The Foundation

My name is Denise Denny. I represent the State of New York and State of the American address contest Region 3. The issue I am most concerned about is the rising cost of housing. Across New York from New York City and Long Island to communities throughout the Hudson Valley and upstate, too many working people, young families and older Americans struggle to find a safe and affordable place to live. I believe this issue adversely affects the founding principle of every person's unalienable right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Those words do not promise that government will provide happiness, but they do affirm that every American should have a fair opportunity to pursue it. Today, I will explain how we can move America closer to that principle. We must begin by recognizing that stable housing is more than a roof. It is the foundation from which people pursue education, employment, family life and civic participation. When housing costs consume most of a person's income, opportunity becomes harder to reach. This is not a partisan challenge. It is an American challenge. We can address it by encouraging the construction of more affordable homes, responsibly reducing unnecessary barriers to development, protecting communities from unsafe housing conditions and expanding practical pathways to responsible homeownership. We should also bring together government, private enterprise, non-profit organizations and local communities to create solutions that respect both economic realities and neighborhood needs. If America is to remain a nation of opportunity, then hard working people must be able to build stable lives in the communities they serve. By widening access to safe and affordable housing, we can help more Americans freely and responsibly pursue happiness and bring our nation closer to the promise of its founding principles.