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At the federal level, the two categories of budgetary expenditures are entitlement and discretionary spending.
Block grants and unfunded mandates are two government budgetary practices that can have significant implications for lower levels of government.
Federal and state governments have tried to change budget rules to control government spending. Budget rules have also been used to impose fiscal discipline.
Under the U.S. Constitution, people are entitled to compensation when a government takes their property. This is known as a taking.
One indicator of sensible fiscal practices is maintaining balance between spending and revenues. Occasional deficits may be necessary.
Affordability, accessibility, supportive services in housing, and fair housing make up the bulk of this chapter.
Housing costs determine whether individuals and families can live in a neighborhood without sacrificing other basic necessities, such as food and health care.
A range of programs exists to address the lack of affordable housing. These programs are not nearly enough to meet the demand from those who are housing cost-burdened.
Almost 20 million households headed by someone age 50 and over are housing cost-burdened. That is, they spend more than 30 percent of their income on housing.