Solving the poorest Americans' housing problem

Washington

ARE poor Americans doing better than they used to, or worse? It's hard to know, because so many important things in life - social status, emotional health, human relationships - can't be measured. But in purely material terms, many things have improved.

Homelessness is down. Government assistance to families with children has lowered the official child poverty rate. Hunger has fallen as well. Though the country doesn't do a great job at providing…