation’s 100 Days 100 Voices project asks people to answer two questions: What is the most important thing that the Obama administration has done for children and families during this first 100 days? And what should be next on the agenda?

Responses can be written (100 words or less) or in the form of a video of no more than two minutes in length. Photos can also be included as well. The foundation will begin sharing some of the responses later today. Officials there hope...

The Housing Rescue and Foreclosure Act of 2008 — which President Bush signed into law July 30 — includes the creation of a permanent Housing Trust Fund that will provide as much as $300-million a year to increase the supply of low-income housing, especially rental units.

Money from the fund can be granted directly to nonprofit housing groups.

The National Low-income Housing Coalition, a charity in Washington, started a campaign to promote the creation of such a fund back in 2000. The campaign’s goal is to preserve and produce some 1.5 million affordable housing units over 10 years.

Some conservative lawmakers and groups have objected to the Housing Trust Fund component of the largely foreclosure-focused law, fearful that money could be channeled to charities with political (and left-leaning) agendas.

The law is the federal government’s most sweeping response yet to the...