Just in time for the election, the White House has announced that it successfully hits own goal of having more than 67.5 percent of Americans own their own homes by the end of 2000.

Housing Secretary Andrew Cuomo said according to the latest HUD figures, 67.7 percent of Americans now consider themselves homeowners. The administration set the 67.5 goal in 1995 at the beginning of President Clinton's second term of office.

In raw numbers, HUD says there are now 71.6 million U.S. homeowners.

The announcement was accomplanied by a statement from Clinton, saying, "Vice President Gore and I came to office committed to a strategy to make it easier for American families to buy their own homes. By providing record levels of homeownership loan assistance, increasing the availability of affordable housing, providing incentives to save for a home purchase, and maintaining our commitment to fiscal discipline that has kept interest rates low, we have worked to ensure that every family has the opportunity to own their own home.

"I would like to particularly thank Vice President Gore and Secretary Cuomo for working with families, especially in low-income and empowerment communities to help make homeownership a reality."

The administration set the home ownership goal in its belief that homeowners have take more interest in their neighborhoods and communities.

Cuomo pointed out that the increase in homeownership was spread across all sectors.

He said 46.7 percent of Hispanics families now own their own homes; 51.9 percent of the central city residents; 53.3 percent of households headed by women; 52.2 percent of a households earning less than the median family income; and 61 percent of married couples younger than 35.

Cuomo said a number of factors helped bring about the record levels:

Published: October 30, 2000

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